Quartzite Care - Aftercare Products for Quartzite Stone
We do accept Zelle
The Granite Shield process on calcite based stones will not prevent surface etching but will reduce it about 80%. Using our sealers and our aftercare cleaners will help reduce etching saving you thousands of dollars in restoration on your investment. Most Quartzite stones contain calcite and will etch. A professional restoration technician will need to diamond polish the etch out. Acidic liquids, alcohol and vinegar can etch marble, travertine and limestone, quartzite if left unattended on your stone surface. Water with a lower pH level lower than 7 is considered acidic. This is a stone you want to use coasters and wipe up spills immediately.
pH Values
Stomach acid 1 to 3
Lime Juice - 1.8 to 2
Lemon Juice - 2.3
Coca Cola - 2.5
Soft Drinks - 2.5 to 3.0
Vinegar - 2.4 to 3.4
Apple Juice - 3
Orange Juice - 3.5
White wine - 3.0 to 3.3
Red wine - 3.3 to 3.5
Drinking alcohol such as gin, rum and vodka - 3 to 6 adding Orange or Lime juice will lower pH
Tomato & Tomato Juice - 4.2
Beer - 4.5
Coffee - 5.5
Normal rain - 5.7
Milk - 6.2
Saliva - 6.3 - 6.6
Dog urine - healthy is 6.2 to 6.5
Drinking water - 6.5 to 8
Water - Under 7 is considered acidic
There is currently no penetrating sealer that can stop etching on calcite based stones. On Absolute Black granite etching causes gray rings and spots on the surface. A topical sealer is not recommended for natural stone because it blocks the pores of the natural stone then can't breathe and the top coating can scratch easy. So what happens to natural stone that can't breathe? Moisture gets trapped and can cause a chemical and mineralogical change within the stone. This action of decay in natural stone may take form of pitting, spalling, flaking and oxidation. You want your natural stone to breathe or it will disintegrate.
***Other than a polished granite Windex can not be used to clean the countertop, Windex will strip the sealers. On polished granite when Granite Shield sealers are applied one of the sealers is Crystasheen. Crystasheen is a permanent sealer. Kleen N Shine is the last step and makes the countertop shinier. Kleen N Shine is not permanent and needs to be reapplied if you want the countertop to be as shiny as the day it was sealed. Crystasheen is not applied to honed, leathered or calcite based stones such as marble. On calcite based stones the type of cleaners used is very important. The goal is to protect the sealant as much as possible to not etch or dull the stone. When in doubt use a neutral pH7 stone cleaner such as Granite Shield's Nustone Kleen. To refresh and reduce the chance of etching Granite Shield's Kleen N Shield should be used at least once a month and when a heavy duty cleaner is needed.***
