Sand/dirt/grit does the most damage to natural stone surfaces due to their abrasiveness. Therefore extensive entrance matting is extremely important to keep grit from coming onto the stone surface. Homes have the advantage of low traffic and the ability to leave shoes at the door. The stone surface should be dust mopped/vacuumed regularly, as removing grit from the floor will keep scratching to a minimum. Prompt spot cleaning of (organic and acid based) spills will minimize or eliminate stains and etches. When mopping no longer removes surface dirt from the stone, light damp mopping will be required with clean water, clean mop, and a moderate amount of a neutral PH cleaning agent.

Since there are currently no coatings available for stone that are harder than the stone itself, coatings will scuff and mark much more readily than stone itself. Coatings are soft and will attract dirt faster than a natural polish. Removing the dust and debris from the coated surface is much more difficult than from natural polished surface. The coating seals the stone not allowing it to breath, which can cause the stone to spall. Coatings also will build up on the surface producing a plastic-like appearance that is subject to yellowing from entrapped dirt and ultraviolet rays. The removal of coatings by harsh strippers can also damage the stone.

Sealers in the stone industry are called impregnators because they impregnate the interior of the stone with finely engineered silicones and resins that go through the pores of the surface. Stone sealers do to stone what exterior wood sealer do to wood. They protect the interior of the material.