Specialist stone care
Some jobs sit between categories: a pool coping that is both sandstone and travertine, rust bleeding through a step, or a bluestone path that needs a different sealer altogether.
Pool coping cleaning & sealing
Most coping failures we see start with salt. Salt-chlorinated pool water soaks into unsealed or under-sealed stone, and as it dries the salt crystallises in the pores. Cycle after cycle, the surface pits, spalls and turns sugary, starting at the waterline edge.
Stone stain removal
Rust from furniture feet, fixings and fertiliser. Efflorescence salts from moisture moving through walls and paving. BBQ fat, car oil and sunscreen. Tannin from leaves and timber. Black mould and lichen. Paint and graffiti. Each one needs a different treatment, and the stone sets limits: what is safe on granite can destroy travertine.
Natural stone sealing
Limestone behaves like travertine: acid-sensitive and porous, so it needs acid-free cleaning and a limestone-rated impregnator. Bluestone (basalt) is dense but marks easily with oil and water rings, and some sealers darken it more than others. Granite is the least porous, and over-applied sealer can leave a hazy residue. Exterior marble etches easily and weathers fast in sun and rain.
Specialist stone care services
- Pool coping cleaning & sealingPool coping takes the hardest beating of any stone on the property: constant wetting, pool salt, chlorine, sunscreen,…
- Stone stain removalEvery stain has a chemistry, and so does every stone. Bleaching or acid-washing a stain usually makes it worse. We…
- Natural stone sealingSandstone and travertine are our core work, but many homes pair them with limestone, bluestone, granite or marble. Each…
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers from our stone-care technicians.
Why is my pool coping crumbling?
In salt pools, the usual cause is salt crystallisation inside the stone, called salt attack. Sealing slows it. Badly damaged pieces may need repair or replacement.
Can pool coping be sealed without draining the pool?
Yes. We protect the water and work from the deck side. A drained pool does make access to the inside face and the edge easier.
How do you remove rust stains from sandstone?
With a poultice and a reagent suited to sandstone, applied and left to dry so it draws the iron out. We avoid the acidic removers that can make sandstone staining worse.
What is the white powder on my pavers?
Efflorescence: salts left behind as water evaporates from the stone. It can be brushed and treated, but it recurs until the moisture source is dealt with.
Does bluestone need sealing?
Bluestone is dense, but it marks easily with oil and water. A penetrating sealer helps a great deal, especially around BBQs and entertaining areas. Some sealers darken bluestone, so we test first.
Can granite be sealed?
Many granites are dense enough to need little or no sealer. Over-applying causes haze. We test absorbency and only seal where it helps.