Marble DIYs – Favored Stone Guides

Outdoor marbles are very vulnerable to weather elements. Without proper treatment and protection, outdoor marble surfaces will start to drastically change after a few years. So in this article, I'm going to show you 6 simple ways to protect your outdoor marble surfaces so that it is more resistant to the weather and environmental elements. So how do you protect outdoor marble? One of the best ways to protect your outdoor marbles is by keeping it clean all the time. You can also protect your outdoor marble surface by using natural stone cleaner and protecters to keep the surface of your marble free from stains and the harsh outdoor elements. While you are at it, make sure not to use harsh cleaners on your outdoor marble surfaces. To learn the details on how to protect your outdoor marbles and also my tips on over 20 hack and tips on how to protect and care for your outdoor marble surfaces, keep reading this article. How To Protect Outdoor Marble - Details 1. Choose The Right Natural Stone For Your Outdoors First of all, one important thing you need to know when it comes to taking care of natural stones like marble, granite, among the numerous others is making the right choice for the right place. It is common knowledge natural stones are like marble is quarried from the earth after it has been naturally formed through extreme heat and pressure below the Earth’s surface. This gives most natural stones like marble and granites the right density to be very weather-resistant - making them generally a great choice for different outdoor and indoor applications. When it comes down to it, most experts will generally recommend granites and other stones like quartzites as the best natural stones for outdoor application. Nonetheless, marbles are also applicable for use outdoors. The appearance of marble in an outdoor space can transform your patio. All it really comes down to is learning how to treat your outdoor marble. With the best practices I'm going to be sharing in the remaining parts of this article, you should be able to make your outdoor marble surfaces resistant against UV rays, scratches, etching, and prevent fading. 2. Keep your Marble Clean One of the primary ways to protect your marble is to make sure to keep it clean as much as possible. Keep your outdoor marble surfaces protected by cleaning them with good natural stone and clean water. This will help in keeping the dirt away from the marble and keep it looking fresh. Cleaning is even more important for outdoor marble surfaces after a rainfall as rain water contains acids and dirt that can build up on the marble surface. It is also important to watch out for the accumulation of oily and other stains which could discolor the surface of marble or cause it to rot. 3. Do Not Use Harsh Cleaners On Your Outdoor Marble Do not use harsh cleaners on your outdoor marble. These cleaners will either make the marble a lot more susceptible to damages or remove the protective coating placed on the marble. Usually, the idea of using "stronger cleaners" will come with the desire to remove stubborn stains that may have accumulated on the surface of the marble. Even so, stay as far away as you can from acid-based cleaners. Acid cleaners can be very harmful to your marble and cause stains that might be extremely difficult to remove. One simple but helpful practice to ensure a cleaner will not be too harsh for your outdoor marble surfaces is to test it out on a small inconspicuous part of the marble. You can also resort to using a clean-water-damp soft damp cloth to wipe away any raindrops, light dust, or chip off from your marble as regularly as possible. Also, you would want to make sure you wipe off any spills immediately and as quickly as possible before it has the chance to etch your marble. Doing this regularly will leave your outdoor marble surface looking dry protected and safe for use. 4. Use Marble Sealers And Polishes To Protect Marble Marbles, like other natural stones, are meant to be enjoyed for many years. A common rule of thumb when it comes to marbles, in general, is that you would want to use natural stone sealers to protect outdoor marble surfaces. Sealing marble may particularly be necessary for outdoor marble countertops and tables as this can help prevent damages resulting from cold weather. In some instances not sealing your outdoor marble tables and countertops may not be a major problem if moisture inside the marble is able to evaporate from both sides of the marble easily. You would want to particularly use the stone sealers on your marble especially on newly installed marble or natural stone surfaces in your outdoor space. Generally, a newly installed marble will have a professional stone fabricator applied to seal the stone surface, however, it is generally good practice to periodically apply natural stone sealer on your marble surfaces to protect it. One of the main benefits of regularly using sealants makes the outdoor marble surface less porous and less prone to staining and etching. Sealing your outdoor marble surfaces is quite a simple process and the way it works to protect your outdoor marble is that a specially formulated liquid sealant is applied on the surface of the marble and gets soaked into the natural stone. Afterwhich it is left for a recommended amount of time has elapsed for the sealant to get absorbed and then any excess marble sealant residue is then wiped off. Sealing your outdoor marble surfaces makes the marble less porous so that you will have some time to clean off any stains, dirt, or acid rain that might cause any kind of permanent damage to the marble. Using marble or other natural stone sealers will not only protect and keep the marble looking great, but they will prevent scuffs or dings from rain or snow. It may sound a little expensive especially if you need to call up a professional but if used properly the investment will pay for itself over time. 5. Cover Your Outdoor Marble Surfaces During Winter Months Having outdoor marble installations whether a statue, floor, or wall work would mean it's going to be exposed to the extreme elements during special seasons like winter and during the extremely hot summers of the year. If you would want to protect your beautiful outdoor marble surfaces without any damages like discoloration and staining from either the hot scorching sun or hot objects then you need to protect them. This is because almost any type of stone when exposed to extreme heat for long periods can crack. You always want to use heat-resistant protection on your outdoor countertops when it's extremely sunny or when placing hot objects on them. One common mistake most