Stone Care Services as Advised by Australian Stone Advisory Association

 

The Australian Stone Advisory Association (ASAA) is a not-for-profit organisation constituted for the ‘benefit of the public by the promotion of Australian Natural Stone and the coordination and sponsorship of events and ventures and endeavours in the Stone Industry in Australia.’

The main aim of ASAA is to provide detailed information about the generic characteristics of every type of natural stone which will be of great help to consumers and stone specifiers. It also intends to educate the consumers regarding the installation, care and maintenance of natural stone surfaces.

The ASAA conducted two seminars in Sydney in November 2016 delivering significant presentations at Rydges Hotel, Camperdown.

Colin Cass, Techtile Consulting, had done a presentation on the Stone Industry & Consumer Law which addressed the following points:

• An overview of consumer law and supplier obligations.
• ​What is different about the natural and engineered stone industries.
• ​How to minimise consumer complaints.
• ​What to do if a matter is heading to the Tribunal.

In the second presentation, Ron Powell, Architect Former manager, Minister’s Stone Conservation Program & Advisor to the Barangaroo Delivery Authority provided an overview of the project of the World’s Newest Barangaroo Headland.  The project plans to convert this former container terminal into a sandstone foreshore.

In this context, The Marble Man technical team wants to inform you that its Website has a treasure trove of natural stone care and maintenance information. The Marble Man was established in 1992 by Shaun Roberts, current owner and Managing Director.

The Marble Man has continued to grow since its formation and has now over 25 years of combined experience in the stone restoration service sector. It now has a team of stone repair and restoration specialists servicing, the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Sydney, Newcastle, Canberra, Northern NSW and other areas throughout Qld, NSW and Victoria.

The Marble Man in Australia uses cutting edge technology and continues to update its equipment and services so as to provide quality service in the marble and other natural stone maintenance industry. You can call them now on 1300 627 626 for all your stone care needs such as stone repair, stone polishing & sealing, and stone cleaning etc.

Spills and Stain on Your Stone Surface and Preventative Stone Maintenance Tips

Red wine and citrus-based mixed drinks when spilled can damage your marble and other stone surfaces. In such a situation, the stone floor tiles and countertops have to be re-polished so as to remove the stain and texturing caused by the spills. When called to solve such problems, The Marble Man first checks the type and depth of the stain using drip test and other latest techniques. If the spill has penetrated deep into the marble surface, a poultice must be used before doing the polishing.

However, prevention of this kind of damage to marble surfaces is not that easy. Application of penetrating sealers, topical sealers and Crystallization processes are not 100% fool proof. If the spill occurs frequently, the marble surface can be spoiled again unless proper care and maintenance are given periodically by stone restoration specialists like The Marble Man.

In areas where there are more instances of spilling of red wine, citrus based liquids, soda and coffee, it’s better to go for polished granite surfaces that will still provide a highly reflective appearance while being much more resistant to etching. Casinos and restaurants are specimen examples. Moreover, granite has a greater breaking strength and scratch resistance than marble and other natural stones.

Precautionary measures such as quick reaction to wipe out spills and keeping the cleaning materials handy are a must to avoid heavy damage to stone surface. Routine maintenance practices (such as the use of diamond impregnated pads for polishing, and specialized periodic maintenance by The Marble Man) are always helpful to extend the life of your beautiful marble or other natural stone surfaces.  

Help prevent the occurrence of scratching and fading on stone surfaces by attaching pads on your furniture legs. Special attention must be given to those made of metal as they might rust and cause stains too. Try to put mats on areas with heavy traffic to prevent dust, oil, and other contaminants from being in close contact with your marble or other natural stone flooring. 

Visit our Website today or CALL us on 1300 627 626 to get detailed information about our stone care solutions - polishing, sealing, repairing, stone surface cleaning etc.We will answer your questions about the care, maintenance and restoration of your stone surfaces drawing from our 29-years of combined experience.

If you would like us to inspect your stone surface and advise on its repair or restoration, an experienced team member will visit at a time convenient to you and provide a no obligation, free quote.

Reference keywords: Preventative stone care QLD, stone care & maintenance Sydney, how to remove stain on stone, marble stain removal Gold Coast.

We Can Repair Chips, Cracks, Scratches and Other Damages on Your Stone Surfaces

 

Even though they are strong and last very long, stone surfaces too are susceptible to chips, scratches, stains etc. and need repairs at times.

Repairing marble and stone benchtops, floors and bathrooms

Professional repair can make your stone new and attractive. If your stone surfaces are looking old and worn, consult a stone restoration specialist today. They use special equipment to repair your vanity, floor tiles, benchtops, tables or any other stone surface in such a way that the repair will be virtually undetectable.

The Marble Man stone restorers located throughout South East Qld and Northern NSW employ the latest technology glues epoxies, diamond abrasives and nano treatments to repair marble and other stone floors, benchtops and bathrooms.

