I was recently asked to this property in Wimbledon in to see if there was anything we could do to resolve the problem with a recently laid Black Limestone tiled floor. The builders that had laid the Limestone did not cover or clean the tiles prior to sealing with an impregnating seal thereby trapping in all the dirt from the building works. They then grouted the tiles but didn’t clean the grout off the surface before putting on another two coats of sealer all of which resulted in a very poor finish. Naturally the customer was not happy so called them back to rectify the problem and so they came back and tried to strip the sealer off with cloths and a chemical stripper. Then without rinsing the stone to remove the chemicals they added another two coats of sealer; in desperation the lady gave up with them and called me in. To resolve I tried all the sealant strippers available to me but couldn’t budge the mess effectively. The only other option available was to diamond grind the surface so I discussed this with the customer and she agreed to this and left me to carry on. Initially I started with a coarse 400 grit diamond pad but even that wasn’t having much effect so in the end I had to cut back the surface using a 100 grit pad moving up to 200 grit, then 400 before finally stopping at 800. To lubricate the process you need to use a little water and then rinse away the resultant soil after each pad. If this was a polished stone surface I would have continued with finer and finer grits to restore the surface polish however these tiles were rough limestone and I needed to leave it as near to how it should be. Once all the Limestone had been stripped back the stone turned an uninviting grey colour, so to bring it back to black I applied two coats of Tile Doctor Stone Oil which enhanced the colour. I left the floor overnight to allow the Stone Oil to dry out and then returned to seal the Limestone using two coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow which is an impregnating sealer that enhances the colour in the stone and will protect it from staining going forward. When the customer saw the final result she was overwhelmed and said she felt like crying with relief, because the floor now looked how she had imagined it to be. It was a great feeling for me to know that I had solved the problems for her.

Provides livable luxury inspired by the simplicity of nature while wider planks showcase beautifully subtle grain movements. Karastan’s craftsmen perfectly preserve every tree’s story through a 100-step process, including diamond cutting, precision brushing and enhanced staining. Crafted from 80-year-aged European oak and maple woods and built with KaraFinish to protect the surface, these floors will last generations. Order free samples today!

The Quarry Mill's Smokey Gold real thin stone veneer creates an intricate and stunning exterior wall. Smokey Gold real stone veneer is a natural low height ledgestone. The stone itself is a natural quartzite and the thin veneer is cut from the edges of the sheets of stone as they are quarried. The process of sawing the raw stone into natural thin veneer turns the diamond blade bright red due to heat that is generated and the density of the natural quartzite. Smokey gold is predominantly gold but also showcases some grey and white pieces giving it a subtle range of color. The textures are mainly smooth with some rippling. Although all of our natural stone veneers are high density, low water absorption, and approved for use in all climates, Smokey Gold is exceptionally hard and sturdy.

