Our Stone Honing Techs Made a Shabby Countertop in Scottsdale Regain All Its Natural Beauty

April 30, 2022

A homeowner in Scottsdale had tried everything to bring more shine to her kitchen island. Despite all her efforts, however, the stone countertop looked duller and shabbier, even at times when the light directly hit its surface. Since it's between the kitchen and living room, the counter was hard to miss, but no one had stopped to admire its stone surface in weeks. The homeowner knew that it might not make much of a difference to most guests, but she and the rest of the family could see that the stone looked worse every day.


The entire household set out to find a stone restoration company, and it wasn't long before their combined efforts paid off. The homeowner came across Sir Grout Phoenix online and our Scottsdale stone honing services stood out as the most effective option from the get-go. She grew more and more confident as she continued looking through our website until she finally decided to give us a call to request an in-home evaluation.

Our specialists headed to her home a few days later, and, once there, they wasted no time getting to the root of the problem. They noticed right away that the stone looked rough and dull, with minor marks here and there but no glow on any part of the flat surface. Because of this, they asked the client about the products she used in her cleaning routine. She admitted having used bleach and a mix of vinegar water at different points, as well as other products once the countertop started looking worse for wear. Our specialists explained that soap-based cleaners and formulas with acidic properties are not recommended for the maintenance of stone surfaces. They cause discoloration, wear down the sealant, and open the stone pores until the surface is more vulnerable to etching. The best course of action was to clean, hone and polish the stone to bring back its natural shine. The homeowner asked some questions about our restoration process and hired our services for a later date.

On the day of the restoration, our specialists came back to the client's house with all the necessary equipment. First, they thoroughly cleaned the countertop's surface with a pH-neutral cleaner and a high-speed scrubbing machine. Our signature cleaner removes stains, grime, and any stickiness from stone surfaces without causing any damage down the line. When there was not a speck of dirt left on the counter, our specialists continued with the next part of the process.

They started honing the stone using three sets of our high-end diamond pads, each with an increased level of grit. They restored the smoothness of the stone while gradually increasing the pads' level of grit until there were no marks or traces of damage on the countertop. Then, our specialists applied polishing powders to restore the stone's natural glow.

Before completing the process, they had to seal the countertop's surface. For this, they applied a coat of Stone Armor to ward off external elements like water, grime, soil, mold, and mildew. Wear and tear remain a constant risk for kitchen countertops since they tend to be a hot spot for various products and kitchenware. Our sealant also provides protection on this end, minimizing the stone's deterioration and making it easier for homeowners to complete their cleaning routine.

The homeowner and her family were called back into the room to see the results, and they were blown away by the counter's look. The stone looked unblemished, with a shine that was unlike anything they'd seen before, even during their first year after moving into the house. They all thanked our specialists, and the client promised to tell everyone she knew about our restoration services.

Our specialists took a moment to share some additional cleaning pointers. Their main recommendation was to stop using traditional cleaners and to try pH-neutral products like Sir Grout's Natural Hard Surface Cleaner on all the home's hard surfaces. Our stone-safe formula ensures an effective cleaning routine that removes stains and specks of dirt with only mild scrubbing. On this note, our specialists also recommended avoiding steel wools and other abrasive tools that could easily leave scratch marks. A towel or a terry cloth would be a much better alternative to wipe off spills and liquids without issue.

Natural stone is an asset to make a room look stylish and more elegant. They can shine for years without any signs of etching, but homeowners need to know how to properly care for their surfaces, avoiding chemical cleaners and sharp tools in their cleaning routine. Sir Grout Phoenix provides the best restoration services to undo the effects of chemicals on stone surfaces, and our specialists are always ready to save you stress with an efficient method that leaves the stone as good as new. You can call (480) 588-0731 or fill out the "Request a Quote" form on our website if you're interested in scheduling a free in-home evaluation. And be sure to subscribe to our newsletter to learn more about our latest info and promotions.

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