people make when it comes to outdoor marble countertops is that they put a grilling basket right from their outdoor grill directly on their marble countertops. The best thing to do is to use a silicone pad to protect the surface of the marble countertops. As much as you would want to protect your marble during the summer seasons what you would want to be careful about when it comes to outdoor marble surfaces is freeze and thaw cycles - thus, you need to find effective ways to protect your marble surfaces especially during the winter seasons. You would want to pay special attention to the base or lower parts of your marble walls, floors, and statues if you're privileged to have one. This is because the bases can easily get damaged from moisture and ice during extreme temperatures. To prevent this from happening, cover your outdoor marble surfaces during the winter months with a material such as tarp-like material, painter's tape, or newspaper. You can seal your outdoor marble surfaces, in general, to help prevent possible freeze damage that could cause severe damages to your marble surfaces during the cold winter seasons. You should also cover marble table surfaces, seats, or countertops during the cold winters. Additionally, if you have to move an outdoor item like a marble countertop or a marble table indoors, make sure that every part of that marble item is dry before you move it into storage. It is important to keep your movable marble surfaces in a protected shed or roof to protect your marble surfaces from long-term exposure to ice, snow, or cold winds. 6. Avoid Physical Stresses On The Marble Natural stones are as beautiful as they are durable. But the fact that marble is a stone doesn't mean they are necessary hardwearing. Generally, granites and quartzites will be a lot more durable and will generally be able to handle a lot more stress when compared to marbles. So you would want to take it easy on your outdoor marbles so they last very long. It is important to add that while it’s extremely unlikely that you will break or chip your marble surfaces quite easily but one thing to remember is that if a natural stone like marble was successfully mined then you definitely will be able to break or scratch it too whether the marble is in your backyard or indoors. So avoid physical stress as much as you can to the best of your ability. Things like cutting that juicy barbecue with knives, tenderizing meat, among other activities must be avoided. Whenever you want to do those relaxing outdoor barbeques you would want to use cutting boards to protect your outdoor marble table or countertops. 23 Maintenance Tips For Outdoor Marbles 1. Always remove stains from your outdoor marble surfaces from time to time. Regular spot cleaning your outdoor marble is your first line of defense when it comes to protecting your outdoor marble surfaces. 2. Put a cover where necessary on your outdoor marble tables or counters. You should quickly use a coverlet when you notice the weather gets bad. If possible, move your marble items into storage to avoid any kind of damage. 3. When your marble surface gets really dirty only scrub using a pH-neutral natural stone cleaner. 4. Avoid using vinegar, citrus, and other acidic substances to clean your marble, and make sure you do not leave acidic foods like tomatoes on your marble. All the above-mentioned items will etch your marble. 5. Also, you would want to rinse your marble surfaces with distilled water after cleaning them with a natural stone cleaner. 6. Use a dry microfiber cloth to always dry your marble surfaces when wet or after cleaning and leave to dry immediately. 7. Apply marble sealer if possible after cleaning. You should never seal a marble or any natural stone surface without first cleaning it. 8. A good rule of thumb when it comes to sealing your outdoor marble is to do so by applying a layer of impregnating stone sealer on the marble's surface at least every 16 -24 months to prevent water-based and oil-based stains from seeping into the marble. 9. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for applying the natural stone sealer you pick out. 10. Protect your outdoor marble surface from pollutants by wiping it regularly using marble-safe wipes like this one. You can also use a clean cloth damped with ordinary water to wipe the surface of your marble. You want to do this as frequently as possible because dust particles can scratch the surface of your outdoor marble. Also, bird droppings contain acids and can dull the surface of your marble over time. 11. Prevent oxidizing on your outdoor marble by ensuring you do not allow any water to sit on the surface of the marble for extended periods of time. 12. One of the best ways to quickly deal with stubborn stains on your marble is using poultice paste. It is a mixture of baking soda and very little amount of water so its pH neutrality is great for marble and other natural stones. 13. Once your outdoor marble is installed, make sure you set up a cleaning and maintenance routine. 14. One of the safest ways to dilute a cleaner for your marble surfaces is by adding three drops of neutral pH cleaner with 1 liter of warm water in a very clean container. 13. I do want to sound like captain obvious but you should always use coasters or trays to prevent stains, etch marks, and scratches. 14. If possible, always cover your outdoor marble surfaces when not in use. 15. Always test out any product or mixture in an inconspicuous part of your marble before applying it all over them. 16. Wipe off all spills from the surface of the marble immediately to help avoid staining or etching of your marble or natural stone surface. 17. Never use abrasive or acid-based products on your marble surfaces. 18. Always brush off loose particles, debris, dirt, or dust as regularly as you can from the surface of your outdoor marble. 19. Clean warm water and mild soap are very safe and effective for cleaning marble surfaces. 20. To prevent water spots on your marble, clean water thoroughly from the marble immediately with a dry clean cloth. 21. Never use applicators or cleaning cloths or sponges that bleed on your marble. 22. When your marble gets spills, always use a dry clean cloth to blot the spills. You want to do this as wiping will simply spread the spill. So blot, and keep blotting until the spill is totally absorbed after which you can then go ahead to rinse with clean warm water and wipe dry. 23. The top of the marbles will always fare better than the lower parts. So as much as you would want to see your counter and tabletops looking great all the time, do not forget to extend the love especially to the lower parts like the legs of a marble table.