Stone

One of the most common problems affecting granite countertops and other natural stone surfaces is cloudy spots. They can come from using the wrong cleaning products, exposure to acidic foods, and more. When you are looking to restore the shine of your natural stone surfaces the team at Modern Stone Care is here for you. We specialize in cleaning and restoring a wide range of stone surfaces. This includes countertops, floors, showers, outdoor stone structures, and more. If you need help bringing your natural stone back to life, contact us today.   Why Is My Natural Stone Cloudy? Improper Sealer Application Stone sealer is absorbed into the porous surface of the stone and does not affect the appearance of the finish at all. A haze or cloudiness can be caused by a stone sealer for a number of reasons. It may be because the wrong sealer is used. Sometimes a highly polished top doesn’t need to be sealed at all, therefore the sealer doesn’t absorb into the stone. Even if the stone does need to be sealed and the appropriate sealer is used, a haze or cloudiness can still develop if the sealer is improperly applied. A professional stone restoration contractor will need to resolve this situation.   Hard Water Deposits Hard water deposits can cause a haze or cloudiness on the surface of natural stone. Sometimes, if the buildup is not too severe, it can be safely removed using pH-neutral, stone-safe cleaner. If not, a professional restoration contractor can restore the finish.   Abrasive Cleaning Supplies The wrong cleaning supplies can damage your stone. It is important to always use gentle cleaners with no strong chemicals or harsh acidic properties when cleaning your surfaces.   What Cleaning Product Is Safe For Natural Stone? We make our own in-house safe cleaning product for your stone surfaces. Modern Stone Care Stone & Tile Floor Cleaner is a neutral (ph 7) marble safe floor cleaner which is to be used for regular maintenance on any hard surface not harmed by water. It was originally made to protect calcite based stones, such as marble, limestone, & travertine, which are alkaline in nature due to the mineral content, from chemical etching. It’s no rinse, streak free properties make this cleaner ideal for any hard surface, as it does not leave a dulling film or residue. Special organic slats in its formula act as “moisturizers” […]

Natural stone is a long lasting material whenever it is cared for properly. However, whenever the stone is neglected or the wrong cleaning products are used on it, these materials can quickly become damaged. This is why it is important to understand which cleaning products are safe as stone cleaner and which should be avoided! Let’s start at the beginning though and examine the applications of natural stone in our homes.   What Is Natural Stone Used For In Homes? Natural stone has becoming an increasingly more popular option for flooring, countertops, the interior of showers and more. This material has the ability to last over 100 years whenever it is properly cared for making it an easy choice for many homeowners. From elegant marble floors to gorgeous slate showers, natural stone has the ability to elevate any space.   Why Are Acidic Cleaners Bad For Natural Stone? One important factor to remember when it comes to caring for your natural stone surfaces is to avoid using acidic cleaners to keep them healthy and vibrant. Additionally, using microfiber rags and mops will help to reduce the chances of etching. According to Norstone.com: Natural stone products should not be cleaned with any form of acidic solution. In the tile world, diluted acid is commonly used in the initial clean up after an installation as it’s an effective cleaner for porcelain and ceramic tiles, quickly removing thinset as well as any other grime that a tile might catch during installation. However, many natural stone products are much more sensitive to acid and using acid to clean some natural stone products can result in a variety of different issues. Let’s take a look at two of the most common negative results of cleaning natural stone with acid, oxidation and surface etching.   Safe Natural Stone Daily Cleaner When you are looking for a stone cleaner that will not damage your stone and leave you with a beautiful and clean natural stone surface the team at Modern Stone Care in Houston can help! We provide an in-house formula that is safe for all of your natural stone surfaces! This product is called Modern Stone Care Stone & Tile Floor Cleaner and it is a neutral (ph 7) marble safe floor cleaner which is to be used for regular maintenance on any hard surface not harmed by water. It was originally made to protect calcite

Sealing your granite and natural stone surfaces plays a vital role in protecting your natural stone surfaces and preserving them for as long as possible. But, how do you know if the sealant on your natural stone is still effectively protecting it from moisture and other potentially harmful materials. Luckily, there is a simple test you can do in order to check the effectiveness of your natural stone sealant.   According to the Medium:   The Granite Seal Water Test Granite is a naturally porous and absorbent stone. It is sealed once after being cut and finished and once again after fabrication by the installer. The purpose of sealing granite is to lower its absorbent properties so it is not stained or damaged by water, oil, grease, and other substances. To test the seal of your stone counters, all you need to do is pour some water on the surface in various spots. Small puddles of about 3 inches in diameter will do. If the water starts being absorbed in less than 30 minutes, the stone surface will turn dark and you will need to clean, then reseal the stone. Make sure the water spot has evaporated before sealing.   Interpreting Water Test Results If the water is still puddled after 30 minutes, or if it evaporates without staining, the seal is in good condition and you do not need to seal your stone. However, it’s still fine to go ahead and seal the stone if you wish, as it’s not possible to over-seal stone. When a stain appears in less than 30 minutes, you need to apply a new seal.   Testing Other Stones If your counters are made of limestone, marble, or another type of stone, you can perform this same test to check the quality of the seal. Make sure to use only water. Under no circumstances should you use common household cleaners to test or wipe down natural stone since they could strip the seal, dull the professional finish, and lead to stains and etches.   Cleaning and Sealing Just because your natural stone counters are properly sealed at first does not mean they will not eventually absorb liquids and develop stains. Frequent cleaning with products specifically made for natural stone is essential, and you should also wipe up liquid spills as soon as you can. When you regularly use a stone-safe sealant or your counters,

