Sandstone countertops can wither with consistent use and also get damaged if not cleaned properly on time. Here are some excellent household cleaning tips to shine your sandstone countertops.

If you want to maintain the beauty of sandstone, its finish, texture and versatility, you should take special care.

Most people think that sandstone is a hard stone and doesn’t require any care. However, this is not true. This stone has its own weak part including its porous structure. This structure lets moisture absorption. Once this stone absorbs moisture, it can result into discoloration and chemical stains. These stains usually become an integral part of the stone. You need to protect the stone and take special care to clean it properly. Never ever use any type of cleanser or cleaning technique.

Some sort of negligence with these cleansers can result into some serious mistakes. Hence, you should always check the label on the product prior to using and testing. In case you find some sort of reaction, you should stop using the product immediately.

Once you have sealed your countertop, you can protect it via using some simple cleaning methods. Sealing is very important to protect the surface once it is installed. A seal lasts for many years. You need to be very cautious while working with sandstone countertops.

Wipe off any spills immediately. Never ever let them sit. Always use PH cleaners and mild untinted and unscented detergents for cleaning sandstone daily. You can also use mild liquid meant for dish washing for cleaning sandstone surfaces.

Never ever use acidic cleaners to clean sandstone countertops. These cleaners tend to etch and remove polished surface.

You should always rinse the stone and grout thoroughly. Don’t let any of the cleaner sit on the surface. Use a soft bristled toothbrush to remove debris if any prior to cleaning. If you find a stain too stubborn, don’t scratch. Just repeat the mild cleaning, rinsing and drying process.

Heavy duty cleaning may be necessary sometimes. Here you need to use PH balanced cleaners. You can purchase scouring beads and pastes specially made for heavy duty cleaning. You should not forget to use soft bristled toothbrush to remove stuck on debris. Let the cleaner to sit for some time. Rinsing the countertop thoroughly is very important here.

Research a lot before settling for a particular cleaner. Here are certain things you need to consider prior to purchasing a sandstone cleaner.

a) The sandstone cleaner should be neutral.

b) The cleaner you use should not contain acid or citrus. These contents may damage the polish and finish of the surface.

c) You should take special care when using a vacuum cleaner as the metal attachments. This may scratch the surface.

d) Never ever use scouring powders or creams because these products contain abrasives and result in surface scratch.

e) Avoid using coasters under glasses.

f) Never place hot pans or utensils directly on sandstone countertops. Always use trivet or mats under them.

We, at BBM Impex are dedicated to represent the nation’s treasure of natural stone. visit Sandstone supplier & exporter.

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Either in the traditional maple or beech wood or an increasingly wider range of exotic hardwoods, the butcher-block countertops have lately become broadly available. While traditionally the butcher blocks were meant to be used for chopping, cutting and slicing meats, nowadays we find that this strictly functional role is slowly left behind and the butcher-block tops are mainly employed on the grounds of the visual effect that wood generates.

In such instances, the wood is commonly finished with polyurethane-based or water-based varnish, acrylic lacquer, stain, or any other sort of build-up finish, which both seals the wood and creates the desired looks. For those few left cases of butcher-block tops that are actively used for food preparation, however, the range of finish choices is substantially narrowed down to the oil finishes, which raises a bit of a problem.

The problem is, the oil finishes are not finishing actually, but more of a continuous treatment to the wood. As soon as the oil is applied onto the wood surface, it will reach, due to capillarity, to the wood core, which will eventually leave the surfaces dry and hence, a new coat of oil will be required. Routine maintenance becomes, therefore, part of the deal since, if the treatment is not carried out periodically, the wood will start exchanging moisture with the environment and, consequently, the wood may swell or warp in an excessively moist climate, or, conversely, crack if the atmosphere is rather dry.

