Stone care glossary
Stone care and restoration terms, in plain English
Plain definitions of the words in stone restoration quotes, such as etching, poultice, honing, and lippage.
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How to use this glossary
The words in your quote, explained.
Contractors, property managers, and homeowners often use the same word to mean different things. These definitions match the words we use in our quotes, and they link to related problem guides and services. Start with stain vs etch or pick a category below.
A
Acid Sensitivity
Acid sensitivity is how easily a stone is marked by acidic spills and cleaners.
Aggregate Exposure
Aggregate exposure is how much of the chips in terrazzo show after grinding.
Alkaline Cleaner
An alkaline cleaner is a high-pH cleaner that breaks down grease, oil, and organic buildup.
C
Calcium Carbonate
Calcium carbonate is the main mineral in marble, limestone, and travertine.
Coefficient of Friction
Coefficient of friction (COF) measures how much grip a floor gives, which tells you how slippery it is.
Colour Enhancer
A colour enhancer deepens the colour of stone. Some also help resist stains.
Crystallization
Crystallization is a chemical buffing process that adds shine to marble and other calcium-based stone.
D
E
Efflorescence
Efflorescence is a white, powdery salt deposit left when water moves through stone, masonry, or grout.
Engineered Quartz
Engineered quartz is a man-made surface of crushed quartz bound with resin.
Epoxy Chip Repair
Epoxy chip repair rebuilds chipped stone edges and corners with colour-matched epoxy.
Etching
Etching is a dull mark left when acid eats into marble, limestone, or travertine.
F
Fissure
A fissure is a natural crack-like line that formed with the stone, not damage from use.
Flagstone Warping
Flagstone warping is when stone pieces are bent or curved, leaving the floor uneven.
Flamed Finish
A flamed finish is a rough, heat-treated granite surface with lots of grip and almost no shine.
G
Gloss Unit (GU)
A gloss unit (GU) measures how much light a surface reflects. Polished black glass reads 100.
Granite
Granite is a hard, dense natural stone with a wide range of colours and patterns.
Grinding
Grinding is the heaviest cut in stone restoration, used to remove deep damage and level uneven tiles.
Grout
Grout is the material that fills the joints between tiles.
Grout Sealer
Grout sealer soaks into grout so it absorbs less water and dirt.
H
Heated Floor
A heated floor (radiant heat) warms tile or stone from below, which affects how it moves and bonds.
Honed Finish
A honed finish is smooth and matte, with a soft, low shine.
Honing
Honing smooths worn or damaged stone with diamond pads, leaving a matte or low-shine finish.
L
Leathered Finish
A leathered finish is a textured stone surface with a soft, low shine, a bit like leather.
Limestone
Limestone is a soft, calcium-based stone with natural variation in tone.
Lippage
Lippage is when one tile or stone edge sits higher than the one next to it.
M
P
pH-Neutral Cleaner
A pH-neutral cleaner is neither acidic nor alkaline, so it cleans stone without harming it.
Pitting
Pitting is small holes or pinholes in the surface of stone or terrazzo.
Polished Concrete
Polished concrete is a concrete floor that has been hardened and ground to a set shine.
Polished Finish
A polished finish is a glossy, highly reflective stone surface.
Polishing
Polishing is the last step in refinishing stone. It brings up the gloss.
Porcelain
Porcelain is a dense, fired ceramic tile or slab. It isn't natural stone, but it's often restored alongside it.
Poultice
A poultice is a paste that draws a stain out of stone.
S
Satin Finish
A satin finish is a mid-level shine, between honed and polished.
Silicone Caulk
Silicone caulk is a flexible sealant for joints where tile or stone meets another surface.
Spalling
Spalling is when the surface or edges of stone flake, chip, or break away.
Stain vs Etch
Stain vs etch means working out whether a mark on stone is colour soaked in or damage to the surface.
Stone Refinishing
Stone refinishing is the full process of bringing back a stone surface's smoothness and shine.
Stone Staining
A stain is colour that has soaked into stone from oil, rust, dye, or organic matter.
T
Terrazzo
Terrazzo is a floor of marble, glass, or stone chips set in cement or resin.
Topical Coating
A topical coating is a film that sits on top of stone or tile.
Travertine
Travertine is an absorbent, calcium-based stone with natural holes and layered patterns.
Tumbled Finish
A tumbled finish has rounded, slightly chipped edges and a worn look, made by tumbling stone in a machine.
FAQ
Glossary questions
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