Mend Restoration » stone cleaning

Repairing concrete countertops.

Nolan Mayrhofer — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 23:36:41 +0000

Re-finished concrete counter, better than original!

Does your concrete countertop look dull and worn out? Is the finish inconsistent, peeling or badly stained? Mend Restoration is pleased to offer on-site refinishing and sealing to bring your concrete countertop back to life.

Concrete countertops were in vogue for the last ten years. During this period there have been a lot of do it yourself, home enthusiasts fabricating precast and cast in place concrete. Some of these projects looked great at first, but without proper care and maintenance, they tended to deteriorate rather quickly. The Mend team has brought over 20 concrete countertops back to life, saving thousands of dollars for homeowners on the verge of ripping them out. On average, a complete redo of your concrete countertop will cost 15 – 30% the cost of getting a new solid surface material installed. Often small areas and stains can be spot hit, without grinding or stripping the entire counter.

There are two basic systems applied to concrete countertops:

#1 Pentrating sealer/ wax combo – This system leaves concrete looking the most natural and aesthetically pleasing, but it is susceptible to acids, oils and other chemical agents. Over time the sacrificial wax layer deteriorates in high traffic areas, the sealer wears off, and the raw concrete countertop is exposed to the elements. Dark stains and etched ring marks appear, and wear patterns generally leave the counter looking generally tired and dirty. With this type of concrete countertop, small stains and areas can be spot hit without stripping the entire counter. Any chips or spalls can be colour matched and filled, likely disappearing completely. Once refinished, it is important to wax the countertop a couple times a year to prevent future problems.

#2 Urethane / Epoxy sealers – These more plastic looking finishes protect against staining but are prone to bubbling, peeling and eventually fail. Once a cut or nick in the surface happens, water can get underneath and lift entire sheets of the sealer or film. With these types of sealed concrete counters, refinishing usually means grinding and or stripping the entire piece back to raw concrete. Most stains will entirely come out, usually aggregate and sand is exposed during this process. Any chips or spalls can be colour matched and filled, likely disappearing completely.

Refinishing concrete counters can be tricky, back splashes can limit access, faucets and sinks can be hard to work around, and often there are hardwoods and finished surfaces in the near vicinity. The professional team at Mend will address these concerns, and build a plan that considers dust control, water recovery and cleanup after the project is complete.

concrete counter before mend restoration

concrete counter after mend restoration

St. Patrick’s Cathedral

Nolan Mayrhofer — Wed, 28 May 2014 22:16:35 +0000

The St. Patricks Cathedral utilized the Rotec Vortex to clean the antique marble. This method was chosen because it is very gentle on the stone, and works with friction as well as minor abrasion (crushed glass) to clean the soft marble without harming it.

Link to a restoration of the St Patrick Cathedral in New York City using the Rotec Vortex http://vimeo.com/71035329

Efflorescence removed at Selkirk Montessori

Nolan Mayrhofer — Thu, 22 May 2014 07:46:33 +0000

Mend was asked about removing efflorescence from the concrete block facade at the Selkirk Montessori in Victoria, BC. Sand blasting was not an option, as it would blow out the mortar in between the blocks, and pressure washing did not touch the problem areas. We showed up with our Rotec Vortex system and successfully removed the efflorescence that was seeping from the lime based mortar in quick fashion.

Mend joins the Szolyd group of companies

Nolan Mayrhofer — Tue, 20 May 2014 23:26:49 +0000

Mend has officially been launched and joins Victoria Stone Design and Szolyd Development. Our team continues to grow and we expand our reach into full heritage restoration, a perfect fit.

Szolyd Development is proud to announce the addition of Mend Restoration Corp to our group of companies. Using the most innovative and green technology we will be able to safely clean and restore all stone, wood, brick, and metal surfaces using the Rotec Vortex. Our primary focus will be historical and commercial restoration but will be able to facilitate any size project.

Using the technology of the Rotec Vortex we can now restore surfaces back to their original state using a non-aggressive and chemical free procedure. Current processes such as sandblasting and pressure washing can cause permanent damage on the surface they are intending to clean. These high pressure systems remove structural material and details and oversaturate stone leading to further water damage and leave behind unsightly markings. The Vortex technology uses a low pressure system with natural mediums that have no negative impact on the surface, or on the environment. Other restoration systems/processes require toxic chemicals that can cause streaking, leaching and uneven results. We are now offering a sustainable solution. Our team of restoration masons are trained in the most current heritage philosophies and techniques. Mend can analyze facade status and formulate a plan based on budget, aesthetics, and longevity.

Mend Restoration intends on changing the face of restoration and enhancing the existing architecture of our cities. We look forward to working with and caring for these beautiful and meaningful structures to ensure they are around for future generations to enjoy. If you have a project that you feel would benefit from our services, please do not hesitate to contact us. We have received extremely positive feedback and are booking now for the summer of 2014.

Here’s Chris talking about the Rotec Vortex and it’s applications.

New York City is cleaning its ancient Egyptian monument with lasers

Nolan Mayrhofer — Sat, 15 Mar 2014 07:47:08 +0000

A 69-foot, 3,500-year old granite obelisk has stood in New York City’s Central Park for 130 years, and it’s never, ever, been cleaned.

The ancient pillar is deceptively fragile, and conservationists have been hesitant simply to hose it down. The solution? Blast it with lasers, of course. After careful testing, the Central Park Conservancy determined that a gentle bath of infrared lasers is both the most sensitive and environmentally friendly cleaning method available. The non-profit organization plans to slowly vaporize the monument’s modest dust collection over the next several months. Project planners have also uncovered several particularly fragile areas on the obelisk’s surface, which will be patched up with granite adhesives. Looking forward to seeing NYC’s oldest landmark at its best? You’ll have to wait until fall: the restoration is going to take awhile.