How to:  Clean  |  Seal  |  Restore             Polished Marble & Limestone   Sealing - Cleaning - Problem Solving - Protection - Care Polished Limestone Polished Marble Polished Marble & Polished Limestone When you look at the pictures above, you see part of the confusion about these materials. You cannot tell by look or feel which is limestone and which is marble. Actually, they are the same stone called by different names by the sellers. The cleaning and sealing characteristics are the same under either name.

There is no need for confusion or problems brought about by misidentification of a surface type, yet it happens all too often. If you would like to see why this is the case and how to properly identify a surfacing material ..... Click here

If you are concerned about doing it yourself - consider that the satisfaction of a project is directly related to your knowledge of what needs to be done and how. Who actually does the work is less important. We estimate that 25% of the usage of Aldon products is by "do it yourself" homeowners and we know they are happy because we hear from them.

MATERIAL DESCRIPTION - With Identifying Characteristics Typical absorption range = none to very low Testing your surfacing for absorption rate Testing for acid sensitivity Note this on your worksheet for later reference Wide range of colors and vein patterns. A fairly hard stone that typically has a highly reflective "mirror like" finish. Very susceptible to damage from acidic liquids, however, that is preventable. Used extensively in high end shower applications, but usually creates dissatisfaction due to entirely preventable dulling of the shine over time.  That does not have to happen.  See "Considerations" below.

Following are recommendations for products you may need (in sequence of use ) for whichever of the categories applies to you. Please review each and mark your printed worksheet accordingly.

Layed, But Not Grouted  Grout Easy Efflorescence            Treatment        Grout Residue            Remover   (should not be needed after using Grout Easy)

Grouted, But Not Sealed Grout Residue            Remover       Efflorescence            Treatment        .............Sealer ( see below ) Lifeguard Care ...........

Sealer Has Been Applied Important! - First - Click here!  Premium Stripper ...........Cleaners   ? ...........Sealer ( see below ) Lifeguard Care ..........

Refinishing of damaged or worn marble and limestone with a polished finish:

For repair of chips and scratches, or antiquing the finish - see

  
Fine Stone
Restoration

For restoring the shine to permanently worn and dull areas - see

S-B-S Sealer    and this page.

Regarding The Sealer Results Shown Below

A polished stone finish has unique criteria that limit choices in sealing.

• It is usually desirable to not have an observable change to the factory finish
• These finishes cannot absorb sealers, but will stain
• The finish must be protected from oil borne, as well as, water borne stains.

An Aldon sealer does far more than just bead water and look pretty! To see what that is click here.

Your results may vary somewhat from these pictures due to variations in computer display and the surface materials themselves. Nevertheless, you will be able to see the differences well enough to make good choices. Different areas of the same piece are used as much as possible to minimize raw material variations. Of all the sealers Aldon manufactures, the ones shown are recommended as best suited to this surface type. (Important: If your project has had any sealer applied in the past, it must be evaluated differently. To see why, Click here!)

"Fine Stone Sealer"     Water Based - Coating Type Recommended for finishes that have little or no absorption.

Picture is polished marble with no absorption Sealed in one application No change to gloss No change to color Red arrow shows water drop spreading on unsealed left side Yellow arrow shows water drop maintaining a high bead on the sealed side

"S-B-S Sealer" Solvent Based - Penetrating Type Recommended for polished marble/limestone when it is desired to protect from acidic liquids. Top picture - marble sealed with SBS Sealer: Sealed in one spray application Low (matte) gloss No color change on most polished stones Bottom picture - acid test Fully Sealed - left half

SBS Sealer virtually undetectable on surface. Left side sealed with SBS Sealer Right side unsealed Acid Protection: Above shows a liquid line of full strength muriatic (pool) acid. The arrow points to the left half protected with SBS Sealer. There is no fizzing on the sealed half because the acid cannot contact the stone through the sealer. Note: On a very low absorption surface like this that is already of high reflectivity, the best visual results are usually achieved with a spray application. S-B-S Sealer is available in spray cans for small projects. For large projects, see information on spray equipment here You can see a video of this process here: Video: Spraying a tabletop with S-B-S Sealer

 

Other care products you might need for this surface type

Insta-Clean

Maintain

Dust Whiz

* Note:       will add another level of gloss to any of the above sealed surfaces.
It also prevents traffic wear to the sealers finish.

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