You may have spent countless hours weighing the advantages and disadvantages of marbles and granites, honed and polished finishings, but the reality is that through daily use, natural stones are subject to damages ranging from mild to severe.
The first order of business is to learn how to identify the three common types of damages natural stones can sustain:
Etches
Etches are physical damage to the stone’s surface when exposed to acidic substances, such as wine and lemon juice. The ensuing chemical reaction corrodes the stone, leaving a dull spot within seconds and will become severe overtime when left unattended, to the point of the etch becoming rough to the touch. So be sure to clean up immediately whenever a spill happens!
Many of our customers come to us with requests to remove water spots on their stone countertops, the bigger problem here is the misunderstood concept and misused term. The commonly seen ring marks on kitchen countertops are also etches caused by leaving a glass of juice or wine on it.
The best way to prevent etching is to serve drinks on coasters.
Stains
Stains occur when the stone absorbs the colour of the offending substance, such as coffee. While stains leave no surface damage and are temporary, stains are often darker than etches and can become unsightly.
Scratches
Scratches are most commonly seen on floor tiles caused by tracking in dirt through the shoes’ soles. By removing shoes before entering tiled premises, scratches can largely be prevented.
There are very simple steps to take on your part to prevent damages to your marbles and granites, but if you find yourself not equipped with the right tools or do not have time to fix these problems, you can count on Toyo Jitsugyo to provide the best care for your precious tiles.
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