Polishing and Cleaning
In order to achieve a highly reflective surface, it is not recommended to treat the stone with a typical coating or product containing acrylic, wax, urethane, etc. The safest and most effective way to rejuvenate the sheen of your stone surface is precision honing and polishing. The typical coating solution is nothing more than a film of reflective polymer which isn't designed to withstand prolonged wear. These coatings deteriorate rapidly and often inflict chemical damage on the underlying stone.
Never use steel wool or other abrasive pads that will scratch the stone. Never use vinegar, acid, glass or furniture cleaner, as they can damage the surface. Instead, use dry mopping as often as possible. Keep mops, rags, and sponges handy.
Sealing
Have your stone surfaces sealed. You will save a lot of money. If you don't, they will deteriorate rapidly and unexpectedly begin to show their age. Having your stone constantly re-polishing is not only costly, but it also reduces the life span of the stone.
In the stone industry, sealers are called impregnators because they deeply penetrate the stone with silicones and resins that seep down from the surface through the pores to protect the interior from liquids and other contaminants.
Lippage
Lippage is what occurs when stone tiles don't meet flush with one another. This defect occurs as a result of uneven floor setting or sloppy installation. The industry standard allows for no more than 1mm difference in height between adjacent tiles. The problem can easily be solved by precision grinding and leveling.
Maintenance Tips For Natural Stone Surface
- Daily or weekly damp cleaning with a neutral type detergent (do not apply acid or alkaline-based cleaner). In most cases apply 2-3 drops of hand dishwashing soap.
- Vacuum or dust mop natural stone floors at least weekly to free of dust and debris from floors.
- Treat natural stone floors as you would gym finished floors (such as a basketball court) by not walking on stone floors with dress shoes (high heels or leather soles).
- Use door mats in front of garage entries.
- Use rugs on kitchen floor (underneath of sink) and shower entries.
- Use furniture coasters or felt pads to avoid metal contamination or scratches.
- Tend to spills immediately.
- Never use wax or one-step acrylics.
- Never use vinegars or harsh cleaners (toilet cleaner, tile cleaner, Ajax or Comet powder, Mild Scrub, etc.).
- Never apply grout cleaners on natural stone floor grout joints.
Marble & Stonelife’s restoration and repair services can make damaged stone look like new again. In addition, customers can save up to 80% of replacement costs.
- Initial evaluation - Accurately identify the problems and advise to customer for a personalized service plan.
- Cleaning, Post-construction Detailing - Remove surface contamination, construction dust, grout and caulking residue, and final touch up with seal treatment.
- Disinfecting - Remove mold and fungus from stone surface.
- Sealing - Remove old finish and dirt, stain buildups, Improves safety, Resist moisture and stain, Easy maintenance and Permit viewing of natural beauty of stone.
- Color enhancing - bring it back to original finish for severely damaged and faded out surfaces like brick paver, slate and flagstone, etc.
- Polishing - Restore to a reflective finish on the surface, remove common traffic patterns and minor etching stains.
- Honing - Apply with diamond abrasive process, 120 grits and above to remove gloss finish, minor scratches, etch marks and turn stone surface to matte-finish look.
- Grinding - Remove deep scratches, uneven joints (lippage), flattening and floor waving.
- Repairing - remove rust stains and collect yellowing, including poulticing process to draw deep stains. Repair cracks, chips, and holes. Replace grouts.
Marble
We can remove scratches from marble and repair cracks, chips in the stone surface. We can restore to factory finish condition.
Granite
Granite is very hard stone, and it is often difficult to remove scratches, but our system can do just that and restore the original finish.
Travertine
One of the most common stone in Southern California. This natural stone contains many holes which can cause the stone to be easily contaminated with dirt. Needs sensitive care with hole repairing capability.
Terrazzo
This man-made material is one of the most dependable floors ever created. Our system can restore to mirror-look finish.
Limestone
Very similar to Travertine. This is a beautiful, decorative stone. It does need very special care for protecting porous surfaces.
Slate & Flagstone
These natural stones need professional cleaning and seal with special color enhancing treatments to protect from weather damage and keep natural colors.
Satillo/Mexican Paver
This material is also popular in Southern California. It needs periodic service to be maintained. Always practice good clean up and proper sealing to keep original colors and to not damage surfaces.
Stamped Concrete
Requires proper clean and seal treatment to keep original colors and protection from oil drips from automobile. Choice of high gloss water base seal or medium gloss finish.
Stone Restoration Services
A total restoration of stone would include a multi-step of diamond honing processes to remove all damage. This process would be follow by a professional polish to enhance the look of the stone with a glossy finish and protect the stone.
Restoration process include:
* Stripping old finish and chemical buildups.
* Multi-steps of diamond abrasive grinding, honing and polishing.
* Lippage (uneven joints) removal.
* Scratches, scar and stain removal.
* Cracks and grout repair.
* Removing discoloration.
* Fix pit holes, chips and pockmarks.
* Repairing or replacing broken or damaged tiles.
Sealing interior or exterior surface:
Sealing process protects for stain resistance and easy maintenance.
Porous, flamed and honed materials such as limestone, brick, travertine, stamped concrete, satillo/ Mexican paver, slate, flagstone and framed granite are naturally subject to sever staining and contamination from dirt, grease and salts. When stains and contamination get into the poles and pits, they are very difficult to remove.
Marble & Stonlife’s professional cleaning plus patented or proprietary treatments:
* Remove dirt and stains.
* Remove efflorescence.
* Provide protection against staining.
* Repel water and oil.
* Resist adhesion of grease and grime.
* Make surface easy to clean.
* Allow stone to breath.
* Protect against Sun fading.
* Color enhancing process for faded surface.