This Limestone Floor Came Back to Life Thanks to Our Professional Stone Honing in Houston, TX

June 25, 2020

When selling a house, practices such as repainting or restoring a surface can significantly increase the property's monetary value and capture more potential buyers. For that reason, we often receive requests to restore hard surfaces in houses that are soon to be for sale. This was the case for a family in Houston, TX. After living in their new property for a year, they decided to put up their old home for sale to invest in new real estate opportunities. While getting their previous home ready for the buyer's market, they noticed the limestone floor in the living area was severely stained.


The more furniture they moved, the more stains appeared. Concerned about what the state of the floor would do to the value of their former home, the family went online to search for advice. Most websites suggested hiring professionals to have the surface honed. The family wanted a cost-effective solution to the problem. With this in mind, they searched for Houston Stone Honing professionals. Fortunately, they found our website in the top search results. After watching a few video testimonials and browsing our picture gallery, they filled in the form to request a free evaluation and a quote.

On the day of the consultation, we visited the client's home and examined the limestone floor. The floor had been methodically laid down to create a uniform, lovely pattern in the living room. However, the stains eclipsed the beauty of the tiles. They had likely been the result of the accumulation of dirt and unwanted moisture over the years. Most of them seemed to have happened at a surface level, which meant the damage was less severe than we had initially thought.

To restore the tiles, we offered the homeowners a stone cleaning and honing service. It's important to remove any debris before honing a surface, that way we can avoid scratching the beautiful limestone tiles. To finish, we would seal the floor using our flagship sealant Stone Armor. The family agreed to the service and scheduled an appointment for the next day.

The following day, we went back to the client's home early in the morning to perform the service. We first applied our proprietary, non-toxic, tile, and grout cleaner on the floor to loosen the embedded soil. This cleaner also contains enhanced properties that inhibit the growth of bacteria, fungi, mold and microorganisms. Next, we used a high-speed scrubber to remove any trace of dirt from the tiles. The grout lines were in good shape and just needed a little work.

Once the floor was free from dirt, we began the honing procedure. To do this, we honed the stained spots on the floor using a low-grit diamond pad. We slowly increased the grit for some of the sections where the damage went deeper into the stone. After we finished honing the floor and removed the leftover debris from the procedure, we sealed the surface with Stone Armor. This is an impregnating sealant that protects natural stone and grout against water, dirt, stains, mold, and mildew. It also enhances the overall appearance of natural stone tiles, increasing their appeal.

The results were amazing. Not only did we remove the stains, but we also gave the entire surface a pristine appearance. The homeowners were thrilled with the outcome. Their house was now ready to be advertised to potential buyers. The clients thanked us and said they would recommend our services to their friends and family.

Keeping in mind that the customers were planning to sell the house, we gave them a few care tips they could relay to their potential buyers. We first advised them to avoid acidic, soapy cleaners. These kinds of products tend to trap dirt and deteriorate stone tiles. We recommended using a soap-less pH-neutral cleaner like Sir Grout's Natural Hard Surface Cleaner instead. Together with a mop, this cleaner will remove all traces of dirt while prolonging the lifespan of the floor's sealant. We also suggested wiping away any spills as soon as they happened. Certain substances can damage both tile and grout, so it's best to clean them the soonest possible.

Has your limestone floor seen better days? Are you trying to increase your property's market value? At Sir Grout Houston, we have the necessary tools and expertise to boost the appearance and overall value of your home. If you're in Houston, call us at (713) 856-9586 or fill out the "Request a Quote" form on this page to schedule an appointment with us today. You can also keep up with our latest news and promotions by subscribing to our newsletter.

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