Stone Surface Services Granite
Granite has become an immensely popular material in homes and businesses, especially for countertops. It is naturally very dense and hard which makes it difficult to scratch. Polished granite also has a very high surface tension, which makes it naturally resistant to moisture penetration and staining.
Granite countertops very rarely require a heavy restoration. In most cases, we only need to clean, polish and seal to refresh the countertop. We typically only have to do this in a window 7-10 years post installation. There are of course exceptions, and when we do have to diamond restore granite, the area impacted is usually isolated to high use areas near stoves and sinks.
When we have true repairs to complete, these are usually limited to repairing broken seams, cracks in front of the sink and minor chipping. There are circumstances that call for major repairs
Granite Counter Top Makeover
The most basic granite service we offer at Stone Restoration Works is the granite countertop make-over. The key to this process is understanding that most granite surfaces DO NOT need a heavy duty restoration or replacement.
Granite, especially for kitchen counters, has become nearly universal in homes over that last 20 years because it is so durable. Which means, more often than not, all your countertop needs is a simple make-over.
- We thoroughly clean all surfaces using a solvent cleaner
- We then repolish the granite to it’s original beauty
- The final step is to seal the stone with a color enhancing stone sealer
This make-over includes the repair of minor chips in the granite and the replacement of caulking along the backsplash.
These simple steps go a long way to making granite countertops look as close to brand new as possible.
We always prefer to evaluate countertops in person because IF there are issues that are beyond the make-over procedure, we can identify those issues on site and discuss solutions with you. On site evaluations allow us to fully evaluate all surfaces and address concerns upfront.
These simple steps go a long way to making granite countertops look as close to brand new as possible.
We always prefer to evaluate countertops in person because IF there are issues that are beyond the tune-up procedure, we can identify those issues on site and discuss solutions with you. On site evaluations allow us to fully evaluate all surfaces and address concerns upfront.
A very common question is:
"How often should I 'reseal' my granite"
The best answer to this question is that – it’s up to you. You should call us when you’re not happy with the surface for any reason. Sealing on its own doesn’t necessarily provide you as the homeowner any benefit. Sealer alone cannot prevent chips, scratching and dullness from developing and can’t solve those issues if they occur. That’s why we address each of those issues in our make-over and seal it at the end.
For some customers reservice is yearly. But for A LOT of other customers, especially those with granite counters, reservice is done in a 5year window and there are some customers who may never have us back to reservice their granite counters. That timeline is up to you.
The final part of our service is to leave you with some guidance for ongoing maintenance.
We look forward to hearing from you and meeting in person to discuss what needs to be done to get your granite counters back to their original beauty.
Granite Seam Repair
Generally seams hold up very well. From time to time the seam fails and one side falls leaving the seam uneven and loose. Most often this failure happens when seams are placed in the middle of the sink. To complete these repairs we stabilize the granite by adding additional supports between the top of the cabinet and the bottom of the granite. Once this is done we use high grade stone adhesives that we color match with the countertop as best we can to reset the seam. Most of the time resupporting the granite brings the seam even. In situations when it does not we diamond grind the countertop on the high side of the seam, once the seam has been reset, to make it completely smooth and even. Once it is even we repolish the affected area to make it look like we did no work at all.
Granite Chip Repair
There are certain granites that are more susceptible to natural pitting and certain areas that are more susceptible to developing chips. The most common place we repair chips in granite is around sink rims. This area is often dinged and nicked by pots and pans. Often times these chips, whether in the countertop edge or top, can be repaired so that they are hardly noticeable. We always use a translucent stone adhesive that allows the granites true color to show through giving the repair the appearance of a crystal in the stone rather than a rough blotchy look.
Granite Crack Repair
The most common crack repair that we undertake is damage as a resulted of a rusted support rod. The narrow piece of granite in front of the sink is the weakest part of the countertop. This piece is about 4” wide. Some fabricators will install a steel rod on the bottom of the granite prior to installation. As time goes on the caulking around the sink begins to fail and allows moisture to come in contact with the steel rod and begins rusting it. The rod gradually begins expanding and contracting and causes a crack to form parallel to the sink rim.
Cleaning, Polishing and Sealing Granite
Granite has exploded in popularity on the last several years because it is a great surface for kitchen countertops. It holds up extremely well over time. We typically get calls in a 7-10 year window to clean, repolish and reseal countertops. Our process removes any buildup and grime that has accumulated over the years and utilizes a high grade polishing compound to bring the bright finish back to your countertop. We then reseal with a color enhancing sealer that draws the color out and makes the countertop look brand new.