b'STONE Protecting your investment in Mother Nature with TLCBy Jeff Moen, National Sales and Marketing Director FilaUSAWhen working with natural stone, all the rules you know about porcelain tile can be immediately discarded. Its imperative to know the stone, know the finish, know about the stain, and know what you are getting into. What works for porcelain tile doesnotnecessarilyapplywhenworkingwith products created 100% by Mother Nature.TheNaturalStoneInstitutestatesthatnatural stone can be classified into two general categories according to its composition: siliceous stone or calcareous stone.Understandingthekeydifferencesbetweenthesecanhelpavoid costly damage to the product and to your reputation as a knowledge-able contractor!Types of stonesCalcareousstoneiscom-posedmainlyofcalcium carbonate.Thesestones includemarble,travertine, limestone and onyx and can beclassifiedasacid-sensi-tive.Theyaresensitiveto acidicsubstancessuchas coffee, lemon juice, vinegar, and bleach, all of which can veryoftenleaveanatural stone surface etched.Commonsensedic-tatesthatbyusingacidic cleaningproducts,acid-sensitivestonescouldvery wellbecomedamaged.Acid etching in Veona Rosso.84TileLetter | November 2019'