Stone Repair & Restoration

Chemical & Surface Damage

This is the most common reason people call for restoration, especially for “soft” stones like Marble or Limestone.

• Etching: These look like “water spots” or dull rings. They are actually chemical burns caused by acidic substances (lemon juice, wine, vinegar, or harsh cleaners) reacting with the calcium in the stone.
• Staining: When liquid (oil, coffee, wine, or ink) seeps into the pores of the stone, leaving a discoloration below the surface.
• Efflorescence: A white, powdery residue caused by mineral salts traveling through the stone with moisture, common in outdoor stone or damp areas like showers.

Physical & Impact Damage

This usually requires more technical “repair” rather than just “refinishing.”

• Chipping: Small pieces of stone breaking off, usually on the edges of countertops (the “dish-clink” effect) or at the seams.
• Cracking: Hairline or deep structural fractures caused by settling, heavy impact, or improper installation.
• Pitting: Tiny holes that develop on the surface, common in Travertine as the natural voids in the stone become exposed over time.

Wear & Tear

This happens naturally over years of use, especially in high-traffic areas.

• Traffic Patterns (Dulling): Micro-scratches from foot traffic or sliding items across a counter that cause the stone to lose its “factory shine” and look cloudy.
• Scratching: Deep grooves caused by grit, sand, or moving furniture.
• Spalling: This is when the surface of the stone begins to flake or peel off, often due to freeze-thaw cycles or salt damage (common in Granite or Slate).

Installation & Maintenance Issues

• Lippage: When tiles are unevenly installed, creating “lips” where one edge is higher than the other. This is a trip hazard and causes uneven wear.
• Stun Marks: White “bruises” within the stone caused by a heavy impact that didn’t crack the surface but crushed the internal crystal structure (common in Marble).
• Yellowing: Older stone can turn yellow due to “iron oxidation” (rusting inside the stone) or the buildup of old waxes and coatings that weren’t properly stripped.