When Do You Need Your Travertine Floors Restored?

Travertine floors can create a sense of timeless elegance in any home, office, lobby, or outdoor space, but they also require periodic scheduled maintenance and care to keep them looking their best. Over time, your floors can become dull and discolored due to dirt and grime buildup, heavy foot traffic, etc., as well as travertine-specific issues such as pitting or etching. To keep your travertine looking its best, it is important to know when travertine floor restoration is needed. Let’s discuss some telltale signs that will let you know when it’s time to call your stone restoration experts to restore your floors.

Understanding Travertine

Before we talk about specific signs to watch for, it’s important to understand the nature of travertine in general. Travertine is a type of limestone that forms when hot springs and other mineral-rich waters evaporate, leaving the sediment behind to create a timeless, “weathered” look. As a result, just like marble, travertine stone yields many unique designs, textures and colors, affording many options for designers. Travertine is also valued for its known for its durability over time, and it’s one of the more affordable natural stone flooring options available.

At the same time, travertine is also a porous stone, which means periodic cleaning, polishing and sealing are necessary to keep it looking its best. Its porous nature also makes it susceptible to damage from dirt and grime buildup, as well as from excess moisture and acidic substances. Over time, your tiles may show signs of scratching and etching, and small pits or holes may develop in the stone itself.

Now that we’ve discussed what travertine is and its unique properties, let’s talk about some signs that it may be time for a travertine floor restoration.

Unfilled Holes in the Travertine Tile

One of the most common signs that travertine tile restoration is needed is when you start to notice holes in the travertine that resemble pock marks. Whenever travertine is installed, the installer will fill any naturally occurring cavities and fissures with a cement-based product called grout or mortar. Over time, however, this material can start to chip away, leaving exposed holes that don’t look very attractive. Unfilled holes can eventually lead to further erosion and damage of the stone itself. If you are noticing these pits or holes in your travertine floors, it is time to call the professionals.

Scratch and Etch Marks

While travertine is durable overall, it’s still considered a “soft” stone (compared to harder, more impervious types of stone such as granite). As a result, it can be susceptible to scratching via dirt ground into the floor on people’s shoes or if someone accidentally uses an abrasive cleaner on it, for example. Additionally, acidic substances like vinegar, lemon, or even tomato sauce spills can react chemically with the calcium in travertine, causing a dulling effect known as “etching.” When you see visible signs of scratching or etching, usually only restoration will fix these issues.

Cracks and Chips

While travertine is naturally resistant to cracking and chipping, it does sometimes happen for a variety of reasons. As with all types of natural stone, there are natural inconsistencies within the travertine stone itself that can create fissures and open up cracks with age. Sometimes cracks can happen due to improper installation over a concrete or wood subfloor (when the subfloors expand or contract, the stone can crack. Finally, travertine can develop chips or cracks due to impact from heavy objects falling on it. When any of these issues cause visible cracks and chips, it’s time to have the floor repaired and restored.

Discoloration or Dullness

Finally, travertine floors can become discolored or dulled over time. Discoloration happens primarily when dirt and grime accumulate in the stone’s tiny pores, while dulling can happen when heavy usage begins to affect the polished finish of the travertine tiles. When your floors begin looking dull and discolored and regular cleanings don’t seem to improve them, travertine restoration may be needed to restore their luster and shine.

How to Maintain Your Travertine Tile

The best way to extend the life of your travertine floors is through regular cleaning and scheduled maintenance. Regular dust mopping and cleaning with warm water and a pH-neutral cleaner (like one specifically designed for travertine) can help keep dirt, grime and debris from accumulating in the stone’s pores. (Avoid using acidic cleaners on travertine, as they can cause etching.) During regular maintenance checks, your stone care professional can also do deeper cleaning of the stone tiles and grout lines, as well as filling holes and performing spot travertine repairs. Finally, it’s always a good idea to apply an appropriate sealant every year or two to help protect the travertine from dirt and staining.

