Stone Maintenance/Restoration

You can use diamond abrasives to the restoration of your stone surfaces. The use of diamonds in the grinding and honing phase of restoration will give you better clarity and more reflectivity after polishing. We also provide cleaning, sealing, crack/chip repair and stain removal for marble, granite, travertine, terrazzo and all other natural stone surfaces.
Following are the restoration / maintenance services and what they entail:

Grinding: To remove deep scratches and remove lippage (uneven tile edges). Done by machine with diamond abrasive pads and water that creates no dust.

Honing: To remove minor scratches and wear from everyday foot traffic. This process is also done by machine with diamond abrasive pads and water which creates no dust.

Polishing: To give marble or stone the sheen you want, enhance the veining in marble and to protect the marble or stone from everyday traffic and spills. (Utilizing the same compounds that are used in the fabricating process.)

Cleaning: To remove dirt, stains and bacteria and to remove waxes and polymers that have become embedded.

Sealing: To protect and preserve natural stone. (Using penetrating sealers / impregnators.)

Color Enhancing: The use of penetrating sealers / impregnators formulated to enhance or enrich the color of your stone.

Stripping: To remove coatings that block stone's ability to breathe which causes spalling (when the stones crack, pop and shale). Some examples of common coatings are crystallization, janitorial waxes, and polyurethane.

Clover Hill home features new granite sunroom

Just west of Fort Detrick and Frederick Community College, this brick-front colonial in Clover Hill II is convenient to Frederick without city taxes.

From the deep front porch, the entry opens to a foyer with hardwood floors that extend into the powder room and kitchen ahead.

To the left, the formal living room has neutral carpet that also runs into the dining room beyond, which also has chair rail.

The adjacent kitchen has been updated with new granite countertops. It also features white cabinetry and appliances, recessed lights and a pantry, as well as a breakfast nook that has sliding doors to a sunroom with a cathedral ceiling, an overhead fan and carpet. Sliders from here access a side deck that overlooks a fenced backyard with mature trees.

Back inside, the sunken family room has carpet, built-in bookcases flanking the brick-surround, wood-burning fireplace with a raised hearth.

On the carpeted upper level, the master suite has a walk-in closet and a private bath featuring ceramic tile and a combination tub/shower.

Three additional bedrooms, a linen closet and a hall bath with ceramic tile and a combination tub/ shower also are on this level.

The unfinished lower level includes a large storage space and a laundry area with utility sink.

How to Remove a Granite Countertop

Granite, Limestone, Travertine and Natural Stones

The two most important things you do to care for granite, limestone, travertine and other natural stones are:
1).Remove any dust, grit, and sand from the stone's surface.
2).Clean up accidental spills as soon as possible.


Granite, Marble, Limestone, and Travertine Floor Care :

Protect your natural stone floors near entry ways with non slip mats or area rugs. This helps to remove any loose dirt or sand from shoes.

Frequent dust mopping, vacuuming, and sweeping of your natural stone floors will prevent the accumulation of grit and grime. This will also slow the rate of deterioration caused by foot traffic grinding in dirt, sand, or grit.

Wet mop using a mild vegetable soap and water solution OR a stone cleaner made especially for stone. Many qualified stone technicians believe that damp mopping with clear water Every Day to clean soiled areas is all that is necessary to keep your stone floor clean. Most often, the floor will be damp mopped less frequently and a MILD soap and water or Stone Cleanser should be used.

Quick daily cleanings should be accompanied by periodic deep cleanings. How often you deep clean your stone will depend on the usage. Having children and pets will require more frequent deep cleanings.

Daily spot cleaning. This is simply wiping up any accidental spills promptly. If you do get a stain, attend to it as soon as possible with a slightly stronger solution of detergent and then a poultice if the detergent cleaner is unsuccessful.










Care For Granite & Natural Stone Countertops :

Wipe up any spills as soon as possible. If left unattended, the spills can etch the polish and dull the finish of calcite based stones. Beverages such as coke and orange juice contain acidic materials that when in contact with calcium based stones (marble, some limestone, travertine, and onyx) can deteriorate the stone. This doesn't burn a hole through your stone, it just loses its finish in the area of contact.

Use coasters or placemats on your natural stone surfaces. This is especially true for calcareous natural stones.

Rinse and dry your natural stone surface after washing. This is very effective on dark stones to get rid of streaks. Miracle cloths are very effective for drying your darker stone to a streak free finish and leaving NO lint behind.

Similar to other counter surfaces, daily cleanings should be accompanied by periodic deep cleanings.

Daily spot cleaning is simply wiping up any accidental spills promptly. If you do get a stain, attend to it as soon as possible with a slightly stronger solution of detergent and then a poultice if the detergent cleaner is unsuccessful.

The DON'TS of Natural Stone Care

DON"T use vinegar, lemon juice, or any harsh cleaners on your stone.
DON'T use harsh cleaners such as bathroom cleaners, grout cleaners, or tub & tile cleaners.
DON'T use abrasive cleaners such as dry cleansers or soft cleansers.
DON'T mix bleach and ammonia; this combination creates a toxic and lethal gas.
DON'T ever mix chemicals together unless directions specifically instruct you to do so.

The cleaning products you use should only be strong enough to do the required task and no more. Always call your professional stone supplier, installer, or restoration specialist for problems that appear too difficult to treat yourself.

Cleaning Headstones

Over a period headstones and memorials can get dirty, one of the most common causes being hard water, which leaves a lime scale deposit. This is especially visible on polish granite. But by cleaning the headstone or memorials on a regular basis will not only prolong the life of the stone but also ensure the stone is in good condition. A dirty one may look dull or faded, and by following a specific process you can renew the shine.

