Stone Refinishing vs Restoration: What’s the Difference?

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Your granite, marble, or other stone countertops may eventually look a bit drab. Keeping them clean is no longer enough to retain their glory. It’s time to take the next step. You have a few choices besides complete replacement, but let’s concentrate on two: refinishing or restoration. They may sound similar, but there’s more to them than that. What’s the difference between stone refinishing and restoration, and when should you do one instead of the other?

Stone Refinishing

The great thing about stone is no matter how worn the exterior looks, more beauty is hiding underneath. The stone finishing process releases all that beauty under the surface. First, cleaners remove dirt, debris, and other matter with a scrub brush and warm water mixed with a gentle cleanser. After cleaning, they’ll use an electric sander with fine-grade sandpaper to remove stains, followed by a buffer to gently work in a stone polish. After cleaning the stone once more, they apply a stain with another bristle brush and allow it to set for a day or more.

Stone Restoration

Restoration is a bit more involved and can be considered a next step when cleaning or adding polish is not enough. Restoration involves locating chips, breaks, cracks, and holes and taking steps to correct them. Resin, epoxy, and polyester are all common patching elements stone restoration professionals use to fill in holes and correct imperfections. They also use sanding, polishing, and buffing techniques to improve the appearance of stone and bring out that below-the-surface loveliness.

Refinish or Restore?

What’s the difference between stone refinishing and restoration? Maintenance and slightly more intensive repairs. For natural stone restoration, the permanence of the material means long-lasting beauty that you can take care of with the most basic of cleaning. Still, there will come a time when you need to decide between refinishing or restoration. Refinishing will come first when you notice your stone has lost its sheen. Restoration is necessary when it shows damage. Replacement, of course, is the last step when the stone becomes so severely cracked or otherwise ruined, but that shouldn’t be for a very long time.

Have questions about refinishing or restoring your stone countertops, flooring, tabletops, or the like? Contact us for a consultation about your options. We offer a selection of services like staining, chip repair, polishing, and restoration and can offer quotes and advice on your best course of action.