Natural Stone vs Man-Made. What’s the Difference? Natural stone and man-made materials have different properties and uses. Natural stone is a product of nature, formed by the earth over millions of years. It is quarried from the ground, cut and polished to be used in construction and for decorative purposes.
Granite
Natural stones
You can find natural stone in many forms. For example, granite, marble, limestone, and sandstone are all natural stones. Each natural stone has unique characteristics such as color, pattern, and durability. For more info visit Natural Stone Institute website.
Marble
Marble
Man-made stones
Man-made stones, on the other hand, are created in a factory using various types of raw materials. These materials are molded and shaped to resemble natural stone. They are commonly used in construction and decorative purposes as well, but they are less durable than natural stone. Examples of man-made materials include concrete, cultured marble, and engineered stone.
Quartz
Quartz
One of the main differences between natural stone and man-made materials is their durability. Natural stone is more durable and long-lasting than man-made stone, making it a better choice for high-traffic areas and outdoor use. However, natural stone can be more expensive than man-made materials.
Another difference is the appearance. Natural stone has a unique and natural beauty that can’t be replicated by man-made materials. Man-made materials can mimic the look of natural stone, but they lack the individuality and character of real natural stone.
Conclusion
Natural stone and man-made materials have their own unique characteristics and uses. It depends on the specific project and the desired outcome. You should consider factors like durability, cost and appearance when deciding between natural stone and man-made materials. Both natural and man made stones would need maintenance over time. NOVA stones care specialists are pros at cleaning, buffing and polishing natural stone surfaces. Call NOVA Stone Care to get a free estimate for your natural stone restoration or maintenance. Check out our blog section for more helpful tips. We breathe life into your stone.
Cleaning and maintaining your natural stone fireplace is not an easy task. Natural stone, such as marble or granite, can add a beautiful and timeless touch to your home. However, it does require proper care and maintenance to keep it looking its best.
Black Marble Fireplace Hearth
Cleaning a natural stone fireplace can be a bit tricky, as different types of stones have different cleaning needs. Marble, for example, is a porous stone that can easily stain, while granite is more durable and resistant to staining.
Here are some tips for cleaning your natural stone fireplace:
Start by removing any debris or ash from the fireplace. Use a brush or vacuum to clean out the firebox and the surrounding area.
Use a mild detergent or Ph neutral cleaner to clean the stone surface. Be sure to choose a cleaner that is specifically designed for natural stone and avoid using acidic or abrasive cleaners which can damage the stone.
Use a soft cloth or sponge to apply the cleaner and gently scrub the stone. Be sure to work in small sections and rinse the stone thoroughly with water after cleaning.
Once the stone is clean and dry, you can apply a sealant to protect it from stains and damage. Be sure to choose a sealant that is appropriate for your specific type of stone.
Marble Fireplace Hearth
It’s important to note that if you have a fireplace that is made of natural stone, it is easy to damage it while cleaning if you are not using proper cleaning products and appropriate sealing technique. Cleaning and maintaining your natural stone fireplace is not an easy task. It is best to contact a professional stone cleaning company like NOVA Stone Care that has the proper equipment and knowledge to clean natural stone. NOVA Stone Care specialists know the best methods for cleaning your specific type of stone and can advise you on how to maintain it properly. Your nature stone fireplace will look beautiful for years to come if you trust NOVA Stone Care with its cleaning and maintenance.
To see more projects completed by NOVA Stone Care check out our project gallery.
The etch mark removal from the marble floor tile is a complicated issue that many homeowners encounter. Etches occur when acidic substances or cleaning products come into contact with the surface of the marble. These substances cause a chemical reaction that erodes the surface of the marble, leaving dull, discolored spots.
In this particular case, a cleaning company used a cleaning product that was very acidic. The usage of the wrong cleaning product resulted in a large etch mark. The cleaning company tried removing the etch mark but actually made it worse.
How to remove etch marks safely
The best and the safest way to remove etch marks from marble floor tile is to hire a professional stone restoration company like NOVA Stone Care. We have the knowledge, experience and the state-of-the-art equipment necessary to safely and effectively remove etches from the marble surfaces. Our Professional floor polishing services will restore the natural beauty of your stone. Check out our project gallery to see before and after results.
