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Care and Precautions

Use coasters under all glasses, particularly those containing alcohol or citrus juices. Many common foods and drinks contain acids that will etch or dull the surface of many stones. Do not place hot items directly on the stone surface. Use trivets or mats under hot dishes and placemats under china, ceramics, silver or other objects that can scratch the surface.


Cleaning Procedures and Recommendations

Other Surfaces

Clean stone surfaces with a few drops of neutral cleaner, stone soap (available at hardware stores or from your stone dealer) or a mild liquid dishwashing detergent and warm water. Use a clean rag mop on floors and a soft cloth for other surfaces for best results. Too much cleaner or soap may leave a film and cause streaks. Do not use products that contain lemon, vinegar or other acids on marble or limestone. Rinse the surface thoroughly after washing with the soap solution and dry with a soft cloth. Change the rinse water frequently. Do not use scouring powders or creams; these products contain abrasives that may scratch the surface.

Bath and Other Wet Areas

In the bath or other wet areas, soap scum can be minimized by using a squeegee after each use. To remove soap scum, use a non-acidic soap scum remover or a solution of ammonia and water (about 1/2 cup ammonia to a gallon of water). Frequent or over-use of an ammonia solution may eventually dull the surface of the stone.

Vanity Top Surfaces

Vanity tops may need to have a penetrating sealer applied. Check with your installer for recommendations. A good quality marble wax or non-yellowing automobile paste wax can be applied to minimize water spotting.

Food Preparation Areas

In food preparation areas, the stone may need to have a penetrating sealer applied. Check with your installer for recommendations. If a sealer is applied, be sure that it is non-toxic and safe for use on food preparation surfaces. If there are questions, check with the sealer manufacturer.

Outdoor Pool & Patio Areas

In outdoor pool, patio or hot tub areas, flush with clear water and use a mild bleach solution to remove algae or moss.


Stone Identification

Know Your Stone

Natural stone can be classified into two general categories according to its composition: siliceous stone or calcareous stone. Knowing the difference is critical when selecting cleaning products.

Siliceous stone is composed mainly of silica or quartz-like particles. It tends to be very durable and relatively easy to clean with mild acidic cleaning solutions. Types of siliceous stone include granite, slate, sandstone, quartzite, brownstone and bluestone.

Calcareous stone is composed mainly of calcium carbonate. It is sensitive to acidic cleaning products and frequently requires different cleaning procedures than siliceous stone. Types of calcareous stone include marble, travertine, limestone and onyx. What may work on siliceous stone may not be suitable on calcareous surfaces.

How to Tell the Difference

A simple acid sensitivity test can be performed to determine whether a stone is calcareous or siliceous. You will need about 4 oz. of a 10% solution of muriatic acid and an eye-dropper. Or you can use household vinegar and an eyedropper. Because this test may permanently etch the stone, select an out of the way area(a corner or closet) and several inches away from the mortar joint. Apply a few drops of the acid solution to the stone surface on an area about the size of a quarter. If the stone is calcareous, the acid drops will begin to bubble or fizz vigorously. If little or no reaction occurs, the stone can be considered siliceous. Rinse the area thoroughly with clean water and wipe dry. This test may not be effective if surface sealers or liquid polishes have been applied. If an old sealer is present, chip a small piece of stone away and apply the acid solution to the fractured surface. CAUTION: Muriatic acid is corrosive and is considered to be a hazardous substance. Proper head and body protection is necessary when acid is used.

Stone Finishes

A polished finish on the stone has a glossy surface that reflects light and emphasizes the color and marking of the material. This type of finish is used on walls, furniture tops and other items, as well as floor tiles.

A honed finish is a satin smooth surface with relatively little light reflection. Generally, a honed finish is preferred for floors, stair treads, thresholds and other locations where heavy traffic will wear off the polished finish. A honed finish may also be used on furniture tops and other surfaces.

A flamed finish is a rough textured surface used frequently on granite floor tiles.

Stone Colors and Appearance

Granites and marbles are quarried throughout the world in a variety of colors with varying mineral compositions. In most cases, marbles and granites can be identified by visible particles at the surface of the stone. Marble will normally show “veins” or high concentrations. The minerals in granite will typically appear as small flecks distributed uniformly in the stone. Each type of stone is unique and will vary in color, texture and marking.

Sandstones vary widely in color due to different minerals and clays found in the stone. Sandstone is light gray to yellow or red. A dark reddish brown sandstone, also called brownstone, has commonly been used in the northeastern United States and eastern Canada. Bluestone is a dense, hard, fine-grained sandstone of greenish-gray or bluish-gray color and is quarried in the eastern United States.

