Maurizio, I have a contractor finishing a patio for me. The counter top on a bar and grill area are going to be bluestone. i saw that you said bluestone should never be sealed when installed outdoors, however i am especially concerned about oil and or grease dripping on the counter top of the grill area, and the stain that it will leave. What would you use to clean the countertop if it got an oil stain on it, and why is it that the bluestone should not be sealed in an outdoor application?

 

Dear Kevin:

My advice to not apply an impregnator to stone installed outdoors makes reference to the most popular situations of outdoor stone installation, namely decks installed on grade, pool coping and walls. In those cas es the stone must be able to “breathe” at its possible best the moisture that inevitably will go through its core from under and behind it. In the cas e of a countertop the matter is totally different, because it is somehow suspended. So, yes, you should apply a good-quality stone impregnator to your countertop. In the cas e of such extremely porous stone, I would not recommend MB-4. I believe that “511 Porous Plus” (available at the Home Depot) would be more suitable for the purpose. Of course, you will also have to concern yourself with routine cleaning, which could be effectively accomplished with a good-quality stone spray cleaner lime MB-5 and, as and end of the season cleaning, MB-2.

May I ask you now to please read and e-sign our Statement of Purpose at: http://www.marblecleaning.org/purpose.htm?

Ciao and good luck,

Mauri z io Bertoli

 

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