When cared for properly your Litestone GRC table will bring you many years of use as part of your beautiful outdoor life. So please take a moment to familiarise yourself with Litestone’s care and maintenance information.
A little bit about the product. It’s made from Glass Reinforced Concrete (GRC), an extremely durable material admired for its unique imperfections, similar to natural stone. You’ll notice slight irregularities like variations in colour, texture and porosity, gentle mottling, curing variance of 5-10 mm or hairline cracks that will appear over time. These make each table unique without affecting its structural integrity. With natural white tables, dirt buildup can become more noticeable. To prevent dirt from accumulating in the material and hairline cracks it is essential to regularly maintain the sealant.
Sealant Application
To prevent heavy stains, from oils and acidic food and drinks we recommend sealing the table prior to use with a clear stone sealant with matte finish, such as Aquamix which can be purchased from WG Outdoor Life. To maintain the seal, it must be reapplied at regular intervals (roughly every 6 months for moderate use, 3 months for heavy usage).
General Cleaning
When properly maintained, your table’s sealer coating will protect the surface against general food preparation and spills. However, any mess should be cleaned as soon as possible. Clean your concrete product as you would natural stone surfaces such as marble or granite, using warm water and a soft cloth.
Stain Removal
For stubborn surface soils or stains, use a mild household cleaner or liquid soap containing no abrasive chlorine, bleach or ammonium. If using products containing antibacterial or disinfectant agents, always test an inconspicuous area of the table first to ensure your cleaner is compatible with the finish. Be sure to remove all cleaning agent residue with clean water, then rinse and dry immediately (water spotting may occur if you allow large standing water drops to air dry).
Scratch Prevention
While the concrete is suitable for everyday use and food preparation, cutting and other abrasive activities should not be performed directly on the surface of the concrete. Use cutting boards to prevent scratching on the surface or wear of the sealer coat. It’s also a good idea to fix felt or rubber pads on the bottom of items that may scratch the surface when dragged.
Fading Prevention
Exposure to long periods of rain, pollution, sunlight and temperature extremes will accelerate wear of the protective sealer and cause the appearance of the concrete surface to fade and hairline crack will appear. Place a cover over the table to improve the longevity of the original finish. While intense heat will not harm the concrete itself, setting a hot object directly on the surface may weaken or discolour the sealer, thus exposing the raw concrete to future damage. Use of coasters and placemats is recommended.
DO
- Use heat protective mats under hot items
- Set the table up on a firm level surface to avoid bowing (use spacers if required)
- Use pavers when placing table on lawn or artificial grass
- Disassemble the table when moving
- Place a cover over your outside table to help maintain the finish
DON’T
- Use high pressure hoses to clean the table
- Place heavy objects in the middle of the table
- Stand on the table or sit on the edges
- Lift or move an assembled table when legs are attached.