Furthermore, VDom Doors insulate your home from extreme weather conditions, as well as unwanted animals, insects, and dust from entering. Our doors have several superior features: - Single sheet of metal is used in construction. No welded seams are best as these can significantly weaken the structural integrity of the entranceway. Our doors are also more resilient to mechanic damage, such as sledgehammer strikes. - The advantage of a single, non-welded door is that it reduces interior internal condensation. Over time, condensation can negatively affect the door mechanisms. - Stiffening Ribs: These non-visible details add to our door's security. - Quality insulation serves to reduce unwanted external noise, as well as protect against extreme heat, and severe cold. - 3D Hinges: Hacking are often carried out at the side of a door's hinges. A better feature is utilizing hinges with ball bearings and installed anti-cuts. Introducing the Deux collection of modern exterior entrance doors in a white enamel color. Expertly crafted from a single sheet of metal with a sturdy Aluminum frame and threshold, these doors offer both style and security for your home. The exterior design features the horizontal strips of clear glass and frosted glass, creating a striking and contemporary look that will enhance the curb appeal of any home. The white enamel color provides a sophisticated and modern feel, perfect for those who want to make a bold statement with their entrance. The interior design also boasts the horizontal strips of clear glass and frosted glass, creating a cohesive and stylish look throughout the home. The Deux collection of modern front doors is ideal for homeowners who want to elevate the look of their home's exterior while also ensuring the safety and security of their property. And with our easy ordering process and user-friendly website, you can have your new door delivered right to your doorstep. Upgrade your home's curb appeal and make a bold statement with the Deux collection of modern exterior entrance doors in white paint. Order yours today and experience the perfect combination of style and function. Model - 6500 Deux Color - White Door thickness - 3 1/4" Frame thickness - 4" Exterior design - Stainless steel inserts, frosted glass. Coating of the door - White enamel. Interior design - Stainless steel inserts, frosted glass. Coating of the door - White enamel. Hardware included: - Aluminum frame 4" thick - Dimensions of the door including frame is 74" x 82". - Aluminum threshold. - Plate-type, primary mortise lock for armoured type of aluminum doors, locked by 3 key turns, doors are captured in 3 places. The lock has replaceable core and 5 keys. - Heavy-duty Cylinder. - 3D hinges Wala - Turnknob for lock. - Armor plate Securemme for the lock. - 2 Bar Handles.

This kitchen was fabricated by Down East Fabrication! https://www.downeastfab.com The island in this kitchen features Ornamental granite which blends well with both color (cherry and gray) cabinets and floors. Search "ornamental" granite, see more granite of this family or other stone options: http://www.stoneaction.com Learn more about granite to see if it’s right for you: Granite countertops can last a lifetime. It contains no harmful chemicals and do not emit harmful radiation or gasses. Granite is heat resistant and is one of the most heat-resistant countertops on the market. You can place a hot pan out of the oven directly onto the countertop surface. Experts do recommend the use of a trivet when using appliances that emit heat for long periods of time, such as crockpots. Since the material is so dense, there is a small possibility heating one area of the top and not the entire thing, could cause the countertop to crack. Granite is scratch resistant. You can cut on it, but it will dull your knives! Granite scores a seven on Moh’s hardness scale. Granite countertops are considered to be a low maintenance countertop surface. The likelihood of needing to be repaired or resurfaced is low. Granite is a porous material. Most fabricators will apply a sealer to granite countertops before they are installed which will protect them from absorbing liquids too quickly. Many sealers last more than 10 years before needing to be reapplied. When they do need to be reapplied, it is something that most homeowners can do on their own as the process is similar to cleaning. Darker granites are very dense and sometimes don’t even require a sealer. When it comes to pricing, there are a lot of variables such as edge profile, total square footage, backsplash, etc. Don’t be fooled by the stereotype that all granite is expensive. Lower-range granites will cost less than high-range laminate. Though granite countertops are not considered “low range” in pricing, there are a lot of affordable options. If you are looking for something truly unique, consider an exotic granite. Some quarries are not easily accessible and/or only able to be quarried for short periods of time throughout the year. If these circumstances exist in a quarry with gorgeous stone, the price will be driven upward. You won’t find a lot of solid patterns or bright colors, but both do exist. Also, watch for a large range of color and pattern within the same color of stone. It’s always a good idea to view the exact slab(s) that will be fabricated for your kitchen to make sure they are what you expected to see from the sample. Another factor is that many exotic types of granite have huge flowing waves, and a small sample will not be an accurate representation of the whole slab. Granite countertops are very resistant to chemicals. Acids and bases will not harm the material.

