Remodeling? Here’s what you need to know about natural stone restoration
Natural stones have been used for thousands of years. Since the eras of ancient Egyptians and the Roman Empire, people have since used various kinds of stones on floors, interior and the exterior walls.
These days, natural stones are often used in luxurious American homes. There are at least one or two rooms in any house that have natural stone flooring, counters, or even walls.
We have gathered some ideas and fun facts that you need to know about natural stone restorations, specifically when used for flooring and kitchen counter tops.
Maintaining vs Restoration
There of course is a huge difference between maintaining and restoring natural stones, primarily when it comes to the type of professionals you will hire. Those who maintain natural stone surfaces are usually not the same companies that offer natural stone restoration services, since they use different tools and techniques to retain the charm of broken and dull stones.
On the other hand, maintaining includes polishing and sealing natural stone, which ranges from $5-$8 per square foot. However, there are new Anti-Etch surface treatments which are mainly found in California, and these can protect natural surfaces up to ten years without any maintenance.
Restoration process
As mentioned before, natural stone can only be restored by professionals, in order to reach the same state as when they were newly installed. Most restorations involve mechanical abrasion, known as diamond grinding. This process removes all scratches or damages found on natural stone surfaces. How many times they will use this technique will only be decided upon the floor or countertop state.
Cost of restoration
Restoring the charm of natural stone on floors or counter tops is costly. Nevertheless, restoration costs may vary depending on many factors concerning the natural stone state. Floors that have been left without cleaning or maintenance for decades will cost higher than well-maintained ones. This also goes for counter tops that are not properly sealed or have multiple stains.
The more restoration phases professionals need to conduct, the more it will cost. This applies to both outdoor stone surfaces, and high traffic floors such as corridors, as these areas will likely suffer more wear and tear than natural stone surfaces found in bathrooms.
In all cases, natural stone allows homeowners to enhance the look and feel of their homes. It adds natural beauty to indoor spaces with great functionality. Of course, during your renovation, you might get overwhelmed with budgeting and making decisions, but these tips will help you make the right decisions. On the other hand, you can always hire a professional remodeling company such as OC Kitchen and Home Remodeling for the job if you don’t have the time or don’t feel comfortable doing it yourself.
