PRODUCTS:

Oil Stains
Ink Stains
Food Stains
Rust Stains
Mildew Stains
Other Stains
Proper stone maintenance practices that are performed daily will help prevent staining problems. The two best methods of stain prevention are to treat the stone with STONE SPRAY-N-SEAL® and to immediately pick up spills before they are absorbed into the stone.

The objective of an impregnator/penetrating sealer is to prevent liquids from absorbing through the stone surface. However, if spills set for a long period of time the stone may still absorb the liquid, even with a sealer. Natural stone is porous by nature. Stone stains very easily because its pores will absorb like a sponge. The older a stain gets, the more difficult it is to remove.

One question that is often asked is how are stains removed from stone? The only safe way to remove a stain is to reabsorb it out of the stone. Since the stain was absorbed through the pores, it must be reabsorbed through the pores. The natural absorption process must be reversed.

In order for a stain to be removed, the type of stain must be identified. Different types of stains have various removal processes. There are five common types of stains:

Organic: Coffee, tea, tobacco, food, cosmetics, and plant food.
Biological: Mildew, algae, and fungus.
Metal: Rust, iron, bronze, copper, etc.
Ink: Pen and magic marker.
Oil Based: Tar, grease, cooking oil, skin and hair oil.
To determine the type of stain you must ask the correct questions and be aware of the following:

What is the color and pattern of the stain?
What sat near the stain previously?
Are there plumbing pipes or air ducts near the stain?
Was there a plant near the stain?
Is the stain associated with a certain location?
How old is the stain?
Once the stain is recognized, an appropriate stain removal method must be designed. Knowing the absorption level and chemical sensitivity of the stone will help determine proper techniques. If the stain cannot be identified, then a test patch with different methods should be examined. The process that works the best should be used for the main application.

To remove the stain, an absorbing poultice must be used. A poulticing material can be anything that absorbs from a cotton ball, to a paper towel, or even a cotton shirt. In most cases, an absorbing powder poultice is used to extract a stain.

In the poulticing process, the stone will absorb the chemical from the poultice, then the chemical loosens the stain, and the poultice reabsorbs the stain from the stone. During this process, it is important to begin with the gentlest method first. First try and remove the stain with SCI's PLAIN POULTICE POWDER mixed with STONE QUEST. If the stain still remains, then begin the poulticing process.

Common Poultice Method:

Wet the stained area with distilled water. This will isolate the stain and intensify the removal process. (Do not use hot water and do not apply if the air temperature is below 32 degrees.)
If a powder is used, blend the powder and the chemical or water to a thick paste consistency like peanut butter. SCI's Ready To Use Poultice Powders only need to be mixed with water. Apply with a wood spatula.
Apply a layer of about 1/4" thick to the stained area.
*DO NOT SPILL THE POULTICE ON THE UNSTAINED AREA*
Cover the poultice with plastic food wrap and tape the edges down with an easy to remove adhesive. This traps the moisture and prevents the poultice from drying to quickly.
Be sure that the poultice is completely dry before removing the wrap. Proper drying time is 24-48 hours. If the poultice is removed early, the stain may not be removed.
*THE DRYING OF THE POULTICE IS WHAT REMOVES THE STAIN*
When dry, take the wrap off and remove the dry poultice with a wooden spatula. The poultice should now be hard. Rinse the area wit

PRODUCTS:

Marbalex® (Cleans all stone floors) or Stone Quest® (Intensive Stone, Tile & Grout Cleaner, No-Acid)
Dust mops and Soft bristled brush
Reason: Mopping is a very gentle method to clean stone. It is often not sufficient enough to maintain high traffic areas.

Summary: The use of soft bristled brush along with an SCI chemical will loosen stubborn debris and soils from the stone's porous surface for more efficient cleaning.

