Are your marble countertops losing their original luster? If they appear dull and worn over time, this is a natural occurrence. Since countertops—especially in the kitchen—see frequent use, they are prone to wear and tear.

Marble and other natural stone materials are porous by nature, making them softer and more susceptible to scratching and etching. Etching appears as dull blemishes caused by acidic substances like lemon juice and vinegar reacting with the marble. Fortunately, because marble is soft, professional stone care specialists can easily restore its surface.

Restoration vs. a Total Remodel

Since marble is highly refinable, professional stone care specialists can restore its surface without requiring a full replacement. Scratches from knives, marks from abrasive or acidic cleaning products, and etching from various substances can be remedied. However, improper DIY attempts can lead to costly mistakes and even permanent damage, making professional services the best choice.

Choosing the Right Stone Care Services for Your Marble Countertops

Once you decide to restore your marble countertops, it’s important to understand the process. Many homeowners mistakenly believe they must choose between “honing” and “polishing,” but in reality, honing is a necessary step in the refinishing process, regardless of the final finish. Whether you want a honed or polished appearance, the stone must first be honed to remove scratches and imperfections. The surface is then either left with a honed finish or further polished with finer grits of diamond pads to achieve a high-gloss shine.

For homeowners looking to refresh their marble countertops, understanding the difference between a honed finish and a polished finish is essential, as each offers a distinct look and maintenance requirements.

What’s the Difference Between a Honed Finish and a Polished Finish?

While both finishes involve honing as a preparation step, the final appearance and feel of your countertops will differ significantly depending on whether you choose a honed or polished finish.

• Honed Finish: This finish results in a smooth, matte appearance with a soft, natural feel. Since it diffuses light rather than reflecting it, honed marble can better hide scratches and etches, making it a great choice for high-traffic areas. However, because it is more porous, a honed finish requires more frequent sealing to prevent stains.
• Polished Finish: A polished marble surface has a glossy, reflective appearance that enhances the depth and veining of the stone. The polishing process uses finer diamond pads to create a glass-like shine. While this finish provides a luxurious look, it also makes scratches and etching more visible. However, polished marble is less porous than honed marble, requiring less frequent sealing.

Additional Considerations for Honed vs. Polished Finishes

When choosing between a honed or polished finish, consider the following:

• Scratch & Etch Visibility: A honed finish is more forgiving when it comes to scratches and etches, while a polished finish makes imperfections more noticeable.
• Maintenance & Sealing: Honed marble requires more frequent sealing due to its higher porosity, whereas polished marble is more resistant to moisture and stains.
• Aesthetic Preference: A honed finish offers a softer, more understated look, while a polished finish provides a sleek, high-end shine.

The right choice depends on your personal style, the level of maintenance you’re willing to commit to, and the overall look you want to achieve in your space.

For a deeper dive into the honing and polishing process, check out our detailed explanation.

Expert Marble Refinishing Services in Northern Virginia

Are you looking for professional marble refinishing services in Northern Virginia? We specialize in both honed and polished finishes, ensuring your marble countertops are restored to their best condition. As a locally owned and operated company, our team is highly skilled in precision stone care. Contact us to learn more about our services and how we can bring your marble surfaces back to life.

Do you have marble countertops in your kitchen at home? Marble countertops can be a beautiful aesthetic and—with proper maintenance—they have a lot of longevity. 

Because marble itself is porous, there are some specific care needs when it comes to protecting this natural stone surface. If you are searching for the ultimate guide for marble countertop polishing services, look no further. This blog article will provide a comprehensive overview for you.

Choose the Experienced Professionals Over a YouTube DIY

For those of you who may be considering tackling a marble countertop DIY, we strongly recommend that you do not tackle refurbishing them yourself unless you are skilled in home remodeling and natural stone care.

Why? Marble is an expensive material and while a successful DIY marble polishing job may save you the cost of hiring out for professional natural stone care services, a botched job can end up costing a full gut and remodel job if the countertops are unsalvageable. At best, a botched DIY job may only require professional repair. It is for this reason that we caution unskilled homeowners to let the professionals handle the job.

