Natural Stone Care
Pre-Inspection
All Natural Stone cleaning, restoration and sealing jobs must be thoroughly pre-inspected. Here we determine a customized care plan to meet the needs for your specific floor. Typically for restoration jobs, a complimentary demonstration is required to set proper expectations.
Preparation
Because your home is important to you, it is important to us. We will take the necessary precautions to protect sensitive areas surrounding your floors with 24” plastic sheets and blue tape. Furniture and rugs are moved or protected as needed.
Cleaning
Cleaning processes vary from floor to floor. Variables include composition, maintenance, soiling conditions, traffic, use, installation, etc. When cleaning any stone floor, we use the most scientifically advanced cleaning products. The floor may be machine or hand-scrubbed, or deep cleaned using a floor-cleaning tool connected to a truck-mounted hot water extraction system. We will use the appropriate method for the floor, thereby achieving maximum soil removal and the best results.
Diamond Grinding/Polishing
Stone that is etched, scuffed or scratched can only be restored by the use of mechanical abrasives underneath a rotary machine. Diamond abrasives resurface by removing a slight amount of stone (just enough to get below the etch marks and scratches). All diamond grinding is performed with the use of water to contain dust. The surfacing procedures that follow will determine the desired surface sheen. Cloudy, splotchy, or dirty filler becomes uniform with our finishing techniques.
Honing
This process is done using chemical powders or diamonds and leaves the floor with a uniform dull appearance. This look is popular with Travertine floors. It involves the same steps in the diamond grinding or polishing, but the final steps to produce a high luster on the stone are not used.
Polishing
Stone is mechanically finished to produce a high gloss shine. Very light etch marks and scuffs may be removed with a powder polishing process alone, but diamond grinding is needed if the stone surface has medium to deep etch marks or scratching.
Sealing
After the work is complete on your floor, it is sealed using an impregnator (penetrating) sealer. Impregnator sealers penetrate the surface of the stone to protect from the inside out. It will protect against water and soil absorption without changing the appearance of the floor.