Stone floors are manufactured in a variety of materials including marble, travertine, limestone, or slate. They’re an incredibly popular choice among homeowners thanks to their durability, natural designs, and tendency to stand up better to moisture.
But just like any home investment, you reap the most reward if the floors are properly cared for. That’s why it’s important you understand the signs that let you know your stone floor may need restoration or replacement.
It’s always a plus to keep the floors you have, and a stone floor restoration service can perform miracles on almost any distressed stone type.
Keep the following in mind as you consider what to do with your floors.
Stone Floor Distress Signs
Despite their natural strength, stone floors can still scratch, crack, or chip with wear and tear over time, or as a result of acute accidents like dropping a heavy appliance. Luckily, more minor incidents can become invisible with quality restoration.
Stone floors may also loosen over the years as weather causes things to expand and contract, or general foot traffic causes the adhesion to come loose. Either way, a loose tile is both an eye sore and a safety hazard that needs to be addressed quickly.
Discoloration is also a common complaint of homeowners who reach out for restorative services. Whether it’s simply age or certain areas of the floor have been exposed to more direct sunlight over the years, uneven tones can make your floor look cheap and drab. Changes in color can also indicate a moisture or even mold issue, so it’s important to give us a call at the earliest signs for easy mitigation.
3 Benefits of Restoration vs. Replacement
So, you’ve noticed some of the above warning signs in your own floors. Now what? The first step is understanding that you have two primary choices: restoration or replacement. Obviously, replacement involves completely removing your current stone and laying everything brand new.
Restoration, on the other hand, involves techniques that can return the surface of your stone floors to their original glory. Professionals use a variety of tools to sand down scratches, fill cracks and gaps, and sealant to increase the life of your floors long term. While we guarantee great results with both options, there are three key benefits of choosing to restore versus replace.
Cost
It’s no secret that installing new flooring of any kind runs the risk of being expensive once materials and labor are accounted for. Restoration naturally comes with a much lower bill as there are no new materials involved, only the products and labor used to repair the existing tiles. Further, full replacement may come with sticker shock if it’s been years or even decades since you installed the flooring initially as prices of materials have only continued to rise.
Convenience
Full flooring replacement involves heavy lifting both literally and figuratively! The space will become temporarily unusable, which can cause huge headaches, especially if you’re limiting access to high traffic areas like the kitchen or a bathroom! Not to mention replacement takes longer, so these spaces will be out of commission for a minimum of a few days, if not a week or more depending on the size of the job.
Additionally, it’s impossible to predict construction delays that may fall out of our hands, such as code issues, inspections, or unavailability of desired materials. With simple restoration, you eliminate these extra risks that could keep us in your house – and you off your floors — even longer.
Continuity
As we mentioned, stone floors are incredibly durable, meaning they can last for decades, if not longer when shown some TLC. That also means if you do attempt to replace, it could be impossible to find an exact match to what you are looking for, especially when you add in the fact that stone is a natural material.
Restoring your existing floors means you’re keeping the look you’ve loved for the life of your home while still adding some value and sparkle to your beloved space.
In Sum
Stone flooring is a timeless choice that provides a sturdy foundation for your home and your family. That’s why it’s critical to pay close attention to the health of the floors and call in the professionals when needed, especially if you want to reap the benefits of restoration over replacement: cost, convenience, and continuity.
Stone Floor Restoration Services for the Revival your Home Needs
Regardless of the path your project takes, a stone floor restoration service such as Restore-A-Floor is always up for the task! We take on all types of floor, tile and counter issues from cleaning and sealing to repairing, polishing and more.
Our Brighton area stone floor and tile cleaning company has been known to work wonders on all types of stone and tile. Choosing to restore your stone and tile floors is a choice that you will be glad you made! Request your Free Estimate online anytime!