Hi found attached on a website.
We have a stone fireplace and slate hearth. Never, ever, ever again.
The slate is impossible to keep, scratches easily and shows the dust no matter how often you clean it. And this is with a gas fire. The thought of trying to maintain a real fine doesn't bear thinking about.
OUr next door neighbours had a real fire and the stone just look burned.
The stone fireplace is very porous, stains and looks grubby after only five years. You have to keep it sealed. You can't put a coffee cup down on the mantle as the stain won't come out. They are labour intensive. The problem is that you know what you can and can't do but do visitors to your house? Mine didn't, hence the big ugly coffee stain on the mantle.
I was a bit over the top looking after it at first but then decided to hell, you have to live and I certainly don't want people coming to my home feeling they can't move..
Anyway that's only my experience. Found below, might give you a few pointers.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Limestone is a natural material, and as such, is inherently variable in shade and colour. No guarantee can be given that the product will be uniform, or indeed the same colour as depicted in the showroom or in samples.
Customer Care
Limestone is extremely porous and therefore liable to stain. Always ensure that limestone surfaces or fireplaces are sealed with a specialist product before use. The sealing process should be carried out at regular intervals, say twice a year; to ensure the limestone is protected. Always use specialist limestone cleaning products for stain removal or simple cleaning and maintenance.