When Should You Call a Stone Care Professional?

Natural stone floor tiles or a stone countertop look excellent no doubt, but you need to take care of it daily to maintain its sheen and shine. There are situations when despite your best efforts, you fail to upkeep the glamour and sparkling cleanliness of natural stone surfaces. This is high time when you should call a stone care professional for a complete stone restoration work. 

Here are a few specific cases when you need professional stone restoration:

When the stone tiles look dull

All of a sudden, you may notice that the natural stone tiles in your home have lost its glamour and despite best cleaning effort, the stony surface is not looking shiny. You may have tried the best cleaner available in market but you are not getting any visible improvement. This is the time you need the professional cleaning assistance of an ace stone restoration company on the Gold Coast, Sydney or any other place to restore its lost gleam.

When the stone surface looks worn out

There are instances when you may find that your stone surface is looking absolutely worn out. In fact, there are many reasons behind this unsightly look. However, the most common reason is accumulation of stubborn dirt on the surface. Sometimes the collection of unwanted wax on the stone floor makes it shadowy. These worn out stone surfaces can be restored only by professional stone care treatment.      

Call a professional stone restoration service provider and they will select the best suitable process of stone restoration between grinding, honing, polishing, sealing or combo of any of these repair processes.

Stone resurfacing service for scratch removal

Although stone floors are durable enough, sometimes due to heavy traffic the smooth shine surface attracts scratches, wear patterns and lippage. In these instances, you should call a stone restoration expert because professional resurfacing service can only restore the smoothness and natural shine of the stone floor.

When polishing is required

Despite your best effort to keep the natural polish on your stone floor unharmed, after one or two years the floor can lose its natural sparkle by its own. In these cases, the only way to restore factory shine of the stone surface is to call and hire a professional stone care service provider for polishing the floor.

Stone sealing requirement

At the time of installation of stone floor or benchtop, stones are set with proper sealing. Proper sealing is a prerequisite for kitchen and bathroom area, and the sealer can get withered by natural reason. If you find any discrepancy in sealing or broken seal on your stone floor, you need to call a stone restoration specialist for restoring the sealing.

Selection of right cleaning products

Even a new stone surface may look dull and unimpressive. One of the reasons behind this dull look is use of improper cleaner on the stone surface. This is the time to call and consult a natural store restoration expert for remedial measures and proper guidance. Regular use of right cleaner on the stone surface will help you to maintain its freshness and natural luster for long.

Different types of stone cleaners are available in the market. Only a professional stone restoration service provider can suggest you the right cleaner for your particular natural stone.

The Marble Man- your trusted stone restoration, repair & cleaning specialist

These are some of the primary reasons for calling a stone restoration service provider. However, even if you have not found any visible defect on your stone floor, it is better to hire an expert stone restoration company on a periodical basis to clean and maintain the floor tiles in professional manner. The Marble Man who has been in the stone restoration field for over 20 years is your best choice as their guaranteed and dedicated service is available at many places in the Queensland and NSW regions.  

The Marble Man Tips for Natural Stone Care & Maintenance- Removing Granite Stains & Dull Spots

Granite is one of the most widely sought after natural stones used in the kitchen and floors of your home. It is durable and tougher than marble. However, like everything else, it is important for you to ensure granite is taken care of.

There is a common misconception that stains and dull spots do not appear on granite surfaces. This is wrong. Just like marble, your granite countertop or floor also has the tendency to get stained and lose its shine.

The Marble Man- a leading marble and natural stone maintenance, restoration and repairing company on the Gold Coast servicing most part of QLD and NSW- gives you some insights about the granite stone and how you effectively can keep away stains and dull surfaces at bay. Let us take a look at them below-

Granite – How to Keep Stains & Dull Surfaces at Bay:

• Though granite is a tough stone, it has the tendency to suffer from scratches. When you find a scratch on your granite stone, it is recommended to contact a professional to have it repaired.
• It is advised to use coasters under all your glass items to stop stains and dull spots on your granite surfaces.
• If you have a granite countertop at home, it is very important for you to avoid having citrus and other alcoholic products sitting on the surface. This leads to etching and subsequent dullness.
• It is very important for you to keep hot items away and off the granite surface. In case you need to place something hot on the granite countertop or surface, use a trivet or a hot pad. This will protect the granite surface from stains and dull spots.
• It is important for you to reseal the granite countertop in order to preserve and maintain its sheen. It is important for you to do this after an interval of every two years or as advised by a stone care specialist.
• If you wish to clean the granite countertop on your own, you can make your own cleaner. This is a pH balanced cleaner and you can mix one part water with one part alcohol to get the best effects. If you wish you may use less alcohol and more water.
• If you have a floor made of granite, you should clean it with the help of granite cleaner. You may call in a professional to do the stone cleaning for you. If you want to clean the granite stone on a regular basis, you may do so with regular dusting and sweeping.

