Most natural stone should be sealed before and after installation, and all of our restoration treatments include the application of a sealant. There is a lot of misconception about what this means for the stone, how it works and why it doesn’t give 100% protection. Here we explore the world of natural stone sealants.
Impregnating sealants penetrate the capillaries of the stone and protect from within. They can leave the stone with a natural, or colour-enhanced appearance, but always with the stone surface exposed.
Because 99% of natural stone is porous, this sealant is essentially designed to stop any spillages onto the stone penetrating the internal structure of the tile and causing damage or a deep set stain. There is a video on our YouTube channel which demonstrates the difference between water poured onto a sealed and an unsealed marble surface.
Accidents happen. Our clients have split everything from coffee machine descaler to limescale remover on their natural stone and it is always restorable. When stone has been properly sealed, the damage is usually only surface level. Take a look at our portfolio pages to see this in action.
Surface sealants form a physical barrier between the stone and the environment. Modern sealants are either wax or polymer-based, which can achieve matt, satin or gloss finishes to the stone. Such sealants however cannot be applied outdoors or in wet areas as they are affected by moisture. They are also ineffective if applied to a polished surface as they cannot penetrate the surface sufficiently to bond.
Surface sealants are usually used to create a shine to a tile that would otherwise be very dull. Riven slate, pillow edged limestone, tumbled travertine and other textured surfaces will be naturally matt finish. The texture and unevenness don’t allow these finishes to be polished mechanically, so a topical sealant is required if a satin or glossy sheen are required.
In other situations, such as terracotta, a surface sealant will also act to bind and consolidate a rough textured finish. This will mitigate the potential for the surface to flake apart or create dust by breaking down.
In practice, aside from the aesthetic changes these sealants can provide, apply them to textured stones will give another line of protection to staining. Rough textured and matt finish stone will be naturally more porous than honed and polished finishes. Applying a surface sealant on top of an impregnating sealant will provide a ‘sacrificial layer’. Any chemical spills will react with this sealant rather than the surface of the stone.
Contrary to popular belief, impregnating sealants themselves don’t degrade naturally over time. The pores and capillaries that were originally sealed will remain so. However, abrasion caused by foot-traffic will create and expose new pores and capillaries which will require additional sealant. Usually, the more people or pets in the property the more frequently the protection will need to be reapplied.
Impregnating sealants can also be denatured by high alkaline or acidic liquids. Chemical spills can cause damage to a stone surface but also render the previously applied sealant to become ineffective. This is why it is worth having the stone restored and resealed as soon as possible after a spillage has occurred. The damage from the initial accident won’t worsen but the exposed stone will be more vulnerable as a result.
Surface sealants on the other hand are designed to be a sacrificial layer. They aim to protect the stone surface from the external environment. This means that liquid spillages and abrasion will impact the sealant and not the stone surface. These sealants will also be impacted by repeated cleaning regimes. Over time, you can expect this sealant to degrade and it will need to be reapplied in order to keep the stone safe from internal damage and maintain the level of shine that they provide.
It is almost more important to look after the sealant as it is your stone – the two go hand in hand. Our Athena Aftercare guide, is designed to provide your clients with best practice when it comes to maintaining their stone. Following this guidance will ensure that the sealant can continue to do its job to protect any natural stone surface. For a PDF copy email [email protected]
About Athena Stonecare
Natural stone is an investment and we are committed to ensuring that its beauty endures. We specialise in working with marble, limestone, travertine, granite, and all types of natural stone, ensuring that stone will continue to be a beautifully sustainable feature within any property. As natural stone restoration experts we work with floors, worktops, shower walls, sinks and vanity units. The ongoing care of stone is important to us too and so we have developed a suite of advice and guidance on how to maintain the finish of any stone surface. This is distributed through stone suppliers across the UK and is also available to anyone who works with natural stone.
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Having natural stone in a bathroom is one way to add a touch of luxury to your home. The earthy tones of limestone can recreate a spa-like experience or the bold colours of marble elevate a space with a hint of grandeur.
No matter what materials you use in a wet environment, regular maintenance will always be necessary. The grout of a porcelain tile, for example, will become discoloured easily if you don’t keep on top of the cleaning. A little more time investment might be needed to care for natural stone, but having to do this means that you’ll not neglect the tiles as is so easily done with a ‘low-maintenance’ surface.
As with any room that you are considering installing natural stone in, there’s stone types that are more suitable and usually this is down to reducing the required maintenance.
Marble installed in a bathroom should ideally be the highest grade possible for the minimal inclusions and veining. This is because the vein composition is vulnerable to moisture damage. Very light, white marble can also be subjected to discoloration over time due to its naturally occurring iron content rusting. On the contrary, dark marbles will show the etch marks and hard water deposits very easily and so do require a diligent approach to maintenance.
It is important too, if considering limestone or travertine to opt for a less porous type. Stone suppliers should be able to talk you through the options with the lowest water absorption rate.
After selecting the stone type, particular attention should be paid to the finish on the stone, size of tile and other factors that will impact the slipperiness of the surface if being installed on a bathroom floor.
