A Stone Honing Service in Upper West Side, NY Gave This Bathtub's Slate Deck a Wonderful Appearance

October 05, 2018

Slate can give a unique and beautiful appearance to any room. Not only is this type of stone completely natural, but it is also one of the strongest, which makes it resistant to scratching, chipping, and cracking. However, slate should be sealed on a regular basis depending on where it has been installed. In bathrooms, for example, this stone will often come into contact with acidic products which can cause it to etch and stain. Removing these etch marks from slate is not an easy task and, in most cases, it is necessary to contact professionals to have it fully restored.


That was the case for a homeowner in Upper West Side, NY. After years of meeting several personal hygiene products and moisture, the slate around her bathtub had become etched and stained. She tried removing the damage with several cleaning products and methods, but none of them yielded the results she was hoping for. Frustrated, she went online to look for advice. After she browsed the net for a while, she came across a forum where several people had experienced a similar situation. Based on their experience, most users suggested contacting stone honing professionals to restore the surface. Having read these comments, she decided to search for Upper West Side stone honing experts and found our website in the top results. On our site, she saw several testimonials we had received from previously satisfied customers. Convinced that Sir Grout Manhattan was a reputable company, she called to schedule a free in-home consultation.

The day of the consultation arrived, and our experts were ready to assess the problem. The customer led them to the bathroom, where they began to closely inspect the stone. Shortly after, they determined that the etches and stains on the slate deck were most likely causes by chemical damage. Confused, the homeowner asked them for more details. Our tech gave her a thorough explanation. Even though slate can be resistant to mildly acidic substances, continuous exposure to them can cause the slate to scratch and etch over time. Etch marks can also be problematic. They damage the stone at a surface level, making it necessary to hone the stone to remove them.

After the brief explanation, the homeowner understood why her efforts had not worked. She asked our team what the next step was. They suggested a stone honing and polishing service accompanied by a color enhancing procedure to fully restore the tub's slate surroundings. Giving the stone a polished finish makes it easier to maintain. The customer agreed to the service and scheduled another appointment to get the job done.

A few days later, our experts went back to the client's home to perform the service. They started by soaking the slate with a pH-neutral cleaner to loosen the dirt that had accumulated on the stone. This cleaner also contains ingredients that can vastly help reduce the number of bacteria for an extended period of time after application. Next, they used a high-speed scrubber to deep clean the surface. Once the cleaning was done, they honed the surface with low and mid grit pads to remove all the etch marks and scratches. They continued with a thorough polishing of the natural stone to give it a nice, glossy finish. For the final step, they completely dried the surface to apply our premium sealant. Sir Grout's color enhancing sealer is formulated to highlight and enhance the beauty and character of natural stone. This sealer can keep the surface protected from stains caused by water or acidic products.

When our team was finished, they let the client see the results. They had completely removed the stains and etch marks from the slate, giving it a brand-new look. The homeowner was thrilled and thanked our techs for a job well done. She also promised to call us if she ever needed a hard surface restoration service.

Before they left, our experts gave the customer some care tips to keep the slate deck in good condition. First, they recommended cleaning with a pH-neutral, soap-free cleaner like Sir Grout's Natural Hard Surface Cleaner. This cleaner will not leave any residue and adds an additional layer of protection against microorganisms such as mold and mildew. It is also stone-safe, which means it will not etch or scratch stone surfaces. They also suggested wiping the bathtub's surroundings with a dry cloth to remove excess moisture caused by water or hygiene products.

Are your slate surfaces in need of a honing service? Here at Sir Grout Manhattan, we have the necessary tools and expertise to hone natural stone back to shape. Call us at (718) 557-9283 or fill out the "Request a Quote" form on this website to schedule a free, in-home evaluation today! Also, make sure to subscribe to our newsletter to keep up with our latest innovations and promotions.

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