Our Stone Restoration Methods
Marble Artistries Ltd., is one of the few area companies that specialize in the use of diamond abrasives in the restoration of your stone surfaces. Our use of diamonds in the grinding and honing phase of restoration will give you better clarity and more reflectivity after polishing. We also provide cleaning, sealing, crack/chip repair and stain removal for marble, g
ranite, travertine, terrazzo and all other natural stones. The services we offer and what they entail:
Grinding – To remove deep scratches and remove lippage (uneven tile edges). This is done by machine with diamond abrasive pads and water that creates no dust. Honing - To remove minor scratches and wear from everyday foot traffic. This process is also done by machine with diamond abrasive pads and water that creates no dust. Polishing – To give marble or stone the sheen you want, enhance the veining in marble and to protect the marble or stone from everyday traffic and spills. (Utilizing the same compounds that are used in the fabricating process.) Cleaning – To remove dirt, stains and bacteria and to remove waxes and polymers that have become embedded. (Using penetrating sealers / impregnators.) Color Enhancing - The use of penetrating sealers / impregnators formulated to enhance or enrich the color of your stone.. Stripping – To remove coatings that block stone's ability to breathe which causes spalling (when the stones crack, pop and shale). Some examples of common coatings are, crystallization, janitorial waxes, polyurethane, etc. Grout Cleaning and Sealing - Dirt loves to hide in grout. Brushes cannot pe*****te into the micro pores to get all of the contaminants out. We use a patented system to clean your grout to like new and then we seal it to facilitate easier maintenance for the long haul. 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. A maintenance or janitorial company will not have the proper tools or experience to restore natural stone. This is not said to be critical to these types of companies. The investment of knowledge, equipment and experience needed to understand and work with stone properly is greater than what your average janitorial company can afford to pay for qualified technicians to stay with the company. 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. This followed by a careful polishing technique that can only be learned from experience. 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. 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.
