Blog

There are many different types of gorgeous stones that are popular choices for countertops. Some of these natural stones include marble, granite, slate, travertine, and limestone. For a while these stones, when selected for flooring or counters were polished and sealed, giving a beautiful and sleek appearance that reflected light and made your space look sparkly and refined. There is a new growingly popular option in the world of design. This is a, “honed finish,” on your countertops. A honed finish takes your gorgeous natural stone and instead of leaving it with a shiny finish, makes it matte. This adds a lot of dramatic interest to a room because while it still beautifully displays the natural stone, it also is a less common finish on natural stone.   Natural honed counters are starting to make their way into more homes across the world. While this is a more popular look for natural stone countertops, you can also have your natural stone flooring honed to create this gorgeous matte finish. Many people wonder if it is as sustainable as a typical polish, the answer is yes! It is just as easy to sustain and preserve.   If my natural stone has been polished can it be honed? The answer is yes! If you have shiny, sparkly natural stone countertops and you decide you want to switch them to a modern, fresh, matte finish, we can hone them! The process can be a bit tedious but the professionals at Modern Stone Care are here to deliver you with the natural stone finish you love! Do not spend any more time thinking about if it is the right decision for you! Contact us today and ask us any questions you may have in relation to having your natural stone honed for that matte finish you have been eyeing! We have years of experience working with natural stone, no job is too big or small, for the natural stone craftsmen at Modern Stone Care!   Whenever you need to have your natural stone counters serviced, contact the Greater Houston area experts! Modern Stone Care proudly serves The Greater Houston Area, including but not limited to, Atascocita, Bellaire, Clear Lake, Cypress, Friendswood, Houston Heights, Houston, Humble, Katy, Kemah, League City, Kingwood, Memorial, Missouri City, Montgomery County, Spring, Spring Branch, Stafford, Sugar Land, Tomball and The Woodlands.     Modern Stone Care   970 Bunker Hill Rd   […]

Travertine is a unique and gorgeous natural stone. Travertine is stone that is in the process of turning to marble. This stone contains voids and holes that are from air pockets that have been trapped within the stone in its natural environment. Often times, when using travertine in a home, these holes are filled to avoid problems such as, staining and water damage.   This porous stone comes with vulnerabilities that must be accounted for in order to maintain the gorgeous appearance, and preserve the stone for years to come. Like many natural stones, travertine is notably sensitive to acids and alkalis. These types of materials are found in all kinds of household items and cleaners. You will want to be careful using any household cleaning supplies that have not specifically been made for natural stone flooring.   You can find harmful properties in simple things such as wine, tomato sauce, soft drinks, even moisture and mud tracked in on your shoes. This is why one of the most effective ways to protect your travertine floors is by providing a strong, protective sealant. This will give your travertine a glossier finish.  A strong sealant will guard the stone against harsh chemicals, spills, scratches and other harmful influences. If a spill is to occur, immediate attention must be given to avoid a long term issue because the stone rapidly absorbs liquid as it is porous.     You will want to be careful to only use mild cleaners made for natural stone on your travertine floors. To truly protect and maintain your travertine floors you will need to schedule regular professional maintenance. Even if you keep your floors spotless, you will not be able to get your travertine as clean or protected as professionals with the proper equipment.   Whenever you need to have your marble floors and surfaces serviced, contact the Greater Houston area experts! Modern Stone Care proudly serves The Greater Houston Area, including but not limited to, Atascocita, Bellaire, Clear Lake, Cypress, Friendswood, Houston Heights, Houston, Humble, Katy, Kemah, League City, Kingwood, Memorial, Missouri City, Montgomery County, Spring, Spring Branch, Stafford, Sugar Land, Tomball and The Woodlands.        Modern Stone Care   970 Bunker Hill Rd   Houston, TX 77024   (832) 814–2041   https://restoreyourfloors.net  

