A guide to the care & cleaning of natural stone

Natural stone adds a touch of elegance to any living space. The various colors, shapes and textures of natural stone features are just as mother nature intended them to be, imperfectly perfect, and for this reason will never go out of style.

Natural stone is sturdy and is far superior to engineered and manufactured products in withstanding everyday wear and tear. However, it is a natural product, which means that there are certain imperfections and characteristics which are inherent with the various types of stone that we use. This also means that every piece crafted with a stone top will be unique – you won’t find any 2 pieces that will have the exact same shades, tones or patterns.

We have used several different types of stone when crafting our products, these being:

• Marble
• Granite
• Bluestone
• Concrete

Natural stone will always be naturally imperfect

It is not uncommon to find imperfections in Natural stone. In fact, it’s actually quite rare to find stone that is impeccable and free from any kind of imperfection and that is where the real beauty of any natural stone comes from and that is its unabashed uniqueness.

Being a natural product, each type of stone will have its own characteristic traits which should be admired and not seen as faults. These characteristics include:

Colour variations x1	Colour variations x2	Colour variations x3

Composition variations	Mineral variations

Vein variations x1	Vein variations x2

Veins x1	Veins x2

Natural cracks	Natural fissures & Pits

General Stone CareStone is highly durable and needs minimal care to maintain its beauty.

• Most of our stone tops have been treated in the factory with a waterproof sealant
• For everyday cleaning - Clean with warm soapy water and non-abrasive cloth.
• Wipe dry with a clean dry soft cloth.
• Because natural stone is porous, clean up excess water and spills immediately, using a blotting rather than a wiping action. If water is left on the surface for a long period of time, it will mark the finish.
• If watermarks have appeared on the surface, you can try to remove them by using a hair dryer on a low heat and use a circular motion to dry the stone out.
• To give extra protection against hot cups, plates etc and accidental spillages, it is always best to use table runners, place mats and coasters.
• Avoid using or spilling products that are oil or petroleum based, acidic or caustic, e.g. vinegar, citrus, sodas, chlorine, nail polish remover etc.
• Don’t use Windex or similar cleaners on stone surfaces
• Avoid cutting with knives directly on top of stone surfaces as it will damage both your knife and your stone top.
• Water based water-proofing sealer will need to be re-applied over time. To test whether your top needs to be resealed, just place a few drops of water on the top if it soaks in within 30-60 seconds, then your top will need to be resealed.  If it doesn’t, then no sealing is required.
• When moving stone top tables, always have someone to assist you in lifting the table and lift from both ends. Never drag the table as it can stress and weaken the frame or even snap legs.