Over time all marble floors will show signs of wear, including dullness and light scratches, particularly in high traffic areas such as hallways or lobbies. If a floor is maintained regularly, most wear patterns and light scratches can be fixed with a one-step polishing process. However, if a floor becomes heavily damaged, it is necessary to grind into the surface of the stone before restoring to the desired finish. 

Our polishing compounds are non acidic, and allow the material to "breath", reduces damage caused by moisture being trapped within the stone which can cause it to degrade or flake. Once polished, the floor is washed with a neutral cleaner, allowed to dry and sealed with a high quality, solvent based penetrating sealer. The sealers we use are non topical, and have no effect on the finish of the material, they simply prevent absorption of contaminants into the substrate of the stone. 

Marble, limestone or other calcite based materials are very susceptible to etching/acid staining, which result in dull marks (usually rings or dots). These dull marks contrast greatly with the surrounding polished surface, and require regular maintenance to keep the surface free of etches and looking sharp. A common solution to this problem is to convert the material to honed finish. Since a honed finish is already dull, visibility of etches is greatly reduced. Honed marble in general has become very popular for both its aesthetic and maintenance properties. Over time honed marble will wear much more evenly than polished marble. When converting to a honed finish, the initial work is more labour intensive than typical maintenance, as all edges and profiles need to be sanded evenly and usually by hand. Once converted however, localized repairs are fairly easy to manage.

Cracks and chips in natural stone may occur over time, caused by any number of factors, from structural movement to accidental damage. We use high quality epoxy resins that are colour matched on-site to repair the damaged areas. Our epoxy repairs are typically ground, leveled, and re-surfaced to match the surrounding stone. Our goal is to make repairs permanent and long lasting, as well as absolutely invisible to anyone who was unaware of the initial damage.

The first step of a chip or crack repair involves cleaning the area with solvents to remove grease and dirt. This is followed by profiling the edges or interior of the damaged section with a rotary tool, this ensures the section has the required depth and "tooth" for the epoxy to adequately bond, and promotes longevity of the repair. 

Granite and natural quartzite are orders of magnitude harder and denser than marble and limestone. These materials require specialized individual treatment based on their type. Varibles such as which diamond abrasives are used, the number of smoothening steps, the pressure applied at each stage of grinding, as well as the polishing compounds and pads used during the process must be adapted to the specific granite or quartzite being treated. 

We are very experienced not only in treating common varieties of granite, but also some of the most challenging natural quartzites being imported as of the last few years. We've been called in to deal with several natural quartzite projects our competitors have been unable to restore, and have yet to be left with an unsatisfied client. We can fully grind and restore your granite and quartzite or avoid grinding and rejuvenate the polish depending on its condition. If possible, we will suggest single step polishing as a budget friendly alternative to complete restoration. 

Mould and mildew thrive in showers due to the heat and dampness brought about by daily use. Due to the sensitivity of most natural stone, harsh cleaners cannot be used, allowing hard water and soap mildew to quickly build up. Our solution is to avoid any acids or harsh cleaners and instead mechanically clean your stone surfaces. Steam or alkaline cleaners are used to sanitize the space. Failed silicone is removed and replaced with mildew-resistant silicone designed specifically for use on natural stone. Once restored, the sealer and silicone will prevent water absorption and prolong the life of your stone. Please see our stone care guide for tips on maintaining your natural stone shower.

Natural stone is often installed without sealer. If left unsealed, water will darken stone temporarily, while oil and other food products can cause permanent discoloration. It is recommended that stone in high traffic areas is cleaned and re-sealed every 2-3 years. Daily use showers may need to be sealed more often.

We offer both transparent and colour-enhancing sealers. Transparent sealer will not change the appearance of the stone and is usually used with polished stone. Colour-enhancer achieves a wet-look/darker finish. It is usually used on dark honed marble, as a low-maintenance alternative to a polished finish.

The most prestigious installations involve very large bookmatched slabs, cut and installed to follow the natural veining found in the quarry where the stone blocks were originally sourced. We come in after the installers to blend these slabs together. We mix a colour matched epoxy and fill both flat seams and mitred joints. The corners are sanded smooth to the touch, and polished or honed to match the slab finishes. This type of work is usually seen in large slabbed stone fireplaces or wall features, but occasionally entire walls, floors and ceilings are installed in this manner.  

We have experience removing: topical coatings (wax), oil stains, hard water stains, grout haze and more. We generally aim to use mechanical processes or low VOC cleaners before resorting to harsh chemicals. 

In nearly all cases, once a wax or topical coating is removed, we will opt for a mechanical finish followed by a penetrating, recoatable sealer instead of applying a new topical product. This eliminates any stripping in the future, allowing for less invasive regular maintenance.

With aggregate floors such asterrazzo, we again do not apply new floor wax or "floor finish". We instead smoothen the aggregate to a finish of your choice depending on the aesthetic you desire and the expected traffic. 

If you have a tough stain you'd like us to look at, get in touch.