Honolulu · since 2015 · owner-operated
Natural stone, restored by hand.
Marble, travertine, granite and limestone brought back to an even, honest finish. Honing, polishing, etch removal, deep cleaning and sealing, each job done personally by Austin Allgood.
5.0 on Yelp · insured · one craftsman, start to finish
The short version
Stone problems are surface problems. We fix the surface.
Dull spots, water rings, scratches and worn traffic lanes in marble, travertine and limestone are not dirt and not stains. They are damage to the top layer of the stone. No cleaner or sealer removes them. The fix is to re-cut the surface with diamond abrasives and bring it back to one even finish, honed or polished.
That is what we do, and it is all we do: no tile installation, no fabrication, no crews learning on your floor. One person, the right machines, and a decade of Oʻahu stone.
- Etch and water-ring removal
- Honing and polishing
- Deep cleaning and stain poultices
- Chip and hole filling
- Penetrating sealing (stain protection)
- Showers, counters, floors, lanais
By stone
What we restore
Marble
Marble is calcium carbonate: soft, beautiful, and reactive to acid.
Details →Travertine
Travertine is a porous limestone full of natural voids.
Details →Granite
Granite is hard and acid-resistant, so it rarely etches, but it does lose its shine to years of cleaners and wax, gets hazy around the sink, stains with oil, and chips at edges.
Details →Limestone
Limestone is soft, porous and acid-sensitive, which makes it the stone most likely to look tired after a few Oʻahu years.
Details →By process
Before and after
A marble counter, etched and scratched, brought back to one even polish
Same stone, same light. Nothing coated, nothing painted. The damage was honed out and the surface re-polished.
The person doing the work
Austin Allgood
Austin has restored natural stone across Oʻahu since 2015: kitchen islands in Kāhala, travertine lanais in Hawaiʻi Kai, marble showers in Waikīkī condos, lobby floors downtown. He answers the phone, looks at your photos, confirms the price in person and does the work himself.
He is also the owner of Blue Pacific Window Cleaning. Same standards, same name on the invoice.
Reviews
Clients on the work
5.0 stars on Yelp. A few, unedited.
“Austin from Allgood is fantastic! He is a highly skilled technician who really knows what he is doing. He works carefully and efficiently, with great attention to detail. He is also a really nice guy who is very professional and pleasant to have around the house. Our 18 year old countertops look new. They look so great that two of our neighbors want Austin to do their countertops too!”
“Austin Allgood restored the quartzite stone surface of my lanai and the brick tile at the entryway framing the driveway to my home. It looks brand new! I am thoroughly impressed and pleased with his professionalism and attention to detail. He is very meticulous, talented and personable. He voluntarily explained each aspect of the process he uses to my complete satisfaction. I unequivocally recommend him to anyone seeking this type of service.”
“Austin comes with a wealth of knowledge and understanding of how to tackle even the hardest restoration projects. Austin is good at what he does, and loves what he does. It shows in his work and dedication to his craft.”
Questions
The ones we hear most
Does sealing stop etching?
No, and anyone who tells you otherwise is selling you something. A sealer is an impregnator: it soaks into the pores of the stone and slows down liquids so stains have less chance to set. It does nothing against acid. Lemon juice, wine, vinegar, many bathroom cleaners and some foods react with the calcium in marble, travertine and limestone and eat a dull mark into the surface itself, sealed or not. That mark is an etch, and the only fix is to re-hone or re-polish the stone. Sealing is still worth doing on porous stone because it buys you time against stains. It just is not etch protection.
What is the difference between honing and polishing?
Both are done with diamond abrasives, in steps, like sanding wood. Honing stops at a smooth, matte or satin finish that hides etches and wear well. Polishing continues through finer grits and a final powder compound to a reflective shine. Many Honolulu floors look best honed; counters are usually polished. We talk through which is right for how you live, then do it.
Can you remove water rings and dull spots from my marble counter?
Yes. Those are etches. Light ones are polished out in place; deeper ones are honed down and brought back up. The counter is restored to a uniform finish, not spot-fixed, so it looks like one piece of stone again.
How do you price a job?
From your photos first, then confirmed in person. Send a wide shot and some close-ups and you get a price range the same day. Before work starts Austin looks at the stone, tests a small area if needed, and confirms the final number. No pressure, no fees for the visit.
Send a photo of the stone.
Austin replies personally with a price range, usually the same day.