Natural stone repair services

Restore your damaged stone to its original looking best through the following stone repair options:

• Chipped Marble or Granite benchtops
• Cracked Marble or Granite benchtops
• Chipped floor tiles
• Granite benchtop joints
• Sink and hotplate cut-out adjustment
• Stain removal
• Scratch removal
• Grout replacement
• Silicon replacment 

Types of stones that can be repaired

The Marble Man can repair wide varieties of materials with many different stone repair processes and give you stunning results.

Marble Man stone technicians handle the following  types of stones:

• Marble
• Granite
• Limetone
• Travertine
• Onyx
• Ceasarstone
• Essastone
• Silestone
• Quantum Quartz
• Corian 

Marble and other stone repair Guarantee

The marble Man stone restorers provide a 7 point guarantee for all their stone repair works. This is to assure you of their quality and level of service.

Currently The Marble Man offers stone restoration and repair service at: 

BRISBANE | GOLD COAST | SUNSHINE COAST | NORTHERN NSW | TOOWOOMBA | SYDNEY | CANBERRA.

Call their office now on 1300 627 626 to arrange an obligation free stone restoration quote. You can also send them an email to book your onsite evaluation.

Quick and Easy Tips for Marble and Other Natural Stone Restoration

 

We always want the best things for our homes and workplaces, but selection of the best marble for the floor, bathroom or kitchen often leads us to a state of utter confusion. This is mostly because we are unaware of the types of stones and marbles that would suit our home or even workplace as well as the way it needs to be maintained and restored. The Marble Man, Australia’s top Marble and Stone Restoration Company, provide natural stone maintenance and restoration services which are class apart and would definitely bring back the wow factor in your home and office. 

Marble, no doubt, is the best option for beautification as it is available in different attractive colors and wears an elegant look. But, it is far more brittle and sensitive towards chemicals compared to granite. It gets stained easily due to use of oil, acids or juices. Therefore, it is advisable not to use marble in bathroom or kitchen. If acid or other beverages are spilled, then such acidic materials should be immediately removed from the stone surface. In case the surface already gets imprinted or stained, polishing needs to be done. However, it definitely gives a feel good effect when marble is used for table tops, floor, shower or the surrounding of fireplaces though marble floor restoration should be done at regular interval.

Natural stone also absorbs unwanted chemicals and so it’s advisable to use a protective sealer which seals the pores and prevents any form of chemical or acid from entering into the inner layers of the stone.

Given below are some useful tips for protecting your marble and other natural stones:

• Immediately clean any form of spill to prevent damage to the surface.
• Use coasters under glasses carrying beverages or citric juices.
• Don’t apply cleaners that contain acid.
• Don’t use vinegar, ammonia or any kind of bleach. 
• Dust the marble floor regularly.
• Don’t put any abrasive product on the stone.
• Don’t place boiling pot or anything hot directly on the stone surface as it might crack the stone.

Coming to stone benchtops, they should not be used as a work bench. Clean the surface as soon as any mess occurs. If proper care is taken, the benchtops will look bright and beautiful for a life time.

The main reason why stone surfaces get spoiled is their improper use and lack of maintenance. But with The Marble Man at your disposal, easy and affordable stone repair and restoration is just a phone call away- Ph: 1300 627 626. Their expert technicians will not only provide useful advice for removing stains, but also deliver professional help whenever it’s required. 

Why Do You Need Professional Stone Restoration?

 

When we decorate our homes and offices with preciously beautiful natural stones such as marble, granite, or even travertine, we tend to obsess over its maintenance, repair and restoration. This is because nobody wants to take risks concerning the protection and maintenance of natural stone, which is popular for its shine and vitality and the classy flavour it adds to our abode.

Being such enthusiastic users of natural stone, we are supposed to be very particular regarding stone maintenance and stone cleaning procedure and aware of various other facts related to such stones. There is a popular notion that the shine on the marble counter tops and floor tiles is achieved through application of certain chemical or polish, which is not true. The shine on marble is not externally incorporated; it is an inherent quality of the marble itself. However if the marble loses its vigour, its shine can be brought back chemically. For this you can trust The Marble Man who employs efficient techniques for marble floor restoration.

How to Get Rid of Dull Spots?

Often dull spots appear on stone bench tops and floors. This is because the polished surface gets etched away with continuous use or accidental spills of acidic materials. If etching is not attended to in time, the marble bench top may be ruined forever. If the etching seems to be mild, you can remove the spots with a marble polishing powder available in the market. But, if the etching is deep, it’s time for you to seek professional help.

Why Is It Necessary to Identify Stain on Stone Surface?

Identification of stain is important for various reasons. Firstly, if we proceed to clean or remove any particular stain without identifying it, we might use chemicals that will possibly bear no result and even hamper the stone surface badly. Moreover, before applying any chemical remover, we should ensure that we are actually dealing with a stain. A polished marble may become dull or discoloured when it comes in contact with any acidic substance. This discoloration is not a stain but etch marks. Chemicals used for removing stains will not work on etches.

Why Need Professional Natural Stone Restoration?

