Interesting Facts and Things to Know About Marble Pool Coping

Marble is among the best materials you can use for your swimming pool. It is durable, timeless, and will provide a luxurious finish to the area. Likewise, it will elevate your property’s value and make your waterline safer, especially when you use high-quality marble pool copings. Here are some more interesting facts to know about marble and why it is great for your pool:

• There is a color and a pattern that will suit your taste – Marble pavers and copings come in many different colors and designs. Regardless of your choice, you can create a bold and natural look that will make your pool stand out. This is because the materials are cut from natural stone, which has unique characteristics.

• Safe – Marble can naturally resist bacteria and other harmful elements that can thrive in materials. Tumbled marble pavers for your pool deck and copings for the swimming pool will provide extra grip for feet, so people can avoid slipping and falling.

• Easy to clean – With marble, your pool can be easier to clean, usually only with water and mild soap. The material is naturally stain resistant, too, but be sure to clean up spills from colored and acidic liquids to prevent permanent stains.

• Marble copings come in different types and sizes – Standard bullnosed marble coping is ideal for uniquely shaped swimming pools with a lot of rounded curves. It is big enough to ensure a cost-effective job, and small enough to not require too much cutting. Reputable suppliers of natural stone tiles and pavers carry tumbled copings for rectangular shaped and straight-edged pools, too. These copings can be used for the steps of the pool or deck for a consistent finish.

• There are marble copings for renovations – Some suppliers carry thick pool copings for retro fit jobs and remodels. Remodeling copings are specially designed to be laid on existing coping to avoid the need for a demolition. The four-inch turn should cover all kinds of damage, blemish, or an uneven installation.

 Source: http://www.stone-mart.com/blogs/interesting-facts-and-things-to-know-about-marble-pool-coping/

How to Clean Marble Pavers and Coping: Everything You Need to Know

Marble is a great material for swimming pools, especially if you want an elegant, luxurious, and timeless look. To keep it in good condition, you need to make sure that you clean your marble pool well. It may not accumulate dirt, grime, or moss over a short period of time, and it is resistant to mold, mildew, and fungal growth, but you will have to do the cleaning once in a while to prevent its quality from deteriorating. Here are the things you need to know when cleaning your marble pool:

• Do not use conventional commercial cleaners - Regular anti-limescale and descaling cleaners will cause marble to corrode and destroy its natural color and form. Synthetic cleaning agents and bleach should be avoided, too, as these could strip away the natural color and finish of the stone.

• Clean water and mild soap will suffice – Marble is low-maintenance and will only require being washed down with water. If you want to use soap, make sure it is mild and free of abrasive cleaners, which will scratch the surface of the stone.

• Clean up spills immediately – Did someone spill juice, wine, tea, coffee, or any other dark colored liquid on your marble pool copings or deck? Wipe it up immediately. Marble, while seemingly smooth, is still porous. So, it will still absorb the liquid and cause a permanent stain. Use a slightly damp soft cloth.

• Check the formulation of stain removers – In case of persistent stains, use a stain remover that is specifically formulated for marble. Avoid using vinegar, which will cause the stone to corrode and lose its shine.

• Baking soda is your friend – There are alternatives to marble cleaning agents. Hydrogen peroxide, for instance, is ideal for light colored marble pavers and copings. Or you can use baking soda, which is mixed with water until you achieve a creamy paste. Apply the paste on the stained area and cover it with a plastic wrap for 24 hours. This should absorb deep-seated stains.

 Source: http://www.stone-mart.com/blogs/how-to-clean-marble-pavers-and-coping-everything-you-need-to-know/

Installing French Pattern Travertine in Your Home

You can never go wrong with French pattern travertine tiles if you want a bold and one-of-a-kind look for your house. The pattern is also known as ‘Versailles pattern’ and ‘Roman pattern,’ and what makes it different is the way each tile is arranged, which breaks the rigid, monotonous, and geometric look of regular square tile installations. In a set, there are 12 pieces that consists of different sizes of tiles: four 8x8, two 8x16, four 16 x 16, and two 16 x 24, and when put together, they cover a 16-square foot area. DIY diagrams are often provided by suppliers, but you can refer to the following steps to lay French Pattern travertine properly in your home, too:

1. Measure the area where you want to install the tiles – Find out the square footage by measuring the length x width. If the room is oddly shaped, visually divide it into squares, then add each square area together. Length in inches times the width in inches is equal to the area in square inches, then divided by 144 to get the measurement in square feet.
   
   
2. Have the right materials – Make sure you already have the set of French pattern tiles. From there, you can gather up the rest of the necessary materials, like the thinset, backerboard, tile saw, trowel, a thinset mixing paddle, grout, a grout sponge, a five-gallon bucket, a ½ hp drill, chalk line, a grout and natural stone sealer, straight edge, and a backerboard scoring knife.

3. Start with the cement bed – This is what’s under the tile. Cement board is easiest to use, making it good for DIY projects. Just make sure the base floor is properly prepared.
   
   
4. Applying the thinset – Mix the thinset in the bucket following the instructions on its packaging, and use the trowel to spread it out. Wait for 24 hours to cure before you actually lay out the French pattern travertine tiles.

5. Installing the tiles – Determine how you want to lay out the French pattern travertine tiles. Use the chalk line to make a guide. Measure and cut the edges of the tiles make them fit properly into place.  

Source: http://www.stone-mart.com/blogs/installing-french-pattern-travertine-in-your-home/