POLISHING: The shine from stone comes from the reflection of light off the smooth surface. If that surface has been damaged with a thousand tiny scratches or poor maintenance, the shine will naturally fade. The shine can be returned however with the removal of scratches, cleaning chemical residue, and any etching. Of course, upon completion, the application of the proper sealant is mandatory.

HONING: This is the process of where through the use of abrasives one can smooth the stone. This is what happens when one is removing scratches and etch marks. Most countertops are of the polished variety but those that have a honed finish can also be brought back to that smooth finish it originally had.

MAINTENANCE CLEANING: The concept that “new stone ages” should be remembered here. Stone, like any material needs to be maintained. Unless one is diligent in the cleaning and resealing of stone, it will, over time, degrade. Cleaners, cosmetics, certain foods and beverages can be very harmful to marble. Grease, grime and other pollutants can easily build up on granite if one is not careful. These surfaces can be maintained and regularly sealed either on an as needed basis or through my scheduled Maintenance Program. If you are part of our client program, you will be contacted every six (6) months for our clean & seal service. At your convenience, I will machine scrub and seal the areas specified. If the countertops have any etching, that will be removed at a discounted price.

STAIN REMOVAL: All stone can stain. Sealers and impregnators will reduce the impact and give you time to respond but it can and will stain. I have an extensive list of poultices that can be utilized on stains. Make no mistake though, it can take time. Sometimes, there are no quick fixes but it is cheaper than replacement. Before you call, blot up as much as possible, rinse with cold water and a stone safe cleaner.

CHIP REPAIR: Have a small gouge in the edge or on the corners? How about when someone dropped something on the countertop. Believe it or not, that can, in most instances, be repaired. By utilizing crushed stone powder and epoxy, these areas can be made to blend in beautifully.

SCRATCH REMOVAL: Scratches will make a surface look dull, hide dirt, and contribute to the degradation of the stone. Their removal is done through the honing and polishing process. It is easier to do on marble than granite as granite is a much harder stone than marble. Again I always follow with a sealant.

TILE & GROUT CLEANING: If your counter, shower, etc. is made of ceramic, porcelain, or other type of tile it too needs to be machine cleaned periodically. Utilizing appropriate agents to release the dirt and grime, the tile and grout can be returned to its original condition. The grout can look new again. As always, this is followed by the sealing of the grout which will help prevent future decolonization.

IMPREGNATING: In other areas throughout the site, I have used the word sealant which is synonymous with impregnator. These are agents that penetrate below the surface of a stone to either fill in the pores or to coat the individual minerals. The objective is to limit the penetration of dirt, oil, or water into the stone. There are numerous types and choice is determined by the type of stone. Additionally, there are coatings that are used on stone. Often however, if one is not careful, the coating will restrict the stone’s ability to breath and damage it. You can be assured that great care will be taken when choosing the type of impregnator to be utilized on your surfaces.