If your floor is not deeply scratched, surface polishing may bring back an acceptable shine. However, existing scratches may remain. If your floor has worn badly a complete restoration is warranted. This decision should be made between you and us.
Sealers in the stone industry are called impregnators because they impregnate the interior of the stone with finely engineered silicones and resins that go through the pores of the surface. Stone sealers do to stone what exterior wood sealer do to wood. They protect the interior of the material.
When acid (vinegar) comes into contact with marble (calcium carbonate), it causes a chemical reaction. The result is called etching. Natural stone sealers penetrate the stone and do not prevent this natural reaction. If you do in fact have a polyurethane coat on top of your stone, then you have a different problem altogether. If the stone is etched, we can refinish it.
The #1 culprit of damage to floors is dirt, (grit, sand & dust). The best treatment for your floor is a dry, untreated microfibre dust mop or vacuum, used every day when possible. Damp mopping is recommended on a weekly basis and whenever there are visible spills.
These are not water spots, but an etch mark in the surface of the stone. This is what happens when an acidic substance comes in contact with any calcium based stone. To get rid of the etch marks, the stone will need to be polished out, much like a gemstone would have to be if it were scratched.
Most of the time when a customer asks us why their countertop is not shiny anymore, it turns out that some sort of film is sitting on the surface. This happens when one does not use the proper cleanser, or when they clean their granite surface with water and dish soap. (This will eventually lead to soap film build up.) Give us a call. We can provide solutions for you.
Limestone is sedimentary rock consisting mostly of organic material such as skeletons and shells of marine creatures and sediments. It is formed by material that settles to the bottom of bodies of water, and over millions of years, solidifies into solid rock. Earth movements over extremely long periods of earth’s history can lift limestone miles into the air. The summit of Mount Everest is limestone that started out on an ocean floor.
It is one of the toughest stones available, but it is susceptible to chips and scratches. It is extremely difficult to chip granite. In the case of normal wear and tear, it is not expected to chip, however, abusive use with heavy or hard materials can chip your granite. The great news is that we can fill the chip.
There is no dust created during the restoration process, because we use diamond abrasives and water.
Yes, we are able to fix more than 90% of cracked countertops and restore them to their new shiny look. Examples are provided in gallery section of our website.
In general no. A few colours may show some moisture if exposed for a period of time. Example: a puddle of water left on the counter for a long period may show a dark spot after it is wiped away.
Granite cannot be affected by heat from a cook top or a frying pan. A lit flame placed under the granite will have no melting effect and will not leave any burned or scarred marks.
Yes. Marble and natural stone regardless of the finish is still porous and is susceptible to dirt penetrating the surface and staining. The surface still should be sealed with a penetrating sealer.
In addition to the appealing beauty of granite, it maintains its colorful beauty easily and is a durable material. Granite has different textures, beautiful colors and designs. Most importantly, it resists stains, scratches and is heat and moisture resistant.