Marble & Stone Restoration
---Your Complete Stone, Tile & Grout Care Professionals---
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock resulting from regional or, rarely, contact metamorphism of sedimentary carbonate rocks (either limestone or dolomite rock ) or metamorphism of older marble. This metamorphic process causes a complete recrystallization of the original rock into an interlocking mosaic of calcite , aragonite and/or dolomite crystals . The temperatures and pressures necessary to form marble usually destroy any fossils and sedimentary textures present in the original rock.
Pure white marble is the result of metamorphism of very pure limestones. The characteristic swirls and veins of many colored marble varieties are usually due to various mineral impurities such as clay , silt , sand , iron oxides , or chert which were originally present as grains or layers in the limestone. Green coloration is often due to serpentine resulting from originally high magnesium limestone or dolostone with silica impurities. These various impurities have been mobilized and recrystallized by the intense pressure and heat of the metamorphism.
Marble production for 2006
According to the United States Geological Survey , U.S. dimension marble production in 2006 was 46,400 tons valued at $18.1 million, compared to 72,300 tons valued at $18.9 million in 2005. Crushed marble production (for aggregate and industrial uses) in 2006 was 11.8 million tons valued at $116 million, of which 6.5 million tons was finely ground calcium carbonate and the rest was construction aggregate . For comparison, 2005 crushed marble production was 7.76 million tons valued at $58.7 million, of which 4.8 million tons was finely ground calcium carbonate and the rest was construction aggregate. U.S. dimension marble demand is about 1.3 million tons. The DSAN World Demand for (finished) Marble Index has shown a growth of 12% annually for the 2000-2006 period, compared to 10.5% annually for the 2000-2005 period. The largest dimension marble application is tile.
Marble and natural stone floor, walls & benchtop polishing
Does your marble look dirty, worn or dull? Are you having trouble maintaining and keeping your marble clean? Don't panic you're not alone this is a common issue with natural stone that can be fixed.
At Marble & Stone Restoration we have the solution to your problems. Using advanced diamond abrasive cutting compounds we can remove all dull and worn areas, light scratching and etch marks (dull spots). We then bring your marble back to life with advanced diamond abrasive polishing compounds and polish your marble areas such as floors, benchtops and vanities back to a mirror like reflection. Most importantly after polishing your natural stone it will be easier to maintain and keep clean. Our Marble & Stone Restoration technicians will achieve a perfect finish without the use of wax coatings. For more information on wax coatings please use the link provided.
Wax Removal
Results to be expected:
- Removes small scratches and etch marks from the surface in the grinding process
- Returns a natural high sheen to the dull and dirty surface again
- The area will be easier to keep clean
- The stone areas will be longer lasting than wax coating finishes
- Will remove grout smear marks and grout burn from floors and walls
Polishing areas such as:
- Floors
- Tiles
- Foyer floors
- Shower walls and floors
- Walls
- Countertops
- Benchtops
- Vanities
- Spa surrounds
- Tables
- Bartops
- Bathroom floor tiles
Sealing
All natural stone is porous in various degrees and if not sealed correctly can stain, but most importantly can become very difficult to maintain and keep clean on a regular basis. Even a polished surface cannot protect the stone from all the influences that can be encounted over the years from daily use and weathering. Thankfully at Marble & Stone Restoration we offer a 15 year product warranty on our natural stone sealing products. We strongly believe that our sealing products are the best on the market and recommend the use of these products so we can safely protect your investment.
Having your natural stone such as Marble, Granite, Travertine, Limestone and Sandstone sealed with our products will prevent liquids and dirt from penetrating the stones surface. Sealing will help prevent grouting from staining & attracting dirt making these troublesome areas a lot easier to maintain and keep clean. Sealing is necessary for all natural stone especially when used in wet areas such as kitchen benchtops, bartops, vanities, showers, floors and outdoor areas. In these areas sealing will help prevent against oil stains, mould growth, discouloration & soup scum residue. Most importantly all of our sealants are breathable which will allow any moisture in or beneath the stone to evaporate in time, which will help prevent against serious issues such as spalling and efflorescence.
Read below for a description of two sealants we recommended for the sealing of natural stone, tiles & grout. We utilise many different types of sealers depending on the surface, application & desired result. We always recommend the best sealers on the market to protect your investment. To arrange an onsite inspection to asses to best sealer for your project please feel free to contact us today.
Stain Proof Sealing
Our specially formulated Stain Proof sealer is ideal for porous products such as natural stone, grout & tiles. A 15 year product warranty is offered and a warranty certificate is provided to our clients after completion of sealing works required and before payment.
Our Stain Proof sealer is a natural-look, below-surface sealer designed to resist stains. The sealer allows moisture-vapour transmission protecting your stone areas from common issues such as staining, spalling, efflorescence & flaking of the stone. Our sealant is equally effective for interior and exterior applications. After sealing the areas will be easier to keep clean and will help prevent against mould growth in wet areas such as bathrooms, kitchens, benchtops & outdoor areas. Sealing will not stop wear & tear or acidic products from affecting the sheen of your marble surfaces.
