Marble Restoration: Penetrating Stone Sealers and Caulking

Here at Sungloss Marble Restoration Company, we have worked for over 20 years on challenging marble, limestone, granite, terrazzo, slate and other natural stone projects, to name a few.  There is rarely a situation that does not call for sealing the stone upon the completion of a restoration project.  Stone sealers can prolong the time in between professional restoration calls by slowing the absorption of dirt and liquids and ultimately making daily maintenance go farther.  They give homeowners, property managers, remodelers, commercial building managers, and public building managers more bang for their stone-restoration buck.

The sealers Sungloss uses are created with the newest technology behind them.  Microscopic particles suspended in a carrier liquid are applied to the stone, and when cured, form a breathable layer of protection.  And we almost always use water-based sealers, which are better for the environment (and our technicians) by not releasing toxic fumes.

Another completely different kind of ‘sealing’ that we encounter during restoration is caulking.  From old marble slabs in a historic building foyer, to kitchens and showers, caulk exists to seal and glue seams that may flex over time.  The newest in caulking technology is mildew-resistant caulks that slow the formation of mildew in high moisture environments.

Caulking is an art in itself, but it is accessible enough for a do-it-yourselfer to attempt.  Recently we came across a good website walking through the ins and outs of caulking.  Our only note on the content is when it relates to natural stone, especially calciferous stone like marble and limestone: do not use denatured alcohol on those surfaces.  Instead a mild soap, medium stiff brush, plastic tool, and/or a new, clean razor blade (or even your thumbnail) will have to substitute!