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FAQs about Stone Restoration Services
WHAT IS STONE RESTORATION?
Restoration of stone is the restoring of worn stone to the state in which it was installed. It may also entail the altering of the stones surface to match a desired finish of the installation's owner or management. In some cases an owner may desire a polished surface to be honed or visa versa. Restoration is a process that can only be done by a professional stone restoration company.
WHAT IS INVOLVED?
Restoration of polished marble or natural stone involves the removal of scratches and/or damage from the surface of the stone by means of mechanical abrasion. This is also known as diamond grinding.
Natural stone reflects light and does not need a topical coating or wax to achieve this desired finish. It only needs a series of diamond grits used in the proper order by a master technician who is experienced in their use. Restoration of a honed finish involves using a series of diamond abrasives up until the desired finish is achieved. A restoration professional will also take care to protect the surrounding surfaces from damage. The diamond grinding technique involves large amounts of water and this could be damaging to wood and carpet if measures were not properly taken to ensure the water's use was kept to a minimum and protection against splatter used.
HOW IS THE JOB CHARGED?
Stone restoration jobs are usually charge by the job. Square footage pricing is not practical. Each type of stone will present its own unique challenges as will the consumer's desired result for each surface. Many aspects need to be taken into consideration, such as where in the building the stone to be restored is located, water and electricity supplies available, etc. Regardless of the cost, it is always less than the price of replacement and most times you will have an installation that looks as good as, if not better than new.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?
Each type of stone and the desired finish for each as well as the size of the job will set the pace for the length of time needed to complete a project. If you are looking to restore over 300 sq ft of any stone, chances are you are looking at more than one day realistically. More can be done in one day, but not with the proper set-up and protection of other surfaces.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT?
You can expect to have your stone looking like new again and will be given the proper maintenance instructions for long term care. Scratches, etch marks and wear can be removed. Also advice on how to avoid any future need for restoration for a considerable length of time.
WHAT IS REQUIRED TO SCHEDULE SERVICE AND HOW SOON CAN I EXPECT SERVICE?
Generally, your stone restoration professional will ask for a minimum charge deposit. Without a commitment (deposit), customers may decide to change days or not show up for appointments. Lost days of work cost professional restoration companies too much money to schedule work without deposits. Generally your scheduled service date will be within 2 weeks. Often, however, the greater the need, the sooner technicians can be scheduled.
Our Services
Our 4-Step System for Achieving & Maintaining Beautiful Stone
Step #1
Consultation / Evaluation
First, we inspect your stone and perform a number of tests to determine type of stone. We will inspect the wear patterns and damage on the stone. This will allow us to be very precise in our diagnosis of the problem and give you a snapshot of what your stone surface should look like.
Step #2
Restoration
With the use of state-of the-art equipment and materials, we will restore your stone surface to its original beauty. All work will be completed in a professional and timely manner.
Step #3
Daily Maintenance Training
Most people use what they consider to be "safe" techniques and chemicals on their stone to care for it on a daily basis. What may be safe for tile or ceramic, can be damaging to natural stone. After we restore your stone surface to its original beauty, we will train you or your cleaning people on how to maintain a restored appearance on a routine basis. We can even leave you with our recommended daily stone cleaner to use.
Step #4
Periodic Follow-Up Restoration
Even after stone has been restored its new beautiful appearance is not permanent. Proper daily care will greatly extend the beautiful appearance, but on-going foot-traffic and other factors will always be wearing away at the bright, clean appearance. A periodic maintenance program will mean additional expense, but it will ensure a beautiful floor at all times and prevent the need for a complete restoration in the future. After restoration, we can design a periodic restoration schedule. The frequency will be determined by both the needs of your specific stone and the appearance level that you would like to maintain.