When it comes to beauty, one of the best options for your home is natural stone. One-of-a-kind designs, dramatic colors, and rich finishes make natural stone very popular, especially in bathrooms where it can transform a boring space into a spa-like retreat. Natural stone has been considered a great choice for countertops for a long time. Now many homeowners also want natural stone installed in their showers.
Stone can be a great choice for the shower, but it does require additional care and maintenance. If you’re thinking of having a natural stone shower it is very important to be willing to take time for the extra care required.
Know the material
While marble is beautiful and popular to have in bathrooms, homeowners should be aware that it needs to be properly sealed before using the shower. Marble soundness is classified as A, B, C, or D. Soundness classifications mean that A and B have few veins or inclusions, and marbles classified as D and C have more. When moisture gets into the vein composition it can cause damage.
Water can also cause discoloration in white marble because some white marbles contain naturally occurring iron-bearing minerals. With enough water, it can start to rust. It’s vital that your marble shower is properly sealed and maintained.
A general thought is that the lighter the stone, the more porous it is. Darker stones have a tighter molecular structure and are less likely to stain. There are many exceptions to this concept, and this is where our expert team at Santa Barbara Stoneworks can help guide you through the process of finding the best material.
Granite is a good choice for bathrooms because granite is generally easier to maintain. Granite doesn’t react to acid, ammonia, and alcohol. Acid reacts to marble and travertine, and etches the surface, removing the polished finish.
Know how to care for the stone
No matter what material you use, there will always be maintenance for natural stone. So if you are concerned about natural stone because of the upkeep then we might recommend another option., says Tabbah. Another option like porcelain tile can also become discolored and grout lines will get darker. So there is always upkeep, it’s just different.
When you clean natural stone, we recommend keeping it simple. Soapy cleaners can add build-up and attract dirt, while vinegar and harsh cleaners can damage the stone. To avoid these issues, always use a neutral cleaner with a pH level of around seven.
A few quick preventative measures can keep stone surfaces looking fresh. To help avoid water marks on the stone surface, use a squeegee on the walls after showering. A tip would also be to keep your door open or a window open because it will help keep mildew from showing up. Moisture needs to escape, and it always takes the path of least resistance.
We recommend using glycerin over traditional bar soap because It’s transparent and doesn’t have a lot of fat, lye, or animal byproducts that are in regular soap. Soap scum is a food source for mold and glycerin helps cut soap scum.
Know the proper maintenace
Natural Stone needs to be sealed when it is used in bathrooms. We recommend proper sealing once a year. It helps repel water so it beads up instead of soaking into the stone and turning it darker.
Sealing stone is something the average homeowner can do, but it is important to follow the instructions exactly. For the best results, we can reseal any natural stone you have in your home.
Even the cleanliest homeowner should consider hiring a professional to come out every two to five years to have the stone rehoned or re-polished. We get a lot of calls to refinish the stone because it loses its luster over time due to water exposure or calcium deposits.
Most homeowners will agree that the beauty of a natural stone is worth the upkeep. We just want to make sure everyone is aware of how to care for and maintain it. It’s not as difficult as you might think but you need to make sure you’re committed to doing what is required to keep the stone looking beautiful for many years.