It is thus evident that the task to keep stains and dull spots on granite at bay is an easy one. You just have to be little more careful and ensure the tips above are followed. If you are based in the QLD and NSW region and looking for skilled and experienced experts to take professional care of your granite stone, feel free to call in the friendly professionals at The Marble Man. 

Some Common Myths and Realities about Granite Countertops You Must Know

If you are planning to purchase stone counter tops, it is good to know common myths and misconceptions about granite countertops. These myths are spread either by people who try to sell granite or who try to sell the competing products by disapproving granite. Myths also originated when people simplified the complex matters of granite and generalizations came up that are sometimes true but not all the time.

The following are most common myths about granite stone:

Granite is heat resistant, so it is perfect to place hot pot on granite counter tops

Granite is quite resistant to high temperatures but excessive heat can discolor or damage the granite sealers. Rapid heating can generate internal stress and causes cracks at the weak spot. A natural fissure or flaw may occur because of the excess heat of the pot. This can be eliminated by using a trivet with feet.

Granite counter tops needed to be sealed once or twice in a year

This is a generalized statement about granite counter tops. Many stones are sold commercially in the name of granite. Some stones are inherently resistant to stain without applying sealers. Actually on applying sealers theses stones can cause problems. Some stones sold as granite are very porous that their shortcomings cannot be set right by even using the best sealers.  So the answer is sealing frequency depends on the type of stone. Only a specialist stone restoration service provider like The Marble Man can decide on the sealing requirements.

Granite is second to diamond in hardness- Nothing but diamond can scratch granite

Granite is a scratch resistant material. But it is not scratch proof. Many substances are harder than granite. The hardness of the minerals is rated by Mohs scale. Soft minerals like talc are rated 1 and diamond is rated at 10 in Mohs scale. Most of the commercial granites are rated at 7 because of their high quartz content.  On misusing, the abrasive substances in some cleaning products can cause tiny scratches or dull spots on the granite surface. Natural stone should be cleaned with neutral pH solutions and non abrasive products. See The Marble Man’s guidance on stone cleaning products.

Absolute Black granite is the best counter top

Better quality stones are sold as Absolute Black Granite and they are outstanding performers. But be alert that some stones sold as Absolute Black granite are not genuine. Originally the Absolute Black granites were quarried in Sweden and South Africa. Some companies sell natural stones with low quality that may be dyed to black or they may have excessive flaws or they have not been polished to a glossy finish. A stone cannot be considered as Absolute Black granite just by its market name. To test black granites, pour some acetone on the stone and wipe the surface with a rag. If the rag shows grey or Black discoloration then the stone is treated with dye or wax and cannot be used for kitchen countertops.    

The Marble Man is a leading Australian stone polishing and sealing specialist Company who can provide you professional and effective stone care solutions. They are specialised in large and small marble and all natural stone restoration jobs. For more information, visit The Marble Man website or call their stone restoration team on 1300 627 626.   

Know Some of the Potential Damages to Natural Stone Surfaces, Their Causes and Remedies

Granite, Marble limestone and other valuable decorative stones are highly durable and last a life time. However, if they are not properly cared for or installed correctly, it’ll affect their beauty and durability.  

Following are the most common issues with natural stone surfaces that may occur in your floor tiles, kitchen counter tops, vanity tops and other stone surfaces:

