Before you try anything: always speak to a professional before cleaning, treating or applying any product to your stone. Every slab is different, and the wrong product can cause permanent damage. Contact us or a qualified stone restorer first.
Quick answer
Limestone is soft, porous calcium carbonate, so it both stains and etches easily. Oil and water can darken it within minutes, and acids leave dull marks. A penetrating sealer only slows staining. Clear protection film is a barrier over the top, so nothing is absorbed and nothing etches, while Matte/Satin keeps the honed look.
Key points
- Formed from compressed shells and marine sediment.
- Usually more porous than marble, so stains set faster.
- Softer too: edges and surfaces scratch and wear easily.
- Matte/Satin film keeps the natural, chalky finish.
Beautiful, but thirsty
Limestone forms on old sea floors from compacted shells and calcium-rich sediment. It has not been recrystallised the way marble has, so it tends to be softer and more porous. Portuguese limestones such as Moleanos and Moca Creme, French limestones and some Australian stones are popular for benchtops and vanities because of their soft, even colour.
That porosity is the issue. A splash of olive oil can leave a dark patch in the time it takes to find a cloth, water can leave temporary shadows, and a wet coffee cup can leave a ring. Add acid sensitivity on top and limestone is the stone that most needs protection to be practical in a kitchen.
Why film suits limestone better than sealing
Sealers are commonly reapplied to limestone every year or two, and still cannot stop etching. Film stays on the surface for the long term and blocks both problems. Because limestone is almost always honed, we film it in Matte/Satin so the finish looks untouched.