Bookmatched Luxury Kitchen Island – Dekton Laurent & Dekton Rem 2 cm Vein Match Installation | Absolute GM LLC This custom kitchen island showcases advanced vein-matching fabrication using Dekton Laurent and Dekton Rem in 2 cm ultra-compact surface. The design emphasizes continuous visual flow, where the natural movement of the veining is carefully aligned across slab transitions to create a bookmatched architectural effect. Dekton Laurent provides a deep, dramatic base with bold gold veining, while Dekton Rem introduces a lighter, refined marble-inspired tone. When positioned with precision alignment, the materials form a controlled visual composition that enhances depth, contrast, and symmetry within the kitchen space. The fabrication process included digital templating, slab sequencing, and CNC precision cutting to ensure accurate vein alignment across seams, corners, and waterfall edges. Special attention was given to directional flow control so that the natural pattern reads as a continuous surface rather than separate pieces. Installation was executed with tight tolerance control to maintain alignment integrity, producing a seamless, high-end finish suitable for luxury residential interiors. Absolute GM LLC specializes in precision countertop fabrication and installation across Washington State, working with Dekton, porcelain, quartzite, and natural stone materials.

Where to begin....one of a kind. What began with a text, our client reached out to us to help create a sustainable meditation garden has come to fruition! Design to build began our process that assured our client we had their vision. Cedar structures, sub surface steel reinforced footers, sub surface drains, cmu block framing, oklahoma chop custom cut stone face, artistic pavers, rain harvest containers with overflows, irrigation, native landscape, fruit orchard, vegetable/herb garden, lighting and italian designed Ego recessed outdoor lighting by designer Ernesto Gismondi! Thank you to our clients and all our guys that made this happen! Brian Wancho Photography

Greg Keller, The SLABlite backlighting system was used for this project to back light a natural quartz slab. There was little difficulty in finishing a successful project and no disruption to the typical fabrication/installation process. Greg Keller simply cut the panels to size on location and placed them between the substrate and the slab.