Annual Natural Stone Cleaning in Houston  Our team of trained and experienced Houston natural stone professionals specialize in cleaning and servicing Granite, Marble, Travertine, Limestone, and Slate surfaces. In addition to our top quality stone services, our team offers the most efficient tile and grout cleaning and restoration services. If you have natural stone in your residential or commercial space it is important that you are aware of the demands and vulnerabilities of these materials in order to avoid damaging them, and to keep them in lasting condition so they look great for as long as possible. Competing floor cleaning and maintenance companies may claim they are able to provide these services to your natural stone surfaces but this is not always the case. In fact, these services can actually leave your stone damaged when mishandled. Always work with the best when it comes to your natural stone floors and surfaces.   Annual Natural Stone Polishing in Houston When it comes to keeping your natural stone surfaces beautiful and reflective, with a gorgeous gorgeous polished surface, such as the one in the picture above, you will want to have your natural stone regularly polished. At Modern Stone Care in Houston, we believe your stone should look great year round! If it has lost its glimmer and pizzaz, schedule an appointment with our team today. We can get your dull and cloudy stone surfaces looking great in no time.   Annual Natural Stone Sealing in Houston Many natural stone experts recommend sealing natural stone surfaces on an annual basis unless they are experiencing above-average wear. For instance, if you cook every day in your kitchen and clean the countertops daily, or you have a household with dogs, you may need to reseal the natural stone seasonally or biannually to protect it from future damage. If your natural stone countertops or other surfaces are in need of some TLC contact the professional stone experts of Houston at Modern Stone Care. Our team can help you to determine how often you need to seal your granite surfaces and keep them looking great for decades to come.   Annual Natural Stone Restoration in Houston Polished natural stone flooring and other surfaces will scratch fairly easily compared to other flooring materials. If you are a home or business owner with damaged natural stone surfaces in your space, the professionals at Modern Stone Care can help

When it comes to cleaning natural stone surfaces you will want to be careful about the products you use on the stone. Many home cleaning products, especially bleach, are way too strong or acidic to be on natural stone. These products can strip your natural stone down, leaving it damaged and weak. Whenever your natural stone becomes damaged, the damage cannot always be repaired. Bleach is a very strong cleaning product that requires extreme caution when even used in the same vicinity as natural stone surfaces. If any bleach ever makes contact with your natural stone surface, quickly dilute it with water as fast as possible, and then completely dry your stone.   Bleach is strong enough to penetrate a natural stone’s clear sealant. Without this protective sealant your natural stone will be left vulnerable to dirt, grime, grease, acidic liquids, and more. At Modern Stone Care we provide affordable and reliable stone sealing solutions to protect your precious stone countertops, floors, and other surfaces. If you have reason to believe the sealant on your natural stone surface has become weakened or is no longer effective protection against outside influences for your stone, contact the team at Modern Stone Care in Houston.   How Do I Clean My Natural Stone Surfaces? It is important to keep your natural stone surfaces clean to keep them in the best shape for as long as possible. When your natural stone has build-up left on it, this will eat away at the protective layer on the stone. When you work with a floor cleaning company that does not specialize in natural stone surfaces, you run the risk of having your stone damaged. The team at Modern Stone Care in Houston has expert knowledge and experience with natural stone cleaning and other protective services.   Our team has created our own formula of floor cleaner in order to protect your surfaces between professional cleaning services. We understand that it can be difficult to find cleaning products and read the label to determine if they are safe for your stone or not. Listed below is the in-house stone cleaning product we have designed to help your keep your stone looking great for as long as possible.   Stone & Tile Floor Cleaner: Modern Stone Care Stone & Tile Floor Cleaner is a neutral (ph 7) marble safe floor cleaner which is to be used for regular

