The Differences Between Granite and Marble

As a cleaning business owner, you've probably had to deal with cleaning some form of granite or marble, whether it's flooring, countertops or maybe even showers and wall surfaces.

If you're not familiar with how to care for these stone surfaces, you might be inclined to think that they need to be cared for in the same way. However that's a misconception because granite and marble are very different in their geology. So it would benefit you as a cleaning business owner to know some of the differences between granite and marble.

Granite:

• Granite is an igneous rock, which is a much harder stone. Therefore it may need harder abrasives for refinishing.
• To identify granite, do a scratch test. Take a knife blade, and try scratching the surface (in an inconspicuous place). If it's hard to scratch, then it's likely to be granite (or some type of igneous rock). If you are able to scratch the stone it is either marble or limestone.
• Granite generally doesn't react with acids (with the exception of Hydrofluoric Acid - HF).

Marble:

• Marble is a much softer stone than granite.
• Marble is a metamorphic rock containing calcium carbonate, which reacts to acids. With this information, you now know that acidic cleaners will damage most marble surfaces.
• Marble is also sensitive to acidic foods like lemon and vinegar, so it's not always a good choice for kitchen countertops.
• You can usually identify marble because of its distinct swirls or veins.

Before caring for stone surfaces, make sure you know what type of stone you're dealing with. Once you know that, you'll be able to choose the right cleaner for the job.

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Steve Hanson has been a building service contractor for more than 20 years and now uses his knowledge to help owners of residential cleaning companies build a more profitable and successful cleaning business at MyHouseCleaningBiz.com. Read inspirational cleaning success stories at http://www.cleaning-success.com, and sign up for House Cleaning Profit Tips at //www.myhousecleaningbiz.com.