This proposal is for a new two-story home on the vacant heavily wooded lot with an existing 150-foot-long driveway lined by several beautiful oak trees culminating in a behemoth 43-inch oak tree where the driveway meets the main lot. The far end of the driveway terminates in a grove of three 43/40/43-inch redwoods and at the very center of the vacant lot stands a gargantuan V-twin 59-inch redwood tree paired with a “small” 29-inch redwood tree. The owners want to build a beautiful contemporary-styled home for their family that fully enjoys and embraces the mature trees on their cozy 65-foot by 100-foot lot. As with all small, constrained lots, this project’s site design started first with meeting the relatively large parking and car maneuvering requirements. Menlo Park’s Department of Transportation typically requires side-facing garages to have 24-feet of backup space. So that they could give the largest feature redwood tree on site an added four feet (50%) of clearance outside of its critical root zone, the owners agreed to install a vehicle turntable at the end of their driveway to eliminate the extra four feet of space needed to back up and turnaround. This allowed them to pull their garage forward an additional four feet towards the front property line on the panhandle side, drastically reducing the rest of the home’s impact on the gargantuan V-Twin paired redwood tree at the center of the lot. One of the owners has mobility issues, and accordingly, they first sought to design a one-story floor plan that incorporated all their family’s needs including plenty of covered patio and deck space to enjoy our fantastic California weather. But that single-story footprint spread too far into the critical root zones of several of the redwood trees on site, even despite the use of the vehicle turntable. During my interview process with the owners, they made it clear to me that one of their primary concerns is ensuring that the largest trees on site would thrive and become features of their new home after construction is complete. The single-story designs that removed the grove of three huge redwood trees were non-starters, as was the skimpy 5x10 master bath I designed when trying to squeeze the whole house program into an overly compromised single-story design. It was therefore deemed necessary to go with a two-story design despite the owner’s mobility issues. This two-story design has a much more compact ground floor footprint and has no bedrooms downstairs, other than the detached ADU. The owners must give up the floor area and incur the costs to install a residential elevator to access their upstairs master suite. Our ground floor footprint is smaller due to the two-story design decision, and our foundation is pulled away from the trees thanks to the vehicle turntable. Yet, a tiny portion of the home’s ground floor footprint still encroaches into the critical root zones of the largest 59” redwood tree. Therefore, as outlined in the Arborist Report prepared by Aesculus Arboricultural Consulting, the structural engineers are incorporating an array of drilled piers and shallow-grade beams for the main home’s foundation and deck area nearest the redwood’s critical root zone. This drilled piers and grade beam foundation is a type of “bridging” foundation as outlined in Aesculus’ report to preserve the health of these trees that the property was designed around. The rest of the foundation will be constructed as an insulated slab-on-grade foundation to minimize the number of steps and ramps needed for the owners to enjoy their home and patio areas. Despite the owner’s desire to keep as many trees as possible on site, and despite the smaller ground floor footprint and the advantage of the vehicle turntable, the need for a 20x20-foot garage and 20x20/25-foot guest parking space on our panhandle lot requires the removal of two heritage trees in the required driveway, a 16” coast redwood, and a 17” coast redwood. An alternate design, such as swapping the garage and guest parking locations north-to-south, still requires the removal of these two trees for vehicle maneuvering but has the added disadvantage of cutting off the home’s sightlines to the behemoth 43” oak tree just outside the currently proposed front patio space and living room. Jim Redman of Elements Landscape is proposing 13 new trees be planted on site to replace the lost value of these two heritage coast redwood trees. This contemporary architectural design features clean lines, and an abundance of full-height windows and large skylights to best take in the immense trees on site. To blend in with the forest-like setting, the home boasts a mix of rich textures and features a color palette of natural wood tones contrasted with dark blue and black. Once through the new steel gate at the street and down the 150-foot tree-lined driveway, a large covered front patio becomes visible past the neighbor’s detached accessory structure. The covered patio is just across the driveway from the beautiful 43” behemoth coast live oak. The single plane of the covered patio roof is delicately supported by a pair of steel posts in a “V-twin” configuration much like the largest redwood trees that tower over the center of the lot and will still be visible above the new two-story home, even from the front yard. The patio is covered in a dark-colored standing seam roof, with steel C-channel fascias, and tongue-and-groove wood ceiling planks on the underside. Generously sized skylights on the patio roof and inside the living area allow for impressive views of the amazing oak canopy as well as precious natural light. Supporting the sloped covered patio on the other side is the two-car garage with a secondary bedroom suite stacked above the garage. This two-story volume is to be clad in vertical clear-coated redwood siding, to tie in with the grove of three 43-inch redwood trees just beyond. The garage door, and the bank of windows for Bedroom#2 above feature a steel fascia eyebrow header feature to provide shade and overhang protection, as we are not proposing a large overhang at this “redwood trunk”. The garage and bedroom volume are pulled 16 feet away from the side property line, instead of the minimum required setback of 6’-6”, thus leaving plenty of room for the redwood grove and existing mature pear tree to continue to thrive. This existing mature green screen in this 16-foot-wide side yard is a feature worth soaking in, which is why tall windows with low sill heights are proposed for both the stairs and the upstairs hallway. Though it may be infrequent to approve side-facing 2nd floor windows with sill heights as low as what we’re proposing, we are confident that the mature green screen and the over 16-foot-wide side yard are sufficient to provide for the continued privacy of our neighbor’s rear yard space, especially considering theses windows are in walkway zones. The covered patio at the front entry is also bound by the 10-foot-tall living room. The great room is clad in a dark blue brick veneer, which wraps around all three sides of the living room. Upon entering the home from the covered patio, you are immediately greeted with one of the most impressive features of the home’s design: a 10-foot-tall by 24-foot-wide set of sliding glass doors. From the entry, this huge opening gives merely an initial glimpse of the massive trunks of the gargantuan V-twin redwoods sitting at the center of the lot. All three sliding glass panels open directly out into the smaller partially covered deck in the rear. This roof overhang element matches the design of the front patio with a steel C-channel fascia and a large skylight. But the rear deck’s roof element is set flat at a ten-foot ceiling height so that the living room’s ceiling seems to float above and out beyond the expanse of full-height sliding doors, thus creating an indoor-outdoor living space that will feel much larger than the home’s actual footprint. This rear covered deck is smaller than the patio in the front and also has a mix of solid and open-slatted roofing to allow for more solar access for the relatively small amount of open sky available. The downstairs living room is open to the dining and kitchen areas, as well as the stair-and-elevator tower beyond. The stair tower is very open and glassy, and the stairs wind up and around the redwood-clad elevator tower. From certain perspectives in the 16-foot-wide side yard, it will almost seem as if the grove of three redwoods has a fourth tree that the house and the stairs were carefully built around. Other than the 3-foot-wide windows, the exterior walls of the stair tower, downstairs utility spaces, and Bedroom#3 above are finished in cement plaster, painted dark blue and black. The sloped roof over the stair-and-elevator tower continues cleanly over the area of upstairs Bedroom#3. This roof level is set by the side daylight plane and only yields an inside wall height of just under 6 feet in height. The owners are satisfied that the rest of this upstairs room has a nice vaulted ceiling to make up for the one short wall under the daylight plane. The rest of the ground floor adjacent to the stair tower consists of a small utility wing containing a half-bath, laundry, storage area, and an exterior alcove for the electric heat pump HVAC unit. This short wing also gives more accessible access to the rear yard deck, as well as a backdrop for an outdoor kitchen. The bright white stone backsplash for the outdoor kitchen provides contrast to the otherwise consistent use of cement plaster painted dark blue and black for the two-story wing closest to the detached ADU. Though Bedroom#3 is stacked directly above this small wing, it is relatively short to comply with the side daylight plane of this narrow lot. Still, to further help break up the scale of this wall, another steel fascia eyebrow element is set about 8 feet above the rear deck. The master suite sits centered above the ten-foot-tall great room. The master bedroom and its balcony, as well as the master bathtub area, have a commanding view of the central redwood trees and their impressive canopy, though the balcony is mostly recessed and should pose no privacy concerns to the neighbor’s rear yards. The master balcony parapet is clad in the same brick veneer continuing up from the living room below. A dark-painted metal rail makes up the rest of the open guardrail height. The entire length of the master balcony is comprised of 9-foot-tall sliding glass doors, but the area above the doors, as well as the area below the master bathroom windows, is accented with more redwood siding. The remainder of the master suite bathroom and walk-in closet is finished in cement plaster painted dark blue. The master bathroom has one side yard-facing window but will be frosted glass for both the owner’s and the neighbor’s privacy. The 2nd floor is capped under a simple gable roof design with one roof ridge and varying eave and rake overhangs depending on the 2nd-floor layout and solar orientation. Since these roof planes are quite difficult to see in the middle of the heavily wooded panhandle lot, we are proposing a white TPO roofing for these two upper roof planes as a more sustainable choice compared to more dark-colored roofing like the covered patios and detached ADU. The owners also wish to build a detached 292-square-foot Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) as an office and guest suite. For the ADU foundation to be situated outside the central redwood tree’s critical root zone, this relatively tiny structure takes advantage of the narrower 4-foot side and rear setbacks allowed for ADUs smaller than 800 square feet. The small L-shaped detached ADU frames a wonderful quasi-courtyard around the gargantuan V-twin redwoods at the center of the lot. The ADU shares a matching material palette consisting of cement plaster painted blue and black, vertical redwood siding and soffits, and thin brick veneer. The ADU also features large full-height windows. The only difference between the main home and the ADU material palette is that the roofing will be a dark composition shingle roofing since it will be quite visible from the master balcony.

