Services |
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Types of Stone |
Surfaces |
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Marble Restoration
Some procedures associated with marble floors include lippage, scratch and etch removal. Newly installed floors may have lippage (uneven tiles, toekicks, etc.) which can be removed by an aggressive wet grinding process used to flatten the floor in order to achieve a monolithic appearance. Scratches are removed with a wet honing process. A series of diamond impregnated abrasives are used to wet sand the floor. A penetrating sealer/ impregnator is then applied to provide stain resistance. The last step in refinishing is a polish that is buffed into the floor and creates a hard, glass shine. This polishing process is not a wax finish that yellows, scratches easily and must be stripped off and re-waxed often. In fact the greatest benefit of restoration is the ease of maintenance. Daily maintenance involves dust mopping frequently and wet mopping with a neutral cleaner. With proper maintenance the wet diamond grinding process will not be required after the initial restoration and traffic patterns can be re-polished by a professional with a simple spray buff polish that blends into the polished areas.
Travertine Restoration
Travertine tiles are a very popular type of flooring installed in many new homes. Most people are not aware that travertine floors can have 3 main kinds of finish and varying degrees between.
A Honed Finish has a flat appearance with little to no reflection. Interior decorators often refer to a honed floor as a “Mediterranean” look or old world appearance.
A Satin Finish is between a honed and glass finish. Due to the nature of the polishing process the owner has the ability to determine the amount of shine they desire. More polish can result in a high satin finish while less polish will result in a low satin finish.
A Glass Finish requires the use of 2 types of polishing processes and results in a clear, hard glass shine.
Travertine is a soft stone characterized by its pitted appearance. Travertine tiles are sold as “filled” or “unfilled”. Unfilled travertine is commonly found in pool and patio areas. The maintenance procedures normally associated with unfilled travertine include a deep scrubbing of the holes and clefts as well as applying a penetrating sealer which provides stain resistance. In “filled” travertine the natural stone is harder and more durable than the fill and therefore the “fill” will begin to pop out in high traffic areas. A common maintenance procedure for filled travertine flooring is refilling the holes. In addition travertine floors may require a grinding, honing, and/or polishing process.
Daily maintenance involves dust mopping frequently and wet mopping with a neutral cleaner. Due to the varying amount of traffic etc. of each floor re-polishing is done as needed. Traffic patterns can be re-polished by a professional with a simple spray buff polish that blends into the polished areas.
Terrazzo Restoration
Terrazzo floors are commonly found in Florida homes from the 1950’s and 60’s. Many terrazzo floors are being discovered under shag carpets which became popular in the 1970’s and kept this treasure hidden for years. In order to limit the amount of damage to the terrazzo it is highly recommended that owners leave the carpet tack strips in place to be removed by a professional.
Terrazzo is a combination of 1 part Portland cement and 2 parts marble chips. Most terrazzo floors were poured on top of the concrete slab before construction of the interior wall framework. One of the reasons for terrazzo’s growing popularity is the fact that terrazzo does not emit fumes such as carpet, making it a “green” building material. Recently processes similar to those used for marble are being utilized to refinish vintage terrazzo floors to a hard, glass shine.
The restoration of terrazzo requires an experienced professional to properly repair cracks, holes, chips etc. Holes are repaired by closely matching the matrix (background color) and using the appropriate marble chips. After repairs are completed, the terrazzo floor is wet sanded with diamond impregnated grinding, honing and polishing abrasives. A penetrating sealer/ impregnator is then applied to provide stain resistance. The last step in refinishing is a polish that is buffed into the floor and creates a hard, glass shine. This polishing process is not a wax finish that yellows, scratches easily and must be stripped off and re-waxed often. In fact the greatest benefit of restoration is the ease of maintenance. Daily maintenance involves dust mopping frequently and wet mopping with a neutral cleaner. With proper maintenance the wet diamond grinding process will not be required after the initial restoration and traffic patterns can be re-polished by a professional with a simple spray buff polish that blends into the polished areas.
Please Note: Due to the variety of stones, different grades, age of stone etc. results vary from one flooring to another.
FAQ's
What should I use to clean my polished marble, travertine or terrazzo floors?
Daily maintenance involves dust mopping frequently and wet mopping with a neutral cleaner. when mopping the water must be changed often to limit streaking. Only a neutral cleaner specific for polished stone should ever be used. A common myth is that vinegar should be used to clean floors. In fact vinegar removes the polish from the floors and etches the marble.
What is the maintenance procedure for polished marble, travertine or terrazzo floors?
One of the greatest benefits of stone restoration is the maintenance. Unlike the initial refinishing, maintenance repolish is done only in high traffic areas at a fraction of the price of restoration. The maintenance procedure involves a simple spray-bufy repolishing of traffic areas as needed. Proper maintenance by a stone professional is the most, important part of keeping your floor looking its best and protecting the investment of your initial restoration.
I recently had travertine tiles installed in my home but the floor has an unfinished look. How can I fix this hazy, blotchy appearnce?
Most installers have little or no knowledge of cleaning, sealing and/or polishing the floor. Common mistakes include leaving a great residue on the surface of the tile, sealing over dirt etc...and/or using an incorrect sealer or polish. Stone specialists such as ourselves routinely work with many home builders and home owners to properly clean, seal and/or polish travertine floors.
Do's and Dont's
DO Dust mop frequently.
DO Clean with a neutral cleaner.
DO Maintain stone with professional sealing & polishing of traffic areas.
DON'T Use vinegar or any other acid containing bathroom grout cleaners.
DON'T Etch stone with acidic spills.
DON'T Remove nails from carpet tack strips etc. as this may result in costly repairs.
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