Natural Stone Tips

If you have purchased a stone product from us, know that your stone has been sealed with one of the finest sealers available. Macata uses only the finest solutions for cleaning and protecting your stonework. We keep abreast of the technology and change as better technologies appear. Our current sealer is made by DuPont and is a penetrating sealer that works like a fabric treatment such as Scothguard™ would. It creates a barrier that resists stains, without clogging the natural pores in the stone itself. The sealer we use is non-toxic, is an aqueous solution, without volatile organic compounds (VOC’s), leaving no chemical residue when dry.Although your stone has been sealed and will resist most staining there are some general precautions to consider:

• Heat Resistence: It is generally safe to place a hot pan on granite or marble. Most heat related issues result from thermal expansion where extensive heat is focused on a very cold surface. This is not likely in a normal residential application. Avoid leaving hot items on a seam. Our seams are joined with heat resistant resins, but extended exposure to high heat could deform or weaken the seam.
• Cleaning: A non-abrasive neutral cleaner (not acidic or basic), free of oils or wax will work the best. We sell a cleaner revitalizer made by DuPont that contains a small amount of the same sealer we use to treat your product. This provides the perfect cleaning and a small sealing treatment every time you use it. Contact us if you would like to purchase some.
• Stains: Your stone will resist most stains for a short period of time. If you spill something just wipe it up and clean the stone. In general the quicker you clean it the better, but spills left for an hour or so seldom are a problem.
• Oils present the biggest challenge, and the most likely long-term issue. For this reason we discourage leaving oily bottles, jars or pots on stone counters or shelves. Candles can have the same effect due to the fat content in most waxes. Simply place a dish or tray under the oil or candle before setting it on a counter.
• High acid materials such as lemon or lime slices should not be left on a stone surface. Their acidity can etch the stone leaving it dull or even pitted.
• Finally, water will sometimes leave a ring or stain on some stones. This is normally not a problem, as the ring will disappear as the moisture evaporates. If you have a stone where water does not bead up when placed on the surface, your top may need to be re-sealed.

Stain removal requires a little work, but is possible by the average homeowner. If you should experience a stain, try to understand what caused the stain, use the stain removal steps in the Marble Institute of America document below, or give us a call. We can walk you through the steps or come out and provide the service for you.As members of the Marble Institute of America we maintain a strong relationship with the best of the best in the stone business in the world. Attached is a document published by MIA concerning the General Care of stone products. To us they err on the cautious side for use, so keep that in mind.