Various Processes Involved in the Restoration and Repair of Natural Stone Surfaces

The saying that natural stones require skilled and proficient maintenance to ensure their longevity is no new fact. Even if the stone bench tops, countertops, floors, walls or pathways are cleaned and maintained on a regular basis, you cannot possibly do away with the expert and professional stone repair and restoration services that well-known restoration companies like The Marble man deliver at your door step. However, natural stone repair and restoration services do not simply involve polishing the stone surface to give it an entirely new look. 

Top-rated stone restoration companies like the Marble Man train their employees in such a way that they take their clients' work personally and deliver before and after restoration services as well. This article is meant to provide you with an in-depth knowledge of all services that are relevant to an entire stone restoration procedure so that you can take a wise decision while choosing your stone restoration professional.

A proper and systematic natural stone restoration procedure usually begins with consultation and inspection. The stone restoration professional performs a number of tests to determine the type of stone and inspects the damage caused to the same. They may also restore a sample area for a minimal charge to give you the idea of how your stone would look like after restoration. Prior inspection also helps to determine if the stone needs to be sealed.

The consultation phase is to be followed by actual restoration of the natural stone. The Marble Man’s trained technicians use the best equipment and material to bring back the original beauty of the stone. The result: your stone surface is restored to its past glory. Stone restoration involves several methods namely, grinding, polishing, honing and sealing (already discussed in previous articles). All scratches, stains and spills are efficiently removed from the stone surface by means of mechanical abrasion.

The after restoration service includes impregnation or protection of the stone. Even when a stone is restored, it runs the risk of getting stained from spills of coffee, soft drinks, oil or excessive traffic. Natural stone can be protected from these stains with the use of impregnator. Impregnation is one of the most essential stages of stone care program. Well-known stone care professionals use the best impregnator available in the market. Impregnation enables cost-effective and long-term protection of stone surface from stains and dirt.

After the restoration process has been completed, you may consider using safe chemicals for daily maintenance of stone. But, what is safe for a ceramic tile may not be safe for natural stone. Hence, The Marble Man professionals will guide you on how to clean and maintain the restored appearance of the stone as a part of daily cleaning procedure. The shiny appearance of a stone is transient and requires restoration every two to three years for its revival. Therefore, stone restoration companies offer a periodic maintenance program which protects the stone in the long run and minimizes the need of complete restoration in the future. The frequency of such periodic restoration schedule is determined by the type of stone and its particular requirements.

All the above steps should be followed for a proper stone restoration work. The Marble Man, Australia’s best stone restoration company, does all of it in a professional and timely manner. For any matter related to natural stone or marble floor restoration, contact TheMarble Man experts.  Call their office today on 1300 627 626 to arrange an obligation free stone restoration quote. 

Effective Marble Tile Cleaning without Damage- Opt for The Marble Man

Looking for damage free marble tile cleaning services?

The Marble Man is a leading marble tile cleaning and restoration service provider in Australia.  In addition to this, it has rich experience in all types of natural stone and marble restoration jobs making it one of the highest quality natural stone and marble restoration companies in the nation. The product portfolio of the Company covers a large range of stone cleaning services, sealing, restoration and more.  The client base of this reputed Company ranges from homes, hotels, shopping centres, hospital lobbies etc. The Company uses some of the best professional cleaning processes and state-of-the-art restoration techniques to make it stand out in the market.  The Company uses quality equipment for unique washes, scrubbing and drying.

Why professional marble polishing and cleaning services?

It is true you can clean marble tiles with general cleaning solutions available in the market.  They will save you money. However, if you wish to keep your precious tiles looking pristine, choosing professional services like The Marble Man is a wise and prudent choice. Again, opting for inexperienced tradesman will damage your tiles and invite more costs or even replacement. It is to be noted that marble polishing and restoration demands highly skilled professionals and it can be ruined if you bank on the wrong people. It is better to be safe than sorry!

