Stains and Stain Removal

Natural stone has been installed for hundreds of years without a sealer and much of it continues to look beautiful. Although new technology has allowed us to minimize staining by using various sealers, one thing should be clear to you regarding the satiability of stone.

Most natural stone is “stainable” given the right amount of time and a strong enough staining agent. However, the rate at which a particular stone absorbs foreign matter, (the “porosity” of the stone), can vary. Some natural stones are less porous and resist staining better than others.

Granites, for example, are typically more stain resistant than most marbles and might be more suitable for kitchen or commercial areas. These applications are typically exposed to more products that can cause staining. Use some of the preventative prac­tices outlined under “Care and Considerations” in this booklet to prevent as many stains as possible. However, if staining doss occur, perhaps the stain removal method outlined below will be helpful.

Determine what type of stain you have and practice the corrective measures as suggested below using a commercial-strength poultice. Understand that although poultice methods are typically very effective, some stains will never completely respond to any treatment and you will have to live with them.