Contact a New York Travertine Floor Restoration Professional

If you’re noticing any of the issues listed above with your travertine floors, Statewide Stone Care (a Stonework company) can help. Our team of expert technicians can evaluate the condition of your floors and recommend solutions, including our state-of-the-art polishing process, to return your floors to their original beauty. For a complimentary evaluation of your travertine floors in New York or New Jersey, contact us today.

Why You Should Restore Your Marble Countertops

Marble countertops are a timeless feature in any kitchen or bathroom, adding elegance and sophistication to the space. Over time, however, marble can become dull or stained due to wear and tear from daily use. Fortunately, marble countertop restoration is an easy way to restore your marble’s original beauty without having to replace it entirely. Let’s discuss the benefits of restoring your marble countertop and why you should consider doing so if yours has lost its luster.

Knowing When It’s Time to Restore Your Marble Surfaces

If your marble counters have lost their luster and normal cleanings don’t seem to be making things better, it may be time to have a restoration professional come out and take a look. Here are some other signs that marble surfaces may need to be restored:

• Dullness or discoloration on the marble surface
• Stains from spills and/or general wear and tear
• Cracks, chips, or other signs of damage
• Etching on marble surfaces due to exposure to acidic or alkaline substances

These are all issues that basic cleaning, maintenance, or light polishing won’t fix. When you see these signs, it’s time to look into natural stone restoration services.

Protect Your Marble Surfaces

Because time waits for no one, eventually all marble surfaces will show signs of age and wear, at which point they have to be either restored or replaced. However, by practicing basic care and maintenance in protecting marble countertops, you can at least prolong their beauty until it’s time to have them restored. The best way to do this with day-to-day use is by cleaning marble surfaces regularly using a soft cloth and a non-abrasive cleaner indicated for marble. (Baking soda and hydrogen peroxide are both excellent household products that can spruce up a marble countertop safely.) Avoid using abrasive or acidic cleaning products as these will damage the stone, and clean spills quickly to avoid staining and etching.

That said, basic cleaning and maintenance only takes your counters so far. When these measures no longer seem to work and your counters start showing signs of damage, staining, dulling, etc., having them professionally restored also protects the surfaces and extends their life expectancy for potentially many more years.

Repair Chips and Breaks in Your Marble Countertops

As part of natural stone restoration, your stone care professionals will also assess the marble surface for any chips, cracks, or other signs of damage and fix them accordingly. Marble repair is an important part of marble countertop restoration to ensure that they remain in excellent condition and keep their pristine look. If you notice chips or cracks in your marble counters, it’s important not to leave them unattended because they make your marble countertops vulnerable to more damage, making restoration more costly. In extreme cases, restoration won’t be enough to fix these issues, and the marble may have to be replaced.

Restore Shine and Beauty

One of the most obvious reasons to have marble restored is that it can bring back a beautiful shine and luster, making your marble surfaces look as good as new. Professional marble countertop restoration services use special techniques and products that buff out any stains, dullness, and discoloration while getting rid of etching due to acidic or alkaline exposure. Our technicians will also use high-grade marble polishing compounds to restore your countertop finish to its original beauty in no time.

Save Money from Repairs and Replacements Down the Line

If marble surfaces become too worn and damaged, it can be expensive to have them replaced. By contrast, marble restoration services cost a fraction of what it would cost to replace marble countertops outright. By restoring your surfaces when the need arises, you can avoid costly repairs or replacements in the future. Even if marble surfaces show signs of age and wear, our marble restoration services can make them look brand new and give them new life for many years to come.

Using Professional Restoration Services

Because the process of restoring natural stone is complex and may require multiple steps, we highly advise against attempting to restore your marble countertops on your own. Without proper training and the right equipment, you can actually damage your surfaces further and possibly even invite injury to yourself. In the long run, trusting marble countertop restoration to experienced professionals is the safest and most affordable way to ensure that your marble surfaces get proper treatment and look their best. Our trained technicians will evaluate your marble surfaces and recommend specific solutions designed to restore them to their original state. They will also apply measures to minimize dust accumulation while making the process as unintrusive as possible.