• LOSS OF LUSTRE:  High polish in the marble and granite gets lost due to wear of the stone surface by dirt and sand that are tracked by the shoes. They act like sandpaper on the stone surface and wear the polish off. This can be restored by stone repair and restoration professionals like The Marble Man.
• ETCHING: It is caused by spilling of liquids that contain acids, resulting in white spots formation on the stone surface. As granite is acid resistant, it will rarely etch, but marble and other stone surfaces are prone to etching.  Use cleaners that do not contain acids to avoid etching. Deep or large etching requires professional stone restoration services.  
• STAINS: If the stones are not properly sealed, stains can occur due to spilling of food, drinks, oil, and ink etc. Mostly they can be removed but tough stains need professional stone care services. Permanent stains can also occur but not often.
• EFFLORESCENCE: This is the white powdery residue which appears on stone installations where the presence of water is high. It is formed when water carrying the mineral salt inside the stone structure reaches the surface and gets evaporated, leaving the salt on the stone surface.  Remove extra moisture or water presence, buff the stone and leave it to dry. Seal the stone after all the efflorescence have gone.
•  SPALL, PITT AND FLAKE: Like efflorescence, mineral salts are the cause of this deformation. Instead of depositing salt on the surface, it deposits salt below the stone surface, and puts pressure on the stone making it to flake, pit and spall.
• YELLOWING: There are several reasons for a stone to turn yellow.  Embedded grime and dirt, waxes and other coatings may be the cause. Oxidation of the iron in the stone also causes yellowing of the stone. Only professional stone restoration specialists can set right this problem perfectly.
• LIPPAGE OR UNEVEN TILES: Lippage occurs when the edge of a tile is in higher level than that of the next one due to poor installation. The restoration professionals ground the tiles to flatten the floor.
• CRACKS AND CHIPS: Cracks and chips can occur because of poor installation and due to fall of heavy objects on the vulnerable corners. This can be restored by The Marble Man professionals using epoxy or color matched polyester.

Stone Restoration

Generally speaking, it is the process of restoring the worn out stone to its newly installed state. Stone restoration is a delicate process that can be done perfectly only by well experienced stone restoration company like The Marble Man.  It involves removal of any damages, scratches, cracks etc. from the stone surface using various processes such as stone grinding, honing, polishing and sealing as per the type of damage.   

The Marble Man is Australia's leading Marble, Granite, Travertine and other stone bench top and tiles restoration specialist. The team of professionals will provide you 5 star stone restoration services at affordable price. Call now: 1300 627 626.

Regular Cleaning and Maintenance Can Keep Your Carrara Marble in Pristine Condition

When you come to the world of marble, you can identify that Carrara is in the top order! It is available in various shades such as white, grey etc.. It suits to any type of décor and its color variances are the epitome for the marble. Carrara needs special care – because it’s light in color, any lapse in maintenance will be easily visible.

How to carry out the regular maintenance on Carrara Marble?

• Clean the marble with cleaners specifically for marble- take advice from stone restoration specialists. Avoid using soap and abrasive on the marble.  
• Seal the marble at least two to four times every year with a quality marble sealant. The regular application of sealant prevents the stone from absorbing moisture and spills prolonging its life and beauty. When you are using the sealant for the Carrara marble in your kitchen counter tops ensure the product is safe for food production areas. You can do the sealing with the support  of Marble restoration professionals like The Marble Man.
•  Marble Polishing has to be done as needed that removes rough texture called etching. It needs proper equipment and products. Contact reliable marble polishing and stone restoration specialists to do the work.

It is also advisable to hire a stone professional like The Marble Man to repair any cracks or deep etching on the marble surface. They can smooth it by polishing and they apply sealant to make it resistant to etching. DO not repair the cracks or etching on your own as it may further damage the surface.

How to handle stains on Carrara Marble? 

You can try the following methods after getting proper advice and guidelines from The Marble Man stone care specialists:

• You can remove ink stains using household bleach. Apply the bleach with the clean cloth until the stain get removed and then rinse with clean water and dry it with soft cloth. The food stains can be removed by applying hydrogen peroxide.
• Get rid of water spot rings by buffing the stone lightly with steel wool. Take care to buff only the water spot area and not more than that.
• Kill mildew or mould with diluted ammonia by mixing half cup of ammonia with one gallon of water. Remove oil based stains with dish washing detergent. After removing the stains always clean the Carrara Marble with clean water and dry it buffing with clean soft cloth. 

Regular maintenance will keep your Carrara Marble counter top shiny and enhance its life span. Call The Marble Man for regular countertop Maintenance at an affordable rate. Their well experienced team of stone specialists can carry out all sorts of marble repair, marble countertop polishing, stone maintenance, natural stone restoration etc. For more information, call The Marble Man on 1300 627 626 for a free quote.  

Tips on How to Maintain Your Granite Countertop Correctly

Granite is an amazing stone for your home and it is formed from the magma of volcanoes. It ranges in forms and colours to become a prized possession for your home. When you are buying granite for your home, it is very important for you to care for it correctly. 

Let us look at some advantages and disadvantages of this natural stone:

Granite –Advantages

Granite has always been really amazing additions to a home. They are unique and often are considered to be great pieces of art. There are so many colors for you to choose from. In fact, the homeowner has so many options available. The stone can fit inside any design or décor scheme. Moreover, the granite stone is also very durable and has the ability to resist great heat. Granite is ideal for your kitchen as you can use it for rolling out cookies, kneading dough and other kitchen cooking tasks that need a cool countertop for getting the best results.