Limestone is a widely used building stone with colors typically light gray, tan or buff. A distinguishing characteristic of many limestones is the presence of fossils that are frequently visible in the stone surface. Slate is dark green, black, gray, dark red or multi-colored. It is most commonly used as a flooring material and for roof tiles and is often distinguished by its distinct cleft texture.


Stains

Spills and Stains

Blot the spill with a paper towel immediately. Don’t wipe the area, it will spread the spill. Flush the area with plain water and mild soap and rinse several times. Dry the area thoroughly with a soft cloth. Repeat as necessary. If the stain remains, refer to the section in this brochure on stain removal.

Stain Removal

Identifying the type of stain on the stone surface is the key to removing it. If you don’t know what caused the stain, play detective. Where is the stain located? Is it near a plant, a food service area, an area where cosmetics are used? What color is it? What is the shape or pattern? What goes on in the area around the stain? Surface stains can often be removed by cleaning with an appropriate cleaning product or household chemical. Deep-seated or stubborn stains may require using a poultice or calling in a professional. The following sections describe the types of stains that you may have to deal with and appropriate household chemicals to use and how to prepare and apply a poultice to remove the stain.


Types of Stains and First Step Cleaning Actions

OIL-BASED
(grease, tar, cooking oil, milk, cosmetics)

An oil-based stain will darken the stone and normally must be chemically dissolved so the source of the stain can be flushed or rinsed away. Clean gently with a soft, liquid cleanser with bleach OR household detergent OR ammonia OR mineral spirits OR acetone.

ORGANIC
(coffee, tea, fruit, tobacco, paper, food, urine, leaves, bark, bird droppings)

May cause a pinkish-brown stain and may disappear after the source of the stain has been removed. Outdoors, with the sources removed, normal sun and rain action will generally bleach out the stains. Indoors, clean with12% hydrogen peroxide (hair bleaching strength) and a few drops of ammonia.

METAL
(iron, rust, copper, bronze)

Iron or rust stains are orange to brown in color and follow the shape of the staining object such as nails, bolts, screws, cans, flower pots, metal furniture. Copper and bronze stains appear as green or muddy-brown and result from the action of moisture on nearby or embedded bronze, copper or brass items. Metal stains must be removed with a poultice.(See section on Making & Using a Poultice) Deep-seated, rusty stains are extremely difficult to remove and the stone may be permanently stained.

BIOLOGICAL
(algae, mildew, lichens, moss, fungi)

Clean with diluted (1/2 cup in a gallon of water) ammonia OR bleach OR hydrogen peroxide. DO NOT MIX BLEACH ANDAMMONIA! THIS COMBINATION CREATES A TOXIC AND LETHAL GAS!

INK
(magic marker, pen, etc.)

Clean with bleach or hydrogen peroxide (light colored stone only!) or lacquer thinner or acetone (dark stones only!)

PAINT

Small amounts can be removed with lacquer thinner or scraped off carefully with a razorblade. Heavy paint coverage should be removed only with a commercial “heavy liquid” paint stripper available from hardware stores and paint centers. These strippers normally contain caustic soda or lye. Do not use acids or flame tools to strip paint from stone. Paint strippers can etch the surface of the stone; re-polishing may be necessary. Follow the manufacturer’s directions for use of these products, taking care to flush the area thoroughly with clean water. Protect yourself with rubber gloves and eye protection, and work in a well-ventilated area. Use only wood or plastic scrapers for removing the sludge and curdled paint. Normally, latex and acrylic paints will not cause staining. Oil-based paints, linseed oil, putty, caulks and sealants may cause oily stains. Refer to the section on oil-based stains.

WATER SPOTS AND RINGS
(surface accumulation of hard water)

Buff with dry Grade#: 0000 steel wool.

FIRE AND SMOKE DAMAGE

Older stones and smoke or fire stained fireplaces may require a thorough cleaning to restore their original appearance. Commercially available “smoke removers” may save time and effort.

ETCH MARKS

Etch marks are caused by acids left on the surface of the stone. Some materials will etch the finish but not leave a stain. Others will both etch and stain. Once the stain has been removed, wet the surface with clear water and sprinkle on marble polishing powder, available from a hardware or lapidary store, or your local stone dealer. Rub the powder onto the stone with a damp cloth or by using a buffing pad with a low-speed power drill. Continue buffing until the etch mark disappears and the marble surface shines. Contact your stone dealer or call a professional stone restorer for refinishing or re-polishing etched areas that you cannot remove.

EFFLORESCENCE

Efflorescence is a white powder that may appear on the surface of the stone. It is caused by water carrying mineral salts from below the surface of the stone rising through the stone and evaporating. When the water evaporates, it leaves the powdery substance. If the installation is new, dust mop or vacuum the powder. You may have to do this several times as the stone dries out. Do not use water to remove the powder; it will only temporarily disappear. If the problem persists, contact your installer to help identify and remove the cause of the moisture.

