Use and Care Guide

Fairmont Beach FM07 tile shown
TILE CARE & MAINTENANCE PAGE 3 OF 6
TILE CARE &
MAINTENANCE
NATURAL STONE continued)
Once the stone has been cleaned, you can periodically apply a
spray-bu wax-type floor finish to enhance the beauty and luster of
polished stone (including countertops). Apply the finish with a spray
applicator and bu immediately with a white nylon pad. Reapply
as often as needed, depending on volume of surface trac and
consistency of routine maintenance program. This product is not
designed to restore the original shine, but is intended to maintain
and protect the original shine.
Heavy-Duty Stone Cleaning
When some areas have been neglected, you will need to use a
heavy-duty non-hazardous and non-polluting stone cleaner and
degreaser to eectively remove dirt, grease, grime, waxes and
floor finishes. An optimal heavy-duty cleaner should contain low
percentages of VOCs. These cleaning products are concentrated
and designed to deep clean the stone without damaging it.
Apply the solution of the cleaner and water mixed to manufacturer’s
instructions to the stone surface with a sponge or mop. Allow setting
for the manufacturer’s specified amount of time. Agitate with a
sponge, synthetic mop, and soft bristle brush or through the use of a
floor scrubbing machine.
Mop up dirty solution and bu dry. Be sure to change out the
cleaning solution every 100 square feet to avoid reintroducing dirty
water during the cleaning process. Rinse thoroughly with clean water
when finished. After cleaning you may apply the spray-bu wax- type
floor finish to enhance the natural shine.
Stain Removal
Stone poultice will remove stains and grout haze from stone.
Poultice is a fine, nonacidic, absorptive clay cleaning powder that
removes deep-set oil stains, grease and light cementitious grout haze
from polished and unpolished Natural Stone.
CAUTION: Poultice may dull the shine of the polished stone.
If this occurs you will need to use a marble polish to restore
the natural shine.
Restoration
If a marble finish has become dull, scratched or etched, you can
restore the natural shine through the use of a marble polish. Some
marble polishes are available in kits. The process can be enhanced
with the use of floor bung machines. The process is generally a
re-crystallization process to remove fine scratches and restore the
original shine and polish to the stone. This is not an application of a
topical sealer or wax to cover-up damaged or worn surfaces.
NATURAL STONE NEW INSTALLATIONS
Sealing is strongly recommended for newly installed marble and other
Natural Stone to provide maximum below surface stain protection.
Immediately after Natural Stone has been installed and grouted, the
new installation should be covered with brown paper to protect it from
debris during the remaining construction process. The protective
brown paper should remain in place until construction is completed
and the area is opened to intended (post-construction) use.
Pre-Grout Sealing
A non-sanded grout is strongly recommended for Natural Stone
installations due to the narrow grout joints customarily preferred.
This type of grout has very fine particles of cement, polymers and
color pigments that can penetrate the microscopic pores of the stone
surface where they become trapped and appear as a stain in the stone.
Therefore, all travertine, slate, tumbled stone and honed/flamed/
unpolished granite should be sealed prior to the grouting process to
protect them from staining. The application of a good quality sealer
should be used as a grout sealer and applied again as the final sealing
process once the installation is finished.