The first stage before you start cleaning is to determine what the headstone is made of, the most common being granite, limestone, marble or bronze. Each material will require a different cleaning process and cleaning liquid or agent.

Limestone, Sandstone and Marble Headstones

These headstones are made of soft stone; therefore you will need to be gentle when cleaning. Use water with non-ionic soaps or detergents applied with a natural bristled brush. Do not use a wire brush, acid cleaners or household cleaners as this may cause permanent damage.

Granite Headstones

Follow the guidelines as above when cleaning granite headstones. Due to granite's durability, it is all right to use a more aggressive scrubbing. On polished granite calcium build-up from hard water can cause a dull faded appearance. To remove this use a heavy duty non metallic scouring pad, check before using it is suitable for granite.

Bronze Headstones

As most Bronze ones usually consist of a bronze plaque which is mounted to a base usually made of granite or concrete and lay flat at lawn level. Therefore you may need to apply one of the above techniques to clean the stone surround plus also cleaning the bronze.

As bronze is furnished with a factory applied lacquer coating to seal and preserve the original appearance,maintenance is important as over a period of time this finish will eventually deteriorate. Proper care will preserve the finish and prevent the need for restoration.

Granite Countertops and Radiation

Recently the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Department of Public Health (DPH) have received a number of calls with questions regarding the safety of granite countertops. Specifically, whether they emit radiation and radon gas, and how much is safe. In response to the increased level of questions, the Connecticut DEP has performed dose rate surveys on over 400 granite slabs, samples and demo countertops. Most have shown insignificant increases in dose rate over background.
"Background" refers to the amount of radiation that is naturally present in the environment and includes contributions from cosmic and terrestrial sources. The annual exposure for the average citizen of the USA , including background radiation, medical exposures, radon, industrial and commercial sources, is about 360 millirem. The background portion of that varies widely, depending on the type of rock or soil in the area, and the elevation above sea level. Variations of 40-50 millirem a year from area to area are common in Connecticut. The International Commission on Radiation Protection (ICRP)recommends a limit of 100 millirem a year for members of the public from industrial sources.

We found a few types of granite with slightly elevated dose rates above background. If a person leaned against the highest of these for two hours a day for a year, they would have an increase of about one quarter of the variation found above or about 10 to 13 millirem a year.
We have not surveyed for radon levels in homes with granite countertops. Studies by the Health Physics Society and Dr. Chyi at the University of Akron, indicate that a tightly sealed house with a granite countertop with a dose rate twice background would still be less than 1 tenth of the EPA guideline. However, there may be exceptions, which could push radon levels well over the 4 pCi/L guideline from the EPA. (Note: The calculations in this document make some assumptions about the meter being used, room size and countertop area that may not be the same in your case. For example, their meter, a non-energy compensated GM tube, over- responds by a factor of two. If you use an energy compensated GM tube or an Ion Chamber instrument, you would not start out by dividing your countertops net dose-rate by 2.)
Testing Your Home For Radon

The EPA recommends, and we concur, all homes should be tested for radon. Homes that test high should be surveyed to determine the source of radon, and then make decisions as appropriate. Consider using several radon test cartridges. Do not place one in the kitchen near a sink or stove where humidity could reduce its effectiveness. Try a room right next to the kitchen, the basement and a bedroom. Do them all at the same time. Choose a time of year when you can keep all the windows closed.

Choosing a Granite Worktop Company

Choosing a granite company depends a lot on the granite required, what the granite is to be used for plus the location, timescales involved and what other work is being carried out.

Complete new kitchen If you are purchasing granite kitchen worktops to go with new kitchen units you are getting through a large company it is possible that the kitchen supplier has their own granite worktop provider and they probably will not be very happy if you say you are getting the granite elsewhere, because they will want to make their mark up on the granite in addition to the kitchen units. They will possibly make it difficult for you to buy the granite yourself by refusing to return after fitting the units to reconnect services and connect the plumbing for the sink. However if you are making a large enough saving on the granite it may well be worthwhile to get a corgi registered installer to come and do the final connections rather than using the kitchen fitters again.

Replacement worktops only If you are only replacing worktops and plan to keep your existing kitchen units it is worth using a granite company with a very quick turn round time to minimise the time you will be without the full use of the kitchen. Traditional granite installers need 10-12 days to cut & polish the granite, however some cheaper companies send the granite to Europe to get the worktops made and then brought back into the UK, as using foreign labour is cheaper but this means a turn around time of up to 3 weeks. If you find the right company it is possible to get the granite cut, polished and installed in around 2-3 working days.

If you are having building work done where there is will be a carpenter on site, it might be that you can further reduce your costs by getting the carpenter make the templates for granite worktops for kitchens/bathrooms, vanity units, hearths & plinths and bars.

Also ask your builder if they have any experience of installing granite, as of he does and has the right equipment it could be a cheaper option to just use the granite company on a supply only basis. For this the builder/carpenter would need to create the templates with accurate measurements and also collect the granite. However one thing to bear in mind is that the granite is very heavy and also relatively fragile whilst in transit, so if the builder breaks a worktop while loading it or whilst installing it, it will be down to you rather than the granite company for a replacement at additional cost.

Make sure you are able to view the actual final granite, especially if you are trying to match it to the colour scheme of your new kitchen, because the samples you may have been sent can vary a lot from the batch of granite that you finally purchase.