As an Indian gabbro, Nero India Premium is a robust hard rock with low water absorption (typically 0.1–0.3 %), good acid resistance and a Mohs hardness of 6. Wine, lemon juice, vinegar, cola, bathroom cleaners or descalers leave no etch marks as they would on marble or limestone — the stone is considerably easier to care for and well suited to intensive everyday use.
For interior applications we recommend an impregnation on a silane or polysiloxane basis at first installation. On polished surfaces, 5–10 years may pass between impregnation refreshes depending on use; on heavily used kitchen worktops or exterior applications, check every 2–3 years. Impregnation protects against deep penetration by oil, fat and pigments — on the dark groundmass such discolouration is barely visible, which makes the stone a very forgiving choice for kitchen worktops.
Daily care is carried out with a pH-neutral natural stone cleaner and a soft cloth or microfibre mop. Clear warm water is usually sufficient. The surface finishes available in stock are listed in the »Finishes« block further down. Acidic cleaners are in principle unproblematic, but should nevertheless not be used, because they can attack the impregnation.
For kitchen worktops Nero India Premium is very well suited: cut- and scratch-resistant, insensitive to heat (hot pots and pans may be set down directly for short periods, but avoid longer heat exposure above 200 °C), acid-resistant and with good stain repellency. For exterior applications, with its low water absorption Nero India Premium is frost-resistant and stable against weathering over the long term — ideally suited to external façades, terraces, stairs, pool areas and gravestones. The surface finishes available in stock are listed in the »Finishes« block further down. In hot climate zones the dark base tone stores more solar energy than light stones — for pool areas in the south, combine it with locally cooled irrigation where appropriate.
For pool surrounds, external terraces and fountain surrounds a slip-inhibiting textured surface is mandatory — on smooth external surfaces there is a high risk of slipping when wet. In areas with frequent salt contact (road salt, pool chlorine) we recommend an additional annual impregnation refresh. The black base tone is UV-stable and shows no colour change over time.