Protect marble with care…

Marble is a soft stone and can be easily damaged by scratches. If you want to have your tiles maintain their original sheen and shine, it is vital for you to opt for a regular maintenance program. Special care is required when you clean marble tiles. The Marble Man understands your needs and it is committed to give you specialised cleaning and sealing services and solutions. The experts will come over and inspect the job to be done before they give you an estimate of the time and costs needed. This means if you are looking for professionals who do their job with devotion and passion, The Marble Man is the Company you should opt for.

The Marble Man- A Trusted Name in Australia

Therefore, from the above, it is evident that you should not take your marble tiles lightly. A good marble cleaning expert will ensure you get the best for your marble cleaning and restoration needs. Many home owners in Australia trust The Marble Man for their unique natural stone and marble polishing tile cleaning services. The Company has a loyal customer base and provides the ultimate care and protection when it comes to these precious stone surfaces in your home. You can reach and contact these skilled and licensed professionals for all your natural stone and polishing needs at 1300-627-626 today!

The Marble Man - Restoration and Repairing of Limestone, Granite and Other Stone Countertops

There are several customer complaints when it comes to limestone and granite countertops losing their original beauty and lustre with the passage of time. The countertops look dull and entering the kitchen/bathroom becomes an eye sore to everyone.   

Both limestone and granite countertops can be restored to their original glow with the aid of professional natural stone restoration and repair specialists. Hiring them is a wise choice as they are aware of the unique demands of the specific stone and the correct procedures on how to polish them effectively without damage.

Natural stone restoration of limestone and granite…

Limestone and granite are natural stones but similar in composition. Limestone is a rock composed of calcium carbonate or a combination of calcium and magnesium. The limestone and marble you get in the market may be recrystallised limestone, travertine or compact microcrystalline limestone. 

If you take a look at limestone, you will find some unique characteristics in it. You will see spots of shell formations, fossil like shapes, honeycomb or open texture streaks, pit holes, formations like travertine, iron spots or even grain changes. The presence of any of these traits makes the beauty of limestone as a natural stone unique.

Granite, on the other hand, is an igneous rock made of a unique visible crystal-like formation. It is primarily made of feldstar and quartz. It has mica to a small extent and may contain the additional minerals of sphene, zircon, apatite, magnetite and ilmenite. The granite surface is generally white or grey.  The dark crystals’ presence provides it with a speckled appearance. 

Granite is the result of the magma that cools down deep under the surface of the earth. In most continents, granite is a general intrusive rock found on the surface of the earth.  There is also additional evidence that granite can be made by regional metamorphism without a molten or liquid stage involved in its formation. Both natural stones are generally used in kitchen/bathroom countertops and capable of taking in a polish to keep shining for a long time.

Restore granite and limestone countertops with The Marble Man

If you wish to restore the natural lustre and glow of your granite and limestone countertops in the bathroom or kitchen, it is mandatory for you to invest in a credible marble and granite restoration company like The Marble Man servicing QLD and NSW. 

The professionals at Marble Man will perform a quick and simple restoration procedure that brings back the beauty and original shine of your countertop. The skilled experts are aware of the needs of limestone and granite and they deploy cleaning and restoration procedures that are safe and non-toxic. To contact these credible and trusted stone restoration professionals for your home, please click Here. 

Granite versus Marble- A Comparative Study on Their Maintenance Requirements

Installing natural stones to beautify homes, proves to be of no use unless they are cared for and maintained using proper techniques. Everyone wants to own a house with marble floors, a kitchen with marble countertop or bathroom with marble walls. But, not everyone can provide the care and maintenance the stones deserve. Therefore, the choice of natural stone for your home or office must depend on how much use and abuse the stone will be subjected to, the durability of the stone, and how often will you be able to maintain it the way it requires to be maintained. 

In this article you shall find the pros and cons of installing granite and marble, the most popular natural stone choices for our homes, when compared to each other. If the origin of these stones is compared, we will find that marble is a type of stone composed of recrystallized material, most commonly limestone. Granite, on the other hand, is a hard stone which originates from ingenious rocks. Granite is more hard and durable compared to marble, hence more resistant to chips and scratches. Marble, being softer than granite, is more suitable for less-trafficked and formal areas.