Results to be expected:
> Sealing will last for up to 15 years on stone, porcelain & grout areas.
> Sealing will prevent dirt & liquid from penetrating the stone surfaces.
> Seals the grout effectively stoping liquids and dirt from permanently staining your grout.
> Sealing will make maintenance & everyday care much easier.
> Sealing will help prevent mould growth in showers & wet areas.
Penetrating Sealer
Our specially formulated Penetrating Sealer is ideal for porous products such as natural stone, grout & tiles. Expected wear will vary depending on the hardness and texture of the surface, type of area, surface wear, frequency and type of maintenance products used. The expected wear is up to 5 years. Extreme weather conditions, harsh cleaning methods and high-alkaline or solvent-based cleaners will affect wear.
Our Penetrating Sealer is a natural-look, below-surface sealer designed to resist stains. The penetrating sealer allows moisture-vapour transmission protecting your stone areas from common issues such as spalling, efflorescence & flaking of the stone. Our sealant is equally effective for interior and exterior applications. After sealing the areas will be easier to maintain and keep clean will help prevent against mould growth in wet areas such as showers & outdoor areas. Sealing will not stop wear & tear or acidic products from affecting the sheen of your marble surfaces.
Results to be expected:
> Penetrating sealing will last for up to 5 years on stone, porcelain & grout areas.
> Sealing will prevent dirt & liquid from penetrating the stone surfaces.
> Seals the grout to prevent liquids and dirt from permanently staining your grout.
> Sealing will make maintenance & everyday care much easier.
> Sealing will help prevent mould growth in showers & wet areas.
Scratch removal of all natural stone - Marble - Travertine - Limestone - Terrazzo
Deep scratching is a common occurrence with most natural stone surfaces and can be caused due to various issues such as items being dragged across floors and benchtops to eras during manufacturing. These issues can be repaired by using our special resurfacing process, where the affected area is resurfaced using diamond abrasive cutting pads. Then working up through a number of disks until a perfectly glossy finish is achieved. This process is a cost effective solution and much easier than having to replace tiles, vanities, tables or an entire kitchen benchtop.
Shower Restorations- All Natural Stone - Marble - Travertine - Limestone - Terrazzo
At Marble & Stone Restoration we're fully aware that maintaining your marble showers can be difficult and at times frustrating. This is why we have developed and refined a comprehensive maintenance system for marble showers. Depending on the extent of damage in your showers there are a number of options to restore the sheen and lustre back to your natural stone.
Shower cleaning
To effectively clean your shower walls and floors we will use a heavy-duty concentrated cleaner and degreaser, designed to clean stone surfaces that have been neglected or subject to heavy use over the years. This cleaner will effectively remove soap residue build up, body fats, grime and mould growth. After cleaning to effectively maintain your showers we recommended that all showers are sealed after cleaning. Please click on our link to find out more about our sealing products. SEALING
Shower repolishing
The polishing of your shower walls and floors are effective in the removal of drip marks and etch marks (dull spots). This is often caused by acidic shampoos, soaps and cleaning products. Unfortunately using some cleaning products in your showers can do more harm than good, such as shower power and easy off bam as these products are highly acidic and should not be used on any natural stone surfaces.
Thankfully if these are some issues you are already facing in your showers we have the solution. We at Marble & Stone Restoration can effectively repolish your shower walls up to 70% of a new tile; repolishing will remove light etching (dull spots) and return the lustre your showers once had. After repolishing to effectively maintain your showers we recommended that all showers are sealed after polishing. Please click on our link to find out more about our sealing products. SEALING
Shower resurfacing
The process of resurfacing the shower walls and floor is an in depth solution to bring back a perfect glossy finish to even the most extremely damaged and etched showers. To achieve a perfect glossy finish on your shower walls we utilise our specially designed diamond abrasive cutting pads where all drip marks and etch marks (dull spots) are resurfaced out and then working up through a number of grits a mirror like reflection is achieved. After resurfacing to effectively maintain your showers we recommend that all showers are sealed after resurfacing. Please click on our link to find out more about our sealing products. SEALING
Removing and replacing silicone
Due to silicone being an integral part of protecting your natural stone from extensive water damage such as staining, mould growth, spalding and efflorescence in wet areas, we highly recommended your silicone to be checked every 12-24 months. If necessary your silicone can be removed and replaced with a colour matched silicone. Our silicones have fungicides built in to resist mould appearance but once fungicides have expired mould will eventually appear & then the silicone should be replaced. Regular cleaning & fresh air will extend the lifetime of your silicone joints.
Chip & crack repairs Marble | Granite | Travertine | Limestone | Engineered Stone
Do you or your clients have natural stone, engineered stone or tiled areas that need repairing?
If so please feel free to contact us today so we can advise you on the best process to repair these issues. Or please feel free to open the links below which will outline a number of services we offer for the repair to all natural stone, engineered stone and tiles.