In order to keep your slate floors in excellent condition, they will need to be swept daily. This is especially true in the first few months after your slate floors are installed. This is because of a process that is known as, “spalling.” Spalling is a normal process that happens to slate surfaces where pieces of the material may flake off the surface layer. This will eventually stop on its own, it is just a matter of time, allowing the slate to settle into its new home.   Whenever you mop your slate floors you will want to use a gentle cleanser. You will want to use a cleaning product that was designed specifically for natural stone, such as the one we sell for stone flooring and counters. Our solution is non-acidic and does not contain lemon or vinegar. This will help preserve your slate. Once you have cleaned it, you will want to rinse the surface with clean water and use a soft cloth to mop up the remaining moisture.   Like most other natural stone materials, slate flooring will need to be sealed in order to protect it against water and prevent staining and scratching. The stone sealer should be applied on a yearly basis because it will wear down. If you have slate flooring in an area with heavy traffic, such as the front room of an office building, you may need to seal your slate floors more often than once a year to protect them.   To see if your slate tile needs sealing, pour a bit of water on its surface. If the water leaves a darkened spot for longer than 10 minutes, it needs sealer. Some types of slate may need sealer application more often than others.   An unfortunate sensitivity that comes along with slate flooring is that it does scratch more easily than other flooring options. If a scratch does occur, we can inspect your slate and see if it is possible to restore your surface. Here are some general rules for slate flooring: Use rugs or mats to protect floor from heavy foot traffic Apply sealer once a year Clean spills immediately Mop with a pH neutral cleaning product, or one made specifically for natural stone Carry furniture when moving across the room, instead of sliding   Houston Natural Stone Services Modern Stone Care proudly serves The Greater Houston Area, including

Natural stone such as marble, travertine, limestone, granite and even slate materials are arguably the most gorgeous surface materials for flooring and counters. While these natural stones are gorgeous, they are also delicate and come with their own set of vulnerabilities and sensitivities. Though delicate, they are not as hard to maintain as some may think they are. In fact, the main thing you can do to keeping your natural stone surfaces looking great is by keeping these surfaces clean and dry. Ensuring your natural stone floors have a strong, quality seal such as the one we use at Modern Stone Care, will help avoid stains and etching into the stone’s surface. Below are some important natural stone cleaning and maintenance tips to keep your floors and counters looking great for decades:   Never let your natural stone go unsealed: Natural stone is porous and fragile. This makes them susceptible to staining and etching which will affect the health and appearance of your surfaces. Starting with a strong seal on all stone surfaces is a great way to avoid issues and enhance the natural beauty of your stone.   Address Stains Immediately: Even with a strong sealed surface, it is important to never let any intrusive liquids or particles sit on your stone. It is important to clean anything that spills or gets onto your stone as soon as possible to avoid long-term damage. Acidic substances are especially bad for your marble and should be addressed immediately, this includes red wine, most cleaning products, tomato sauces, and more.   Use Specialized Stone Cleaners Only: At Modern Stone Care we offer our own in-house formulas for natural stone cleaning at home. We have done this because many surface cleaners you find in the store contain ingredients that cause problems for natural stone surfaces. They are too acidic and can damage the appearance and strength of your floors and counters.   Wipe Away All Moisture: A huge oversight made by natural stone surface owners, is leaving surfaces moist after they are cleaned. This can cause expensive problems and even permanent damage to your natural stone.   After you clean your floors, it is crucial to follow the cleaning up with a dry. You can use a simple cloth to achieve this goal. Microfiber towels work best!   High Humidity: Natural stone in high humidity environments, such as in bathrooms, is especially difficult

Over the last couple of decades, slate flooring has become an increasingly more popular choice in the U.S. When slate first started to be used in homes and businesses for flooring, the varieties of slate that were very limited. In the beginning, there was essentially just gray and pale to choose from. Nowadays, there are hundreds of slate colors. This has been a huge factor in the increased popularity of this material for flooring. Unfortunately, too often home and business owners who have decided to go with slate flooring find that the upkeep involved differs from their usual floor choices. Slate Cleaning The good news with slate flooring is, unlike wood and other natural stone materials, the actual care and maintenance is not too complicated. In fact, the main source of problems for slate flooring is just caused by neglect. This is much easier to work with than say flooring with lots of vulnerabilities and sensitivities. Dust-mopping: By far one of the most important treatments you can do on your own to maintain your slate flooring is dust-mopping. Dust, dirt and grit are the main source of issue for the surface of your slate flooring. When left on your flooring, the material can easily become scratched and marred. Slate floors that are dust-mopped often, stay cleaner and maintain their gorgeous shinie for longer periods of time. For the best results, you will want to dust mop your slate floors daily. Whenever the foot traffic is high, or the flooring is located in a commercial building, this will need to be done several times a day. Also it is important to keep in mind that you do not want to use an oil-treated dust mop on your gorgeous slate flooring. When dust mopping technique matters! You will want to run your clean dust mop in one consistent direction only. Avoid moving it back and forth, because this will lead to grinding the sediment and grime into your flooring. When you stay consistent and push in one direction you are able to move the debris in a low impact method. When you have accumulated enough dirt and grime into a pile, pick it up with a dustpan and brush and take the dust mop outside to shake any remaining dust. When storing the dust mop, be sure to keep its head off the ground. Hardware stores sell various hangers, which are excellent

