Sheboygan County WI
Natural Stone
Floor, Shower, Countertop
❥ Cleaning
❥ Renewal &
❥ Preservation

We Care for Your Stone Surfaces

Cleaning, Renewal & Preservation

• 🔶 Granite
• 🔶 Marble
• 🔶 Travertine
• 🔶 Terrazzo

Badger Carpet & Floor Care can maintain all of your natural stone surfaces, including natural and man-made stone. Stone maintenance is vital to preserve the beauty and condition of your surfaces. We are here to help preserve the life of your stone and keep it looking great!

Marble, Travertine, and Terrazzo
Renewal & Preservation

Available in a wide range of colors, these types of limestones are often used for their beauty, but are more porous, softer, and chemically sensitive than granite. The calcium-based stones show wear sooner than granite, but can be restored with honing and polishing more easily. They are etched by acids, including soft drinks and juice, absorb oils and other liquids, and are easily stained. These stones are typically found being used as flooring, though marble is often used as shower and countertop material as well.

Travertine can be renewal cleaned and left in their natural state (matte) with no polishing, or polished to a satin or glossy finish. Many travertine floors may also benefit from preservation sealing, to help prevent staining.

Marble and Terrazzo typically require renewal polishing. Polishing is needed to avoid dull floors that may still look nice, but are nowhere near as beautiful as they would be if they were shiny and reflective. If you want to return these floors to like-new appearance, renewal polishing is the way to go. Marble surfaces will typically benefit from preservation sealing as well.

Granite Countertop Renewal & Preservation

Granite is a very resilient natural stone — lack of porosity and acid sensitivity make it a fantastic choice for many applications, particularly in kitchens. Granite is very difficult to scratch, but when it does granite is more difficult to hone and polish than stones such as marble.

Granite countertops should be periodically renewal with a professional cleaning to remove soiling from the micro cracks that are inherent to the stone, and a polishing to restore to original luster of your countertop. Chips and pits can be filled to create a more sanitary working surface.

Does your granite countertop need a preservation sealing? Place some water in a few areas on your countertop and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Wipe up the water and observe the areas. If there is a dark spot where the water was sitting, your countertop is at-risk for staining and is in need of re-sealing.

Marble Etching

Marble is a beautiful natural stone that adds elegance and sophistication to your kitchen and bath. However, many marble owners struggle with keeping their surfaces looking like new. The greatest culprit? Etches. "Etching" takes place on the surface of marble by dulling its appearance, making it less reflective. It occurs when an acid (lemon juice, wine, coffee, and cleaning products are some common acids) comes into contact with the surface of the marble. The acid reacts with the calcium carbonate that is in the marble, and it eats away at the surface — leaving behind the etch.

Etches are different from stains. While etches are caused by chemical reactions on the surface of the marble, stains are caused by substances penetrating the marble's surface and leaving behind a mark which is often dark (etches typically appear lighter than the rest of the stone).

If etches do occur and they become an eyesore, Badger Carpet & Floor Care (yes, we do countertops too!) can correct them.

How can you prevent etching and keep your marble looking new?

• ✅ Avoid acidic and abrasive cleaners, and instead use mild, pH-neutral cleaning products specifically designed for marble.
• ✅ Place coasters and placemats under drinks and food to avoid spills and stains on your marble surface.
• ✅ If a spill does occur, wipe it up immediately. This will prevent the acid from having time to create extensive damage on the marble surface. You will still be left with an etch, but it will likely be minor and easier to fix.
• ✅ When working with acidic products in the kitchen, work on a board and/or a vinyl mat to minimize the potential for acid to come in contact with the marble.

Granite Countertop Chips

It was bound to happen eventually: whether it was an item dropped or dragged — something chipped your beautiful granite countertop. Should you have it fixed? From an appearance standpoint, the answer is purely preference. Some people may not care at all — particularly if the chip isn't in an obvious location. Others will be infuriated with the mere idea that there is an imperfection in their expensive countertop.

But no matter which category you fall under, fixing that chip goes beyond appearance. Cracks and chips are openings to the unsealed body of the stone. These openings invite water and staining that can compromise the integrity of your countertop. If the chip is located in a high-use area, it is probably best to have it professionally filled by Badger Carpet & Floor (plus Countertops!) Care.

Natural Stone Terminology

Abrasives

Compounds used to sand, smooth or polish by removing of material. The amount of material removed is determined by the size of the abrasive used.

Acid Spills

Will cause etching on the stone surface resulting in a dull spot. Acids dissolve tiny particles of stone.

Enhancing Sealers

Penetrate and change the stone appearance to a “wet” look that darkens the look of the stone.

Etching

When an acid — wine, orange juice, tomato, etc. — comes in contact with the stone, resulting in a dull spot. The acid eats the calcium in the stone, leaving behind an etch. Penetrating sealers can help to reduce severity of etches, but will not eliminate them.

Filled (and Unfilled) Travertine

Travertine is a naturally-pitted stone. Some people choose to have these pits filled, either with grout or polyester fill material. These fills are not completely permanent and can pop out. New pits and fissures will open up in the floor over time. Unfilled travertine tends to accumulate more soiling as it gets trapped in these pits.

Gloss Finish

Significant reflectivity often gives the ‘wow’ factor to stone. The quality of the stone will be a factor in the overall outcome and achievable gloss. The more gloss a surface has, the more noticeable any imperfections like etches.

Grinding

Utilizing coarse abrasives to sand away stone.

Honing

Utilizing fine abrasives to sand away stone.

Matte Finish

Typically only found on Travertine floors, shows very little reflection. Disguises etching, but should be sealed with a penetrating sealer as the pores of the stone are more open.

Penetrating or Impregnating Sealers

Designed to fill the pores of the stone and helps prevent staining. Lessens the severity of etching, but will not prevent it. This type of sealer will typically not alter the appearance of the stone.

Polishing

Using abrasives to make the stone smooth so that it reflects light.

Satin Finish

A low sheen appearance for limestone. Reflections from lighting are a soft glow but not very clear. Imperfections are less noticeable than with a gloss finish.

Scratches

A significant imperfection that is white in color suggests a deep scratch that cannot be buffed out using standard abrasives. Coarse grits are typically needed to remove enough material to remove the scratch. Replacement of the stone is sometimes the best option.

Topical Sealers

Designed to sit on top of the stone and changes appearance to high shine. Prevents liquids from soaking into the stone and helps prevent etching. This type of sealer is prone to scratching and flaking. Regular maintenance is required.