We recommend that you clean your stone shower and bath area daily. The easiest and most effective way is to spray the walls and floor of the stall with a stone safe cleaner, then squeegee down after everybody in the home has taken a shower for the day. This will stop hard water build ups to the surface of the stone.
This is particularly pertinent when it comes to Marble which is acid sensitive. With strong acids, you will see the effects of this instantly with a white or dull burn mark showing almost instantly. Known as etching, this is not something that can be wiped or cleaned off and will require professional restoration.
Tap water is not always PH neutral which means that over time, this can have a similar effect on your stone. In a marble bathroom, this means that it is really important to keep the surfaces as dry as possible.
In hard water areas (like London and the South East), sitting water will also lead to a build-up of limescale and mineral deposits which can be tricky to remove without risking damage to the stone surface.
When it comes to cleaning the stone in your bathroom it is essential to use a pH neutral stone cleaner. If in doubt, look out for ‘stone-safe’ on the label.
We also recommend keeping this in mind when cleaning other areas of your bathroom. Try using alcohol to clean your windows and mirrors rather than harsher acidic-based cleaning chemicals. If using bleach for your toilet then it is worth taking a little more time to protect any surrounding stone too.
Don’t let metal bathroom accessories (toilet brush holder, toilet paper stand etc) sit directly on the stone floor. Moisture, even from steam condensation will pool around the bases and can cause unsightly and difficult-to-remove rust marks in the stone.
It is also very important to keep an eye on grout and particularly silicone throughout the bathroom. Not only will worn grout look unsightly, but water that gets behind the stone can cause damage beyond repair.
Although stone will have been sealed when installed, it is important to note that this will not prevent the damage that acids and hard water can do over time. Periodic reapplication of a sealant can help to maintain the aesthetics as well as topping up the protection.
Just pour a small amount onto a microfibre cloth and apply to the stone surface in small circles until you have covered the area. Then buff the stone with a fresh cloth to remove any excess. Leave this for at least 15 minutes to dry, ideally 24 hours if possible.
If you opt to have your stone professionally restored or cleaned, the application of a sealant will always be included as part of the treatment.
For more information on how to look after stone in a bathroom or for you free copy of Athena Aftercare to share with clients please email [email protected]
Becca Cranfield, Director of Athena Stonecare, has given her insights into the industry.
Athena Stonecare is a family run business headed up by myself and my husband Dave Cranfield. The Company was Founded by Dave in 2012 and is now firmly established as one of the leading stone restoration providers in the UK partnering with Mandrin Stone, Fired Earth and Artisans of Devizes to provide ongoing stone maintenance services. I joined the business in 2018 and originally took on a hybrid role as a second pair of hands on site while growing the business. I’m now more likely to be found networking, giving talks and managing client relationships. Dave leads a team of 4 on site and still carries out every site visit and sample.
The focus of our services is all about returning it to its original condition. It could be that a client is having a kitchen refit and wants to keep their existing stone floor. Or a new section of stone is being added to the property in an extension and the older stone needs to be refinished to match. It might even be as simple as the stone needing a refresh after a renovation project is complete. Occasionally we are even called in to rectify damage caused during a build, or an installation issue. Our goal is simply to help you to make sure that natural stone is a feature of your projects.
Outside of the services that we provide, we are passionate about providing guidance on how to care for stone. Our Athena Aftercare guide was developed in 2022 in response to requests for advice on how to keep the stone surfaces we restored looking as good as when we left. This is now distributed by stone suppliers and fabricators and is available for anyone who specifies or installs stone. Knowing how to care for stone is essential as soon as it is installed – and it’s not difficult if you know how. Stone is durable and so the only way to ensure its timelessness is by looking after it from day one.
As well as providing restoration services for projects with existing stone surfaces, we are also always on hand to offer advice. Being the people that see the stone in situ – and so often with avoidable issues – we are well placed to give an independent review. Our expertise are often called upon when selecting stone to comment on the suitability and note any specific care that the stone might need. We are always happy to review photos of stains, cracks and marks too and advise on the restorability. We want to make sure that anyone who chooses to use natural stone can enjoy it forever, whether they embrace the patina that develops over time or invest in professional maintenance to see it elegantly endure.
Achieving our SBID accreditation! This is a significant step in our journey as it shows that the industry is keen to learn more about natural stone. We are hopeful that the guidance we provide can help Interior Designers to make more informed choices when using natural stone. It is the most bespoke material that you could work with and so misunderstood. We are hoping that we can change that narrative and help more Designers to specify stone in their projects.
We have seen an increase in clients wanting to change the finish of their stone – from polished to honed or vice versa. This could be due to the tile only being available in a certain finish, or simply because the customer has changed their mind. This is one of the cool things about stone that lots of people don’t realise. You can change the finish at any point. This is common with worktops as a honed finish can be seen as a little more practical. Although it’s not actually more hard wearing, a matte/velvet finish will show scratches and marks a lot less obviously and make it a popular choice.
