Each stone has unique characteristics, but all can be classified into two categories; siliceous and calcareous.

Siliceous stone is mainly composed of silica or quart-like particles. This type of stone tends to be more durable and easier to clean. Some examples of siliceous stones are:

• Bluestone
• Brownstone
• Granite
• Quartzite
• Sandstone
• Slate
  

Calcareous stone is mainly composed of calcium carbonate. This type of stone is sensitive to acidic products. Some examples of calcareous stones are:

• Limestone
• Marble
• Onyx
• Travertine

What stone should I choose for heavily used services?

For heavily used surfaces, you should use a siliceous stone such as granite. It is an excellent choice for kitchen countertops and floors because of its inherent strength and resistance to abrasion. It also has a strong resistance to heat.

In addition, according to the Marble Institute of America, studies of bacteria retention on common countertop surfaces have proven granite to be superior to other surfaces found inside the home.

On the other hand, Marble is an inherently beautiful type of stone and is easy to maintain. However it is susceptible to attack by mild acids such as orange juice, vinegar, wine, tomato products, and soft drinks.

What type of stone should I use in a foyer?

Marble has a wonderful appearance and is easy to clean and maintain.

In addition to the look of the stone, you also need to consider its usage. In a foyer one of the characteristics you may want to consider is a stone that is slip resistant. In this case you may want to consider a textured stone such as slate or tumble stone.

What type of stone should I choose for a fireplace?

For a fireplace surround and it depends on the look you are going for. Almost any stone will work fine because stone is inherently resistant to high temperatures.

How do I care for my stone?

Caring for your natural stone will help ensure a long lifetime of use. One of the key steps is to seal your stone with a good impregnating sealer. This will help prevent most spills from causing damage to you stone.

How do I know which sealer to use?

Like natural stone, impregnators can be classified into two categories; Hydrophobic and Oilophopic.

Hydrophobic impregnators help repel water and water-based chemicals. For example, fruit juices, coffee and tea would be repelled. Oilophopic impregnators are designed to repel water and oil based liquids. For example, cooking oil and grease would be repelled.

Which cleaning supplies should I use to clean my stone?

In order to choose the appropriate cleaning solutions, you would first need to know what time of stone you have, siliceous or calcareous. Siliceous stone is very durable and can be cleaned with a mild acidic cleaning solutions. Calcareous stone is very sensitive to acidic cleaning products and you can cause damage to your stone by using them.

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