SCRATCHES

Slight surface scratches may be buffed with dry 0000 steel wool. Deeper scratches and nicks in the surface of the stone should be repaired and re-polished by a professional.


Poultices

Making and Using a Poultice

A poultice is a liquid cleaner or chemical mixed with a white absorbent material to form a paste about the consistency of peanut butter. The poultice is spread over the stained area to a thickness of about 1/4 to 1/2 inch with a wood or plastic spatula, covered with plastic and left to work for 24 to 48 hours. The liquid cleaner or chemical will draw out the stain into the absorbent material. Poultice procedures may have to be repeated to thoroughly remove a stain, but some stains may never be completely removed.

Poultice Materials

Poultice materials include kaolin, fuller’s earth, whiting, diatomaceous earth, powdered chalk, white molding plaster or talc. Approximately one pound of prepared poultice material will cover one square foot. Do not use whiting or iron-type clays such as fuller’s earth with acid chemicals. The reaction will cancel the effect of the poultice. A poultice can also be prepared using white cotton balls, whitepaper towels or gauze pads.


Cleaning Agents or Chemicals

OIL-BASED STAINS

Poultice with baking soda and water OR one of the powdered poultice materials and mineral spirits.

ORGANIC STAINS

Poultice with one of the powdered poultice materials and 12% hydrogen peroxide solution (hair bleaching strength) OR use acetone instead of the hydrogen peroxide.

IRON STAINS

Poultice with diatomaceous earth and a commercially available rust remover. Rust stains are particularly difficult to remove. You may need to call a professional.

COPPER STAINS

Poultice with one of the powdered poultice materials and ammonia. These stains are difficult to remove. You may need to call a professional.

BIOLOGICAL STAINS

Poultice with dilute ammonia OR bleach OR hydrogen peroxide. DO NOT MIX AMMONIA AND BLEACH! THIS COMBINATION CREATES A TOXIC AND LETHAL GAS!


Applying the Poultice

Prepare the poultice. If using powder, mix the cleaning agent or chemical to a thick paste the consistency of peanut butter. If using paper, soak in the chemical and let drain. Don’t let the liquid drip.

Wet the stained area with distilled water.

Apply the poultice to the stained area about1/4 to 1/2 inch thick and extend the poultice beyond the stained area by about one inch. Use a wood or plastic scraper to spread the poultice evenly.

Cover the poultice with plastic and tape the edges to seal it.

Allow the poultice to dry thoroughly, usually about 24 to 48 hours. The drying process is what pulls the stain out of the stone and into the poultice material. After about 24 hours, remove the plastic and allow the poultice to dry.

Remove the poultice from the stain. Rinse with distilled water and buff dry with a soft cloth. Use the wood or plastic scraper if necessary.

Repeat the poultice application if the stain is not removed. It may take up to five applications for difficult stains.

If the surface is etched by the chemical, apply polishing powder and buff with burlap or felt buffing pad to restore the surface.

Do vs. Don’t

  • ✔ DO Dust mop floors frequently
  • ✔ DO Clean surfaces with mild detergent or stone soap
  • ✔ DO Thoroughly rinse and dry the surface after washing
  • ✔ DO Blot up spills immediately
  • ✔ DO Protect floor surfaces with non-slip mats or area rugs and countertop surfaces with coasters, trivets or placemats
  • 🚫 DON’T Use vinegar, lemon juice or other cleaners containing acids on marble, limestone, travertine or onyx surfaces
  • 🚫 DON’T Use cleaners that contain acid such as bathroom cleaners, grout cleaners or tub & tile cleaners
  • 🚫 DON’T Use abrasive cleaners such as dry cleansers or soft cleansers
  • 🚫 DON’T Mix bleach and ammonia; this combination creates a toxic and lethal gas
  • 🚫 DON’T Ever mix chemicals together unless directions specifically instruct you to do so

Venetian Marble

CARE AND MAINTENANCE

Maintaining the Venetian Marble Surface is simple and easy. Simply follow the care and maintenance below.

  • ► For everyday cleaning use a damp cloth, sponge or paper towel
  • ► For more difficult stains use mild soap
  • ► For the most stubborn stains you can use a neutral pH cleaner and a nonabrasive scrub pad
  • ► Before applying any cleaning agent, be certain to rinse all of the surface area thoroughly
  • ► Sealing of the product is recommended on an annual basis for protection and durability. It is advisable to use a marble sealer. Follow the instructions of the Sealer’s manufacturer.

GENERAL PRECAUTIONS

Be cautious when exposing your Venetian Marble surface to any household chemicals or solvents.

Do not expose Venetian Marble surfaces to any chemicals that contain trichlorethane, hydrofluoric acid, hydrogen peroxide, or methylene chloride - such as paint remover or furniture strippers. These types of chemicals may etch or discolor Venetian Marble surface.