Natural Stone Restoration and Maintenance Companies Provide Expert Services

Calling in the professionals for natural stone restoration and maintenance will keep the marble countertops in your home shining the way they did when they were installed. Hiring stone care professionals to polish your marble countertops is a smart move because they will get the job done right the first time. 

These stone specialists can advise you on maintenance and care specifics after they polish the stone. They will also address things like cracks, chips, and etching—all blemishes that can be smoothed out and obscured. Having your countertops professionally polished will prolong their life for years to come. A good stone care worker can work magic on your countertops.

Hiring a Natural Stone Restoration and Maintenance Company in Northern VA

If you are looking for a natural stone restoration and maintenance company in Northern Virginia, you will want to do a little research first before choosing a company to work with. Beyond browsing the company websites for information about who they are, what they do, and a list of offered stone care services. 

But it is also important to browse their online portfolios and to see what customers are saying. Doing a little deep dive into the customer reviews on aggregate websites such as Yelp and Google Reviews will give you a pretty accurate picture of the quality of services that a company offers. It is a smart bet to avoid companies with overwhelmingly negative reviews and to go with a company with a stellar reputation for customer service.

Are you on the hunt for the best natural stone restoration professionals in Northern Virginia? NOVA Stone Care has a sterling reputation for quality services and customer care. Visit our website to learn more about who we are and what we can do for you.

How to Identify When Your Stone Surfaces Need Professional Restoration

Natural stone surfaces add a timeless elegance and durability to any home or commercial space. However, even the most resilient materials like marble, granite, travertine, and limestone require proper care to maintain their appearance. Over time, wear and tear can take a toll on your stone surfaces, making professional restoration necessary. Here at NOVA Stone Care, serving Northern Virginia, we specialize in bringing your natural stone back to life. In this post, we’ll help you identify the key signs that it’s time to call in the experts.

1. Dullness and Loss of Shine

If your once-lustrous stone surfaces now appear dull or faded, it’s a clear indication that they’ve lost their protective sealant or polish. This is especially common for high-traffic areas like kitchen countertops and entryway floors. Professional honing and polishing can restore their original brilliance, making them look brand new.

2. Scratches and Etch Marks

Scratches and etch marks often occur when acidic substances like lemon juice, vinegar, or wine come into contact with natural stone. These blemishes can disrupt the surface’s smooth finish and become more noticeable over time. At NOVA Stone Care, we use advanced diamond honing techniques to eliminate these imperfections.

3. Stains and Discoloration

Stone’s porous nature makes it susceptible to staining from spills, dirt, and other substances. Dark or discolored patches on your stone may indicate the need for deep cleaning or resealing. While some stains can be treated at home, professional restoration ensures a thorough and long-lasting solution.

4. Cracks and Chips

Cracks and chips not only detract from your stone’s aesthetic appeal but can also worsen if left untreated. Professional restoration experts can fill and repair these issues, preventing further damage and restoring the integrity of your stone surface.

5. Uneven Surfaces or Lippage

If your stone flooring has become uneven due to shifting tiles or installation issues, it may create a tripping hazard. This condition, known as lippage, can be corrected through professional grinding and leveling to create a uniform surface.

6. Water Spots and Residue Build-Up

Water spots, soap scum, and mineral deposits are common problems for bathroom surfaces like vanities and shower walls. These issues not only dull the surface but can also lead to long-term damage if not addressed. Professional cleaning and sealing can remove these residues and protect your stone.

7. Faded Grout Lines

Over time, grout lines can accumulate dirt and discoloration, diminishing the overall appearance of your stone tiles. Professional grout cleaning and restoration can rejuvenate your floors and walls, making them look fresh and clean.

Why Choose NOVA Stone Care?

At NOVA Stone Care, we’re passionate about preserving the natural beauty of your stone surfaces. Serving homeowners and businesses across Northern Virginia, we offer top-notch restoration services tailored to your needs. Our team uses state-of-the-art equipment and eco-friendly solutions to deliver exceptional results, ensuring your stone surfaces remain stunning for years to come.

Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late!

Addressing the early signs of wear and tear can save you money and extend the life of your stone surfaces. If you’ve noticed any of these issues, contact NOVA Stone Care today for a free consultation. Let us help you protect your investment and restore your stone’s natural beauty.

How to Identify When Your Stone Surfaces Need Professional Restoration. For expert natural stone restoration services in Northern Virginia, call NOVA Stone Care at 202-997-4548 or visit our website at https://www.novastonecare.com

For top-quality stone care products trusted and used daily by our team, visit https://mbstone.com/

Before you consider a complete overhaul of your kitchen space, have you considered restoration? If you are wanting a simple kitchen refresh, there is no reason to do a full gut and remodel of your natural stone kitchen countertops.

If you are going for a full kitchen remodel, then that is a whole other story. Kitchen countertop restoration is easy when you let the professionals handle it. So, if you are looking to try and pair down the budget for your home kitchen revamp project, refinishing is the smart alternative to gutting your old materials.

How Kitchen Countertop Refinishing a Money-Saving Maneuver? 

The cost of natural stone can be exorbitant, which is what makes the case for countertop refinishing even stronger, especially if you are looking to cut project costs or are taking to make a fixed budget. The cost of your natural stone surfaces depends on what type of stone your kitchen countertops are made of.

Travertine and marble are two of the more affordable stone options. Travertine can cost anywhere between $25 and $100 depending on its quality. Marble starts at $10 a square foot and can cost upwards of $60 per square foot. Slabs are more expensive than tiling, but tiling is often a pain when it comes to countertop services because the grouting used creates crevices where things can build up and can make clean up a little extra. Installation costs will add another $25-50 per square foot. 

Kitchen Countertop Refinishing Services Save on Time and Money

Having to do a full gut and replacement of your natural stone countertops will add a lot to your project costs with the labor to remove the old materials and install the new counters. Add in the cost of the new stone (which will be more than what you originally paid due to inflation), and you will find that merely restoring the counters you have can be done for a fraction of the cost.

The wonderful thing about natural stone is that it is porous, which means that it is easy to repair scratches and any etching (visible staining). Fortunately, there are trained stone care professionals out there that specialize in natural stone restoration. 

Finding a Stone Care Specialist for Kitchen Countertop Refinishing Services

If you are local to the greater Springfield, Virginia area, NOVA Stone Care is locally owned and operated. Our expert stone workers are skilled in kitchen countertop refinishing, and they can restore your old kitchen countertops to their former luster.

From buffing out any ugly etching that your natural stone countertops may have experienced over the years to scratch and nick repair, NOVA Stone Care’s stone technicians are well-versed in how to repair the common wear and tear that these surfaces see from repeated use. Bonus: these professionals can be extra helpful in educating you about proper kitchen counter maintenance (the dos and do nots when it comes to cleaning these surfaces).

Are you interested in kitchen countertop refinishing? Visit our website to learn more about who we are and what we do.

Marble countertops are a luxurious addition to any kitchen or bathroom, but they come with their own set of challenges. While marble countertops add elegance and value to any home, addressing their maintenance challenges is critical to preserving their beauty. From staining to etching and chipping to dullness and scratches, these issues require professional intervention to ensure your marble remains in pristine condition. Here are the five common problems with marble counter tops and how a natural stone restoration company can help address these issues.

1. Staining

Marble is a porous natural stone, which makes it highly susceptible to staining. Common household substances like red wine, coffee, and oil can leave unsightly marks if not wiped up quickly. Sealing marble can help reduce its porosity, but over time, the sealant can wear off, leaving the stone vulnerable. Natural Stone Restoration Services specialize in reinforcing the sealant to protect and enhance the longevity of your marble surfaces.

2. Etching

Etching occurs when acidic substances, such as lemon juice or vinegar, come into contact with marble. This causes a chemical reaction that dulls the surface and leaves behind a cloudy mark. While etching doesn’t penetrate deeply, it affects the marble’s sheen and appearance.

