How to Care for & Maintain Calacatta Lux

Although natural quartzites such as Calacatta Lux are very tough and scratch resistant, there are some practices that are recommended for these natural stone surfaces. Even before they are installed keeping water out of the pores of quartzite such as Calacatta Lux is beneficial. In this article we will journey through the topic of how to care for and maintain Calacatta Lux quartzite surfaces. As we do, we will mention some additional things to keep in mind during the fabrication process. For a discussion of why sealing quartzite can be challenging checkout out article entitled: Meeting the Challenge of Sealing Quartzite. Now, on to the topic at hand.

Cutting Calacatta Lux Quartzite Wet

Calacatta Lux quartzite undergoes wet cutting during fabrication. This is important to preserve the performance of the tools used during stone fabrication. Yet, quartzite slabs, including Calacatta Lux are porous and even though they are durable and hard, keeping as much liquid from being absorbed by the stone is not only practical, but makes good sense. Reducing the amount of moisture that gets absorbed by a quartzite stone as it gets cut can be done by sealing the stone prior to cutting.

Maintenance & Care Routine for Calacatta Lux Quartzite

When thinking of a care and maintenance routine for Calacatta Lux quartzite surfaces, one might immediately associate the task with caring for the slab as a countertop in the home after installation. Yet, in the home after installation, or in the shop prior to installation, it makes perfect sense to use an effective sealer on Calacatta Lux quartzite countertops. Even though sealing stone does not make it stain-proof, it does increase the stone's ability to resist the dirts and liquids that can discolor and mar natural Calacatta Lux quartzite surfaces. Many water and oil based liquids in a shop or in a household can make their way into the pores and stain a stone. So, applying a stone sealer for quartzite is an easy way to increase the resistance of the slab against these liquids.

Quartzite Care & Maintenance Recommended for Calacatta Lux

A question that is sometimes found to be on the minds of professionals and consumers alike is, "Is sealing Calacatta Lux quartzite required?" The answer to that question would depend on how much importance the one asking the question puts on getting the very best results. Why? Because not every single quartzite slab that is made into a countertop will be sealed either correctly or often enough. By the same token though, those countertops will not have the highest level of stain resistance either.

The NSI is a trade association representing every aspect of the natural stone industry. Its current membership at the time of this writing exceeds 2,000 members in over 50 countries. It serves as the authoritative source for safety and technical standards and information regarding the use of natural stone. What does it say regarding sealers?

The NSI says in this document that "sealing makes the stone more stain resistant", which implies the importance of using sealer to improve stone's resistance to water and oil based liquids. Additionally, we recommend that a care and maintenance routine be used by consumers after installation. Doing so gives the owner of the stone the best performance opportunity.

In conclusion, there a number of reasons to be mindful of practicing a regular care and maintenance routine on a Calacatta Lux quartzite surface as a homeowner and those same reasons are why fabricators use effective products for sealing Calacatta Lux as well as other quartzites. Be sure your routine includes treating quartzite with an effective sealer and the results will show it.