How to Care for Granite Tile Used Outdoors
Without question, granite tile is stunning to look at. It offers many benefits that go beyond beauty. For instance, quality granite will last a long time. It’s also scratch, heat, stain, and moisture-resistant. Those are just a few reasons why it ranks as a top choice for kitchen countertops and floors.
You can have granite tile installed outdoors as well. Although you’ll enjoy all the same benefits when used indoors, as an outdoor application, you’ll need to provide the tile with a little extra care.
Properly Maintaining Outdoor Granite Tile
Fortunately, it’s not complicated. If you want to enhance the appearance of an outdoor kitchen, a feature near the pool, a patio where family and friends gather, or perhaps a firepit area, these tips will keep the granite tile in pristine condition.
Have Outdoor Granite Tile Sealed – When installed outside, granite tile gets exposed to the elements. That includes sunlight, rain, temperature fluctuations, wind, dust, and, depending on where you live, snow. These are all reasons why it’s essential to have the tile properly sealed. The same professional who installs the granite tile can also apply a quality sealant. You want to have the tile resealed once a year since weather conditions can diminish the level of protection.
Quick Cleanups – As quickly as possible, clean the granite tile using granite cleaner or plain soap and water. Whether someone spills food on a countertop in an outdoor kitchen or you find animal droppings on a walkway, don’t wait to clean the surface. There are two important things to remember. First, never use a cleaner that contains bleach. Second, although granite tile is scratch-resistant, avoid using any kind of harsh abrasive.
Remove Wet Leaves – Again, granite tile is moisture resistant, but when used outdoors, you don’t want accumulated wet leaves to sit for very long. To prevent this from happening, simply cover the tiled surface during the fall or when not in use.
Avoid Using Citronella Oil – Yes, candles that contain citronella oil work great to keep mosquitoes at bay. However, this same oil can break through even the best sealer on granite tile if left for an extended period. The best option is to place this type of candle on a different surface other than the granite.
Disinfecting Surfaces – Although exposed to a lot more when installed outdoors compared to an indoor application, you don’t need to buy anything special to disinfect granite tile. For this, simply wipe the surface down with a mixture of warm water and an antibacterial dish detergent.
Removing Stubborn Stains – One of the great things about granite tile is that even if it becomes stained, you can remove unsightly spots with ease. For this, mix a little bit of water and baking soda to form a paste. Then with a clean piece of cloth, scrub the stained section in a circulation motion. With the stain gone, use plain water to remove any paste residue.
Start With a Quality Product
If you want to have granite tile installed outside, always start by purchasing a quality product. That’s where we can help. At Granite au Sommet, we specialize in providing our customers with a variety of exceptional products. Contact us today for more information.