Maintaining Your Natural Stone Veneer Siding

Any exterior surface needs maintenance and cleaning periodically. Harsh Rocky Mountain winters leave grime and debris that can dull the finish of any stone or painted surface. And, like anything else, regular preventative maintenance and cleaning will preserve that like-new appearance and lengthen the life of the exterior.

Natural stone veneers are certainly tough and long-lasting. In order to keep the exterior surfaces from appearing dull and worn, a regular maintenance program is an important process.

Regular Maintenance

Natural or manufactured stone veneer is usually applied to the exterior of a home or building to impart a more elegant and natural look. Whether the veneer completely covers the structure or is a prominent decorative feature with columns or wainscoting, keeping the stone clean and free of matter that can stain or degrade the product is essential. A dull appearance will noticeably reduce the overall visual impact of the veneer.

Setting up a simple, regular program of inspecting, cleaning, de-icing, and sealing the exterior veneer will retain the highlights and the impressive features that were intended.

Cleaning

Over the harsh winters and even during other seasons, the stone veneers will collect grime and soot. A close-up inspection can reveal what might not be obvious from a distance. But neglecting to clean the veneer will, over time, degrade the appearance and reduce the best features of the stone material. The longer the dirt remains, the more difficult the cleaning process becomes.

If the accumulation is not severe, the surface should should be cleaned with a whisk broom or soft brush and scrubbed with water only.

Efflorescence Removal

Because the stone is a veneer, water moving through the material to the exterior surface can cause the presence of “efflorescence” or a white chalky substance that results from the presence of underlying salts and minerals. Without using harsh methods, the white material should be gently removed by using a solution of 25% vinegar with water and gently scrubbing the surface with a soft brush.

De-Icing

In the Rocky Moungtain States, ice buildup can be a common occurrence. Manufactured stone veneer should not be exposed to harsh chemicals to remove accumulated ice. Salts and other products can negatively affect the veneers, so using only products that are designed for use on lightweight concrete products are acceptable.

Sealing the Stone Veneer

Before sealing the cleaned and de-iced stone veneers, owners should be careful in choosing which sealants to use. Only breathable, water-based sealers should be used since many products can dull the finish of the veneer. Check with ProCoat for questions about sealants for stone veneers.

Contact ProCoat Systems

For information about maintaining and sealing natural and cultured stone veneers, contact the experts at ProCoat Systems at 303.322.9009.

EIFS Coating Textures: What Are My Choices?

Installing EIFS to your home or business is not just about creating a well-insulated, highly energy efficient cladding to the exterior. Once installed, the protective EIFS (Exterior Insulation and Finish System) can be coated with a broad range of beautiful and practical finishes from Sto Corp, the recognized leader in integrated exterior wall systems. Whether matching your personal taste, “standing out”, or coordinating with the surrounding environment is the objective, Sto coatings enhance the effectiveness of the EIFS while creating an almost unlimited number of options to project individual creativity.

Exterior coatings by Sto can replicate virtually any finish. Whether the preference is stucco, granite, brick, limestone or another covering style, ProCoat will provide Sto’s complete selection of possibilities.

Standard Finishes

ProCoat finishes from Sto are not only about color. The texture is the characteristic that imparts the distinctive appearance to any structure. Available in an unlimited number of colors and shades, Sto’s standard marble aggregate coating can be applied in a variety of textures. The material, bound with 100% acrylic polymers, can be applied to create a fine-grain, swirl, or traditional stucco freeform appearance.

Specialty Finishes

ProCoat can provide several other options beyond Sto’s stucco-type finishes. These specialty coatings allow plenty of options for renewing the overall look of any home or building.

·        Stolit® Milano

Excellent finish for interiors as well as exteriors, Stolit Milano is a fine-grained, almost smooth finish that applies easily in only two or three coats. The coating is available in a range of colors and is mildew-resistant.

·        Limestone Finish

Easy to apply, Sto’s Limestone coating is lightweight and provides a natural stone look and feel without the expense o the real thing. The material can be applied to a variety of substrates and adds a look of elegance and permanence to any structure.

·        Granitex™

To add a truly solid look to any building, Granitex is an acrylic based coating developed by Sto. The material is applied by spray and provides a coarse, natural stone texture. Granitex is available in a range of natural colors.

·        Decocoat™

Decocoat is a decorative covering that can be applied to masonry, plaster or drywall interiors and exteriors. The coating is available in over 30 shades and is composed of fine aggregate material bound in acrylic.

·        Granite Moab

With the texture of stone aggregate but with reflective material, Sto Granite is available in six different textures. To create an interesting and totally unique he material is trowel-applied.

·        Stotique™Tuscan

Stotique is a smooth, yet mottled finish that imparts an Old Europe look to any building..

·        Brick

A truly creative option, Sto Brick replicates a true brick finish without the expense. In a two step process using stencils, any building’s exterior can be transformed into a brick stately and colonial look.

Contact ProCoat

For more information about EIFS and the full range of cladding possibilities, contact the professionals at ProCoat. Their experts can review all of the options to identify the best solution for any home or building.

Call ProCoat at 303.322.9009.