Marble is known for the elegance it provides and is versatile enough to be used throughout the house in places such as fireplace surrounds, walls, flooring and bathrooms. Since it is particularly vulnerable to acidic foods and liquids, it is not a very good choice for kitchen countertops. Granite is an excellent choice for high traffic areas since it is more resistant to abrasions, staining and discoloration than most marbles. Its variety of colors and resistance to stain and heat makes it an ideal choice for kitchen countertops, bar tops, dining table, flooring including pathways and stairs, etc.

Both marble and granite are porous stones, though granite is less porous compared to marble. Hence, granite is far easier to maintain and requires sealing only after every two years. Marble, on the other hand, requires to be sealed twice every year. However, both the stones are easy to maintain. Marble floor restoration professionals advise that spills on both marble and granite surfaces should be cleaned immediately to prevent further damage. 

It is important to note that both marble and granite stones are cool under foot, so in areas where temperature remains low for relatively long period you may mix some other flooring type with marble or granite to provide warmth to a design. And the coolness of  marble and granite becomes a boon for summer months.

Though, granite installation might seem expensive initially, it will actually curtail your expenses in the long run. It is durable and can better withstand the huge traffic, particularly in the kitchen. It requires minimal maintenance and hence would be great and prudent investment if you are unable to keep up with the high traffic that your marble countertop or floor is subjected to. 

The Marble Man, Australia’s Number one natural stone restoration specialist, offers its esteemed clients expert advice on the choice of stones and proper stone maintenance and restoration procedures. Visit their Website or call them on 1300 627 626 for a free stone care evaluation. 

Different Methods of Stone Restoration and Their Implementation

The biggest disadvantage of using natural stone for exterior and interior purposes is that it loses its shine and vitality due to prolonged or continuous use.  Despite this risk, we always prefer installing natural stone because upon installation it adds to the beauty and splendor of our homes and workplaces, primarily because of its shine and polish.  Therefore, loss of shine reduces the value and glory of a stone and at the same time demands immediate and expert attention.

There are mainly four basic methods of creating shine on natural stone surfaces, namely buffing with polishing powder and compound, diamond grinding, crystallization and applying barrier coatings. Different stone types require different methods for restoration of shine and at times application of more than one method may be necessary.

Polishing powder and compound are fine grains of aluminum or tin-oxide abrasive powder which are buffed on the surface of the stone to create the shine. Often this process is also augmented by adding oxalic acid to create a reaction similar to crystallization. This process has several advantages such as it gives a natural appearance with high sheen, produces a relatively durable finish, compounds used do not etch the floor and this method is applied periodically and not daily or weekly. However, this process of stone repair is a bit messy and requires additional cleanup work. It also requires sophisticated equipment such as floor machine mop bucket, etc. and if it is not handled by a skilled professional, it might affect the surface.

Grinding with diamond abrasives involves grinding the stone surface with different grits of industrial grade diamonds that are generally in three to four inch diameter discs. The process continues with even finer grits of diamond unless the shine and luster is achieved.  Diamond grinding is the most durable method offering a long-lasting finish. This process also removes all scratches and works very well on marble and granite. Nevertheless, this method is not free from disadvantages. The method is costly, requires a preliminary restoration of floor and its effectiveness vary with the types of stones.

Coating involves waxing the surface to produce an artificial shine.  It makes use a liquid or semi-liquid form of wax or urethane which is applied on the surface with a sprayer. This method is not recommended for porous stones.  This method involves less expense and provides good slip resistance.  But it doesn't provide a natural appearance, dulls very fast, requires daily buffing and creates a mess and damages the stone.

Finally, crystallization involves a process whereby a chemical called fluorosilicate is sprayed over the surface and buffed subsequently to form glass like crystals on the surface.  This process is very durable and gives a natural shine to the stone. It can also be used with ease and do not create any mess. It even removes fine and heavy scratches. However, this method may cause discoloration or yellowing of the stone. It requires periodic stripping and has limited effects on granite.

Methods of restoring natural stones are manifold. It only requires a proper choice of the processes and skilled professionals to implement it. The Marble Man, Australia’s finest natural stone restoration company specialises in stone maintenance and restoration works. For any matter related to natural stone restoration or marble floor restoration, call their experts right now on 1300 627 626.