Black Granite is considered the 3rd hardest natural material known to man, behind Diamonds and Rubies. Selected both for beauty and strength, sculptors and architects have used granite and marble for centuries. "The polished surface of Granite has an erosion factor of less than 0.125 of an inch per 1000 years outdoors. The estimated life of laser etchings is 500+ years outdoors and for interior surfaces virtually forever," Vytek Industrial Systems, Inc., the manufacture of stone laser etching equipment.

Depending on where and how your etching will be displayed will determine our recommendation of substrate selection. For smaller works requiring great detail marble proves phenomenal in its etching abilities; however the stone will scratch if handled roughly or exposed to harsh elements. Granite on the other hand, is extremely durable and provides an excellent etching surface for most applications. We highly suggest granite for all larger etchings and pieces exposed to the outdoors as well as for flooring applications. We also highly recommend that all color pieces not have expsure to the sun or other UV light sources, as UV light has been proven to degrade the quality of paints and other materials over time. To learn more about materials visit our materials section (click here).

Protective Sealants
Before any client receives his or her etching all pieces are properly protected to best fight against the elements, including, oil and food staining, weathering, sun and more. After months of thorough testing, we have selected the very best in stone care protective products to help provide the best in anti-staining, humidity and waterproofing protection, UV degradation resistance*, heat and grease protection, and skid resistance for outdoor flooring and commercial concerns.

Although marble, granite and other natural stone surfaces are thought of as maintenance free, these surfaces do require proper cleaning, protection and maintenance. Depending upon the etched pieces you own, we may suggest re-application of our sealant as often as twice per year for high traffic areas. All natural stone surfaces, polished or unpolished, are porous and can be stained by a variety of common elements.

*The harsh affects of Ultra Violet (UV) light caused by sun exposure and other UV producing light, have proven to degrade the qualities of paints and other materials over time. It is because of the powerful effects of UV light that Aquarius Laser Etching & Design highly recommends all color stained pieces not to have exposure to sun and or other UV producing light. If pieces are to have sun exposure or UV producing lights, we recommend minimizing this exposure as much as possible.

Proper stone cleaning is simple. Clean your stone on a regular basis with warm water and a clean, non-abrasive cloth, sponge or mop. Sweep or dust all natural stone surfaces regularly to remove loose soil and dust. Keeping your stone free of dust and dry sandy soil will minimize the scratches and wear-patterns that can develop from the everyday use of stone. To help remove soils that normal dusting and damp mops leave behind, we recommend using specifically formulated neutral cleaners for natural stone. Please contact us for recommendations of cleaning products for your stone etchings.

Do not make the mistake of using general household cleaners, protectants, or polishes! Products that are not formulated specifically for use on natural stone will do more harm than good. Bleach, abrasives, ammonia, acid and alkaline based products will damage natural stone.

The simple answer is that laser etchings done on granite, marble and other stone can be installed by your local professional tile installer through conventional tiling methods. For these orders, we will provide installation specifications for you and your contractor. This method covers installation for home and office floor entryways, murals, bathroom shower and kitchen walls, fireplace surrounds, backsplashes and more.

However, if you are considering a non-permanent installation, we are happy to custom prepare your piece for hanging. The framework is designed for strength and easy installation onto a wall whether you intend to frame it, or display it in its pure form. A simple mounting kit and instructions will be provided. Yes, pieces can get heavy, but just like a large flat screen or plasma televisions there is no problem in wall mounting when done properly. Depending upon the mounting method you can expect weight to be from 7-9 lbs. per sq. ft.