Contact a New York Marble Countertop Restoration Professional

At Statewide Stone Care (a Stonework Company), we have been serving the stone and tile repair and restoration needs of the Tri-State area for many years. Our technicians have a well-earned reputation for expert craftsmanship and stellar customer service, and we work hard to earn the trust of our customers every day. For expert restoration services in New York and New Jersey, as well as natural stone polishing, cleaning, repairs, and maintenance, contact us today.

Should I Replace or Refinish My Stone Flooring?

Stone flooring can add elegance and beauty to almost any space–but with the passage of time and heavy use, those stone floors or stone tile floors can eventually lose their luster and appear dull. When that happens, the big question looms: should you replace or restore your stone flooring?

Many people assume that once natural stone starts showing signs of wear and tear, replacing the floor is the only option. And since replacement can be quite expensive, they often put it off, allowing their floors to deteriorate even more. However, in many cases, stone refinishing can be a much more cost-effective solution, one that can restore your floor’s natural beauty and even extend its life so you don’t have to invest in a full replacement, possibly for many years.

So… if your stone floors look worn, should you refinish or replace them? Let’s look at a few key factors to consider.

Scratches, Cracks, and Dents

The first factor that can help you determine if stone refinishing is an option is the amount of damage present. Minor scratches and scuffs may be fixable with refinishing, but for deeper dents, chips, or cracks, refinishing alone will likely not be enough to cover that damage. However, if the damage is spotty and not widespread, you may still be able to avoid a full replacement by having a professional repair the damage with epoxies and color matching.

Bottom line–if the scratches are surface level, stone refinishing should do the trick. For deeper scratches, cracks, and dents, consider repairs if the damage is isolated to a few spots. If the damage is widespread across the floor, it may be time for a replacement.

Stains or Loss of Shine

In almost all cases, stone refinishing is the best and most cost-efficient alternative to fixing stained or dulled floors. Refinishing involves gently grinding down the stone and polishing it to the desired sheen. This surface polishing typically removes stains and buffs out scratches for a uniform look across the floor. Only in extreme cases where the stains are deep and widespread should you consider replacing the stone floor.

Financial Factors

Your budget almost always plays a key role in the decision to refinish or replace a natural stone floor. The cost of refinishing floors varies according to the amount of damage, the square footage involved, etc.–but refinishing is almost always more affordable than replacement. When you replace stone floors, you’re not only dealing with the cost of materials and labor, but also with the costs of demolition, disposal, and any downtime you might incur during construction.

At the end of the day, even the most extensive refinishing project usually costs a fraction of what it costs to replace a stone floor. That said, your budget should be your guide. If money is no object and you simply want a new look for your floors, consider replacement. (You could even change the flooring to something besides natural stone, such as solid hardwood floors, engineered hardwood, porcelain tile, or some other surface. If, however, your desire is to restore the look of your stone floors to their original beauty, refinishing is almost always more affordable, and usually just as effective.

Squeaking or Creaking

Stone floors and stone tile floors almost never squeak or creak. If they do, it’s generally a sign of a problem with the subfloor, not the stone itself. For example, if stone tiles have been laid over a wood subfloor, and the wood beneath begins to warp, cup, or crown due to moisture getting under the floor, the integrity of the floor itself may be at risk. In situations like these, replacement may be your only option because refinishing will not fix the subfloor beneath.

Issues with Grout

Grout is the material used to fill in the gaps between stone tiles, and it can become discolored or cracked over time. Refinishing the stone floors themselves will not do anything to fix underlying issues with grout. However, an expert stone care professional will typically clean and repair grout as part of a tile floor refinishing project. As a rule of thumb, if the damage to your grout is minor or spotty, chances are it can be refreshed without needing a full replacement. If the grout problem is widespread or there are signs of major deterioration, you may either need to do a full re-grouting of the floor or simply invest in replacement.

Consult a New York Stone Refinishing Professional

When it comes to stone refinishing, there are no hard-and-fast rules–but more often than not, refinishing the floors is a viable alternative to replacing them outright, not to mention more affordable. That said, the best way to determine whether stone refinishing or replacement is the right choice for your particular situation is to consult a professional stone care and restoration expert. At Statewide Stone Care (a stonework company), we have the experience, skills, and resources to assess your stone floors and make an accurate recommendation about whether refinishing can solve your problem or whether you need a full replacement. For a free evaluation in New York or New Jersey, contact us today.