What happens when you have invested thousands of dollars in natural stone surfaces in your home only to decide you want a fresh look? Luckily, for homeowners who are interested in changing the appearance of their natural stone surfaces there are some options available. You can refinish your natural stone surfaces for a different look. At Modern Stone Care our team provides affordable natural stone refinishing services in Houston. We work with home and business owners to make their natural stone stay healthy for as long as possible, while also providing flexibility to the appearance of the stone surfaces.   Polished Natural Stone: Polished natural stone surfaces have a sleek and shiny appearance, this is a traditional look that also helps to provide an almost waxy barrier between the stone and any influencing factors such as dirt, grime, liquids, foods, moisture, humidity, and other substances or materials that may be tracked into your home. Polished natural stone is elegant and is typically the finish people anticipate when they think of natural stone. If you have natural stone surfaces you wish to polish to change up the look, the team at Modern Stone Care can help you. We provide affordable natural stone polishing services in Houston.   Honed Natural Stone: Honed natural stone surfaces have a matte finish that leaves a surface looking cool to the touch and modern. This has become an increasingly more popular option in the last few years, especially for kitchen countertops. While honed surfaces look beautiful and can still be treated to protect your natural stone, they do leave the materials more vulnerable to outside influences than polished stone will. This is because the surface of honed natural stone is more porous, leaving more access into the integrity of the stone whenever there is a spill, or acidic substance, on the surface. At Modern Stone Care we offer the best natural stone honing services in Houston.   How often do I need to polish my natural stone surfaces?   The frequency in which you need to polish your natural stone surfaces depends on the amount of wear and tear your natural stone surfaces encounter. The more you use your countertops, or the more traffic your natural stone floors get, the more frequently you will need to polish your natural stone surfaces. In some cases, you may need to polish your natural stone on an annual basis,

What is Natural Stone? “Natural Stone” refers to a number of products quarried from the earth, used over many thousands of years as building materials and decorative enhancements. These products include Granite, Marble, Limestone, Travertine, Slate, Quartzite, Sandstone, Adoquin, Onyx, and others. They are more than just rocks – natural stone is hand-selected from the best, most consistent sources for durability and beauty.   Natural stone products differ in composition, color, and texture even among pieces from the same source. This is usually considered a benefit, lending itself to one-of-a-kind designs and distinctive, dramatic applications.   What are the different kinds of natural stone? Natural Stone products include Granite, Marble, Limestone, Travertine, Slate, Quartzite, Sandstone, and Onyx.   Granite: For maintenance-free elegance and durability, granite is unmatched. Its incredible strength and density makes granite the perfect choice for massive structural work – walls, monuments, and supports. Though it is the hardest of structural stones, the amazing variety of mineral-rich colors and natural patterns gives it ornamental value as well. Granite products are ideal for flooring, countertops, vanities, and decorative exterior applications.   Marble: Prized for its timeless style, texture, and high-gloss polish along with a rich palette of beautiful colors, marble has a place anywhere in the home. Available in solids or dramatic veined varieties, marble may be carved or sculpted in many ways, making it one of the most versatile decorative stones. Often seen as a symbol of luxury, modern technology brings beautiful marble products even to budget-conscious homeowners.   Slate: Formed over thousands of years of sedimentary deposit and compression, slate splits naturally into beautifully textured layers. The various shades of slate products – brown, yellow, dark gray, pink, lavender and more – may even occur within the same piece of stone. Durable and stain-resistant, slate products are often used for flooring, cladding and landscaping.   Limestone: The muted, soft tones of limestone are perfect for today’s casual and comfortable lifestyles. Available in hues of soft beige and tan, either polished or honed, limestone products are ideal for bathrooms, fireplaces, countertops, and flooring in low-traffic, informal areas.   Travertine: Valued for its banded, pitted “distressed” appearance, travertine adds rich, distinctive character to a variety of indoor and outdoor building projects. Its patterns and veining effects were formed by hot spring water percolating through underground limestone. When used for interior applications, travertine is often filled with cement, grout, or

Natural stone is one of the most frequently used materials for countertops, flooring, walls, patios, driveways, and many other surfaces. Granite, marble, slate, limestone, onyx, and other natural stones come in a wide variety of colors and styles making it easy to fit into any home or project. At Modern Stone Care in Houston, our team of natural stone experts specialize in servicing natural stone surfaces. We are dedicated to preserving natural stone materials in order to keep them looking great and in good condition for as long as possible.     What is Natural Stone? Natural stone refers to many different products quarried from the earth. These materials have been used for several thousands of years, for building structures and adding decorative accents. These materials include Granite, Marble, Limestone, Travertine, Slate, and more. Natural stone materials should not just be chalked up to ricks, these materials are hand-selected for their durability and wide range of beautiful varieties.   Natural stone products are not all the same in composition, color, or texture, even whenever they have been sourced from the same area or slab. Due to the uniqueness of these natural stone materials, natural stone surfaces are unique and one-of-a-kind.      How Long Do Natural Stone Floors Last? Natural stone materials are so popular due to their ability to stand the test of time. When natural stone floors are properly cared for they have the potential to last a lifetime. However, if you fail to take care of your natural stone materials you will have damaged surfaces that do not last as long as they should. At Modern Stone Care our maintenance and cleaning services will help you to extend the longevity of your natural stone surfaces.      Why Choose Modern Stone Care For Your Stone Maintenance? The dedicated natural stone experts at Modern Stone Care are the experts in natural stone repair, polishing, sealing, and refinishing in the communities of Houston. No other company in the Greater Houston area understands natural stone care and maintenance to the level that the professionals at Modern Stone Care do. Our team is made up of natural stone technicians who have years of experience when it comes to the proper care and treatment of granite, marble, and other natural stone materials. These materials, while resilient have many vulnerabilities and must always be handled by professionals who have dedicated the time required

