Is it fixable?
A few quick questions. The whole tree is on the page, so you can read straight through or jump to your case.
01Is the mark ON the surface or IN the stone?
OnA dull ring, a matte patch, a haze, scratches that catch the light. This is the surface finish, and it comes back by honing and polishing. Fixable in place.
InA dark patch that has soaked in. That is a stain. Most lift with a poultice; rust and dye are the hard cases. Go to question 3.
UnsureWet the area. If the mark disappears while wet and returns as it dries, it is on the surface. If it stays the same, it is in the stone.
02Is anything missing or broken?
A chip on an edgeFilled, shaped and colour-matched. Visible from close up on veined stone, invisible from standing height. Fixable.
A hairline crack on the surfaceStabilised and filled. Fixable, with the same visibility note as a chip.
A crack through the slab, or one that movesStructural. Needs a fabricator, not a polisher. We will say so and suggest who to call.
03If it is a stain, what caused it?
Oil, food, wine, coffee, cosmeticsOrganic stains lift with a poultice, sometimes two. Fixable, with patience.
Rust, a metal can, a steel implementIron bonds with stone. A poultice lightens it; on pale marble some may remain. Assessed from a photo before we quote.
Unknown, and it has been there yearsSend a photo. Old stains are slower but the method is the same.
04What kind of stone is it?
Marble, limestone, travertineAll restored in place. Travertine gets its holes refilled as part of the job.
GraniteHarder, rarely etches, and polishing it is a different, heavier job. Scratches and dullness are fixable; ask.
Engineered stoneDoes not etch or polish like marble. Scratches and burns can be improved. Legacy repairs only, under dust controls.
Outdoor sandstone or pavingCleaned and sealed, not honed and polished. Serviced on those terms.
05Where is it?
Benchtop, vanity, tableQuoted from two or three photos.Get a free quote Floor, whole bathroomPriced by area after a short measure, then quoted in writing.Get a free quote
OutsideSee question 4. Most outdoor stone is a cleaning and sealing job, not a restoration.