One of the first steps in etch removal is to thoroughly clean the affected area. This may involve using a pH-neutral cleaning solution like MB-5 from MB Stone Care to remove any dirt or debris that may be present. The next step is to use specialized equipment, such as diamond pads and polishing pads. We restore marble floors using mechanical diamond honing and polishing techniques. We use different grit levels of diamond pads to remove scratches, etching, and other imperfections.
The etch mark removal is a delicate process that requires skill and experience. Attempting to remove etches on your own can result in further damage to the marble. It’s best to leave this task to the professionals.
Conclusion
The etch removal from marble floor tile can be a challenging task, but it can be accomplished effectively by a professional stone restoration company like NOVA Stone Care. With our knowledge, experience, and specialized equipment, we can restore your marble floors to their original beauty. If you notice etches on your marble floor tile, it is best to contact NOVA Stone Care as soon as possible.
Marble vs granite – what is the difference? Customers always ask this question. Marble and granite are two popular, highly sought-after natural stones which have been around for the centuries. They both have their pros and cons in terms of appearance, durability and maintenance.
What is marble?
Marble is a natural stone formed beneath the earth. It is referred to as metamorphic rock which is a rock that has been physically and chemically transformed over time. Marble is formed when limestone in the earth’s crust faces high temperature and pressure. This causes the stone to undergo a metamorphosis stage when the limestone begins to recrystallize, changing the texture of the rock and causing the calcite crystals to grow and interlock.
Marble Island
Beloved by emperors and artisans alike, marble has been long considered the most elegant and luxurious stone. It is also highly versatile. People use it in flooring, ornamental furnishings, fireplaces and bathrooms. It adds drama and elegance to the interior and exterior of any building. Just like any other natural stone,marble comes in a variety of colors ranging from milky white to red and black which is the result of impurities in the stone’sstructure. Minerals present during recrystallization can sometimes tint the entire piece of marble in various colors. Since marble is made of calcite crystals which is a salt of calcium, marble is prone to staining especially from liquids which are acidic in nature. NOVA Stone Care does not usually recommend installing marble for exposed places like commercial kitchens.
Marble Countertops
What is Granite?
Granite is a granular igneous rock which means it was formed from a cooling magma. Many items that we encounter in our daily activities are made from granite, like pavers, floor tiles and cemetery monuments. Many famous places like Mount Rushmore, Vietnam Veterans Memorial and Torres del Paine in Chile are granite hubs.
Granite Island
The composition of granite is made up of collectively interlocked quartz and feldspar minerals. It has been in use extensively since ancient times as construction, decorative and architectural stone.
Granite Countertop
Granite vs Marble
Hardness and longevity
Granite is considered more durable than marble. It is resistant to fire and heat, scratching, chipping and cracking. Granite has long been the premier choice of designers and builders for countertops due to both its beauty and durability. Compared to granite, marble is more susceptible to fading of color and becoming duller overtime. Weather and temperature differentials can cause it to break and erode. At NOVA Stone Care we can restore your marble surfaces to its previous smooth, elegant finish and vibrant color.
Appearance
The appearances of marble and granite differ from each other. Granite is typically speckled with many different minerals. Because there are so many different minerals in nature, there are thousands of colors of granite available. Marble, on the other hand, has a grayish or cream color with veins running through it. Although there are some darker slabs available as well. Regardless of the coloration, one of the most unique aspects of marble is that it’s translucent, meaning you can see past the outer surface.
Applications
The durable quality of granite makes it a perfect choice for fireplaces, bars, floors, while marble is more suitable for less trafficked areas like bathrooms, powder rooms, and hot tub surrounds.
Reactivity to Acidic substance
Both granite and marble are natural stones with a porous structure but the metamorphic attributes of marble makes it especially vulnerable to household acids like vinegar, mustard, ketchup and citrus vegetables and fruits. Acidic substances can cause etching when they come into contact with marble. On the other hand, granite is much more resilient towards stains. Usually, liquids that have been spilled on your countertop will evaporate within half an hour, so even if you have very porous granite, spilling something like water or oil isn’t going to permanently damage it as long as the surface is covered with a well maintained permanent sealer.
Maintenance
Since marble and granite are both porous natural stones, they need to be sealed to protects against staining and etching. Marble requires sealing much more frequently than granite. It is recommended that marble is sealed twice a year, depending on the color and quality of the marble. For granite, sealing once every two years is sufficient. The actual requirement for resealing depends on how heavily you use the surface. To preserve the quality of your stone surface, you need to be diligent about sealing it. NOVA Stone Care specialist can help with that. To find out more about natural stone industry, visit Natural Stone Institute website.
