With ORSOL, a specialist in the manufacture of top-of-the-range NÉOMINÉRAL stone wall cladding, no special maintenance is required for interior walls. For exterior installations, regular renewal of water-repellent protection is all that’s needed to extend the life of the cladding. Let’s take a closer look at how to protect, maintain and clean interior and exterior stone cladding.
How do you protect new stone cladding?
Water-repellent protection is one of ORSOL’s substrate preparation and installation products. This precaution is essential outdoors to protect the cladding from rain, but also indoors in damp rooms.
Protecting interior stone cladding
In “wet” rooms such as kitchens and bathrooms, walls are constantly exposed to water vapor. This humidity comes from cooking (pressure cookers, pots of boiling water…), but also from the operation of machines (washing machines, dishwashers). Showering and bathing are other activities that increase humidity in the ambient air.
In these rooms, contact between the walls and humidity-saturated indoor air leads to a clearly visible phenomenon on windows and mirrors. Condensation is more discreet on walls, but remains potentially harmful in the absence of appropriate treatment. For NÉOMINÉRAL stone cladding, a simple water-repellent treatment is all that’s needed after installation.
ORSOL offers several water repellents for sale. For more information, please contact our customer service department by filling in the contact form HERE.
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Protecting exterior stone cladding
When it comes to exterior cladding, we’re not just talking about water vapour, but also rainwater and runoff. Facade cladding must be treated to prevent any risk of infiltration. A water-resistant exterior envelope will also retain its original appearance for longer. Rain will wash away any surface dust deposits.
To protect your exterior cladding, ORSOL offers colorless and tinted water repellent treatment products. For smooth, graphic STATUR collection cladding installed without joints, you’ll need a tinted water repellent to best accompany outdoor installation? For other facings, a colorless water repellent will ideally protect the appearance of the natural stone.
When to repeat the operation on the facings?
This operation should be repeated approximately every 5 years for exterior cladding. This low-impact rhythm is sufficient to ensure maximum durability against the elements.
Indoors, you can also repeat the water-repellent treatment in damp rooms. Here too, an application every 5 years is sufficient to protect the wall against water vapour.
How do I clean interior or exterior stonework?
ORSOL siding does not need to be cleaned to remain in perfect condition. Nevertheless, accidents can happen. What should you do if a dirty liquid splashes onto an interior wall? Or a mark on an exterior wall?
Cleaning siding: beware of aggressive products
Whatever the type of stain, you need to move forward gradually. Start with the gentlest cleaning method. Never start with a product containing powerful active compounds, which could prove ineffective as well as damaging to the material. A stained and then damaged surface will be all the more difficult to clean. We recommend using a pH-neutral product to preserve the integrity of the siding.
A simple and effective way to clean facing stones
If the accident has just happened, simply soak up the liquid with a damp cloth or sponge. This should be enough to remove any unsightly traces. If the stain has had time to dry, moisten the surface and proceed in the same absorbent way. To clean more difficult-to-reclaim stonework, you can use a soft bristle brush. Rub the stain lightly in small circular movements.
Which stone cladding to use in a dirty room?
Do you worry about having to clean your interior stonework too often in messy rooms like the kitchen? Or outside, on the walls of the terrace where you eat and cook in summer?
First of all, the treatment recommended by ORSOL helps protect the cladding against stains. Dirt remains superficial on a water-repellent surface , making it easier to wash off when necessary. It also makes it possible to install old-style stone cladding or a contemporary villa around the pool.
Next, you can choose a color that makes any dirt less visible. Choose combinations of different natural shades and less uniform assemblies. If the cladding features several stones of different shapes, tones and sizes, it will be much harder to spot any anomalies.
What you need to know to clean stonework properly
The best approach is to choose a wall covering and treatment suited to the conditions in which it will be installed (damp rooms, facades, swimming pools, etc.). Then be sure to follow the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule.
In the event of a stain, simply clean the exterior or interior facing stone with a soft cloth and a little water. If the surface is in good condition, it will be easier to wash.