Hearth stone rock coloring

[Steven]

Hello I have faux river rock (cement castings) around my stove and up the wall a little ways, and was wondering if they sell a product that is non-flammable to brighten the color of the stone up some?

 

[Shari]

I would think you could just add a sealer of some sort that would bring the color out in the stone.

Shari

 

[Highbeam]

Normally, the typical sealers/enhancers will make natural rock darker and more colorful plus shiny. To see what you would get with a sealer, just wet down the rocks and see if they darken. Being a faux rock we can't really say how it will react. The sealers work by being absorbed.

 

[Steven]

Anyone have any names of products or where to purchase?

 

[keydiver]

home depot. Just look around the tile or ask!

 

[CarbonNeutral]

Muriatic (hydrochloric) acid would clean and etch, maybe lighten them. I wouldn't use it though - looks nasty. Phosphoric acid maybe instead. Just some ideas, certainly not an endorsement.

EDIT: here http://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/infxtra/infmur.html says not to use muriatic indoors....

 

[runandjump]

I wonder how bleach would do? Or peroxide?

 

[littlesmokey]

I wouldn't mess with any bleaching agents unless you know exactly what the faux is made of. Any sealer will deepen the color. There are few clear coat products with a heat resistent quality. You might see if their is a clear high temp epoxy available through an industrial paints outlet. Go with a fear of death. The price will scare the knickers off you. A gallon may be $100, but the catalyst may be even more and not available in small quantity. Try Sherwinn Williams first as they may be the best all access source.

 

[Shari]

Someone on the list posted a before and after when they sealed their slate tile - anyone got a link to that message?

Shari