When a stone or LVT floor starts looking tired, replacing it can feel like the only option. Often it isn’t. “Why replace what we can restore?” is more than a slogan for us – but we’ll always be honest about when restoration won’t do the job. Here’s how to weigh it up.
What replacement really involves
The price of new tiles or planks is only part of it. Replacing a floor usually means:
- Lifting and disposing of the old floor – stone in particular is heavy, slow and messy to remove.
- Preparing or levelling the subfloor underneath.
- New material, adhesive, grout and fitting.
- Moving furniture, possibly kitchen units and appliances, and days of disruption.
- With stone, the risk that the original can’t be matched if only part of the floor is replaced.
What restoration can fix
Dullness and lost shine
Natural stone can be honed and polished back to its original finish. LVT can be stripped, deep cleaned and resealed.
Scratches and etching
Surface scratches and acid etch marks on marble, limestone and travertine can be ground out with diamond pads.
Ingrained dirt and dirty grout
A deep clean lifts what mopping just moves around, and grout can be cleaned back to close to its original colour.
Stains
Many stains can be drawn out or significantly lightened – especially once we know what caused them.
When replacement is the right call
We’ll always tell you straight. Replacement makes more sense when tiles are cracked or loose across large areas, the subfloor has moved, or LVT is worn right through its wear layer across the whole floor. Even then, it’s sometimes possible to replace just the damaged tiles or planks and restore the rest.
The cost question
Every floor is different, so we don’t publish prices. But restoration is typically a fraction of the cost of replacement, is much quicker, and involves far less disruption – no skip on the drive and no ripping out. After your free survey you’ll get a clear quote for your floor.
The easiest way to know is to see it.
Our free survey includes a test patch on your own floor – so you can judge the result before deciding anything.