How to prepare your terrace for summer

You put a lot of work into your terrace decoration project: looking for the best products and consistently mixing the materials for creating a relaxing space to be proud of. However, such a project is not complete until taking the time to prepare your terrace for the hot season. Natural stone requires protection against sudden temperature changes, moisture and also dirt.

Each type of natural stone has a particular structure and requires professional solutions for aftercare and cleaning. As a result, the recommended solutions for travertine, for example, are not necessarily the same with the ones recommended for marble. If you do not use suitable solutions for every type of natural stone and you decide buying the first product that says "universal", "clean any surface" or "suitable for any type of material", you might end up with a bad taste. Even though natural stone is more durable compared to other materials, by using aggressive detergents you risk damaging the texture or alter its color. Unsuitable detergents may even attack the original waterproof coat, leaving the pores vulnerable against temperature variation or stains.

Types of Natural Stone

Natural stone has a sophisticated look that will be definitely transferred into your terrace. The features of each natural stone must be protected with appropriate aftercare and cleaning agents, for an extended lifetime.

From a geological point of view, natural stones are divided into three basic categories, based on their inner structure and origin. So, we have sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous. Each of these three categories is divided into two other categories, namely limestone or silicon-based.

Travertine, limestone and onyx are natural limestone-types of stones. Marble is metamorphic, also limestone-type, while granite is an igneous rock, in the category of silicon-based ones. Ceramic tiles are also siliceous rocks but also slates, which are also metamorphic siliceous rocks.

Limestone rocks versus silicon-based rocks

In a large percentage limestone rocks are composed of calcium carbonate. And this is very sensitive to acidic or acid-based solutions. For calcareous natural stone tiles such as marble, travertine, onyx or limestone, cleaning with acid solution is totally prohibited the. The acid will penetrate the stone texture, damaging it over time. So, when you want to polish your natural stone tiles from the terrace, pay attention to the solutions you are going to use.

Silicon-based rocks are composed of silicates, much more resistant to most acids from the bottles of cleaning products. And even though silicates resistwhen subjected to acids, acid cleansing is not recommended since the rocks may contain traces of minerals that are sensible to acids.

Hazardous and prohibited products

Never mix ammonia-based solutions with bleach-based solutions, since this results in a toxic and lethal gas!

Avoid powder-shape cleaning products, because they include materials and abrasive ingredients able to scratch the tiles and elements of natural stone.

Other products you might want to avoid are those containing hydrofluoric acid. This type of acid is aggressive with silicate especially, but it can also influence other minerals, found in the composition of natural stone.

Aftercare for travertine

Classic cross-cut travertine flooring. From PIATRAONLINE clients portfolio

Travertine is special by its texture, apparently unfinished and rough but also by warm and gentle colours, in different shades of cream, beige and brown. For maintaining their original texture and color, travertine tiles used for your patio should not be cleansed with ammonia, acid-based products containing bleach or chlorine. Also avoid abrasive sponges, because these are products for damaging the inner structure of travertine.

We recommend a special detergent for natural stone, such as LTP Power Stripper, an effective cleaning product used successfully for removing oxidized linseed oil, but also for removing dirt.

Aftercare for marble

Bathroom cladded with black tumbled marble

Marble maintains its elegance over time, if you clean it with recommended products, such as neutral pH cleaning agents, unlike those based on acid.

Even if the marble is very hard, it will scratch and stain quite easily and on a terrace, accidents such as breaking a bottle of wine or a glass of juice can and will happen. If you have noticed scratches or chips on the marble surface, hire a crystallization specialist. This is a process that helps marble to restore its initial gloss. For small stains, discovered at the right time, we recommend LTP Stone Wash, a special spray cleaner for cleaning the natural stone objects and surfaces.

Waterproofing, an important step in maintaining the natural stone

Most stains and dirt will be cleaned more easily if, after installing natural stone tiles, you also perform a waterproofing procedure. Waterproofing solutions do not varnish the surface, but protect it, penetrating the pores of the material. Thanks to products such as LTP Mattstone, dirt will not penetrate the internal structure of natural stone. This type of solutions will "wrap" the stone or "seal it" in a protective layer that does not allow stone’s inner structure to be influenced by external agents.

If you have on yoour terrace worktables cladded with natural stone, you must use a non-toxic waterproofing product. The last thing you want is using a table for preparing your barbecue, which was previously waterproofed with a solution not recommended for food serving areas.