Conclusion
Marble vs granite – what is the difference? Marble and granite both look beautiful, are easy to clean, and stand the test of time but they also both have unique, distinguished characteristics. Marble’s smooth, cool surface, elegant veining, unique color palate and luxurious aesthetics makes it attractive to home owners and real estate agents. If you want the luxurious look that can be crafted to suit your needs and are not afraid to put some time and money in maintenance, go for marble. If you want a natural stone with more durability, scratch resistant properties and less wear and tear ability, then granite is the best option for you. When it comes to granite and marble maintenance and restoration no one pays more attention to detail than NOVA Stone Care specialists. Check out our project gallery section for more info and pictures. We breathe life into your stone.
One of the many services NOVA Stone Care provides is marble floor restoration – honing, polishing buffing and sealing. In this blog post we will dive into the details of this process.
Marble flooring has become a popular choice of flooring in many homes today. It adds style, elegance and beauty to the house. Marble is a natural stone, strong enough to withstand the harshest conditions but over time it can lose its shine.
High traffic and furniture contributes to the scratching and dulling of the marble surface. Cracks and scratches occur in marble regardless of what you do to minimize such mishaps. While marble is a durable stone, it requires a certain amount of care and maintenance. If you clean marble without proper cleaner and equipment you will destroy the finish. General cleaners eat through marble minerals resulting in faded shine. It will cost you money to reverse the damage by fixing it yourself. NOVA Stone Care specialists are pros at marble floor restoration. They can restore your dull, etched, scratched marble floors to its former luster and shine.
NOVA Stone Care specialists use the highest quality diamond floor pads to grind down the surface to expose the fresh layer of stone. At the end of this process, the marble floors achieve a mirror-like or matte finish. Here is the step by step process of honing, polishing, buffing and sealing marble floors used by NOVA Stone Care specialist.
Step -1 Honing
Marble honing is a method of cutting the stone and creating a more even surface. It brings smoothness to the marble floor by removing scratch or etch marks. For this step NOVA Stone Care specialists use the top of the line diamond floor polishing pads in lower grits like 100, 200 and 400. The lower grit diamond floor pads remove the visible scratches. Apart from scratches, honing will also remove certain stains. Once the rough spots are honed away, the marble will have a matte finish. The finish will be very scratch resistant at this point because it is not glossy. In some cases, honing is all that’s needed to get your stone looking spectacular again, especially if you are not looking for a glossy, mirror-like finish.
Step 2 – Polishing
If you want a glossy finish, there’s a step after honing that will create the glossy finish you’re looking for. Polishing brings the stone to a shiny finish. Polishing is done by diamond floor pads with grit 800 and grit 1500. NOVA Stone Care specialists gently polish the surface using a fine grit until it sparkles. For marble floors in a good condition a polishing can be enough to bring back the shine.
Step 3 – Buffing
In this step we polish with the finer grit 3000. At times, crystallize of marble is done for finishing. The crystallization process entails spraying a liquid onto the marble surface and buffing it using steel wool properly fitted under the single disc floor machine of standard weight. It creates a chemical reaction which has a long-term impact on stone durability. This method protects and adds shine to the surface. It creates a sparkly, mirror-like finish.
Step 4 – Sealing
To seal the polished marble floor with a proper penetrating sealant is a crucial step to prevent water absorption. If you don’t seal your marble floors, any bit of moisture leaking through could cause marble to lose its shiny, glossy look. This step is essential for either old marble floor restoration or new marble polishing. We at NOVA Stone Care apply top of the line marble sealer as a final step. We suggest waiting 24 hours for the sealer to cure before stepping on the floors. Check out our project gallery section for more info and pictures.
Honed vs polished marble – what are the pros and cons? Customers always ask this question.
If you are thinking of restoring your marble surface but can’t seem to make a choice between the honed and polished look. No worries. NOVA Stone Care professionals are ready to help. Our knowledgeable team performs in person consultations and offers FREE estimates around the DMV area. We’ve decided to list the pros and cons for both finishes so you can make an informed decision about what type of finish works best on your marble.
Honed Marble
Honed marble refers to the marble that has not been polished. It has a matte appearance and a velvety feel, rather than a distinctive shine of the polished marble.
