Serpentine Stone Care, Maintenance, Cleaning, Polishing, Sealing

Serpentine stone

Serpentine is not a rock, but a group of minerals composed primarily of hydrated magnesium silicate that is green, yellow or brown in color. It gets its name due to the resemblance to a serpent’s skin. Many so-called green marbles are actually serpentines, not marbles. Pure serpentine is not acid sensitive; therefore, there is no etching. Be careful here - not all greens are pure serpentine. Some lighter greens, like Spring Green, have some carbonate mixed in, and will react to acid. Also, there are greens that are true marbles such as Verde Antigua and Cippolino. Very sensitive to water - must be set in epoxy or waterless setting mortars to prevent warping. Will develop small white spalls from salt deposits. Do not try to polish or hone. Does not always react well to recrystallization or diamond polishing. Should never be cleaned at pressures above 800 PSI.

Serpentine ranges from 2 to 5 on the MOH scale (a scale for determining the relative hardness of a mineral according to its resistance to scratching). The hardest mineral, at 10, is diamond. The softest mineral, at 1, is talc. Therefore, Serpentine stone is quite soft and easily damaged. It also stains very easily and needs to be treated with a penetrating sealer to prevent permanent stains.

DO's and DON'Ts for Serpentine Stone Maintenance:

  • DO clean up spills immediately to minimize damage to your stone.
  • DO use trivets or mats under hot dishes and cookware.
  • DO use place mats under china, ceramics, silver and other objects that can scratch the stone's surface.
  • DO use coasters under glasses, especially if they contain alcohol or citrus juices.
  • DO clean surfaces regularly with StoneTech™ Professional Revitalizer™ Cleaner & Protector.
  • DO use StoneTech™ Professional BulletProof™ Sealer to protect the stone.
  • DO use a tray for toiletry products in the bathroom to protect the surface from the damaging chemicals contained in many toiletry products.
  • DO dust mop serpentine floor tile regularly.
  • DO use door mats inside and out along with runners and area rugs on serpentine floors.
  • DON'T wait to clean up spills on stone.
  • DON'T use bleach, ammonia or other general-purpose cleaners.
  • DON'T use abrasive cleaners such as dry cleansers or soft cleansers.
  • DON'T use alkaline cleaners not specifically formulated for stone.
  • DON'T use scouring powders and abrasives because they will scratch the surface.
  • DON'T Place toiletry products directly on the countertop surface.
  • DON'T try to polish or hone.

Care & Maintenance of Serpentine Stone:

Natural stone is very porous. The best way to prevent stains is to treat the surface with a protective sealer, such as BulletProof. The sealer fills in the pores and repels spills on the surface, allowing you time to completely wipe it away.

Dust mop interior serpentine floors frequently using a clean non-treated dry dust mop. Sand, dirt and grit do the most damage to natural stone surfaces due to their abrasiveness. Mats or area rugs inside and outside an entrance will help to minimize the sand, dirt and grit that will scratch the stone floor. Be sure that the underside of the mat or rug is a non-slip surface. Normally, it will take a person about eight steps on a floor surface to remove sand or dirt from the bottom of their shoes. Do not use vacuum cleaners that are worn. The metal or plastic attachments or the wheels may scratch the surface.

We recommend that you use care and maintenance products from StoneTech™ Professional, a DuPont company, that are specially formulated to protect and enhance the beauty of your granite. Once the stone is sealed, clean up is usually easy. We recommend that you use StoneTech™ Professional Revitalizer™ Cleaner & Protector. Revitalizer™ cleans with a gentle, pH-neutral formula that removes soils while reinforcing the original protective seal to help prevent future staining.

.Although we usually think of stone as "hard," it is a porous material. Natural stone has varying degrees of porosity depending on the type of stone. If left unsealed, spills and everyday messes can easily penetrate the surface. The liquid eventually evaporates but the stain is left behind.

Removal of oily stains is easily accomplished with StoneTech™ Professional Oil and Stain Remover.

Fluorochemical technology, incorporated into StoneTech™ Professional BulletProof™ and StoneTech™ Professional Impregnator Pro, is the most advanced technology available, providing the ultimate shield against both water and oil-base stains. The micro-molecular formula actually bonds with the stone surface to deliver unsurpassed wear resistance and durability. And because the sealer reacts with the stone, you no longer have to worry about its porosity.

Products for Cleaning, Sealing and Protecting Serpentine Stone:

Additional Information Related to Serpentine Stone:

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