Natural stone, when newly installed, have a glossy finish that adds to the elegance of the room decor. However, with regular use, this finish tends to lose its lustre and put on a dim and dull look. This creates problem because, the reason why we use natural stone in the first place does not then seem to hold any meaning at all.

Natural stone restoration professionals have the knowledge, experience and tools to repair the worn out stones and restore its original glory. They remove scratches and deep etch by mechanical abrasion or diamond grinding. Stone restoration professionals can remove the deep rooted stains and polish the surface, thus giving a bright new look altogether. 

For any matter related to natural stone repair and restoration, you may consult The Marble Man and thus save your stone from permanent damage. Call them today on 1300 627 626.

Chips, Scratches, Cracks & Stains on Your Marble or Other Stone Bench Tops/Floor Tiles Can Be Repaired to Perfection

Make use of cutting-edge technology now available for marble and granite benchtop repairs. The Marble Man stone technicians constantly improve the quality of the repairs as new glues, processes and products get released. They use the latest UV glues/epoxies and resins to produce the best chip and crack repair results. These are especially valuable for repairing chips to Caesarstone, Essastone and any other manmade and natural stone benchtops.

The difference between a Marble Man chip or crack repair and standard epoxy chip repairs do not compare. Check out their work samples (Before-After pictures given below) and the comparison chip repair on their website to see for yourself. Cracked marble, limestone, travertine, caesar stone or granite benchtops are a very common repair their stone restoration experts complete many times a day.

Chips on marble and other natural stone surfaces

One of the biggest issues that most of our clients have are chips repairs. We fill these in with a colour matched epoxy resin and set the chips with a UV light. We will even try to get some of the little granules into the bench top so it looks as natural as we can possibly get it. This repair is smooth and seamless.

You may be able to notice where this repair is (as it’s your bench top and you know it better than that back of your hand), but anyone else coming into the property won’t notice this.

  

Crack's repairs

One of the most common question asked when it comes to crack repairs is, ‘Will we still be able to see the crack?.  A crack repair is more of a strengthening process for your bench top.  We will clean out the crack and fill with a colour matched epoxy resin to try and help this from travelling further.  

The crack will have approximately 50% improvement but will always be visible.

If you have any crack’s on your bench top that needs repairing, give the team in the Marble Man office a call or send your photos through to info@themarbleman.com.au.

  

 

The good thing about these repairs (chips and cracks) is that one of our friendly office team members will be able to price this up over the phone. Call them now on 1300 627 626 or visit the website for more info about natural stone repair and restoration in Australia. 

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How to Effectively Remove Stains on Natural Stone

Marble and many other natural stones are porous and so often get stained when used as countertops or floor tiles. With professional stone restoration methods, stains are no longer a nagging issue. "Stains won’t damage your stone surfaces if they are sealed with a penetrating sealer after installation," says a stone expert on the Gold Coast.

Types of stains

Water-based stains: Example: some paints

Alcohol-based stains: E.g.: wine, spirits, marker pen

Oil-based stains: Grease, cooking oil etc.

Metal-based stains: Iron or rust

Organic Stains: Coffee, tea, milk, food, bird droppings, make-up, tobacco.

Biological Stains: Mould, mildew, lichen.

Tips for safeguarding your stone against staining

Firstly, you need to know what type of stain has appeared on your stone surface. If you’re not sure, please take a snapshot of it and send it to a professional stone restoration specialist and they’ll identify it and decide upon a stain removal method.  Never attempt yourself to remove stains that can aggravate the damage to your costly stone surfaces. Always consult a reputed stone care company to use sophisticated stain removal methods.

What you can do is to treat the stain ideally before it dries. Blot the spill with a paper towel as soon as possible. Don't wipe the spilled area as it will spread the spill. Flush the affected stone surface with plain water and mild soap and rinse. Now call the stone care professional to remove any spills that might have gone beneath the surface.

Avoid using chemicals unless recommended, as these may damage the stone or set the stain if not appropriate.

Don’t apply heat especially on albumin based stains (containing protein) such as blood or milk as it may cook and set the stain.

How to remove your stains

The stain removal method commonly used by a stone restoration specialist is the application of poultice treatment. A poultice is made with a powder and a special treatment product, which is determined by the type of stain on your stone surface.

The poultice process of stain removal

The poultice powder is mixed with the treatment product to form a paste, which is then thickly applied to only the stained area. It is covered with plastic wrap, the edges sealed and small holes made to allow the powder to dry. As the mixture dries it draws the stain from the stone and absorbs it. This process can take up to 48 hours and sometimes may need to be repeated several times. After removing the poultice the area is washed with pure water and polished with a soft cloth and a cleaning product suited to the stone. This method is effective for removing common stains such as coffee, iodine, blood, chewing gum, ink, paint, rust, acidic liquids, efflorescence (a white substance which can develop on some stone), graffiti, water, mould, mildew, lichen, dull and coloured spots.

For any clarifications on stain removal and other stone care issues, you can now call the well-known stone restorers in Australia on 1300 627 626.