Granite –Disadvantages

As such there are very little disadvantages of granite but you should take care of it regularly. There is a common misconception that granite does not need maintenance. This is not true. In fact, it does. If you do not take care of stains immediately, they have the tendency to set in. They can be very hard to remove and you would have to remove them fast. Granite countertops are also vulnerable to cracking if you do not install them properly.

Basic Cleaning & Easy Maintenance Tips for Granite

When you have a granite countertop at home, there are basic cleaning tips that you should follow. Always remove dust with the help of a microfiber cloth. For daily spills, ensure you wipe the granite countertop fully with water. You should use a damp cloth if you are using a stone cleaner to wipe the countertop. Never use cleaning solutions that have harsh chemicals as they will cause damage to the surface. Ensure you look after your granite countertop with seasonal maintenance. Sealing is very important. Inspect the areas and ensure there are no seams or signs of cracking. Also check for scratches and stains. Contact professionals only for repairs. If you delay repairing, you may have to replace the whole granite countertop and this is really expensive.

Call The Marble Man for Regular Granite Countertop Maintenance at Affordable Prices

If you are looking for regular granite sealing and maintenance in Sydney | Canberra | Newcastle | Central Coast | Brisbane | Gold Coast | Sunshine Coast, call The Marble Man. The team of professionals here will check your granite countertop and provide you with affordable sealing, restoration and maintenance services. To contact them, please visit website or call them on 1300-627-626.

Why Does a White Marble Surface Change to Yellow?

It is a common problem that white marble gradually changes to yellow colour when not maintained properly. Although flooding is the common cause for the marble to turn yellow, there are also several other reasons for this change. Natural Stone Restoration specialists like The Marble Man from Gold Coast can rectify the damage after finding the appropriate cause for the colour change.

Possible causes of marble colour change:

Not doing regular maintenance: When the marble is not maintained regularly, the finely polished surface gets scratched and gets worn out. This causes the marble surface to become pitted, rough and scratched, making it to attract all the dirt and debris. As marble flooring is porous, improper maintenance and improper cleaning can cause the pores in the white marble to collect dirt and discolour the marble to yellow and even to brown colour also. Substandard cleaning products, dirty mop, infrequent cleaning are the most causes of yellowing.

How to cure: The stone cleaning product should be alkaline as the acidic cleaners make the stone dull. Apply the appropriate cleaner and scrub with a soft brush. Then rinse the floor thoroughly. Repeat the procedure till all the imbedded dirt is completely removed. Even after so many repetitions if the marble remains dull then consult a Stone professional like ‘The Marble Man’ for stone repair and stone maintenance.

    

Wax Coating Build-up: Marble flooring should not be coated with acrylics, waxes urethane and many other coatings. The poor quality of these irrelevant coatings can cause the white marble to turn yellow. When these materials are done multiple coatings, the layer becomes quite soft allowing the dirt and debris to get embedded in the layer of the coatings. So these coatings should be frequently stripped but they are often neglected.

Recrystallization is a process to polish the marble floors. When the marble floors are polished in the moisture condition it will turn the white marble to yellow colour.

Method to Cure: To remove this yellow colour on the white marble, it has to be stripped well with commercial wax stripper. It is wise to do this stripping with the help of stone restoration professional. When you do it yourself, there is possibility of the abrasive pads to scratch the marble surface. If the marble is re-crystallized, it is necessary to remove the crystallized layer with the help of the experienced professionals by polishing and then honing.

             

Yellow due to Iron Staining: The white marble contains naturally the deposits of iron. When the iron becomes oxidized due to exposure of water, household bleach and acid cleaners, it will discolour the polished white marble stone. So it is highly recommended not to use white marble for showers. The main cause for the change of white marble to yellow or brown is iron oxidation. Like the rusting of metal, when the stone gets exposed to air and water, the white marble discolours to yellow or brown. If this colour change is left unattended it is difficult to reverse and may lead to tile replacement.

The change of white marble to yellow colour is a common problem. The new installations should be well sealed with good quality sealer or impregnator which will prevent the oxidation of the iron by not exposing to moisture. Marble floor Restoration to their original beauty and shine can be done professionally by the expert team of ‘The Marble Man’. It may be yellowing due to oxidation or improper maintenance or water staining or abrasion or scratching, the expertise of The Marble Man will restore your white marble to its original white shine and beauty. Call now: 1300 627 626.