Frequently asked questions

Marble is mostly calcite, a soft mineral that reacts with acids and is scratched by grit. Foot traffic wears fine scratches into the surface, while lemon juice, wine and acidic cleaners dissolve it and leave dull etch marks. The result is traffic lanes and patches that no cleaning product will lift.

Yes. Etching is surface damage, so it is removed by honing the affected layer away and re-polishing the stone. Deeper etching may need a coarser diamond first, but the marble itself is restored rather than covered up.

We survey the floor and agree the finish on a test patch, mask skirting and joinery, then work through progressively finer diamond pads: grinding if there is lippage or deep damage, honing to remove etching, and polishing to bring back clarity. An impregnating sealer finishes the job.

A typical hallway, kitchen or bathroom usually takes one to three days, depending on condition and the finish you want. Larger floors or those needing full grinding take longer, and we give you a timeframe with the quote. The floor can be walked on once dry, and the sealer cures within about 24 hours.

Loose furniture needs to be cleared from the area; we can help with lighter pieces and work around fitted units. We use wet, low-dust methods, collect the slurry as we go and protect adjacent floors and walls, so the rest of the house stays clean.

Wipe spills promptly, use a pH-neutral stone cleaner and put felt pads under furniture; we leave you written care advice. Projects under 100 m² are priced per job; projects over 100 m² are priced per m², and you get a fixed written quote after a free assessment.

Granite itself is very hard, so dullness is usually caused by residue from multi-surface sprays, failed sealers or resin fillers wearing unevenly. In busy lobbies, fine grit and heavy traffic also dull softer minerals within the stone. Identifying the cause decides whether it needs stripping, re-polishing or both.

We strip residues and old sealers, then re-polish the surface with diamond abrasives designed for hard stone. Chips and cracks are filled with colour-matched resin and polished flush. Porous granites are tested and sealed at the end.

A kitchen worktop is often done in a few hours to a day, while a granite floor usually takes one to three days depending on size and condition. Commercial lobbies can be phased over several nights to keep them open.

Some granites are dense and barely absorb anything; others, especially lighter colours, are porous and stain from oil. We test absorbency with water and oil before recommending a sealer, so you do not pay for one you do not need.

Yes. We fill chips with a colour-matched resin, shape it to the original profile and polish it back so the repair is very hard to spot. Worktop repairs stay in the kitchen, with appliances and nearby surfaces protected and dust kept to a minimum.

Projects under 100 m² are priced per job; projects over 100 m² are priced per m², and you get a fixed written quote after a free assessment. Worktop and small repair jobs are quoted as a single fixed price.

Travertine naturally contains voids that are filled at the factory. Traffic and cleaning wear that fill away over time, exposing holes that trap dirt and water. Re-filling and honing restores a flat, closed surface.

We deep clean the stone and grout, fill open holes with a colour-matched filler, then hone the surface flat with diamond pads. The floor is finished honed or polished to your choice and sealed with an impregnating sealer.

Honed suits most homes and wet areas because it hides wear and is less slippery. Polished travertine gives a brighter, more formal look in hallways and reception rooms. We can show you both on a test area.

A bathroom or kitchen usually takes one to two days; larger ground floors with many open holes can take three days or more because the filler needs time to cure before honing. We confirm the timeframe in the quote.

The work area needs to be clear of loose furniture, though fitted units stay in place. Honing is done wet with slurry collected as we go, so there is very little airborne dust. Patio work is planned around dry weather.

Use a pH-neutral cleaner, avoid acidic or bleach-based products, and re-seal every few years in busy areas. Projects under 100 m² are priced per job; projects over 100 m² are priced per m², and you get a fixed written quote after a free assessment.

Terrazzo is marble or glass chips set in cement or resin. Decades of traffic dull the surface, while old polishes, sealers and carpet adhesives build up and turn it grey or yellow. Underneath, the floor is usually sound.

Yes. Adhesive residues are removed mechanically and chemically, then the floor is ground and polished. The terrazzo beneath is usually intact.

Cracks and voids can be filled with matched chips and binder, then ground flush. If a crack is caused by structural movement, we advise on the cause first so it does not reappear.

A typical hallway or entrance takes one to three days. Large lobbies, or floors that need coatings removed first, take longer and can be phased so access is maintained.

We grind wet and collect the slurry continuously, so there is very little dust. Adjacent walls, doors and lifts are protected, and furniture needs to be cleared from the area before we start.

Sweep regularly to remove grit, mop with a pH-neutral cleaner and avoid wax-based products that build up. Projects under 100 m² are priced per job; projects over 100 m² are priced per m², and you get a fixed written quote after a free assessment.

Limestone is porous and calcium-based, so it absorbs oil and coloured liquids and reacts with acids. Once the sealer wears in busy areas, dirt soaks in and the floor looks patchy. Restoration removes the damaged surface and renews protection.

Fresh grease can often be blotted and cleaned with a pH-neutral stone cleaner. Older, absorbed stains usually need a professional poultice that draws the oil out of the stone over 24–48 hours.

We deep clean the floor and grout, treat stains, fill any holes or chips, then hone with diamond pads to an even finish. A breathable impregnating sealer is applied at the end. Our methods are low-moisture and safe for underfloor heating.

