“Should I replace or refinish my stone flooring?” is a common question we hear from our customers. When it comes to stone flooring, homeowners often have the choice to either replace or refinish their existing floors. Both options have their own set of advantages and disadvantages. It’s important to do research on floor polishing services when considering which option is best for your specific situation. 

Replacing your stone flooring is a good option if your floors are severely damaged or worn. Additionally, if your floors have been installed improperly or are showing signs of settling or shifting replacement may be necessary. It would ensure the stability and safety of your floors.

Before and after results of marble floor restoration and etch removal

On the other hand, refinishing your stone flooring is a good option if your floors are in good condition but simply need a facelift. Even if your floors are chipped, or have deep scratches, refinishing still may be the best choice. Refinishing involves honing, polishing and resealing the stone. This process can remove scratches and stains, and bring back the original shine and luster of the stone. This option is also a more cost-effective alternative to replacement, as it does not require the removal and disposal of existing flooring. 

Before and after results of tumbled travertine restoration

When deciding whether to replace or refinish your stone flooring, it is important to consult with a professional stone restoration company like NOVA Stone Care. Our technicians will assess the condition of your floors free of charge. We’ll provide you with a recommendation based on our expertise and experience.

Conclusion

The decision to replace or refinish your stone flooring will depend on the condition of your floors, the type of stone, and your personal preferences. NOVA Stone Care experts can help you make the best decision for your specific situation. 

Looking for a marble floor restoration services in Northern Virginia? NOVA Stone Care has you covered. Visit the company website to learn more. Also, check out our blog section for more helpful articles and tips.

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:

1. Start by removing any debris or ash from the fireplace. Use a brush or vacuum to clean out the firebox and the surrounding area.
2. 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. 
3. 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.
4. 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.

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. 

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.