Care & Maintenance

Tiles from Natural Stone will provide a lifetime of beauty and function given proper installation and basic care. We recommend the following care and maintenance procedures to help preserve its original appearance.

Pre-grout sealing
Natural Stone Collection tiles should be sealed prior to installation to prevent grout from staining the stone during the grouting process and to ease grout cleanup. Depending on the type of stone surface, this is best accomplished with either a sealer or a grout release.

Sealing
After installation, Natural Stone tiles should be sealed to make the stone less porous and more stain resistant. Dense, low porosity natural stone should be treated with penetrating-type sealers. Higher porosity stone can be sealed with either a penetrating or surface-coating type sealer (depending on the desired look). Sealed surfaces should be tested periodically for effectiveness.

Finishing
Natural Stone Collection tiles can also be given a finish (synthetic wax) in conjunction with a sealer. This will give them a higher sheen and/or provide a protective coating for "soft" or polished stones. A finish may change the appearance/performance of your tile, so always test it on a small area first. Consult the manufacturer of any surface-altering product for more detailed information about the impact of its specific product on the safety, maintenance or appearance of your tile product.

Routine stone tile care
Natural Stone Collection tiles can be cleaned using a neutral cleaner with a pH between 7 and 10. Avoid all-purpose cleaners or soaps containing water-soluble inorganic salts, oils, crystallizing salts, harmful alkali or acids. Dust mop floors frequently, as grit can act as an abrasive on a polished surface. Ongoing preventive maintenance will usually reduce the need for any problem-solving maintenance.