First, a little background about basalt...

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Locally, basalt may be called lava stone, lava tile, or 'puka' lava in the case of the basalt with the large holes. Basalt is, of course, a volcanic (igneous) material. The variations we see on Hawaii are most often the type that forms at or near the surface, therefore cooling relatively fast, which doesn't allow the crystal structure to better form, and, allows argon gas to be trapped thus creating the holes. Granite, for the record, is also igneous (volcanic) but forms far below the surface, mixing with surrounding minerals and deposits, and cooling slower than basalt allowing the crystal structure to better form, all while under tremendous pressure. The origins and mineral makeup of these stones are similar yet their density, crystal structures, porosity and most obvious, their appearances, are very different. For many of these reasons, basalt behaves much different than granite and most other natural stone in service in our homes and businesses.

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The porosity of basalt and its ability to trap dirt...

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If you look closely at basalt you can see tiny, visible pores covering the surface. These are aside from the large holes or "pukas" seen in some varieties.  This is a problem with basalt as these pores are like magnets for dirt, especially our red dirt here on Kauai. These pores also make cleaning basalt a lot more difficult than most other stones. Because of these issues, Kauai Scratch Removal employs various methods, cleaning solutions and equipment depending on the job at hand.

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The elaborate capillary system of basalt and efflorescence ....

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As mentioned above, because of how basalt is formed, it has a very elaborate capillary system. This allows contaminants and especially salts from the substrate and thinset adhesives below to wick up to the surface and form what we know as efflorescence. This is difficult to control once basalt is installed but there are several steps that can be taken prior to installation to help minimize these issues. Please refer to the links below for more information on salt ingress and efflorescence. In short, substrate cleaning and neutralizing, tile prep including pre-sealing the back and pre-sealing surface prior to grouting, and protection during the building process help minimize many of the issues associated with basalt. 

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More on Efflorescence... 

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Basalt is prone to staining...

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Because of its porosity and capillary system, basalt is sensitive to staining as these characteristics act as a highway for spilled liquids, oils, foods, etc. We are happy to help remove these stains or teach our clients how to remove stains themselves if they are interested in doing so. Don't hesitate to call us for recipes and advice on stain removal and we will gladly walk you through the whole process from start to finish. 

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In the end, and with all it's issues, basalt is still a desired stone on the islands, largely because of how it works perfectly with most of our island decor but also because it is relatively inexpensive. As you may know by now, there is that hidden cost... maintenance . Please check out the links below for more information including what others have discovered in their experiences with basalt. Of course, we welcome our clients or those interested to call us with any questions they may have as well.