PROCEDURES:

Smooth Surfaces: (Marble, Granite, Terra Cotta, Terrazzo, Agglomerates)

Dust/Dry mop area using a Dust mop.
Dilute MARBALEX at two ounces per one gallon of warm water.
Operate the scrubber at a low to medium speed.
Each day, operate the scrubber with a soft bristled brush with floating tension.
Twice a week, double-scrubbing must be programmed allowing MARBALEX to activate longer.
*Double Scrubbing=(two passes on one path).
Apply the SCI solution to the surface with the scrubber. Do not pick up the solution on the first pass. Return down the same path and pick up the solution on the second pass.
Double scrubbing should be performed daily in the food service areas to emulsify grease soils.
Inspect each area hourly for liquid spills.

*On ceramic or porcelain surfaces use CERAMICLEAN.
Heavy Soil Buildup:

Mix STONE QUEST at four to six ounces per one gallon of warm water.
Follow the same procedures as above.
Rinse with MARBALEX and begin daily maintenance procedures.
Rough Surfaces: (Flamed Stone, Concrete)

Follow the above procedures with MARBALEX and increase the dilution ratio by six ounces using a soft bristled brush.
If this procedure does not perform, apply STONE QUEST mixing it with half water.
Let it set for 3 minutes.
Scrub with a soft bristled brush and extract it up.
Begin daily maintenance procedures.
*If a soil buildup has penetrated inside the stone, use a poultice and follow the recommended procedures on the label.
RECOMMENDATIONS:

Always use warm water to open the pores of the stone for more thorough cleaning.
Clean and rotate brushes every day. (Be sure that the waterfeed holes are not clogged.)
Use clean pads everyday.
Clean the squeegee off every 3,000 square feet and clean tires after each use. Replace worn squeegees tires immediately.
Never run the brushes dry.
Check metal parts for rusting and replace immediately.
Clean recovery and solution tanks weekly.
Automatic scrubbing machine should not weigh more than 2,200 pounds with solution.
For softer stones, consult with an SCI Representative.
Areas where the automatic scrubber cannot fit, should be scrubbed three times a week with a manual scrubbing machine and solution should be picked up with a wet vacuum.
For softer stones, consult with an SCI Representative for more appropriate scrubbing methods.
Using a 32" automatic scrubber with one pass 1,000 Square Feet should be cleaned in 4.20 minutes.
Perform a small test patch before proceeding with the entire program.

PRODUCT NEEDED: SURFACE TYPE:
SCI-M2™ Marble
SCI-GD™ Dark Granite
SCI-GL™ Light Granite
SCI-M2™ Travertine
SCI-M2™ Limestone
SCI-TZ™ Terrazzo
SCI-TZ™ Agglomerates
Hogs Hair & White Buffing Pads (For pricing call 1-800-839-1654)
Reason: To polish the crystals of the stone surface to restore a surface shine.

Summary: When the crystals in a polished stone surface become dull, the natural stone polish will begin to fade. The crystals in the stone surface reflect light to produce a surface shine. As the crystals wear down from sediment and foot traffic, they need to be repolished with an SCI POLISHING POWDER. These products will allow the crystals to reflect light evenly for a bright shine.When the crystals in a polished stone surface become dull, the natural stone polish will begin to fade. The crystals in the stone surface reflect light to produce a surface shine. As the crystals wear down from sediment and foot traffic, they need to be repolished with an SCI POLISHING POWDER or MARBACREAM. These products will allow the crystals to reflect light evenly for a bright shine.

ADVANTAGES:

It is the natural way to safely polish stone.
It is very easy to use.
PROCEDURES:

Polishing with an Automatic Scrubber:

