FAQ
Straight answers about natural stone
The first one is the question we get most, and the one most companies answer wrong.
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.
Is it messy? How long does it take?
Floors are done wet with diamond pads under a planetary machine, and the slurry is vacuumed up as we go. Rooms are masked, baseboards protected and surfaces wiped at the end. A kitchen counter is usually a half day; a 400 square foot floor is one to two days depending on the finish.
Do you work on showers and bathrooms?
Yes, on the stone: marble and travertine shower walls, floors, curbs and benches, vanity tops, tub decks. Soap scum and hard-water film are removed, etching from acidic cleaners is honed out, grout is cleaned, and the stone is sealed. Glass enclosures are not part of our work.
What stones do you work with?
Marble, travertine, limestone, granite, quartzite, slate and terrazzo. Engineered quartz is not natural stone and cannot be refinished, but it can often be deep-cleaned.
Do you serve all of Oʻahu?
Yes. Based in Honolulu, working from Hawaiʻi Kai and Kāhala to Kailua, Kāneʻohe, Mililani, Kapolei, Ko Olina and the North Shore. Commercial lobbies, condos and homes.
Who actually does the work?
Austin Allgood, the owner. He has restored stone on Oʻahu since 2015 and does every job himself, from the first photo to the final sealing. No crews, no subcontractors.
Are you insured?
Yes. General liability and workers' compensation under Allgood & Associates LLC. Certificates available for condo associations and commercial properties.
How do I take care of the stone afterwards?
A pH-neutral stone cleaner, soft cloths, coasters under anything acidic, and wipe spills soon. No vinegar, no bleach, no scrub pads. You get a one-page care sheet after the job, and a maintenance visit every year or two keeps a polished floor from ever needing a full restoration again.
Can you fix chips and cracks?
Chips are filled with color-matched resin and finished flush. Hairline cracks can be stabilized and filled. Structural cracks in a slab need a fabricator, and we will tell you that honestly.
Have a specific stone problem?
Send a couple of photos. Austin will tell you what it is and what it will take.