Randy Grygiel of NEW Solid Surface Cleaning in Pulaski has completed the MB Maintenance of Natural Stone Course taught by restoration specialist Stu Rosen. At the intensive, four-day class in Wilson, North Carolina, Randy gained hands-on experience in identifying types of stone, honing and polishing stone floors, fixing chips and cracks, and polishing vertical and horizontal pieces of stone.

“There’s nothing like doing it hands-on and learning from an expert,” Randy said.
Stone repair specialists are in demand in Green Bay and the Fox Cities, and NEW Solid Surface Cleaning now has the knowledge and experience to meet that demand.

“As floor care specialists we are dealing with all types of floors, and we’re getting asked more and more to look at stone counter-tops, showers, and floors,” Randy said. When a manmade tile is damaged, you replace it. When natural stone is damaged by cracks, chips, or unevenness, it needs to be repaired.

The first objective of the course was to learn how to identify different kinds of stone. There are hundreds of types of marble, granite, slate, limestone, and other natural stones.
“That was the most beneficial — learning how to identify stone and what process that stone needs to restore it,” Randy said. “If you don’t know how to do it properly you can damage a floor.”

The course also covered a wide range of techniques for maintenance and repair:

• Cleaning and stain removal
• Repairing scratches and chips
• Removing the unevenness between tiles (lippage removal)
• Terazzo refinishing
• Honing stone to a smooth matte finish for a natural look
• Polishing stone to a highly reflective vibrancy for a glossy look
• Restoring shower stalls (including grout repair and caulking)

Randy also learned a process to repair etching, a condition which occurs when soft marble, limestone, and Travertine come in contact with something acidic. “You can set a glass of orange juice down, and it leaves a ring on a polished surface. We can fix that,” Randy said. “Now that I’ve taken the class we can offer restoration services like these.”

Natural stone sometimes needs just a good cleaning and polishing, and NEW Solid Surface Cleaning has been providing these services for years. Now NEW Solid Surface Cleaning has invested in the equipment and training to be a full-service restoration and refinishing provider.

Call Randy at 920-604-3773 to discuss restoration and refinishing options for your natural stone floors, countertops, and shower stalls.