Castles Home Service restores, cleans, and maintains all types of natural stone surfaces for residential and commercial clients in Monterey, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, San Mateo, San Francisco, and Alameda Counties. In addition to working on everything from countertops and floors to interior and exterior vanities, the family-owned and operated company has the in-house capabilities to clean and seal stone, tile, and grout in high-traffic areas like kitchens and bathrooms.
Owner Brian Franta says Castles Home Service’s customer-oriented approach to the stone restoration process has been vital to its success. “Our favorite part of the job is solving our clients’ problems and seeing their faces when we show them the results of our work. We’re often able to make a dramatic difference in what they considered to be a lost cause, which is always rewarding.”
Castles Home Service educates its customers about their stone surfaces so they know how to avoid expensive issues like etching in the future. “A lot of homeowners don’t know the best ways to care for their surfaces, so we walk them through maintenance procedures that help them get the most value from their purchases,” says Mr. Franta. “Our treatments are designed to protect surfaces for many years.”
“Our clients are very important to us, so we go the extra mile to make sure they’re completely satisfied at the end of their projects. By using high-quality products and staying current on the latest technologies and techniques, we’re able to deliver superior results.”
Learn how to prevent marble surfaces from etching.
Marble countertops and floors are beautiful and luxurious, but it’s important to remember that marble is a surprisingly delicate stone. It’s softer and more porous than other natural stones, which means it can scratch, stain and etch if it comes into contact with acidic elements like chemicals, bleach, citrus, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, and ammonia. Stains show up as dark spots while etching is lighter than the natural stone surface, but both are equally frustrating and difficult to fix.
Thankfully, experts say there are ways to prevent etching and staining in the first place. “In the past, there wasn’t a great solution for etching and staining on marble and limestone, but just in the last five years, a new product called MORE AntiEtch has been making a big difference for calcium-based stones,” says Brian Franta, owner of Castles Home Service in Salinas. “People love it because it helps keep their stone surfaces looking like new.”
If there aren’t any certified AntiEtch applicators near you, you can choose other quality sealants to provide more protection than the natural stone has on its own. In terms of preventing marble etching, here are some tips to consider:
- Polished finishes are more likely to show etching, scratching and other surface damage, so you might want to opt for a honed finish.
- Never use acidic cleansers or harsh detergents on marble surfaces, including bleach, vinegar and commercial cleansers that aren’t specifically made for marble.
- Always use coasters underneath glasses and pitchers.
- Don’t cut directly on your countertops. Use a cutting board to prevent citrus fruits, tomatoes, onions and other acidic produce from coming into contact with your countertops.
- Use a damp cloth to clean spills right away. Wine, coffee, citrus, and dark-colored liquids can seep into marble and cause staining and etching.
Maintaining customer satisfaction is a crucial aspect of any business, but it’s even more important for marble and stone restoration companies that have earned the prestigious Diamond Certified award. For Castles Home Service, keeping clients happy is all about making them feel comfortable throughout their projects. “We’re eager to please our customers, so we go the extra mile to help them,” affirms owner Brian Franta. “Everyone who works here is highly trained and ready to provide the best possible care.”
Castles Home Service has been restoring, cleaning, and maintaining natural stone surfaces for residential and commercial clients in Monterey, San Benito, San Francisco, Marin, Contra Costa, and Alameda Counties since 1982. The family-owned and operated company has the training and equipment to work on everything from countertops and floors to interior and exterior vanities, and it’s also qualified to clean and seal tile and grout in kitchens, bathrooms, and other high-traffic areas.
Unlike less experienced marble and stone restoration companies that don’t take the time to educate their customers, Castles Home Service understands that not all homeowners are experts in stone care. “Sometimes people buy a house and don’t know what types of surfaces it has or how to care for them,” offers Mr. Franta. “We want our clients to understand what’s going on with their stone surfaces, so we walk them through the care procedures and take the time to answer their questions, which they really appreciate.”
Castles Home Service further differentiates itself from its competition by offering an answer to the ubiquitous problem of marble etching. “In the past, there wasn’t a great solution for etching and staining on marble and limestone—customers used to ask us about it all the time and we couldn’t really recommend anything,” says Mr. Franta. “But as of the last five years, a new product called MORE AntiEtch has come to prominence. People love it and it helps keep their stone looking like new, so we’re happy to work with it.”