Plenty of homes and businesses feature natural stone working in and around to compliment the design. A number of popular luxury stones are laid in high-end homes these days both inside and outside of home. Often times, these stone mediums consist of widely traded and high value commodities that nearly never come at a cheap cost to the builder. While most people would presume that natural stone is sturdy and impervious to most natural elements – when laid outdoors – the truth is that it must be properly sealed using natural stone sealer to offer the greatest amount of protection in the investment. The following four reasons will serve to underscore this thesis.
One: Permeability Issues Resolved
Regardless of what type of stone that is being used, it is all permeable and therefore needs to be sealed to prevent staining. Stones like limestone or marble, for example, can become etched by calcium when cleaned with acidic and abrasive cleaners, if they are not properly sealed prior. All stone, for that matter, is permeable because all stone contains microscopic spaces that exist between the layers of the composition that can retain moisture. Natural stone sealer fills these spaces and provides and external layer of protection that helps to prevent staining and works to preserve the natural resiliency of the stone being laid.
Two: Filling Microscopic Spaces In Between Crystals
Popular stones like granite contain billions of microscopic crystals that, when meshed together over time and under great pressure, merge to create the beautiful and dazzling designs that have made it a popular medium used in homes and buildings during the present day. However, these crystals also contain microscopic spaces in between them which are susceptible to staining and damage if not properly sealed with the right sealant after being laid. Failure to seal the stones can contribute to denigration from cleaning solvents as well as deterioration of the stone over time from natural elements.
Three: Why Stone is Not Inherently Resistant to Staining
One also has to understand how stone for construction is mined. Large swaths are literally bombarded into rock quarries using TNT grade materials. The stone walls are obliterated and the ramshackle remains are harvested, cut (and sometimes polished). Following this process, the stone pieces are delivered to wholesaler warehouses, where they eventual make their way into the stores and construction supply depots, where they are then purchased by building contractors. During this culling process, permeable layers of the stone are exposed, and are prone to aging, oxidization and calcite if not properly sealed after being laid.
Safeguarding Your Investment
Choosing to have luxury stones laid in your home, whether that’s for flooring, countertops or to enhance outdoor aesthetics, can be a smart investment that increases home value and ambiance. However, the drastic investment necessary in these refined stones should be underscored by taking precautionary measures to preserve the natural beauty of the stones via proper sealing methods. The difference is that sealed natural stone will retain its original sheen and candor for far longer than unsealed stone will, thus safeguarding the investment being made into it.
Author Bio: Neil Smith is an accomplished writer and has writing experience in various domains and niches. Smith’s area of expertise is quite broad, his published material includes topics on health, fashion, law, technology, business and current events. He is currently a freelance writer covering popular topics such as importance of natural sealer. You can follow him on twitter.com/neilsmith.
