The Dos and Don’ts of Stone Refinishing To Know

If you have a stone element in your home—whether it’s a marble floor, granite tabletop, or similar piece of natural stone décor—there may come a time when you need to refinish it. Refinishing helps restore the original look and luster of a natural stone surface and can bring greater value and beauty to your home. But whether you attempt to refinish the stone yourself or hire someone else to do so, you should familiarize yourself with the dos and don’ts of stone refinishing. These tips and suggestions ensure your stone surfaces remain useful and dazzling for decades.

The Dos

Let’s start with the dos of stone refinishing.

Study Up on Your Stone

It’s always a good idea to familiarize yourself with the type of stone you have. Different stones have different needs and qualities. When you read up on the mineral makeup of your stone, whether it’s terrazzo, travertine, granite, limestone, or marble, you’ll come to understand which cleaning solutions work best and which ones can cause bad reactions, among other things. Get to know your stone before you get to work!

Seal It Up

Whether you clean, refinish, or restore your stone surface, it’s always best to seal the deal with a protective sealant coating. Regularly applying sealant ensures the surface has better resistance to spills, making it easier to clean. It also prevents other forms of damage like weathering and the like. Be sure the sealant you use is right for the stone you own. Otherwise, you risk subpar coverage.

Keep It Clean

This should be a given for anything in your home. But natural stone, despite its toughness and resistance to damage, sometimes needs sensitive handling and tender care. Keeping it wiped down with a microfiber cloth is key. Also, don’t allow acidic foods and drinks like tomato sauce and orange juice to spill or sit and stain the surface.

The Don’ts

Here are the don’ts of stone refinishing to know.

Don’t DIY Damage

Resist the temptation to fix etchings, scratches, and other surface damage on your own. This is a job for a professional using the right tools and techniques to sand down and fill in such blemishes and cracks so that they don’t grow worse. It’s not as simple a job as it appears, and hiring a pro to refinish your natural stone surfaces saves money down the line.

Don’t Use Acidic Cleaners

You should never use certain cleaners on stone. Otherwise, they’ll leave scratches, etch the surface, and dull the finish. Acidic cleaners and substances like lemon or citrus-based cleaners and vinegar will eat away at the stone, diminishing the shine and causing pitting and etching. Cleaners that are pH neutral are best for most surfaces and should indicate their appropriateness for stone on the label.

Those are just a few of the dos and don’ts of stone refinishing. Let the various rooms in your house retain their beauty and help your home retain its value through natural stone refinishing and care.