In a word, yes. We see it all the time. Someone buys an older home or a classic office building that comes with old, often rough looking marble tile, floors, counters or fireplace surrounds and a decision presents itself. Rip it out and replace, or restore it.
At Boston Stone Restoration, we are not the interior design police, and sometimes old natural stone and marble should be removed – whether it’s for personal aesthetics or for practical reasons. But if you love it (like we do), call a professional stone restoration expert who can help you determine how to bring your surface back.
Today, marble and natural stone’s value is found in its elegance, strength, originality, durability, and increased resale value. And fortunately, restoring natural stone is often more affordable, faster (most jobs are less than 2 days work) and more rewarding that replacing an older stone surface. In addition there are a variety of stone finishes to choose from, from high gloss to matte. Stone techs can also coat surfaces for ease-of-use and maintenance in everything from food prep surfaces to bathroom flooring.
For centuries, museums have restored marble statuary and ancient marble mosaic floors have been brought back to brilliance. The art of stone restoration, especially older installations should be done under the supervision of experts with 10 or more years of experience and proper training from a school like those established by Maurizio Bertoli, the “Godfather of Stone” owned and managed today by Stu Rosen in North Carolina.
Because stone and marble types vary due to different minerals that are present in the stone, it takes an expert with a deep understanding of installation methods and style of stone to be able to properly restore antique stone surfaces. For example, calcite marble is white, red marble gets its color from hematite, and limonite makes marble green or yellowish – and if they are all together in a mosaic or tile floor, the stone expert needs to handle them uniquely and with care. When done correctly, almost any stone floor can be cleaned and restored.
Boston Stone Restoration has been New England’s leading marble, granite and natural stone restoration company since 2003. Freshly honed and polished stone has a way of making a place feel new and welcoming again. Give us a call or email today to find out more. We specialize in polishing, repair, sealing, cleaning and renovation of marble, slate, terrazzo and other natural stone floors, countertops, tile and solid surfaces.