Published . Updated .
Written by , Founder, PGS Property and Surface Solutions.
Even one slab can respond differently. A test area shows the real result on your own floor before work begins on the whole space.
No two stones are alike
Natural stone comes from different beds, so hardness, colour and porosity can vary, even within one room.
A floor in long use may carry wax, old sealer or cleaner build-up that the eye cannot see but that changes how it polishes and seals.
How we test
We choose a small, discreet spot.
We try the planned method there: stripping, polishing or sealing.
You see the result on your own floor and choose the finish you prefer: polished, satin or honed.
What it gives you
- You see the result before you decide, rather than imagining it from a sample photo.
- The method and the quotation rest on a real test, so both are more accurate.
- Less risk of a result that differs from what you expected.
After the test
The team sets out the method and the details for you to consider, and work begins only once you approve.
Sources & further reading
GSA’s historic masonry cleaning specification calls for discreet test patches to identify the gentlest effective cleaning method. Its scope is historic masonry cleaning; it is not a floor-polishing specification.
U.S. General Services Administration — Cleaning historic masonry
A 2024 laboratory study by Huang and colleagues found different optimal polishing times among six marbles using sol-gel diamond pads. This supports considering material differences, but does not prescribe a PGS site method or guarantee a finish.
Huang et al. (2024), Applied Sciences 14(18), 8314 — Surface Evolution and Optimizing Strategy for Polishing Natural Heterogeneous Marble Using Sol-Gel Diamond Pad.
This note is general guidance. If you are unsure what your stone is or how deep the damage goes, the PGS team will gladly come and look.