Stone Flooring walls and counter tops... the finish
of luxury... gem-like when restored, easy to maintain
Stone flooring, walls and countertops…a choice to
lend an impression
of solidity, endurance and grandeur…made of granite,
marble, limestone
or terrazzo, will age and, therefore, require ongoing maintenance.
The major factor in causing stone to become lifeless and
worn is the
scratching that occurs from everyday usage. To return the
stone to
its original condition, a procedure called honing, performed
with
graduating grit diamond pads, removes the scratches and
returns the
stone to a smooth patina.
A very popular finish, especially for limestone, is a matte
patina. This finish
is achieved by honing, only, absent polishing. Stone, which
is honed
to a matte finish is extremely vulnerable to staining and
should always
be impregnated with a sealant. The sealant will not change
the look of the
stone, but will help to retard the absorbency of the unpolished
product.
Polishing, with the use of a gradation of fine diamond grits,
performs two
purposes: the enhancement of a satin sheen or high, mirror
gloss is
achieved, and simultaneously, a tightening of the “skin”
of the stone
which protects it from soils that might otherwise be absorbed.
Flamed
granite, the rougher, unpolished finish, need only be scrubbed
with
proper equipment to keep it clean and attractive. If the
first impression
is the most important, maintaining the beauty of these stone
finishes is,
undeniably, the way to make the most of that impression.