Our clients approached us nearly two years ago seeking professional guidance amid the overwhelming selection process and challenges in visualizing the final outcome of their Kokomo, IN, new build construction. The final result is a warm, sophisticated sanctuary that effortlessly embodies comfort and elegance. This open-concept kitchen features two islands – one dedicated to meal prep and the other for dining. Abundant storage in stylish cabinets enhances functionality. Thoughtful lighting design illuminates the space, and a breakfast area adjacent to the kitchen completes the seamless blend of style and practicality. ... Project completed by Wendy Langston's Everything Home interior design firm, which serves Carmel, Zionsville, Fishers, Westfield, Noblesville, and Indianapolis. For more about Everything Home, see here: https://everythinghomedesigns.com/ To learn more about this project, see here: https://everythinghomedesigns.com/portfolio/kokomo-luxury-home-interior-design/

This Live Edge Coffee Table is handmade using Collectors Grade Burled Oregon Black Walnut. These are highly figured rare walnut slabs for the top, the base is tapered maple burl which gives this table a very sleek rustic feel. (SHOWN PIECE HAS SOLD) _____________________________________________________________________ PROCESS // These pieces undergo a 5 layer satin hardwax finish (OSMO Polyx) this helps protect from any spills or stains or sun fade and will keep the overall beauty of the wood. Dimensions on shown piece are 48"W x 42"L x 16.5"T (SHOWN PIECE HAS SOLD) Have other slabs that could be used to create your own table. We use bowties to fill voids and cracks to prevent cracks from growing and to stabilize the wood. Top is made from 1 solid cross cut slab (cookie) of amazing figured Oregon Black Walnut with tons of Curling and Birdseye. All Slabs are Kiln or air dried to stable moisture levels to create long lasting quality slabs of the finest hardwoods. Hardwoods are locally sourced.

This client was in the process of building a contemporary home when they came looking for a rug for the main living area at Bockrath. Knowing their dimensions we knew their rug would need to be custom. When shopping in our showroom they found a standard size rug and fell in love with the pattern. Our rug artisans were able to enlarge and duplicate the pattern to the size and colors our clients needed. Every piece was cut, inlaid, and completed with a hand carved bevel between colors.

This Live Edge River Dining Table is handmade using Canadian West Coast Big Leaf Maple for the top and a choice between custom wood legs, using Oregon Black Walnut. Also as well as many options of steel. The glass is custom CNC cut out of 6mm Azure Blue Glass with the edges smoothed down to be safe to touch. _____________________________________________________________________ PROCESS // These pieces undergo a 4 layer satin hardwax finish (OSMO Polyx) this helps protect from any spills or stains or sun fade and will keep the overall beauty of the wood. Dimensions are custom and range from 30"W x 60"L --- 50"W x 144"L We use epoxy to fill voids and cracks to prevent cracks from growing and to stabilize the wood. Top is made from 2 slabs of amazing figured Big Leaf Maple with tons of Curling and Birdseye. All Slabs are Kiln or air dried to single digit moisture levels to create long lasting quality slabs of the finest hardwoods. Hardwoods are locally sourced.

Photos by Kevin O'Connor, This Old House
Arts and crafts exterior home photo in Providence

This backyard patio design is inspired by our Eva, Antika and Villagio pavers. This project is the perfect example of how well our products mix together. Think outside of the box this season. Mix patterns, textures and colors the express your unique style! Check out our pavers for more inspiration! https://www.techo-bloc.com/shop/pavers/

The Quarry Mill's Smokey Gold real thin stone veneer creates a beautiful dry-stack exterior outdoor living area. Smokey Gold real stone veneer is a natural low height ledgestone. The stone itself is a natural quartzite and the thin veneer is cut from the edges of the sheets of stone as they are quarried. The process of sawing the raw stone into natural thin veneer turns the diamond blade bright red due to heat that is generated and the density of the natural quartzite. Smokey gold is predominantly gold but also showcases some grey and white pieces giving it a subtle range of color. The textures are mainly smooth with some rippling. Although all of our natural stone veneers are high density, low water absorption, and approved for use in all climates, Smokey Gold is exceptionally hard and sturdy.

Here's a quick glimpse of our boat dock construction process for a home in Palm Coast. Precision contour cuts, Camo hidden deck fasteners, 2"x12" roof banding with stainless steel lags, GR2 control box with remote. We stand behind our quality materials and craftsmanship.

