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Policy

Care policy

Care and maintenance

Stone furniture is beautiful, heavy, and care-sensitive. This guide explains everyday care, sealing, cleaning, wet-area use, movement, and the situations that need stone-specific review.

Policy summary

  • Wipe spills quickly, use coasters and avoid acidic, abrasive, bleach-based or generic cleaners.
  • Stone can patina, etch, stain, scratch or change with use, depending on material, finish and environment.
  • Bathroom, outdoor, coastal, hospitality and high-use settings need stone-specific review before approval.
01

Quick care rules

  • Wipe spills quickly, especially acidic, oily, or coloured liquids.
  • Use coasters, placemats, trays, and trivets.
  • Avoid acidic, abrasive, bleach-based, ammonia-based, and generic bathroom or kitchen cleaners.
  • Dry bathroom and wet-area surfaces after use.
  • Do not drag, overload, sit, stand, or climb on stone pieces.
  • Ask before using stone in outdoor, coastal, commercial, or high-use settings.
02

Know your stone

  • Marble and limestone can etch, stain, scratch, and develop patina, especially in dining, kitchen, bathroom, hospitality, or high-use settings.
  • Travertine has natural pores, voids, fill, and tonal variation. Filled areas may change with use and may need maintenance over time.
  • Quartzite is generally denser than marble or travertine, but it still requires careful handling, suitable cleaning, and stone-specific sealing advice.
  • Sintered stone is often more resistant to staining and heat than many natural stones, but it can still chip, crack, mark, or fail if mishandled, poorly supported, or cleaned incorrectly.
  • Outdoor, coastal, bathroom, commercial, and hospitality uses require stone-specific review before approval. Not every stone or finish is suitable for every environment.
03

Sealing

  • Your piece should be supplied sealed unless your quote or care card states otherwise. Confirm the sealing and resealing guidance for your selected stone and finish before use.
  • Sealing reduces absorption but does not make stone stain-proof, acid-proof, heat-proof, scratch-proof, or maintenance-free.
  • Sealing wears over time. Resealing frequency depends on the stone, finish, use intensity, cleaning products, wet-area exposure, and sealer type.
  • As a general guide, marble and travertine may need resealing every 6 to 12 months in high-use areas, while denser stones may need less frequent resealing. Follow the stone-specific care card or sealer instructions for your piece.
  • Reseal sooner if water no longer beads on the surface or if the surface begins absorbing liquids quickly.
  • Use a quality natural-stone impregnating sealer suitable for the stone and finish. Test in an inconspicuous area and follow the product instructions.
04

Everyday use

  • Use coasters, placemats, trays, and trivets. Do not place hot pans, hot dishes, mugs, candles, irons, hair tools, or other heat sources directly on the stone.
  • Wipe spills immediately, especially wine, citrus, vinegar, tomato, coffee, tea, alcohol, oils, cosmetics, soaps, toothpaste, perfume, cleaning products, and acidic or coloured liquids.
  • Dry the surface after wiping, especially in bathrooms, wet areas, and humid environments.
  • Do not sit, stand, climb, lean heavily, or place excessive weight on the piece.
  • Do not drag ceramics, metal, glass, appliances, vases, sculptures, or heavy objects across the surface.
  • Use felt pads or protective bases under decorative objects and accessories.
  • Keep the piece level and properly supported. Uneven floors, point loads, unsupported overhangs, or movement can damage stone.
05

Cleaning

  • Clean with a soft cloth and warm water, or a pH-neutral cleaner specifically suitable for natural stone.
  • Dry with a clean soft cloth after cleaning.
  • Do not use acidic, abrasive, bleach-based, ammonia-based, alcohol-heavy, solvent-based, anti-limescale, mould-removal, bathroom, oven, drain, glass, or generic kitchen cleaners unless the product is confirmed safe for the specific stone and finish.
  • Do not use scouring pads, steel wool, magic erasers, abrasive powders, hard brushes, steam cleaners, pressure washers, or harsh polishing compounds.
  • Avoid leaving cleaning products, soaps, cosmetics, or water pooled on the stone.
06

Stains, etching, chips, and scratches

  • Etching is a chemical reaction that can dull or mark acid-sensitive stone. It is different from staining and may require professional refinishing.
  • Stains may sometimes be improved with a stone-safe poultice or professional treatment, but results are not guaranteed.
  • Chips, cracks, scratches, open pores, or damaged fill should be assessed by a qualified stone professional. Do not use household glue, fillers, acids, or abrasive DIY repair kits.
  • Contact us before attempting repair if the issue may relate to warranty or an ACL claim.
07

Bathroom, wet-area, and vanity pieces

  • Bathroom and wet-area pieces need careful stone selection, sealing, drainage, ventilation, waterproofing, and cleaning routines.
  • Wipe standing water, soaps, toothpaste, cosmetics, oils, and cleaning residue promptly.
  • Do not allow water to sit around basins, joins, tapware, walls, or unsupported edges.
  • Plumbing, waterproofing, structural support, fixing, sealing to adjoining surfaces, and compliance with building requirements are the responsibility of your qualified trades unless expressly included in writing.
  • Maintain sealers diligently in wet areas and arrange professional advice if water absorption changes.
08

Outdoor, coastal, and commercial use

  • Outdoor, semi-outdoor, coastal, poolside, hospitality, or commercial use should be approved in writing before order.
  • Direct sun, salt air, rain, wind, pollution, food service, alcohol, heavy traffic, cleaning regimes, and thermal movement can affect stone, sealers, adhesives, bases, and finishes.
  • Quartzite or sintered stone may be more suitable than marble or travertine for some high-use or exposed settings, but suitability must be assessed project by project.
  • Use furniture covers only if they are breathable and suitable for stone. Trapped moisture can create marks or other issues.
09

Moving and handling

  • Stone furniture is heavy and can crack, chip, or injure people if moved incorrectly.
  • Do not drag the piece. Lift only with enough trained people and suitable equipment.
  • Protect edges, corners, floors, walls, and lift interiors when moving.
  • If the piece needs to be relocated after delivery, use experienced stone or furniture handlers. Damage from unauthorised movement is not covered by warranty except to the extent required by law.
10

What to expect over time

  • Natural stone will develop character with use. Patina, subtle surface changes, small marks, and tonal shifts can occur.
  • Filled areas, pores, fissures, and veins may become more visible over time, particularly in travertine and expressive marbles.
  • These changes are part of natural stone ownership and are not defects where they are consistent with the material and use environment.
11

Warranty and ACL note

  • Damage caused by improper cleaning, acids, abrasives, heat, impact, overloading, unsupported placement, dragging, failure to reseal, outdoor or wet-area exposure beyond the approved specification, or unauthorised repair is not covered by our voluntary warranty, subject to your rights under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL).
  • Your ACL rights are not affected by this care guide.
  • If you are unsure whether a cleaner, sealer, use case, or repair method is suitable, contact us before proceeding.
12

Contact

  • Email: hello@aprilsform.com.au
  • Phone: +61 485 943 461
  • Last updated: 12 June 2026

Next step

Not sure which stone suits the use case?

Ask before quoting. Some materials suit high-use commercial, outdoor, bathroom, or family dining environments better than others.

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