CARES TO BE TAKEN WITH INSTALLATION:

The specialization of the crew to be hired for the installation is very important. Try to get information on the previous experiences of the professional in relation to granite handling and installation. 

ADDITTIONAL PRODUCTS TO BE USED:

Industrialized mortar or cement type CP32E (ordinary cement), fine-grained sand, white cement, color powder, fine-grained steel wool and clean tow. 

PREPARING THE STONES/TILES FOR INSTALLATION :

It is recommended that a layer of white cement or a sealant be applied to the vortex of the stone (i.e., the rough surface of the stone which will be in touch with the mortar). This procedure will prevent the stone from absorbing the humidity from the mortar which could eventually change its color and even start an undesirable oxidation process to the stone depending on the type of ferrous mineral contained in the rock structure. 

See a small or medium-sized paintbrush for this procedure. 

PREPARING THE MORTAR TO BE USED: 

Screen the sand to be used in the mixture in order to avoid the presence of small ferrous fragments that could cause oxidation to the stone. 

Recommended mortar mixture ratio: 4:1 (3 measures of sand per 1 measure of common CP32E cement). 

Mortar humidity must be in accordance with technical specification for mortar humidity, so as to assure that the proper mixture is achieved. 

SPACING BETWEEN THE PIECES: 

1-mm spacing between the pieces is ideal depending on how squared they are and in any case their corners must be in a perfect 90o angle. 

FILLING UP THE GAPS: 

The gap-filling operation must be done after the mortar is completely cured as during its curing stage the mortar is subject several working actions such as the expansion process. 

For light color stones it is recommended that you use white cement and some color powder to reach the stone color as near as possible. 

After the gap-filling operation has completed its curing period, clean up the floor with fine-grained steel wool. Do not forget, however, to consider the abrasive strength of the material used. Marbles imported from abroad as well as those produced in Brazil are very sensitive to abrasion when compared to granite. So, if the material is abrasion-sensitive, use just a cloth moistened with clean water and a neutral detergent. 

In order avoid any damage to the material, it is recommended that you cover the floor with cushioned cardboard paper. 

THE ENEMIES OF STONES :

In order to keep the stone in good shape it is important that you know what may cause damage to it. Every stone surface (floors, walls, vanity tops, etc.) has four basic enemies:

- Scratches - caused by traffic of people, abrasive debris, moving the furniture, the wheels of vacuum cleaners and sometimes by the nails of your own dog.

- Acid Substances - of low PH value, many common liquids such as detergent, alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, fruit juices and vinegar. 

- Alkaline substances - high PH value: these fluids are the opposite of acids. Most bleachers for home use are alkaline and may be very strong to be used in stone.

- Stains - caused by a great variety of foods, spilled drinks, water, animals and other factors. Eliminating these potential problems and taking care of stone's fragilities will help you keep the stone in good shape for a longer period of time.

TIPS FOR GOOD CARE:

Below are tips on maintenance and care with your stone. Proper care may vary according to the characteristic and condition of your stone. If you have further questions, you should contact a professional in stone maintenance.

INITIAL PROTECTION:

Every rock should be treated with a penetrating shield concept sealant that lets no residue to penetrate on the stone surface. With the application of this waterproof treatment, while the stone will reject fluids which may penetrate and cause stains, you will have more time to clean the substance spilled on your stone's surface. Penetrating shields are essential in areas such as bathrooms and kitchens. Silicone sealants to prevent penetration of water and oil are recommended despite their higher cost when compared to regular protectors. Always do a test with the product in a small area of the stone before using it in the desired area to make sure the results are acceptable. Some types of sealants do change the rock color a bit. Never assume as a principle that the stone has already been seal-treated by the constructor, the installer or the fabricator.

CLEANING: 

Many bleachers for home use are not formulated for cleaning stone. Many of them may cause more damages to the rock than would happen if the stone was not cleaned at all. Even the use of water can by itself cause damaging effects to some stones after a period of time. The use of neutral bleachers containing conditioner agents or a specific soap for stones is recommended.

DO NEVER USE:

Ammonia * cleaning alkaline powder products * cleaning paste products * Vinegar * Alcohol * glass-cleaning products * steel straw * abrasive cleaning cloths. 

YOU SHOULD USE:

Soap for stone * neutral bleachers * cleaning products * conditioners * penetrating shields for stone.

The constant use of adequate product will make your stone always look new and enhance its natural gloss. Due to low hardness of most rocks, it is important to keep their surfaces free of sand grains and other impurities. Normally these grains are harder than most rocks used in residential constructions and are the main cause for scratches, especially on floors.

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS:

Floors next to entrances require the use of rugs big enough to clean an adult's shoe sole. Do not forget to shake and clean the rug to remove the accumulated dirt. Beware of rugs with the reverse side in rubber that may cause marks on your stone and require costly restoration procedures for their removal. If the traffic on the floor is intense, clean it with a cloth every day. On a weekly basis, clean it with a cloth with a neutral cleaning products or soap for stone. Follow the instructions. In most cases the use of sealants is not recommended as they may stop the airflow through the rock pores thus causing problems in relation to humidity.

Vanity tops, table tops and wall tiles can be cleaned with the use of a spray containing the cleaning product. Spray the product on the surface then pass a cloth made of natural fibers. These surfaces may be polished with a wax paste for use in stones. The application of these pastes will ensure good gloss and protection to the rock. It is recommended that you seal and wax your bath closet. The appearance of fungus on stones is difficult to be removed. Chemicals used to remove fungus may ruin the marble and require costly procedures for restoration. Many granite stones are resistant to acid; consequently they are easier to be cleaned. Proper chemical products and maintenance waxes are much cheaper than the cost for a professional to restore the stone of your bathroom. 

FLOOR MAINTENANCE:

IMPORTANT NOTES:

POLISHING:

When your stone start loosing its gloss the best to do is to call a professional to do a re-polishing work. By using proper abrasives and polishing powders, the original gloss of your stone will come up unless the stone is too much damaged. Normally, the re-polishing work will not remove scratches. However, in some rocks it will remove the stains resulted from chemicals or cleaning products.

RE-POLISHING / RESTORATION:

Re-polishing operations are required to remove scratches, to correct off-level pieces and the friction wear caused by the traffic of people. The stone is ground off with various polishing grain sizes to level the pieces even and give them a new finish. An even floor will last much longer. Performing this job yourself is not recommendable; a stone polishing professional should be contracted instead.