Honed marble is more durable than polished marble. It is resistant to scratches and chips. When it gets scratched, scratches are less noticeable because light doesn’t reflect off the matte finish the same way it does off the shiny finish of polished marble.
Because honed marble is not polished, it’s more susceptible to stains compared to its shiny counterpart.
Honed marble is ideal for flooring. Due to the matte surface, it is less slippery than polished marble when wet.
Honed marble is easily maintained with regular and timely wipe downs with mild detergent and occasional resealing.
Because of its durability, honed marble is perfect for high traffic areas such as entryways, bathroom floors and stairs.
Polished Marble
Unlike honed marble, polished marble has a high-polish, glossy finish that is created through a special method of polishing with fine pads. Polished marble reflects light and creates rich saturation of colors.
Polished marble has a mirror-like shine which means that scratches are more visible compared to honed finish. On the other hand it is more durable to stains compared to the honed version because of its extra layer of polish.
Polished marble is smooth which increases the risk of slipping and falling especially when the surface is wet. Polished marble is not a great choice for floors or high foot traffic areas.
Like honed marble, polished marble is very easily maintained with timely wipe downs with mild detergent.
Polished marble is a classic choice for kitchen, bathroom countertops and accent fireplaces.
Honed VS Polished Marble? At NOVA Stone Care we recommend honed finish for high foot traffic areas and polished finish for countertops and accent pieces. Check out our project gallery section for more info and pictures. We breathe life into your stone.
Granite is a luxurious natural stone that stands out for its mirror-like, glossy shine and durability. However, like anything else, granite requires proper care and maintenance. Over time even this incredibly durable natural stone can fall victim to scratches, stains and dull spots. Eventually it loses its original shine and gleam.
Not to worry, this is usually fixable by professional deep cleaning, polishing and sealing. You can try to polish the granite yourself, but to ensure your investment in a granite countertop is well protected, it is best to hire a knowledgeable stone technician who will fix the problem instead of causing more damage.
NOVA Stone Care technicians specialize in restoring granite to its natural beauty and shine. When they arrive at the job site, they cover the entire work area with plastic covers, protective tapes and drop cloth. This step ensures surrounding objects and furniture does not get dirty or stained. Next, we deep clean the stone surface immaculately before polishing and sealing it.
We use nonabrasive polishing compound that is specifically made to use on natural stone. Our preferred product is MB-20 from MB Sone Care which is ideal for restoring the gleam to countertops that have gone through considerable wear and tear. During the polishing process, we remove small layers of granite that are dull, scratched and stained in order to reveal fresh, smooth stone beneath it.
After polishing, the last step is ensuring that your stone is properly sealed. While granite is made of a tough material, it is a natural stone and it can still get stained. A proper sealing is the most important line of defense against the future damage. We recommend resealing the granite once a year for lighter tone granites and once in two years for darker stones.
Conclusion
Once we are done with the sealing, we clean the surrounding area and take down the plastic covers. Our stone technicians leave the work area squeaky clean. If you want to restore the natural beauty and shine of your granite, don’t hesitate to reach out to NOVA Stone Care for a free estimate. Check out our project gallery to see some examples of our work.
What Is An Etch Mark? The etch mark is a surface damage in the form of a dull mark on natural stone that contains calcium carbonate. Coffee, red wine, oranges, lemons, vinegar, grapefruits, and acidic cleaning products are all examples of substances that can result in etching when in contact with a natural stone surface. When such substances (pH<7) come into prolonged contact with a natural stone, they corrode the stone and change its texture. Etch mark is not the same as the stain. Etch marks are lighter color than the stone, while stains have darker shades.
Eliminating Etch Marks
The most common mistake people make while trying to remove etch marks, is using conventional cleaning products. Such products can actually make etch marks worse. You should always use a pH-neutral cleaner when cleaning stone.
To remove minor etch marks from polished surfaces, apply a stone polishing powder and then buff the area until the it disappears. If the etch mark is deep, you will need a professional help to remove it the proper way. NOVA Stone Care technicians are trained to remove etch marks without damaging rest of the surface. We get rid of etch marks by honing, polishing and sealing the surfaces. They say actions speak louder than words. Why don’t you take a look at before and after pictures to judge yourself? We stand behind the quality of our work and deliver stunning results each and every time.