Everything You Need to Know About Stone Restoration

Your stone surfaces are an important part of your home or business, so it’s crucial to keep them looking their best. Unfortunately, even with regular cleaning and upkeep, time and wear-and-tear eventually take their toll. Marble floors, granite countertops, and other natural stone surfaces begin to look worn and scratched, or their finishes become dull–especially in areas of high traffic and heavy use. That’s where professional stone restoration comes in.

What Is Stone Restoration?

Stone restoration is the process of returning damaged or worn stone surfaces back to their original condition at the time of installation. It can involve a number of processes, including any or all of the following:

• Grinding: Using abrasive pads to grind down the stone, removing scratches, stains, and other blemishes in the process.
• Leveling and lippage removal: Grinding down uneven areas, especially around the edges of stone and tile, to return them to a smooth, even surface.
• Honing and polishing: Using progressively finer abrasives to smooth the surface of the stone and restore its shine.
• Sealing: Applying a penetrating sealer to the stone to protect it from future staining and wear.

Why Restore Your Stone Surfaces? 

The thing about natural stone is that while it exudes elegance and beauty when new, it can also really show its age when it’s not revitalized periodically. Dulled or uneven stone finishes make a space look worn, unkept, or even ugly–effectively defeating the purpose of why the stonework was installed in the first place.

The good news is that when left to the pros, natural stone surfaces like marble, granite, travertine, terrazzo, limestone, and others can be revitalized to look brand-new again. Whatever the damage, restoring your stone surfaces can help them look like new again—and that can do wonders for the aesthetic of your home or business.

When Should You Call in a Professional for Stone Restoration? 

How often your stone surfaces need to be restored depends largely on their location and how much wear-and-tear they see on a daily basis. For example, if you have a lobby with marble floors that accommodate thousands of people a day, you’ll likely need to have them restored every few years (or even every few months) to keep them looking their best. Conversely, if you have stone counters in your home that only see occasional use, you may not see signs of dulling for years. The basic rule of thumb is: if there are visible signs of wear or dulling and regular cleaning or hand buffing doesn’t improve the look of it, it’s probably time to have the pros take a look.

Breathe New Life into Your Natural Stone Surfaces

Keeping your stone counters and floors looking their best isn’t just about maintaining aesthetic value or making a good first impression. In many cases, it’s also about protecting your investment. Periodic stone restoration not only makes these surfaces look new again, it also helps extend the life of your stone surfaces, preventing more extensive (and expensive) repairs or replacements down the road.

At Statewide Stone Care (a Stonework company), we’ve been restoring natural stone and tile floors, counters, and other surfaces to like-new condition across the Tri-State area for more than a decade. For a free quote on stone restoration services, contact us today.

7 Benefits of Repairing Your Granite Countertop

Granite is a natural stone surface that is highly valued for its durability–which is why it’s the stone surface of choice for kitchens and bathrooms. Granite is particularly popular in kitchen countertops for its heat resistance and its ability to handle hot pans without cracking. It’s also one of the hardest natural stone materials available, and you can even chop veggies on it without the need for cutting boards.

But let’s face it: Time is not kind to our stone surfaces. Even granite counters, as durable and family friendly as they are, can scratch and chip over time between human wear-and-tear and the effects of time itself. When this happens, you might believe the only solution is to replace the countertop entirely. However, this is usually unnecessary and can be quite costly. In most cases, having these surfaces repaired and/or restored can be much more beneficial and practical than investing in a full replacement–and you can even make them look like new in the process. Let’s explore five advantages to granite countertop repair and refinishing versus full-on replacement.

1. Add Value to Your Kitchen or Bathroom

One of the main reasons to refinish or repair your granite countertop instead of replacing it is that you can add value to your home in the process. Home buyers are constantly seeking granite countertops in a home, but if your granite slab is chipped, scratched, or cracked, it will actually leave a negative impression and possibly reduce the value of your home. At the same time, a full replacement of those granite surfaces can be costly, and you might not make your money back.