There is a huge focus on sustainability and quite rightly so. This is moving away from just looking at the carbon footprint or embodied carbon but also considering how to make a design timeless. Stone fits in well to this ethos. Not only does is outperform its counterparts in many measures of sustainability but it is also durable and restorable. Most importantly, it never goes out of fashion. A limestone floor will look as good with today’s pantone of the year as it does with next years.
We’ve always got lots of projects on the go as our average job size is 2-3 days. This high turnaround always keeps us on our toes. Intermingled with this, is a few large projects and some historic and prestigious properties that we’ve submitted quotes for more recently. You’ll have to keep an eye on our socials to see how we get on!
It’s a real honour and an opportunity for us to share out passion. We are looking forward to getting involved and meeting lots of members over the coming months.
Listen to a panel of inspiring women in the design industry as they share their stories of success, challenges, and unforgettable moments throughout their careers. Enjoy fizz, nibbles, and engaging conversation.
Panellists: - Becca Cranfield, Director at Athena Stonecare - Joanna Harvey, Creative Director at Sabella Interiors - Sally Coulden, Artist and Founder at Red Dog By Design - Claire Roberts, Senior Designer at Poggenpohl
SBID Members earn 1 x CPD point for attending!
One of the questions we are most frequently asked after we restore someone’s natural stone is: how do I keep it looking like this? It is this that led us to develop Athena Aftercare.
It's a concise guide explaining how to care for natural stone without needing a professional. Looking after natural stone shouldn’t be hard, expensive or time consuming. It is all about having the right advice from the moment it is installed.
Natural stone has been used in building for centuries so there is no denying that it is durable. With the right care and attention, it can also look beautiful for year to come. Being able to restore, repair and recycle stone also means that it is a great choice for anyone looking to build with sustainability and longevity in mind. After all, natural stone will never go out of fashion, so your limestone floor will always be on trend no matter how many times you change your furniture style, redecorate or renovate.
With each client that we see, we will spend around half an hour discussing the exact cleaning regime that we would recommend for their specific natural stone floor. The advice that we would give to someone with 150sqm of tumbled limestone who lives in the countryside with 3 dogs and a smallholding is slightly different to someone with a polished marble hallway in Central London. However, the basic principles are the same and we have simplified this into wet and dry-cleaning recommendations.
Dry Cleaning Stone flooring does not need to be wet-cleaned everyday in fact we would advise against it. It is important though to regularly sweep the floor to remove dirt, dust and debris that could easily scratch the stone surface. We advise against using a vacuum and recommend instead sweeping the floor. This is much quicker and efficient compared to vacuuming and doesn’t run the risk of scratching the floor.
Wet Cleaning One of the tricks with wet cleaning is not to over-wet the floor. Frequent use of a steam cleaner for example can damage the stone. When mopping the floor, it is also key to ensure that you do not let the dirty water dry into the floor. Especially with an open textured or pitted floor that is protected with an impregnating sealant.
The most important thing to remember when cleaning a natural stone floor is to use the right cleaning detergent. Many household cleaners are not stone safe as they contain acidic ingredients. Others will contain highly alkaline ingredients which can damage the sealant. PH neutral cleaning products will emulsify the dirt without risking damage to the sealant or the stone surface. For our clients, we recommend the range by Fila which are also eco-friendly and VOC free.
The good news is that when it comes to bathrooms, the rules are the same. Ensuring that only pH neutral cleaning products are used is of the utmost importance. It is worth considering other cleaning fluids used in the bathroom and how they could impact the stone. For example, bleach used to clean a toilet could damage a marble floor and many glass and mirror cleaners are acidic too. A little caution when cleaning can go a long way.
Probably the most important thing to be aware of with natural stone in a bathroom is the impact that even water itself can have. In a hard water area and the pH of the water is not 7. This means that water that is left to pool on a sink or drip down the walls of the shower, will leave hard water deposits on the surface that can eventually etch the surface of the stone. We always advise clients to cleaning the shower and bath area daily. The easiest and most effective way is to spray the walls and floor of the stall with a stone-safe cleaner, then squeegee down after everybody in the home has taken a shower for the day. It is vital not to be tempted by limescale removers that are commonly available in the supermarkets as these will damage the stone surface and require professional restoration.
As with bathrooms and floors it is essential to regularly clean your marble worktop but to do so only using a stone-specific pH neutral cleaner. As marble is acid sensitive, the key is to try and keep the exposure to acid as minimal as possible. Vinegars, wine, lemon and anything that you might cook with that is acidic needs to be kept on a tray or plate or just away from the worktop altogether. If an acidic spill does occur, then we would advise to blot this rather than wiping it as this will just spread the damage. The chemical etching caused by acid on marble is almost instant and so the damage is done at this point. There will be little that you can do yourself to rectify this, but it can usually be restored to look like new.
Choosing natural stone over a man-made surface is an investment. If you bought a designer pair of shoes you would take the time to put them back in the box after each wear and if you bought a sports car, you probably wouldn’t take it through the car wash. For those who want their stone to continue to age elegantly, then just a few steps can keep it looking stunning. For a PDF copy of Athena Aftercare to share with your clients please email [email protected] or visit www.athenastonecare.co.uk for more guidance and advice.
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