Restorable manufactured surfaces, such as engineered stone, solid surfaces, and concrete, are more straightforward to restore than natural stone. When it comes to natural stone, restoration is as unique as the snowflake or the fingerprint. The stone’s composition, location, and intended purpose have a role. Homeowners often desire their stone restoration technician’s help in making their stones seem different, but this may not be practical or even wise. Let’s take a look at some ways of how stone may be changed.
To begin with, nevertheless, let’s talk about Do-It-Yourself vs. Professional Service.
Stone’s look may be adjusted in various ways, from the most subtle to the most spectacular. Even little adjustments may be performed using do-it-yourself approaches in some instances. For example, one may use a marble polishing compound to remove a little etch mark from polished marble. Your expert stone repair specialist should always be called in for more comprehensive work.
Changing the Sheen or Gloss of a Surface
A professional stone refinishing service employs various techniques to modify the stone’s reflectivity and texture. If your stone is polished but needs a softer, honed finish, or if your stone has a satin finish but you prefer a glossy, reflecting surface, in most situations, your experienced stone restoration specialist can achieve the desired effect.
You won’t always be able to get your desired outcome.
In some instances, your stone restoration professional may advise against using a particular finish. Natural stone, for example, must be able to “breathe” to avoid spalling, pitting, flaking, or other damage. Another example is in order. The unevenness of the surface makes cleaning difficult in food preparation areas; hence textured finishes are not recommended. The primary line is that you can usually obtain the finish you want, but occasionally the finish you desire may not suit the situation.
Darkness/Lightness of Color Alteration
Are you dissatisfied with the stone’s shade? There is a possibility that the resins in the stone have browned or faded because of exposure to UV light. A stone that has not been stained or dyed will seem splotchy if the color has been removed accidentally during staining or dying. Stains and dyes may be reapplied by your stone repair professional. Refinishing the stone after it has been honed to remove stains or dyes may also be an option for those who want to expose a fresh stone below. Using an enhancer doesn’t directly alter the stone’s color; instead, it brings out the color’s depth and saturation.
The hue of a stone may change depending on the lighting conditions under which it is seen. Depending on how much sunlight it receives, several minerals may alter the color of a surface, such as hackmanite in granite. If you’re looking at a slab of stone from one end of a room, you’ll see it seems to be a different hue from the other. If you have an issue like this, stone restoration professionals cannot help. You may, however, experiment with light fixtures and adjust the amount of natural light in your home.
How to Get Rid of Discolorations and Spots
Stains, blemishes, and discolorations may be a tremendous headache. There is a difference between stains and discolorations; a stain may not be a discoloration. Stains on natural stone are usually darker than the stone itself; thus, this is the simplest method to figure things out. The majority of stains may be cleaned with soap and water. An acidic substance may generate the corrosion (etching) or caustic (bleaching) mark if the discoloration is paler than the stone (alkali). Such stone degradation renders stain cleaning procedures useless.
Most problems with discolored or damaged stones may be remedied with proper care. Stain removal from the stone may be done at a fraction of the expense of hiring a professional stone restoration contractor. Your stone may be repaired and restored if it is damaged. As previously stated, some of the stone’s imperfections are intrinsic. Natural stone must either be appreciated for its inherent imperfections, or it must be replaced.