Interior Quartzite Floor

This quartzite job was in a cool condo out in sunny kihei. Condo is going on the market and needed a little freshening up. In person this floor had a oily build up and was very discolored in the traffic lanes. It took a little work but cleaned up very nice. 

Give us a call for a free consultation 808.870.0222

Aloha! 

Green Marble Indoor/Outdoor Shower

 This was a repeat client in Kaanapali Golf Estates. This shower sits out in the eliments and takes a beating from sun, red dirt , and hard water. The grout turns from green to brown. The polish dulls in main areas and color gets lost. As you can see the difference between the two sides of the tracks. The left side is actually on the inside so you can imagine the condition and wear of the the other side before our process was done. We cleaned, polished, and color enhance sealed this floor giving a richer color and nice water and oil repellency. 

Call us at 808.877.0222

Exterior Quartzite Clean and Seal

 Image 2 - Another angle of quartzite 

Exterior Quartzite Clean and Seal

 

Image 1 - This was a quartzite pool deck project we worked on in Wailea maui. This stone was in bad shape. Years of build up and wear and tear. We did a restoration cleaning on this quartzite. And sealed with a color enhancing impregnating sealer. The results are dramatic. 

Quartzite is a popular stone and there's many ways to maintain it. Ask a professional 

Shower Glass

 Water spots on your shower glass? Let us help you. Glass is a beautiful accent to a shower when kept clear. We've been helping maui with glass care, making it easier for ongoing maintenance.  

Ask for a free consultation

808.877.0222

White River Rock

  All of us know how bad red dirt on maui can look and how much maintenance it can be on property. This deck was done on the west side of maui with years of red dirt build up. We specialize in cleaning and sealing all types of stone both exterior and interior. 

If you need a free consultation call 808.877.0222

Brown Moroccan Limestone Kitchen Counter

 I love working upcountry in awesome kula maui. It's nice and cool, with great views and ten minutes from my house (bonus). This is one of our long time clients. This counter my look familiar because I posted pictures before, we've restored and polished it a few times. It's a beautiful stone you don't see very often. Beautiful but requires a lot of care and maintenance. This time we applied a new protective product which is ideal for sensitive stone counters. It makes the surface etch proof and stain proof. Along with that as you can tell the reflection is excellent. It will make stone last longer and make daily cleaning a lot simpler.  If you would like to know if your counter is a good candidate for this process call 808.877.0222

See you soon

Kihei Condo Lanai Pavers

 This project was in a vacation rental condo in ocean front Kihei. The pavers on this deck had years of wear and build up. Not to mention multiple layers of a topical coating style sealer. First we had to remove the old stained coating. Next came the deep cleaning to make sure we were well preped for our sealing step. This is a 2 step color enhancing / stain proofing sealing process. This job came out excellent and will last for years to come. What a difference. 

Exterior Quartzite Clean and Seal

  This project was done in sunny Wailea Maui. Our crew deep cleaned and brought back the original beautiful colors of this quartzite lanai. Protecting it with a high quality penetrating sealer to help keep its integrity and look for years to come. 

Another satisfied Eurotech customer

Coatings and Natural Stone

Marble - Granite - Travertine - Limestone Sealing:  Coating and Sealing Information

This is a reprint from the New York Landmarks Conservancy found at http://www.sacredplaces.org/PSP-InfoClearingHouse/articles/Focus.htm


Focus: Clear Masonry Coatings


The application of clear masonry coatings on historic masonry should be avoided except in unusual circumstances and undertaken only after professional consultation.

Building committee members are often told that they should apply a clear coating to masonry to prevent water infiltration or protect it from dirt, pollution, and graffiti. While this may sound like a great idea, it's not! Moisture problems on the interior are usually not from the penetration of rain through a brick or stone wall, but by defective roofs and gutters, open mortar joints, moisture from the ground (known as rising damp), and condensation. And since coatings are more likely to trap moisture inside a wall than keep it out, they can create more serious problems. It is better to fix the gutters or repoint the building before considering the application of a clear coating that is costly, possibly unwarranted, and can potentially lead to long―term damage. Bear in mind that most historic houses of worship have endured for years without any type of coating.


Types of Coatings

Waterproof coatings or sealers (acrylics, epoxies, polyurethanes) make a surface impermeable to water. Since all types of masonry are naturally porous, moisture evaporates through pores in the material. When a waterproof coating is applied to masonry, this natural evaporation process is altered. Moisture can still enter the masonry one way or another, but will no longer evaporate through the exterior wall. The trapped moisture can either migrate back to the interior, damaging interior structural systems and finishes, or in cold weather, freeze and expand behind the exterior coating, causing the masonry to crack and crumble (called spalling).

