Part of the beauty of granite countertops is the deep, lustrous shine the stone has when it's first installed. Over time, your countertops can become hazy, stained, or scratched. Even if you seal the granite regularly, you may still need to have the countertops restored after several years to make them shiny and free from imperfections. Here's an overview of the restoration process.

The Granite Is Scrubbed To Remove Buildup

Granite and marble restoration service companies have their own processes for restoring marble, but the general procedure is to sand away the very top layer of stone to get rid of light scratches, scale buildup, stains, and oil grime. This is often done with a scrubbing cleaner and a power tool. All the old buildup and imperfections are removed before restoring the shine so when the job is finished, your countertops will feel like smooth stone again, especially with the ugly stains and buildup near the stove and sink removed

Larger Cracks May Need Repairs

Tiny scratches and cracks can be sanded out of the granite, but larger cracks might have to be repaired. This can be done with a filler that seals the crack. Once the crack is filled, the surface is buffed so the area is smooth and the repairs are not noticeable. Clear epoxy might be used, but it's also possible to use colored gel filler if necessary for the repairs to be invisible.

The Granite Is Sealed

After the granite is cleaned, it's time to seal it. Sealing is important since it keeps water and other liquids from seeping into the stone and leaving stains. The sealer is applied until the stone no longer absorbs it, which might require multiple applications. When it's dry, it's time for the final polishing step.

The Shine Is Restored With Polishing

Your restoration service will probably use a power tool with a soft pad to polish and buff the countertops until they have a deep luster. This may take a few passes of the power tool to reach maximum reflectivity. Once the maximum shine has been obtained, your countertops are sealed, clean, and ready for years of wear. You'll probably tell the difference in how your countertops feel once all the old grime has been removed, and you'll notice a difference in how the granite looks. Your countertops can look new again at just a fraction of the cost of getting new countertops.

Granite countertops last a long time when you take good care of them by sealing the granite regularly and protecting them from damage. However, even with good care, the granite may start to show its age, and when that happens, it's time to have the granite restored to its original beauty again.

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