About Marble
Marble is a limestone that has been changed under intense heat and pressure and is composed of calcium carbonate. The most common mineral of this composition is calcite.
Sealing Marble
Although marble is a dense stone, water and oil will penetrate marble given sufficient time. Porosity is also affected by its finish - highly polished marble is a little harder to penetrate than marble with a honed (matt) finish.
To preserve its looks, breathe-ability and slip resistance, it is important for marble to be sealed with a high quality, high penetration, invisible impregnating sealer. Dry-Treat impregnating sealers are suitable for all marble surfaces, indoors and out, from kitchen counter tops to marble floor tiles or wall cladding.
Protection from Acid Etching
It is very difficult to seal Marble against acid attack.
Marble and other calcite based stone such as limestone and travertine are prone to acid etching.Marble is immediately 'etched' (eaten / corroded) by any acidic material on contact - including lemon juice, cola, wine and champagne. For this reason marble is seldom used to make kitchen counter tops. In any case, acidic substances should be cleaned up as soon as possible.
Which Dry-Treat Sealer is Best for my Marble?
STAIN-PROOF Original™
Permanent, invisible, fully breathable impregnating sealer for water and salt, PLUS premium oil stain protection. Eligible for 15 year performance warranty when is sealed by an Accredited Applicator. Click here for more details.
PORCELAIN SEALER™
For very dense, highly polished marble surfaces. Permanent, invisible, fully breathable impregnating sealer for water and salt, PLUS premium oil stain protection.Eligible for 15 year warranty when your marble is
sealed by an Accredited Applicator. Click here for more details.
ENHANCE-PLUS™
For colour enrichment PLUS water based stain protection.5 year performance warranty when sealing is performed by an Accredited Applicator. Click here for more details.
Plus: STAIN-PROOF™ (1 coat) for additional oil protection at least 24 hours after ENHANCE-PLUS™.
Pre-sealing Preparation
1) Any surface to be sealed should be clean and looking just as you want it before it is sealed - it may be impossible to remove stains after sealing. Acidic cleaners should not be used on marble.
2) Check with the store your marble came from that the surface has no other coating such as wax or a topical sealer, and ensure any such coating is removed before sealing. STAIN-PROOF™ and Dry-Treat impregnators will penetrate other impregnating sealers, but not topical sealers.
3) Ensure the material is thoroughly dry before applying any Dry-Treat sealer.
Dry-Treat X-DUTY Cleaner™ is a highly effective, heavy duty cleaner which is safe to use on most types of porous surface. X-DUTY Cleaner™ is also an effective wax remover. Click here for more details.
Bleach diluted with water (1 part bleach to one part water) may also be used for stubborn stains. Apply the diluted bleach to the stained area, let it sit for 1-2 minutes, agitate with brush or cloth and then rinse well with clean water.
PLEASE NOTE:
1) Always test any cleaning chemical or sealer on a small, inconspicuous area of the surface 24 hours before doing the project, to check that it will produce the desired result.
2) Always ensure the surface is completely dry before proceeding with sealing.