Modern Stone Care is the premier natural stone cleaning, sealing, polishing, and restoration full service company of the Greater Houston area. Our natural stone services include deep cleaning, polishing, honing and sealing of all natural stone hard surfaces used today in modern homes and businesses. This includes indoor and outdoor marble flooring, marble countertops, and marble lined showers. The craftsmen of Modern Stone Care have years of experience and the specialized knowledge that is required to improve the quality and overall appearance of your stone surfaces. We know that each client’s needs are unique to them, this is why at Modern Stone Care it is our goal to take on every project with the same level of dedication and attention to detail as the next. We are equipped to handle all size projects, from big to small. If you are in the Greater Houston area and are looking for the best when it comes to stone services contact us today!   Professional Marble Floor Cleaning A very important part of marble care is having regular deep cleaning. This is because natural stone floors are very porous and will take in grime, dirt, and dust deeply. This has the ability to impact the stone and cause permanent damage to your service. However, if you care for your marble floors properly you will be able to keep them for as long as you want. If you have not had your natural marble floors cleaned by a professional in the last year, it is time to contact Modern Stone Care for a natural stone cleaning.   When is it time to polish your marble surface? Is your natural stone marble surface starting to look dull or dingy? If you answered yes, then you are probably overdue for a marble polishing. At Modern Stone Care we have the tools and knowledge to polish all stone surfaces, including but not limited to marble, granite, travertine, and slate. Do not let your beautiful stone bring down the appearance of your home, let it shine, sparkle and dazzle your guests! Afterall, when properly taken care of marble can last forever!   Restoring Marble Floors in Houston Does your natural stone marble service have stains, discolorations or a layer of film that dulls it’s appearance? Has it suffered water damage? At Modern Stone Care in Sugar Land, we have the tools to gently restore the vibrancy of your

Natural stone flooring is gorgeous, especially when it is well maintained and polished. Whenever it comes to granite, this is a stone that has a stronger need for a polished finish in order to bring out its natural beauty. Granite is a very versatile stone that works great in bathrooms, as counters, flooring, and more! Polishing granite floors can be quite an overwhelming task and is better left to the professionals at Modern Stone Care. If your granite flooring has not been polished in the last six months to a year, you are probably overdue for a polish!   Below are some of the most common mistakes to avoid when polishing your granite flooring:   Overpolishing Floors Can Make Them Too Slippery: Whenever you use an excess of floor polish on granite floors that have high foot traffic, such as in spaces such as the kitchen and bathrooms where there may be a higher risk of slipping and falling. Granite flooring should be carefully sealed and polished to ensure it is safe to work on.   Avoid Polishing Over Weak Seals: Granite can only be polished over a strong and solid seal. If you are not sure about the last time your granite slabs or tiles were sealed, you should perform a water penetration test, which can be accomplished by pouring small amounts of water about 3 inches in diameter on various surface spots. If the water seeps through and leaves dark spots or rings within 30 minutes, the water is penetrating the granite, so it should be sealed with a stone-safe granite sealer before polishing.   Polishing Before Sealing Is Problematic: Sealing after polishing is a common mistake made by homeowners who clean, seal, and polish with spray-and-wipe solutions specially formulated for granite surfaces. The correct order is as follows: Clean, Seal, and Polish. Leaving this up to the professionals at Modern Stone Care ensures your flooring will be preserved and look beautiful.   Avoid Using Common Household Cleaners: The granite polishing process should always begin with a good deep cleaning of the surface, but homeowners should never use common household cleaners for this purpose. Most household cleaners will break down the seal and impregnate the granite through its porous surface. Vinegar is another problematic substance that should never come into contact with granite. The only cleaning substances that should be applied to granite and other natural-stone surfaces. At