Natural stone is a popular choice for flooring and countertops in homes and businesses. These materials can last a lifetime whenever they are properly cared for. Our team specializes in natural stone cleaning, polishing, honing, sealing, and restorative services to keep your surfaces looking great for as long as possible.     Why is natural stone a popular choice for flooring? According to Use Natural Stone’s website: Since natural stone floors tend to be in high traffic areas, it’s important to educate yourself on which types of stones are best for these types of installations.   Natural stone can be textured, which is better for high traffic areas because it helps with slip resistance, according to Van Etten. She agrees with Carnevale that granite is a good choice for high traffic areas due to its durability, but also says that certain varieties of marble can be a viable option.   What are the different types of natural stone? Granite: Granite is a hard, igneous rock that is found in various forms throughout the earth.  Its durability and variety of colors make it the perfect material for many applications including kitchens, bathrooms, fireplaces, floors and walls. We have over 100 colors to choose from.   Marble: Marble is a crystallized stone formed from intense heat and pressure.  Its sweeping lines, beautiful colors and high polish convey a look of elegance and prosperity like no other material.  Available in many colors from around the world, Stone Surfaces specializes in fine Greek marbles.   Limestone: Limestone is a sedimentary stone composed primarily of calcium deposits.  It has been used indoors and outdoors throughout the history of mankind to create some of the world’s most famous architecture.   Slate: Slate is a dense, metamorphic rock produced by the compression of various sediments such as clay and shale.  Suitable for indoor or outdoor use, it is available in a smooth or cleft finish.   Soapstone: Soapstone is a dark grey or green variety of talc.  Softer to the touch than other stones, it gives the feeling of rubbing a piece of dry soap.  A popular choice when trying to achieve an old-fashioned or rustic look.   Onyx: Onyx is a fine-grained form of quartz with bands of different colors.  It is translucent, creating a spectacular effect when backlit.  Available in a variety of colors.    Quartzite: This is an amazing material. It is naturally strong, resists

Natural stone such as marble, limestone, travertine, granite, and slate can help to add a touch of timeless sophistication to the entryway of your home, hallway, kitchen counters, bathroom vanity, and more. However, many homeowners will stay away from natural stone materials because they have heard how delicate they are. From etching, dullness, and cracks, there is a lot to worry about with natural stone. However, when natural stone is treated right it has the ability to last you a lifetime.     SeattleTimes.com says:   You may recall from your high school geology class that natural stone falls into one of three basic geological classifications: metamorphic, sedimentary and igneous. When it comes to cleaning, you also need to be aware of whether your stone countertop or bathroom tile is calcareous or siliceous.   Calcareous stone, composed primarily of the chemical compound calcium carbonate, is particularly sensitive to acid. A pH-balanced, non-acidic gentle soap is recommended for these stones, which include limestone, travertine, onyx, marble, and serpentine.   “Siliceous stone is a better choice for your kitchen as it stands up to acid found in founds as well as acidic cleansers,” says Al Vallellanes, general manager of Seal Team One. Vallellanes has 27 years of experience in stone fabrication and restoration. Siliceous stones include granite, slate, quartzite, soapstone, and sandstone.   Seven do’s and don’t for cleaning natural stone surfaces   Tips for quick-and-easy everyday cleaning of all-natural stone include:   Start with a damp, soft cloth or sponge and a dab of pH-neutral soap (most dishwasher soap is fine).   Using an abrasive cleanser or even the rough side of a sponge may strip away the sealant as well as damage the stone over time.   For crusted-on food or soap scum, use a brush with soft bristles and clean in circular motions to avoid scratching the surface.   Always dry surfaces with a soft towel or blow-dryer immediately after cleaning to avoid spotting.   Avoid cleaning products that aren’t specifically formulated for natural stone. Make sure if you’re using a glass cleaner to wipe smudges on a mirror over a marble vanity top that none gets on the stone.   Shake out doormats and rugs on a regular basis to minimize tracking outside dirt that may potentially scratch stone floors. Damp mop stone floors to wipe away abrasive particles, and be sure not to drag items – including vacuum