Professional polishing can restore the polished appearance of your marble by buffing out etches and bringing back its glossy finish.

3. Chipping

Chipping is another common issue, typically occurring along the edges of countertops. Heavy impacts or the use of sharp instruments can cause small pieces of marble to break away, which not only looks unattractive but can also lead to more significant damage if left unchecked.

Comprehensive repair solutions, including chip filling and edge smoothing, can restore the integrity of your marble countertops seamlessly.

4. Dullness

Over time, foot traffic on marble floors or regular use of countertops can result in dullness. This is frequently due to the accumulation of dirt and minor scratches on the surface, which diffuse light and reduce the stone’s natural shine. Regularly scheduled polishing and cleaning by experts can reverse this wear using state-of-the-art machinery and non-abrasive cleansers to restore the lustrous appearance of your marble surfaces effectively.

5. Scratches

Even with careful use, scratches are almost inevitable on a marble surface. These can range from shallow hairline scratches to deep gouges, both of which can mar the beauty of your countertops. Routine cleaning methods often fail to address these imperfections adequately.

With professional restoration services, you can enjoy the expertise of a team that knows how to delicately remove scratches without compromising the integrity of the stone. Using precision techniques, you can revitalize your marble and maintain its elegance.

At NOVA Stone Care, we are committed to being your go-to Natural Stone Restoration Company in Northern VA. With our comprehensive range of natural stone restoration services, we help homeowners overcome these common marble issues and maintain the timeless allure of their stone surfaces. Contact us today to learn more.

Is your kitchen countertop starting to lose its luster? Beyond repairing scratches and addressing etching, there are several compelling reasons to consider hiring a professional for kitchen countertop refinishing services. Many homeowners may not realize the importance of having a professional stone specialist maintain and restore their stone surfaces, especially in the kitchen where food preparation takes place.

Kitchen Counter Refinishing Will Improve Countertop Appearance

One of the primary benefits of refinishing your natural stone countertops is improving their appearance. If you’re looking to restore the shine and make your countertops look like new again, having them refinished by a professional stone restoration expert can achieve that. Whether you have marble or granite, professional polishing will bring back the sparkle and make your counters look refreshed.

If your countertops have suffered from scratches or etching (discoloration or dull marks), professional stone restoration experts have the knowledge and tools to restore them to their original beauty. If you care about aesthetics and want to keep your current countertops, refinishing is a great way to give your stone surfaces the care they need.

Refinishing and Stone Restoration is More than Just Aesthetics

While improving the appearance of your kitchen countertops is a key benefit, there’s a more important reason to consider refinishing—safety. Whether you’re refinishing granite or marble, natural stone is porous, meaning it absorbs liquids and other substances more than you may realize.

Over time, kitchen countertops need to be resealed to protect them from potential damage from substances like citric acid and other common kitchen spills. If your countertops were previously sealed with products containing fluoropolymers, which are a type of PFAS (also known as “forever chemicals”), you may have a bigger concern. If these seals are compromised, harmful chemicals could be introduced into your food-prep area. For this reason, it’s essential to have professionals handle the resealing process. 

Hiring Out for Kitchen Countertop Refinishing Service Saves Money

Replacing your entire kitchen countertops with new natural stone like granite, marble, or travertine can be a costly endeavor. Unless you’re planning a full kitchen remodel, completely gutting and replacing your stone countertops may not be necessary. Refinishing and restoring your existing countertops is a far more cost-effective solution.

Natural stone can last for decades when properly maintained, and professional refinishing will extend the life of your countertops. By investing in maintenance rather than replacement, you can save on the costs of labor and materials while still enjoying beautiful, durable stone surfaces.

Are you looking for marble or granite countertop refinishing services in Northern Virginia? NOVA Stone Care’s team of expert stone restoration professionals is ready to assist. We pride ourselves on delivering high-quality care and exceptional customer service.  Visit our website to learn more about who we are and how we can help restore your kitchen countertops.