Category: Home and Garden

Home and Garden

Does My Stone Surface Need Sealing?

If you have natural stone in your home then you may want to know if you need stone sealing. Natural stone is quite complicated to understand and it is best to consult an expert. before you do enquire about stone sealing, you may be interested to know a few things about it.  Keep reading to find out if you need stone sealing, what stone sealer is and does. 

What is natural stone sealing?

This is the process that a stone care service provides. It is the process of sealing stone surfaces with a sealer. The stone surface should be tested and checked before sealing is done. 

Keep in mind that Sealing will not prevent etching or scratching.

What is a stone sealer?

A stone sealer is a type of coating that is poured onto the natural stone to help reduce and protect against stains caused by spilt liquids onto the floor or surface. The sealer runs into the pores of the stone and hardens, this then slows down the time it takes for any staining from spilt liquids. This makes it less likely to stain because you will have more time to clean up the spill.  All stones are porous, some stones like limestone are more porous than others. 

Types of stone sealer

There are many different brands of sealer available, but here is a list of the different types of sealer that are offered.

  • Penetrating Sealers: These sealers permeate the surface of the stone without leaving any noticeable colour change to the surface.
  • Enhancing Sealers: This sealer penetrates the stone surface and enhances the qualities of the stone, without making it glossy. 
  • Topical Sealers: This type of sealer sits on the top of the surface and does not penetrate. It is like a protective barrier that sits on the surface. 

Should I seal Limestone? 

This stone is very porous and is used on footpaths, walkway areas and other places where people walk. In these types of instances, it is best to seal the stone, because it will protect it from dirt, oil and other stains. Sealing does not need to be used when limestone is used as doorways and walls and other upright constructions. This is because it will be less likely to be stained or damaged by people traffic. 

 

limestone walkway

photo of a limestone walkway

Should I Seal Marble?

Polished marble closes the pores on the surface which acts as a sealer in itself. Travertine when polished, also becomes less absorbent.  The sealer may not actually be able to seal the marble or travertine. Marble is a dense stone and when polished it is very stain resistant, so it may not need to be stained. Marble is very good as a benchtop surface and in the kitchen. Whereas more absorbent stone like limestone is not a good choice for the kitchen because it is very porous.

Image of a marble floor

Image of a marble floor. 

Should I Seal Travertine? 

Most often, it is not necessary to seal a travertine surface if it has been polished. This is because the travertine is a dense stone and the polishing closes off the pores, preventing any liquid from entering it. 

image of travertine floor

Image of a Travertine floor

Blood Stain Removal

Here's the short lesson on bloodstain removal: act fast. Carpets today usually include stain-resistant treatments, so even blood can be removed if you get it right away. The longer the delay, the more difficult removing there are no carpets yet, and any carpet stain becomes. With blood, the process of coagulation makes it particularly hard to get the stain out if it's old and dried.

Step-By-Step Blood Stain Removal

1. Rinse and extract the blood stain with water. Apply just a little at a time, so you don't spread the stain. The stain can be set by hot water, which makes it permanent, so use cold water. Add the water, then blot it up with paper towels or a clean white cloth. You can suck on the solution out using a shop-vac, which means less of a possibility of spreading the stain.

2. Eliminate the stain with a solution of a few drops of Dawn dishwashing detergent in a cup of cold water. Work it into the bloodstain, but take care not to spread the stain. Blot the area with paper towels or clean cotton cloth, as this may damage the fibers but do not rub the stain. Fibers that are damaged hold stains and get stained in the future more easily.

3. Repeat the procedure as many times as is necessary, or until there's no more transfer of the stain from the carpet to the fabric or paper towels. Then blot up excess water when you're done.

4. Leave the fan blowing to dry it. Otherwise, place a stack of paper towels (white) on the stained area, or a few clean white cotton fabrics, and put something heavy on them. Leave this to blot up the liquid, replacing the paper or fabric towels as necessary. Fast-drying retains any remaining stain deeper in the carpet from"wicking up" to the surface and becoming visible again.

Some have reported good luck using club soda to remove blood stains, so if the instructions do not work, you can try that next. It's difficult to predict which will not and which spots will come out till you try. This is due to various types of other factors and carpet fibers. By way of instance, wool and other natural fibers are often more challenging to remove stains from. As with all stains, use water before attempting solvents.