Regular application of oil thus being the only way to secure a long, functional life for your butcher block, it is usually carried out monthly during the first year and once every 4-5 months ever after. Particular circumstances, however, will further adjust the frequency. Wood species with a higher porosity such as beech or oak will require a more frequent treatment than maple, black locust or other similarly tight-grain wood. The pace of wear and tear is another factor to influence how often the re-oiling is to be performed. As the butcher block is sanded down at times in order to remove cut marks and scratches, a new coat of oil must follow each sanding. The blocks extensively used on a daily basis are usually sanded down every couple of weeks or so and hence, the re-oiling would follow the same frequency pattern, too.

When choosing the oil finishing, it is important to select a food-grade inert oil, like walnut oil, tung oil or food-grade mineral oil. Vegetable oils, although safe in contact with foods will eventually go rancid and impart undesired odor and taste. Others, such as the Danish oil, although stable are not suitable for food contact. For increased water-repelling and stain protection properties, mineral oil can be heated, mixed thoroughly with beeswax and immediately applied, the resulting mixture being something in-between a penetrating and a build-up finish.

The oil is applied extremely easy, by pouring it onto the wood surface and then smearing it with a paintbrush, rag or sponge. Never worry about applying too much oil, especially during first time session. When the oil is indeed too much, it will stagnate onto the wood surface for many days and would have to be wiped off with a clean, dry rag or paper towel, but it will take time for the wood to achieve this level of oil saturation. Most often, the oil will go into the wood fiber within a 2 to 24 hours interval. The speed at which the wood will suck the oil in will vary with the type of oil used, the wood species and the grit the wood was sanded at. Woods with a naturally oily fiber, like walnut or black locust, will absorb the finish at a slower pace and so will do the wood polished down to a very smooth surface. Walnut oil generally gets absorbed slower than the mineral oil but faster than the tung oil, which also tends to dry the wood and sometimes raise the fiber.

Three to four coats of oil are required before installation on both topside and bottom one, particularly insisting on the end-grain area, where the wood pores are open wider and the oil is absorbed about twice faster. Following the installation, the re-coating is done on the topside only.

Adrian Laza, Lafor Wood Products. http://www.hardwoodcountertops.com

Installing granite countertops requires expertise. Granite countertop cost more than other kitchen countertop material. By choosing to install granites, you have taken the correct decision. Granite countertops lend an aesthetic and elegant appeal to the kitchen.

So, what are all the steps involved in granite installation.

1. Granite Choosing- You need to choose the countertop. Granites come in variety of colors, texture, and designs. Granites available at California Bay Area have the largest collection of granites. Your decision will based on the interior of the kitchen. The countertop should gel with the interiors. Mismatched countertop will ruin the attraction of the kitchen.
2. Pre Installation- You need to remove the already existing countertop before installing the new one. Also, remove any attachments and basins beforehand. In totality, the area where you want to install the countertop must be clear of all things.
3. Designing- Select the design you want the professionals to mould the granite into. Again, the deciding factor of the countertop will depend on the overall look you want to give the kitchen. In addition, differences will come if you are using granite slabs or granite tiles. It is easy to mould the slabs and the tile designing is more time consuming.
4. Measurement- The company that you have hired for professional installation will send their representative over at your home to measure the space and determine the installations required. They will let you know what type of cabinets, or templates, or seams are needed for countertop installations. Sometimes specialized tools are also required, and the professionals are of a great help. With all measurements are hand, they will give you a rough estimate as to how much the installation will cost.
5. Support Creation- Before the countertops installation begin, the area needs to be made strong with the help of metal rods and plywood. A weak area with an equally weak support system will not be able to handle the weight of granite. As much as they are hard, they are heavy too.
6. Installation- The designing of granite will be done either at your home or at the company’s factory, the choice is yours to decide. After the granite is given a shape, the professionals will install it on the designated space and glue it. 
7. Sealing- This process is important to keep the slab safe and shiny as ever. Repeat the sealing every 6 months to keep the slabs glossy as ever.