Water-repellent coatings (stearates and polymers, silicones, silanes and siloxanes) repel water and water-borne substances from the masonry surface and are designed to allow water vapor to enter and leave; for this reason many manufacturers call them "breathable." Their application to sound masonry is typically unnecessary since interior moisture migration does not come from water passing through stone or brick. And even if they are designed to "breath" and not harm masonry, water―repellent coatings are expensive and need to be renewed every five to ten years. Another troubling aspect is that the reapplication of the coating can block masonry pores causing possible damage.

Graffiti barrier coatings (acrylics, polyethylene wax emulsions, polysaccharides, silicones, and others) prevent graffiti from penetrating into the masonry and make removal easier. Current information on barrier coatings is quickly changing and should be investigated before any are applied to a masonry surface.


Drawbacks of Coatings

Many masonry coatings have the following potential drawbacks:

trapping moisture and soluble salts in the wall cavity and masonry resulting in cracking and deterioration (called spalling) which may not show up for several years

a glossy sheen, which may be obvious in normal lighting conditions or only visible when it rains

overtime they can discolor, turn yellow, or attract dirt

a patchy, uneven appearance, often with flaking, as the coating deteriorates

increased maintenance schedules and expenses since some need to be reapplied frequently, which can be costly especially if scaffolding is required

difficult or impossible to remove

not necessary or ineffective

impediment to repointing or patching masonry

Consequently, coatings must be used with extreme caution. Always seek the advice of a preservation architect or building conservator in evaluating the need for a coating versus alternative treatments. If a coating is going to be used, make sure to specify the manufacturer and type of masonry coating needed, and test and monitor its performance in an inconspicuous area.


Limited Uses

Clear masonry coatings should be used as a last resort for areas that exhibit active signs of deterioration. For example, water―repellent coatings may be considered as a temporary measure to slow down unusual problem areas where other means to prevent water infiltration have failed, such as sandblasted

or badly spalling brick or sandstone, or high exposure areas such as parapets or a portion of a building subject to driving rains. Repairs to treat a moisture problem and drying out of the masonry may be necessary before applying a coating. According to Mark London in Masonry: How to Care for Old and

Historic Brick and Stone, waterproof coatings "may be used effectively on the dry exteriors of foundations and basement walls...since trapping moisture within the wall is unlikely in this case as no evaporation occurs below grade." Transparent graffiti barrier coatings may be worth considering in cases of severe, recurrent graffiti problems, in addition to other types of measures (such as security lights) to prevent and control graffiti. Among the safer choices, suggests Martin Weaver in Removing Graffiti from Masonry, are water-based polysaccharides, and silicone and silicone-based coatings, which are vapor-permeable and generally do not change the natural appearance of the masonry. As with water repellent and waterproof coatings, the application of a barrier coating should be discussed with the local municipal preservation commission or review board. In New York City, the Landmarks Preservation Commission must review all proposals for the application of masonry coatings on landmark properties.

Acknowledgements: Mark London, Masonry: How to Care for Old and Historic Brick and Stone (Washington, D.C.: Preservation Press, 1988); Robert C. Mack, AIA, Preservation Briefs 1: The Cleaning and Waterproof Coating of Masonry Buildings (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of the Interior, 1975); New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, Rowhouse Manual; Martin E. Weaver, Removing Graffiti from Masonry: A Technical Preservation Brief (New York Landmarks Conservancy, 1995).

Slate Floor Refinish Project

Slate Floor Restoration by EUROTECH Maui 808.877.0222

Eurotech Maui Slate Refinish Project Before and After

This slate entry was coated with a sealer that needed to be stripped away prior to resealing.  Coatings tend to wear unevenly and unattractively.  You can see how the flooring looks before we started.  Coating removal can be rather cumbersome to take on as a do it yourself project.  Many homeowners opt to have a professional do the job instead.

The end result is slate flooring sealed with an impregnating enhancer.  The sealer works from within the stone, instead of sitting on top of the stone.  Impregnators reduce slip issues, and won't flake away like coatings.  Enhancing Sealers deepen and intensify the stone color.   

For recommendations or service on your project, 

Call  EUROTECH Maui

808-877-0222