Having those kitchen and bathroom granite counters repaired and refinished by a stone care professional is a favorable alternative. A skilled technician can make chips and cracks imperceptible, restoring the beauty of your kitchen and bathroom counters, and restoring your home’s value in the process.

2. Make Your Counters Look Brand New

In addition to adding value to your home, granite countertop repairs can also make those counters look brand new. A stone care professional will be able to fill any scratches, chips, or cracks, and polish the surface to a high shine. You’ll be amazed at how your kitchen or bathroom looks when the granite counters are refinished–and your guests will be, too.

3. Save Money

Restoration and repair are almost always more affordable than replacement. Under normal circumstances, the cost of restoring natural granite is about 50-70 percent less than replacing them. In recent months with the rising cost of construction materials, you’re likely saving even more with restoration and repairs than if you replaced the surface.

4. Save Time and Disruption

Restoring or repairing your granite counters is usually a much quicker process than replacement. Additionally, because restoration and repair usually don’t require any demolition, there’s much less smoke, dust, and debris created during the process. In short, natural stone restoration takes less time and causes less disruption to your daily routine than a full replacement.

5. Preserve the Environment

While natural stone is a natural resource, installing new stone is not necessarily an eco-friendly process. It requires a lot of fuel to mine the stone, cut it, shape it, and transport it to your home. When you choose restoration and repair over replacement, you’re extending the life of your existing stone surfaces and doing your part to protect the environment.

6. Improved Safety

Another benefit of repairing your granite countertops is that it can make your kitchen or bathroom safer. Countertops that are cracked or chipped can pose a safety hazard as they can easily cut or scrape someone who comes into contact with them. Repairing damage to your countertops can help to prevent injuries as well as keeping the damage from progressing.

7. Keep the Original Character of Your Home or Business

Every granite slab is unique and different, so when you opt for a full replacement of your granite counters, you will end up with a completely different look than what you started with. However, when you have the original granite repaired, the character and integrity of the original installation is preserved. This can be especially important in historic homes and businesses where matching the existing stone is crucial to preserving the overall look and feel of the property.

Ready to Repair Your Granite Countertop?

If you’re considering granite countertop repair or restoration for your home or business, the experts at Statewide Stone Care (a stonework company) are here to help. We have years of experience working with all types of natural stone and tile across the Tri-State area, and our team of skilled technicians can restore your granite counters to their original beauty. Contact us today for a free evaluation and quote

5 Reasons to Hire a Stone Repair Contractor

Natural stone countertops, floors, and other stone surfaces add a timeless sense of elegance and beauty to any space. But when these surfaces become chipped, cracked, or damaged due to stains, blunt impacts, or simple wear-and-tear, they can look tired and worn at best–and present a safety hazard at worst. You might be tempted to attempt repairs yourself, but DIY fixes rarely work when it comes to natural stone and tile surfaces. Let’s look at five reasons why it’s best to hire a New York stone repair contractor in situations like these.

1. Experienced and Knowledgeable Professionals

Repairing stone surfaces correctly requires a specific set of skills–and if you attempt repairs without this knowledge and experience, you could make the problem worse instead of better. For example, if you try to fill in cracks with the wrong epoxy, or the wrong color matching, your counters or floors might actually look worse than before. Likewise, using the wrong grit when buffing or polishing can make for an uneven finish. A professional stonework repair specialist with years of experience has the knowledge and expertise necessary to get the job done right the first time. They know exactly which repair method is best for each type of damage and type of stone, and they have the experience to color match and fill cracks so that you’d never know they were there.

2. Safety Guaranteed

When it comes to stonework repair, safety should always be your number one priority. Chipped and cracked stone surfaces can be extremely sharp, and attempting to repair these surfaces without the proper tools and safety gear can put you at risk for serious cuts and lacerations. In addition, some stones–like marble–can release harmful dust particles into the air when they’re worked on, which can lead to respiratory problems if you’re not wearing the proper safety mask. A stone repair specialist will have the right tools and safety gear to get the job done quickly and safely, and they will take extra steps to ensure the safety of your home and family, as well.