THE SETUP Upon moving to Glen Ellyn, the homeowners were eager to infuse their new residence with a style that resonated with their modern aesthetic sensibilities. The primary bathroom, while spacious and structurally impressive with its dramatic high ceilings, presented a dated, overly traditional appearance that clashed with their vision. Design objectives: Transform the space into a serene, modern spa-like sanctuary. Integrate a palette of deep, earthy tones to create a rich, enveloping ambiance. Employ a blend of organic and natural textures to foster a connection with nature. THE REMODEL Design challenges: Take full advantage of the vaulted ceiling Source unique marble that is more grounding than fanciful Design minimal, modern cabinetry with a natural, organic finish Offer a unique lighting plan to create a sexy, Zen vibe Design solutions: To highlight the vaulted ceiling, we extended the shower tile to the ceiling and added a skylight to bathe the area in natural light. Sourced unique marble with raw, chiseled edges that provide a tactile, earthy element. Our custom-designed cabinetry in a minimal, modern style features a natural finish, complementing the organic theme. A truly creative layered lighting strategy dials in the perfect Zen-like atmosphere. The wavy protruding wall tile lights triggered our inspiration but came with an unintended harsh direct-light effect so we sourced a solution: bespoke diffusers measured and cut for the top and bottom of each tile light gap. THE RENEWED SPACE The homeowners dreamed of a tranquil, luxurious retreat that embraced natural materials and a captivating color scheme. Our collaborative effort brought this vision to life, creating a bathroom that not only meets the clients’ functional needs but also serves as a daily sanctuary. The carefully chosen materials and lighting design enable the space to shift its character with the changing light of day. “Trust the process and it will all come together,” the home owners shared. “Sometimes we just stand here and think, ‘Wow, this is lovely!'”

The picture shows an Travertine patio that was installed at a property in Hackney E5 around ten years ago and it had never been sealed. Over the year’s pollution and weather etc had taken its toll on the stone leaving the travertine stained with lichen, dull and grey as opposed to their original white/cream colour. Had the patio been sealed it would have provided some protection from the elements. I conducted an initial visit where I tested several products to see what would be the most effective and establish what was required. Using that knowledge, I followed up with a written quote which was accepted, and a date arranged to complete the work. We have adopted new working practices since the COVID-19 epidemic so we can work safely inside or outside but given the excellent weather this year this was an ideal and much easier to maintain social distancing. During day 1 on site I started by sweeping away loose stones and other debris you typically find on patios. Then Tile Doctor Patio and Brick Driveway cleaner was applied neat to the stone and left for two hours. This is a very strong product designed for use by professionals which cuts through the dirt and was ideal for this situation. There are certain precautions you do need to take when using it such as wearing PPE and you must keep it away from ponds etc. Using water to lubricate, the solution was then scrubbed into the stone using a coarse 200-grit pad fitted to a rotary machine and followed up with a lot of rinsing and extracting with water and a wet vacuum. To refine the surface after the coarse Travertine the 200-grit pad I followed with 400, 800 and then 1500-grit burnishing pads in sequence rinsing with water and extracting after each pad was applied. This process is known as burnishing and closes the pores in the stone giving it a polished appearance. By this point the Travertine looked way better and we were starting to get the smooth finish back. The weather held so the following morning a 3000-grit polishing pad was applied dry to the stone using only a little water. This brings up the appearance of the stone even further and has the added advantage of leaving it dry and ready for sealing. The client wanted a natural appearance so two coats of Tile Doctor Ultra Seal were applied to seal the stone. Ultra-Seal is an impregnating sealer that soaks into the stone, protecting it from within yet without changing the appearance of the stone leaving a completely natural look. The client very happy with job and now proud so show off her revamped patio. They hadn’t realised that the patio should have looked like this from the start. For aftercare I recommended they use Tile Doctor Stone Soap, many day to day cleaning products you find in supermarkets can strip off a sealer so if your using something else do check the label first. Jackson Davis East London Tile Doctor