Is your stone or marble in need of stone restoration? One of the primary challenges with stone maintenance, especially in exterior settings, is the high likelihood for mold and mildew growth. Whether its travertine, slate, granite, marble, coral, quartz, limestone, sandstone or any other stone they each have a pathway for water and dirt to sink in and ultimately create mold. This can also make the surface slippery, which, is particularly unsafe on stone stairs and around pools. This is the case for both walkable, or horizontal, stone surfaces. In addition, vertical stone surfaces are also susceptible to these issues. Limestone used in walls and facades can grow mold, particularly, in shady damp areas. If stone changes color when it gets wet that is an indicator that it has a high enough porosity to allow for moisture to penetrate into it. Some of the softer stones such as sandstone are also subject to wear and can break down more quickly with out a proper protective coating. Lastly, when not properly protected, stone can be discolored or stained from food, water and oil.
There are a variety of sealers used to protect stone currently on the market today. This includes water based and solvent based topical sealers as well as solvent based penetrating sealers. Topical sealers include urethane, acrylic and xylene options. While initially providing an enhanced appearance these sealers can start to look faded and they can yellow over time. Penetrating sealers require more frequent applications because they do not create a film on the surface that resists wear.
RexShield Stone is designed to penetrate deep into the pores and capillaries of stone in order to prevent moisture and microorganisms from lodging inside it. In addition the stone will have the following characteristics:
Over time stone can look worn and faded. The RexShield stone system will bring back the original color of the stone and give it a “wet” look.
Mold and mildew cannot grow on the surface of RexPro. It will only appear when dirt is lodged in nooks and crannies but this can be sprayed off with a hose, rather than needing to be brushed or killed with chemicals. In addition, by eliminating water penetration in the stone, there is less breakdown of the stone during the winter months where freezing water expands inside the stone.
RexShield Stone is incredibly stain resistant. Falling leaves and the tannins inside them will not stain stone once a full cure has been reached. In addition, foods, oils and acids do not break down the RexShield Stone product so they can easily be cleaned off.
Many people think that shiny means slippery. This can be true but in the case of RexShield Stone it is not. It actually improved the slip resistance of otherwise slippery stone surfaces. In addition, additives can be added to our product to further enhance slip resistance.
Due to the chemical resistance and pore-filling properties of RexShield Stone it is far easier to clean stone surfaces once they have been treated. A simple cleaner such as RexPro’s Safety Clean as well as hose water can dramatically reduce the time and expense of cleaning your stone.
Step 1. The work area needs to be free of anything resting on top of the stone.
Step 2. There will be a thorough and deep restorative cleaning performed using an extractor which uses hot water, pressure, disinfecting agents and vacuuming process.
Step 3. Adjacent areas where RexShield is not applied will be protected via masking
Step 4. The RexShield application will be applied once the surface is dry using the appropriate tools for any given area. It is typically a one coat process, though it can be two coats depending on the gloss desired and type of stone being applied to. There is a 4 hour drying period after which light traffic is allowed. Protective materials can be removed at this point.
Step 5. A full cure is achieved within 5-7 days. During this time light traffic only can be done, no cleaning agents or other chemicals other than water should come in contact with the surface.
First, it is important to be sure that what you think is marble is actually marble. Feel free to contact us to assist you with the way to do this. Second, it is important to clean your marble with a non-acidic cleaner such as our SafetyClean soap. While an extractor is recommended for use by professionals the DIYer should use a non-abrasive cleaning pad such as a microfiber or natural hairbrush. All soap and soil must then be removed prior to polishing or application of a sealer. The difference between polishing and application of RexShield Stone is that our sealer will create a stain proof surface. It is also much less invasive to the space and there is no dust. Once applied, it is very easy to clean as the surface will repel dust and will not stain with acids, foods or oils.
Yes, the process for applying RexShield Stone on travertine is the same as it would be for marble, slate, limestone, granite, blue stone or flagstone. The difference with travertine is that it often has holes in it that are filled and these must first be filled with a travertine filler. Once the filler is cured and smoothed and the surface is cleaned then RexShield Stone can be applied to its surface. It will prevent travertine from staining and will also make it more scratch resistant.
RexPro Sealers & Coatings offers an innovative line of coatings for a variety of substrates such as Interior Flooring, All Vinyl Surfaces (VCT), Hardscapes (pavers, concrete, and building materials), Industrial and Residential, Boats and other Marine Vessels, and Oil and Gas.
