Egyptian Italian Co. - Marmo e Granite
di Mosaad Abdalla is dedicated to providing the most accurate and consistent
information possible to all of our customers. We know that if our customers
are more knowledgeable, they'll appreciate our superior service all the
more.
What is the difference in the compostition of granite and marble?
Natural stone can be classified into two general categories according to its composition: siliceous stone and calcareous stone. Knowing the difference is critical when selecting cleaning products.
Siliceous stone is composed mainly of silica or quartz-like particles. It tends to be very durable and relatively easy to clean with mild acidic cleaning solutions. Types of siliceous stone include granite, slate, sandstone, quartzite, brownstone, and bluestone.
Calcareous stone is composed mainly of calcium carbonate. It is sensitive to acidic cleaning products and frequently requires different cleaning procedures than siliceous stone. Types of calcareous stone include marble, travertine, limestone, and onyx. What may work on siliceous stone may not be suitable on calcareous surfaces.
We have heard different stories about impregnators. Some people say, they last forever, others say for one season. How often should the sealers be reapplied?
Most domestic applications should
be done annually, because they do not last forever. Over time the sealer
loses its strength and bonding to the stone. Just like the penetrating exterior
wood sealer, it eventually breaks down and must be reapplied.
However this will be accelerated in certain conditions. For example, in
a high traffic area, the impregnator wears as the stone surface wears down.
The sealer only penetrates to a maximum of about 1.5mm. As stone porosity
varies significantly the sealer penetration will also vary significantly.
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