Does your natural stone floor or kitchen surface look dull and worn out? Did you know that professional stone cleaning can bring back the lustre and shine of your natural stone surfaces? Even though natural stone is a hard material, it can be prone to dents, cracks, and other damage. This can leave your natural stone in much need of a fresh new look.
If you have been putting off having your natural stone surfaces refinished because you are not sure what the process involves and how long it will take, don’t worry! In this article, we will be sharing some valuable information about natural stone cleaning and its many benefits. Keep reading below to learn more!
Why Does Your Natural Stone Need Professional Cleaning?
Natural crystals give natural stone a beautiful lustre and shine. However, normal foot traffic can gradually crush and break these crystals into smaller pieces that eventually trap dirt and debris. The good news is that minor scratches and etches can be buffed out with special powders and a grinding technique that uses water.
Only by grinding and polishing the surface can these crystals be restored when they have been destroyed. Natural stone cleaning can revive your stone surfaces to their original glory. Therefore, if you find that your natural stone looks like it has copped a lot of damage, natural stone cleaning is the best solution for you.
How Often Does Natural Stone Flooring Need Professional Cleaning?
How quickly a natural stone floor wears will depend on a number of factors. These factors can include the amount of foot traffic, the location of the surface in the home, the weather in the area, the daily routines of the people living in the home, etc.
For example, high-traffic areas like a foyer may need to be refinished more frequently than living rooms or bathrooms. A ‘no-shoes’ policy to protect stone floors will help to keep them looking good for longer than homes where shoes are worn inside all the time. Regular cleaning with appropriate stone cleaning materials is also important as clean floors are less likely to have dirt crunched into the surface of the stone.
Why Do You Need To Keep Your Stone Floor Clean?
Cleaning your stone floor regularly is imperative if you want to avoid the type of damage that will require a more comprehensive polishing of stone floors. Depending on the foot traffic in your home you may need to sweep, mop, or vacuum your stone floor at least every week or even daily.
Use a mild cleaner with a neutral pH, warm water, and a soft cotton mop to clean your floors. When the surface is particularly dirty you can use a special natural stone cleaner to remove stubborn dirt and stains.
The Natural Stone Restoration Process
Unless some form of grinding and polishing is done, natural stone typically loses its shine. The natural stone cleaning process involves cleaning, restoring, and sealing natural stone surfaces. A couple of examples of natural stones that can go through this process include limestone, marble, travertine, and many others.
In any case, natural stone needs to be thoroughly cleaned before any grinding or polishing can take place or it will leave an unsightly patina, a green film that forms over natural stone surfaces. Once all the etches, dirt, and stains have been removed from the surface, the stone restoration process can begin.
There are four main steps in natural stone restoration:
1). Grinding. A diamond grinder is used to remove any surface imperfections and to allow better bonding between adhesive products used to fill in cracks or chips.
2). Honing. A bit less intensive than grinding, honing uses a fine abrasive powder and a honing machine to smooth out damaged areas. This is designed to remove scratches and stains that have not penetrated too deeply into the stone. The result is a smooth finish that is ready for final polishing.
3). Polishing. Stone polishing not only restores the original shine of the stone but brings back the natural colour that may have faded over time or worn away from abrasive foot traffic. It also revives beautiful features like veins in travertine marble that is often optically undetectable in new stone.
4). Grout Filling. Grout filling involves cleaning the joints between tiles and filling them in with special substances. This step provides a smooth appearance and protects the joints from dirt, damage, and stains.
Final Thoughts
Natural stone restoration will help maintain a beautiful appearance on all your natural stone surfaces. The process involves four easy steps and can usually be undertaken in one day, depending on the size of the area.
Contact The Stone Restorer Today!
The Stone Restorer has the solution to all your natural stone restoration requirements and our professional team has years of experience working on all types of surfaces. For high-quality workmanship and guaranteed results call us today for a free on-site estimate and let us help make your home look brand new again.
Give us a call today at 0414 469 301 or ask us for a fast free quote on your tile cleaning or restoration project.