Dust mop the surface using a clean dust mop.
Remove all topical coatings with STONE STRIPPER.
(Solvent based coatings must be removed with a solvent based stripper.)
Wet mop the stone surface using a MARBALEX.
Install a hogs hair or white pad to the drive pad of the machine.
(Use hogs hair pads for more worn surfaces.)
Generously spray water to the floor surface not to exceed a 160 square foot area.
Sprinkle an SCI POWDER on to the wet surface.
(One tablespoon of powder per 16 square feet.)
Proceed forward and backward with the scrubber staying within the perimeter of the wet area.
-For repolishing more worn surfaces, complete 8 to 10 passes.
-For maintenance, complete 4 to 6 passes.
Use a squeegee to move the loose paste off of the work surface to see if the desired polish has developed. If it has not, push the paste back onto the work area.
Continue the buffing motion until the desired polish appears.
Additional product may be used as necessary.
Extract the paste with the scrubber vacuum.
Mop rinse with MARBALEX to neutralize any residues.
Buff with a clean and soft white polishing pad.
Maintain the polish by cleaning with Marbalex.
Polishing with a Manual 175 Low RPM Buffing Machine:

Dust mop the surface using a clean dust mop.
Remove all topical coatings with STONE STRIPPER.
(Solvent based strippers must be removed with a solvent-based stripper.)
Wet mop the stone surface using MARBALEX and let it dry.
Spray water to the floor surface not to exceed a 16 square foot area.
For Repolishing more worn surfaces, use aggressive Hogs Hair pads.
For Maintaining a polish, use clean White pads.
Sprinkle 1 to 2 tablespoons of SCI.

Marbamist® (Cleans all stone countertops)
Stone Spray-N-Seal® (Stone & Grout Sealer, Water-based)
International Stone Polish® (Countertop & Table Polish)
Granisol™ (Aerosol Cleaner/Polish)
Reason: To protect and polish all smooth stone surfaces.

Summary: INTERNATIONAL STONE POLISH should be applied to all smooth stone surfaces for maximum protection. It will protect all vertical and horizontal stone surfaces from etching and burning from spills of perfume, alcoholic beverages, juice, cosmetics, toothpaste splatter (fluoride), shaving cream (alcohol), and will help prevent glass rings from developing.

ADVANTAGES:

It is a permeable coating that is gentle to the stone surface.
Very easy to apply and is user friendly.
Excellent protection against surface staining and etching.
PROCEDURE:

Stone Vanity Tops/Bar Tops/Tables/Walls/Kitchen Countertops:

Spray MARBAMIST Cleaner onto the surface and let it set for 15 seconds.
After ten seconds wipe away any remaining moisture with a soft clean cloth.
Apply the polish to the surface in a circular motion.
Let the polish dry to a haze on the surface.
Polish with a clean soft cloth.
RECOMMENDATIONS:

Hotel rooms should receive a minimum of one application per month.
High traffic areas such as bar tops and public rest rooms should receive a bi-monthly application.
If etching consistently occurs on the surface tops, then an SCI Polishing Powder should be used to remove the marks and polish the surface.
Do not buff the polish until it is dries to a haze.
If a residue forms after buffing, spray MARBAMIST on the surface and wipe dry with a soft cloth.

EscaLators: Clean monthly with an escalator cleaning machine to prevent the film from the grids from passing onto the stone surface. Vacuum the grids daily. Scrub the stone at the top and bottom of the escalators on a weekly basis following the SCI scrubbing procedures. Powder polish to maintain the gloss of the stone.

Fountain Areas: Pay special attention to water spilling onto the floor surface. Water and the treatment chemicals in it (Fluoride, Chlorine) will fade the color of stone. Be sure that these areas are inspected hourly to keep them dry. Stone surrounding any fountain should be protected with STONE SPRAY-N-SEAL® and INTERNATIONAL STONE POLISH. Hard water build up can be removed with the use of an SCI POLISHING POWDER.

Elevator Areas: Supply a walk-off mat in front of the elevators leading to the garage or outside areas. Debris is often carried from the elevators to the stone surface. Clean the metal grids of the elevator with a brush to prevent trapped sediment from passing on to the stone. Powder polish the landings to maintain the natural polish.

Garage Areas: Garage elevator lobbies and stairwells should be swept and cleaned daily with MARBALEX to emulsify oily residues left behind from automobiles. Supply extra absorbent matting in these areas due to the high traffic conditions.