Repairing Cracked natural stone floor tiles
Poultice Stain Removal On Granite, Marble and all natural stones
At Marble & Stone Restoration we strongly recommend that all stone surfaces are sealed with our breathable sealants see link to sealing. SEALING
When natural stone surfaces such as floors & kitchen benchtops are left untreated or haven't been sealed correctly staining can occur. When staining has occurred it's recommended that we use a POULTICE STAIN REMOVER which is a dual purpose, non acidic problem solver. Poultice is an absorptive clay that is designed to remove deep set oil, tannin and grease stains. Depending on the severity of the staining the poultice process may need to be repeated up to three times. Unfortunately we cannot always predetermine the depth of the stain. Due to this reason we cannot guarantee this process will always work. The poultice stain remover is fully effective 50% of the time and occasionally will only improve the stained area.
Honing - Brisbane | Sunshine Coast | Gold Coast | Tweed Heads
Honing is the process of leaving natural stone in an even and flat finish (no gloss). This is is an ideal solution for outdoor areas or wet areas where slipping can be an issue. Using this process will also remove light surface scratches, moderate acid etching (dull spots) and wear patterns. To achieve a uniformed and honed finish we use our special diamond abrasive honing powder. With this process we can dramatically improve the look and practicality of natural stone, while still being very cost effective.
Results to be expected:
> Removes small scratches and etch marks from the surface
> Achieves a natural matte and honed finish
> Removes machine marks from the manufacturing process
> The area will be easier to keep clean
> The stone areas will be longer lasting than wax coating finishes
> Will remove grout smear marks and grout burn from floors and walls
> A number of finishes available from semi-honed to honed
Honing areas such as:
> Floors
> Tiles
> Foyer floors
> Balconies
> Patios
> Shower walls and floors
> Walls
> Countertops
> Benchtops
> Vanities
> Spa surrounds
> Tables
> Bartops
> Bathroom floor tiles
Wet Look Sealing | Marble - Sandstone - Limestone - Travertine - Granite
Do you or your clients require a wet look sealer for your natural stone? If yes then our specially formulated sealer is the right choice for your project as it is designed to darken and highlight the character and beauty of unsealed natural stone. This innovative process is also ideal to rejuvenate the colour and improves the appearance of worn and weathered stone. This wet look sealer allows moisture vapour transmission and effectively darkens the colour of grout joints. This process is effective for both indoor and outdoor areas bringing new life back to natural stone.
Key features:
> Rejuvenates the colour and improves the appearance of worn and weathered stone
> Highlights the natural characteristics of natural stone
> May also be used as a pre-grouting sealer
> Allows moisture-vapour transmission
> Effectively seals and darkens the colour of grout joints
> Sealing lasts for up to 15 years
Wax removal - Marble - Limestone - Travertine - Tiles
Common issues with wax coatings
The use of wax coatings is a common procedure used to improve the sheen of natural stone. Unfortunately this process requires ongoing maintenance and is a quick fix to a long term issue if applied incorrectly. Due to advances in diamond abrasive technology for the restoration of natural stone we at Marble & Stone Restoration don't use or recommend wax coatings. Wax coatings are usually softer than natural stone and tend to wear and scratch a lot easier than a polished natural stone finish. Often in time wax coatings tend to discolour and leave an unnatural look to natural stone. Also when wax coatings are applied on wet areas such as bathrooms and outdoor areas the wax coating tends to trap moisture underneath the tiles/pavers creating hard to fix problems such as efflorence and spalding.
The solution
Once a wax coating is identified we recommend the floor to be stripped of all remaining wax. By using our specially formulated strippers we can remove the wax without damaging the Marble, Limestone, Travertine and all natural stones. When all the wax is removed we can then assess the floor and determine the best process to use to achieve your desired finish:
Such as:
> Repolishing
> Honing
> Scratch Removal
> Sealing
> Colour Enhancing
Wet resurfacing your stone floor areas
The process of wet resurfacing stone floor areas is ideal for achieving a levelled floor which can be finished to a high gloss or honed (matte) finish. The floor is resurfaced using diamond abrasive pads attached too weighted floor machines. Once completed all lipped tiles will be levelled affectively and all grout joints will be flush with the surface of the stone tiles. Resurfacing is ideal for creating a near seamless floor to a new or existing floor, removing all deep scratches, worn areas & etch marks. After resurfacing it's recommend that all stone areas are sealed, please click on our link to find out more about our sealing products. SEALING
Results to be expected:
> Returns a natural high sheen or honed (matte) finish to the surface again.
> Removes all lips, scratches, etching and wear from your stone surface.
> The stone areas will be easier to maintain & clean.
> We will achieve a natural polished finish without the use of any surface coatings.
Marble polishing on the Gold Coast
Marble polishing in Brisbane
Marble polishing on the Sunshine Coast
Marble polishing in Tweed Heads
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If you or your clients have any enquires regarding our services, please feel free to contact the Marble & Stone Restoration staff today for your free stone, tile and grout care evaluation.
