Purpose

• Natural stone maintenance prevents the need for costly repairs to flooring and countertops. A well-maintained marble or granite floor will last many lifetimes. Since maintenance only takes a few minutes a day, stone owners should take care of these surfaces.
  
  Natural stone restoration will restore a dull, stained floor to its natural shiny appearance. While this process comes at a price, stone restoration provides a less costly alternative to installing a brand new surface.
  
  

Sealing

• After installation, granite or marble flooring must be sealed. While stone has a long lifespan, water can eventually cause cracks. Granite sealer provides an impregnable barrier made of a fluoropolymer mixture, which keeps messes from staining your floor. After applying the proper sealant, which is available at home improvement stores, stone surfaces will be relatively stain-resistant and will repel water and oil. If you pay a contractor to install your floor, they will usually apply sealant for you.
  
  

Floor Maintenance

• Water degrades natural stone slowly; sand and abrasive dirt will wear away stone faster. Sweep your floor on a regular basis. Take off your shoes instead of walking through your house tracking dirt. Warm water, combined with a sponge or a mop, should be used to clean away dirt. Stay away from abrasive cleaning tools, which can scratch softer types of stone.
  
  

Countertop Care

• Removing oils and food from countertops on a regular basis prevents damage to granite countertops. Leaving food residues on natural stone eventually dulls the appearance and leaves stains. Acidic foods such as orange juice cause rapid deterioration of stone. Soap will not always remove all oil residues from countertops, so buy a countertop cleaner designed exclusively for stone. Natural stone cleaner usually contains additional sealants which prevent corrosive materials from sinking deeply into the stone.
  
  

Restoration

• Without proper treatment, natural stone flooring and countertops become worn, and often dull. Professionals seal large cracks in granite or marble flooring with a grout that matches the color of the stone. Alternatively, damaged tiles or slabs may be completely replaced, but it is usually difficult to match the color and pattern.
  
  For dull floors, professional contractors grind down the top layer of the stone, which will eliminate small cracks and stains. Some refinishers use chemical treatments to improve natural stone appearance, but this process produces inferior results.