3. Long Lasting Effects

By hiring a professional, you can rest assured that your repairs will last. These specialists use only high-quality epoxies, resins, and fillers to make sure that your cracks and chips are repaired for good. This attention to detail ensures that not only will your repairs last for years to come, but your stone surfaces will continue to look beautiful throughout their life expectancy.

4. Save Time and Money

Hiring a professional to fix your stonework may seem like it would be more expensive than doing it yourself, but that’s not always the case. In many instances, trying to do repairs on your own can end up costing you more money in the long run. Not only that, but it can also take up a lot of your valuable time. Hiring a professional means that you can rest assured knowing the job will be done right without having to spend hours (or even days) trying to figure out how to do it yourself.

5. Increase Value

It’s important to remember that natural stone surfaces are an investment. They can add resale value to your home and they can last a lifetime with proper care–but only if they’re repaired correctly when damage does occur. Attempting repairs, yourself may actually lessen the value of your home or business space, and you might even need to replace the stonework completely to restore its value. Leaving the repairs to the professionals not only ensures that stone counters and floors maintain their beauty, but stone surfaces kept in good repair actually increase the value of your home.

Need Your Stone Repaired? Statewide Can Help!

If you have damage to your stone surfaces, don’t wait to get it repaired. The sooner you call in a professional, the less likely it is that the damage will spread or become worse. Statewide Stone Care (a stonework company) provides quality stone and tile repair services to home and business owners in New York and New Jersey. Our expert stone repair contractors have the knowledge and experience to make your marble, granite, travertine, quartz, and other stone surfaces look like new again. In addition to stonework repair, we do restorative work, deep cleaning and sealing, preventative maintenance, and more! To learn more about high quality stone repair and other services offered, contact us today to schedule a free quote.

5 Benefits of Restoring and Repairing Your Stone Floors, Walls, and Counters

Let’s face it: Time is not kind to our buildings. Between human wear-and-tear and the effects of Mother Nature, the natural stone floors, walls, and counters in your home or business become worn down and damaged. When this happens, you might believe the only solution is to replace them entirely. However, this is usually unnecessary and can be quite costly. In most cases, having these surfaces repaired and/or restored can be much more beneficial and practical than investing in a full replacement–and you can even make them look like new in the process. Let’s explore five advantages to restoring and repairing natural stone surfaces versus full-on replacement.

Save Money

Restoration and repair are almost always more affordable than replacement. Under normal circumstances, the cost of restoring natural stone is about 50-70 percent less than replacement. In recent months with the rising cost of construction materials, you’re likely saving even more with restoration and repairs than if you replaced the surface.

Save Time and Disruption

Restoring or repairing your floors, walls, or counters is usually a much quicker process than replacement. Additionally, because restoration and repair usually don’t require any demolition, there’s much less smoke, dust, and debris created during the process. In short, natural stone restoration takes less time and causes less disruption to your daily routine than a full replacement.

Preserve the Environment

While natural stone is a natural resource, installing new stone is not necessarily an eco-friendly process. It requires a lot of fuel to mine the stone, cut it, shape it, and transport it to your home. When you choose restoration and repair over replacement, you’re extending the life of your existing stone surfaces and doing your part to protect the environment.

Keep the Original Character of Your Home or Business

When you opt for a full replacement of your stone surfaces, you might end up with a completely different look than what you started with. However, when you have your stone restored, the character and integrity of the original installation is preserved. This can be especially important in historic homes and businesses where matching the existing stone is crucial to preserving the overall look and feel of the property.

Increase Your Property Value

In addition to all of the practical advantages of restoring versus replacing your stone surfaces, there’s also a financial benefit. By making the decision to restore rather than replace, you could see an increase in your property value. That’s because restored natural stone is often seen as a premium material that adds both beauty and value to a home or business–especially in historic structures.

When it comes to your damaged stone floors, walls, and counters, don’t automatically assume that replacement is your only option. In most cases, restoration and repair can provide you with the same results at a fraction of the cost. Not to mention, it’s often a quicker process with less disruption. The experts at Statewide Stone (s stonework company) Care have been providing reliable stone restoration services across the Tri-State area for more than a decade. Contact us today for a free evaluation and quote.