Planters: Apply a shield between the planters and the stone surface to prevent moisture and plant foods from staining. Plant foods contain acids which will dissolve the natural calcium bond of marble. For protection, one coat of STONE SPRAY-N-SEAL® should be applied to the surface under the planters. This product will help the stone release moisture vapors.

Food Court: Apply plastic tips on the bottoms of the chairs and tables to prevent scratching. Periodically check and replace these tips. Daily scrubbing with MARBALEX and a soft bristled brush will be necessary to emulsify any organic soil buildup.
(Be sure to rinse degreasers with MARBALEX)
For ceramic tile use Ceramiclean, on quarry tile floor, scrub with STONE QUEST and a soft bristled brush.

Carpeted Areas: All carpeted areas should be vacuumed daily. Bonnet clean and extract carpeted areas with only a pH7 balanced carpet detergent. Alkali carpet chemicals leave residues that can be tracked on to the stone surface on a humid day. Be cautious of dry cleaning systems that leave debris in the carpet. The dry compounds can also be tracked on to the stone surface and cause minor surface abrasions.

Exterior of Building: Sweep the walkways on a daily basis to prevent outside sediment from entering the building.

When ice and snow melt are applied, wash and sweep them off as soon as the weather rises above the freezing point. Flamed stone exterior surfaces should be treated with STONE SPRAY-N-SEAL® PENETRATING SEALER. STONE COLOR ENHANCER coating may also be applied to the flamed surface to prevent staining from exterior organic matter and automobile chemical leaks.

Clean flamed stone with MARBALEX on a daily basis.
If stains cannot be removed, use STONE QUEST with a soft bristled brush.
If stains still cannot be removed, use an SCI-POULTICE Powder.
Lobby Entrances: Dust mop all lobby entrances on an hourly schedule. Vacuum walk-off entrance matting daily. Mop or automatic scrub each day. On snow and rain days, rotate the mats at least three times daily and mop with MARBALEX every two hours. Polishing with an SCI POLISHING POWDER or MARBACREAM may be administered to maintain the natural shine of stone.

Stoneglide Pads (For pricing call 1-800-839-1654)
Reason: STONEGLIDE PADS are designed to completely restore and repolish marble, limestone, terrazzo and agglomerate floor surfaces. They will remove lippage or heavily worn surfaces and repolish back to a factory finish. This process is a five to seven step program that can be completed with the SCI POLISHING POWDERS.

Summary: Many natural stones are delicate and often lack long-term endurance. If a stone consumer is not pleased with the appearance of their stone due to heavy wear or improper maintenance procedures, SCI will design a restoration program for the consumer.

Stone restoration is part of the stone maintenance cycle. It consists of three stages: Grinding, honingand polishing. Each stage is processed with the use of diamond abrasives. These abrasives are measured in grits. Lower grit diamonds will remove surface scratches, lippage, etches, and traffic patterns. Middle grit diamonds will smooth and hone the surface. Higher grit diamonds will polish the surface. Continuous water flow is used as a lubricant for the diamonds.

This process is similar to sanding wood. The coarse grit sandpaper removes the scratches and the fine grit smooths it.

Diamond grinding is necessary to remove and flatten the lippage from uneven tiles and to remove deep surface scratches. This is completed with a 30, 70, and 120 grit diamond. Each higher grit removes the marks of the previous grit.

Honing is accomplished with a 220 and 400 grit diamond. Honing entails smoothing out the grinded surface, thus leaving the stone without a reflection or shine.

Polishing requires the use of 600, 800, 1800, and even 3500 grit diamonds. They brighten the surface by polishing the crystals which increases the reflectivity. The higher the grit, the higher the shine will be. It is imperative to use all of the diamonds in succession. Each diamond is designed to work after the previous one. Skipping will leave scratches and prevent accomplishing the desired shine. Five to six passes per set of diamonds is necessary to successfully complete the restoration process.

A selection of any style or look can be provided with the use of diamond abrasives. You can select a honed or polished design. Consult with your SCI representative to provide proper restoration procedures.