It is recommended to use cleaning product that contains neutral pH content.

In case of accidental exposure to products, thoroughly rinse the affected area with water as soon as possible.

In following these simple care and maintenance guidelines your Venetian Marble surface will provide you with many years of trouble free use.


Why Real Deal Countertops?

The addition of new countertops to your kitchen or bath is
the best way to completely make over the look of your home.
A range and materials and prices exist for countertops.

Contact Us to talk about some of the choices available from
Real Deal Countertops.

We'll help you find one within your budget.


FAQs

I’m interested in purchasing granite countertops in Charleston, SC. Can you tell me a little more about your company?

Our journey began more than 12 years ago when we opened our sister business, Real Deal Homes. It was through this work that we realized many homeowners in Charleston needed quality countertops. We were surprised to discover that many countertop companies failed to provide their clients with a robust countertop package. Not just in terms of quality materials, but also customer service. We felt that we could fill this need, and as a result, Real Deal Countertops was born.

Since opening, we are proud to have served more than 5,000 customers. This is a testament to our commitment of outstanding customer service and wide selection of quality stone countertops in Charleston.

I would like to remodel my kitchen, but I need help getting started. Can Real Deal Countertops Help?

Yes, absolutely! Trying to choose the perfect counter at a price that makes sense for your budget can be challenging and time-consuming on your own. That’s why we have Real Deal countertop specialists that can walk you through choosing the best counters and counter materials for your home.

Have questions about quartz countertops in Charleston, SC? Wondering if Silestone would look great in your bathroom? We’re here to help! Contact our office to speak one of our experienced counter specialists today.

I don’t like the way that Caesarstone countertops look. Do you have other types of countertop stones to choose from?

We are proud to offer our customers the most extensive selection of countertop stone in Charleston. If you have a preference in stone, chances are we have it. The slabs that we use for countertops are cut from a larger piece of stone called the lot. Each lot has its own uniquely beautiful pattern, meaning your countertop choices are almost endless. Our inventory includes the following stone selections:

  • Silverstone
  • Quartzite
  • Granite
  • Marble
  • Sensa
  • Quartz
  • Vicostone
  • Caesarstone

Within each category of stone, there are several colors and styles to choose from. For instance, if you are interested in Silestone countertops in Charleston, SC, you have your choice of colors like Daria, Desert Silver, Eternal Maquina, and many more.

I LOVE the look of my new quartzite countertops! What are some other locations around the home where I can add stone like quartzite?

While countertops are the most popular area to remodel, several other places around your home would look fantastic with new stone material from Real Deal Countertops. Some of these areas include:

  • Dining Tables
  • Outdoor Kitchens
  • Kitchen Islands
  • Jacuzzi Surrounds
  • Showers
  • Shower Benches
  • Fireplaces

If you have other areas in mind, we would love to hear from you! Once a Real Deal countertop specialist has answered your questions, we will craft a custom template for you to review. This helps us make sure that we’re installing your new stone accents exactly where you would like.

I recently purchased Sensa countertops in Charleston, SC. How should I care for my new counters to make sure they look great and last for a long time?

We’re happy that you asked this question! There are a lot of myths about maintaining and cleaning stone countertops. Firstly, we recommend that you slip a coaster under any glasses that will sit on your counters, especially if your drink has citrus juice or alcohol mixed in. Using coasters will help prevent common drink acids from dulling your stone counters.

Also, do your best to place hot items like cookie sheets and pots on top of trivets. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not a wise idea to place hot items directly on your stone counters. Lastly, be sure to put items like ceramic vases, fine china, and silverware on placemats. These materials can scratch the surface of your countertops.

How should I clean my limestone countertops in Charleston, SC?

First thing’s first – DO NOT use any products that contain vinegar, lemon, or other acidic liquids on limestone or marble countertops. Also, do not use creams or powders – these products can leave scratches on the surface of your limestone counters. Your best bet is to use a neutral cleaner with warm water to clean your limestone countertops. After you apply the cleaning agent (don’t use too much!) use the warm water to rinse off the surface of your stone. Dry the area with a clean, soft cloth.

If you have limestone in your shower or bath area, you can prevent soap scum from building up by using a clean squeegee. Try to wipe away the water and soap after each shower or bath that you take.

I would like to see what Vicostone countertops in Charleston, SC look like. Where can I see some examples of your work?

Since you’re already on our website, we recommend you click on our Portfolio tab. You will find plenty of HD examples of our work on this page - from common granite countertops to more extensive, uncommon jobs. After you have had a chance to look around, we encourage you to write down a few questions that we can help answer for you over the phone. Before you know it, you will be ready for your new set of Real Deal Countertops!



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