A kitchen or hallway usually takes one to two days, and larger open-plan ground floors two to four. Poultice stain treatments can add a day because they need time to work.

Loose furniture should be cleared; kitchen units stay in place and are protected. We work wet and extract slurry as we go, so dust is minimal.

Usually every two to four years in kitchens and hallways; a simple water-drop test shows when the sealer is wearing. Projects under 100 m² are priced per job; projects over 100 m² are priced per m², and you get a fixed written quote after a free assessment.

Usually because a topical sealer has worn unevenly, trapping dirt and leaving cloudy patches. White deposits can also be efflorescence, salts drawn up from the subfloor. Both are treatable without replacing the tiles.

We strip the old sealer, deep clean the stone and grout, treat any efflorescence, and allow the floor to dry. It is then sealed with a penetrating sealer in a natural matt or colour-enhanced finish.

Honed slate can be refined to a soft sheen, but riven (textured) slate is usually cleaned and sealed rather than polished.

A kitchen or hallway usually takes one to two days, with drying time between stripping and sealing. Very damp floors can need longer before sealing.

Stripping is a wet process, but residue is extracted as we go and nearby surfaces are protected. Loose furniture needs to be cleared from the area.

Use a pH-neutral cleaner and avoid glossy surface coatings, which scratch and peel. Projects under 100 m² are priced per job; projects over 100 m² are priced per m², and you get a fixed written quote after a free assessment.

Many existing slabs can be, giving a characterful industrial look with natural variation. We check the slab for strength, cracks, coatings and contamination before quoting. New pours can be planned for polishing from the start.

We grind the surface with metal-bond diamonds to the level of aggregate exposure you want, apply a densifier to harden it, then refine with resin diamonds to the chosen sheen. A guard sealer adds stain resistance.

A residential kitchen extension usually takes two to four days; larger commercial floors take longer and can be phased. The floor can usually be walked on the same day it is finished.

A satin polished concrete floor generally has good slip resistance when dry. For wet or commercial areas we recommend finishes and treatments to suit the use.

We use dust-extracted or wet grinding equipment, so dust is controlled. The room must be empty, and we protect walls and doors around the work area.

Dust-mop regularly and wash with a pH-neutral cleaner; the guard can be refreshed when it wears. Projects under 100 m² are priced per job; projects over 100 m² are priced per m², and you get a fixed written quote after a free assessment.

If the stone is dirty, stained or has dark grout but is not scratched or etched, a professional deep clean and sealer is usually enough. If it is dull, scratched or etched, it needs honing or polishing. We tell you which at the assessment.

We use stone-safe alkaline cleaners, rotary scrubbing and wet extraction to lift ingrained dirt from the stone and grout. Once dry, an impregnating sealer is applied to slow staining.

No. Impregnating sealers reduce staining from water and oil, but they do not stop acids from reacting with marble. Etching is removed by honing and polishing; protective films are available for high-risk surfaces such as kitchen worktops.

Most rooms take half a day to a day. The floor can be walked on carefully once dry, and the sealer cures fully within about 24 hours.

Cleaning is wet but contained: solution is extracted as we go and nearby surfaces are protected. Loose furniture needs to be cleared.

Usually every one to four years depending on stone and traffic; a water-drop test shows when it is wearing. Projects under 100 m² are priced per job; projects over 100 m² are priced per m², and you get a fixed written quote after a free assessment.

Chips, cracks, holes, broken edges, loose tiles and localised etching on marble, granite, limestone, travertine and terrazzo. Most repairs are done in place without replacing the stone.

We clean the damage, fill it with resin tinted to match the stone, shape it to the original profile and polish it flush. Badly broken tiles can be lifted and replaced where matching stone is available.

A well-matched repair is very hard to spot in normal light, though natural stone varies and a perfect match is not always possible. We tell you what to expect before starting.

Most small repairs take a few hours; several repairs or a tile replacement usually take a day, with resin curing time included.

Repairs are localised, so only the immediate area needs to be clear. Dust from shaping and polishing is minimal and contained.

Small repairs are quoted as a fixed price per job. Projects under 100 m² are priced per job; projects over 100 m² are priced per m², and you get a fixed written quote after a free assessment.

It is terrazzo poured in place as one continuous floor, rather than laid as tiles, then ground and polished on site. Divider strips can be added for patterns or movement joints. The result is a durable floor with no grout lines.

We check and prepare the subfloor, install any divider strips, then pour the terrazzo mix with your chosen aggregates. Once cured, it is ground, filled, honed and polished, and finished with a sealer.

Allow for subfloor preparation, pouring, curing and polishing; a residential floor usually takes one to two weeks overall, and larger commercial floors longer. We give you a programme with the quote.

Yes, terrazzo works well with underfloor heating when the subfloor and system are suitable. We confirm requirements with you and your contractor before pouring.

It is a construction process, so the room must be empty and is best done before final decoration. Grinding is wet or dust-extracted, and surrounding areas are protected.

Sweep and mop with a pH-neutral cleaner; the finish can be re-polished in future rather than replaced. Projects under 100 m² are priced per job; projects over 100 m² are priced per m², and you get a fixed written quote after a free assessment.