What Actually Drives the Price of Stone Restoration
By Granite Heroes Team · 2026-09-04
Square footage is only part of it. Stone type, damage depth, finish, access and how many separate surfaces are involved all move the number. Here is what your estimate is really measuring.
When two neighbors compare estimates for "polishing the kitchen counters" and get very different numbers, it is usually because the two jobs were not the same job. These are the factors a technician is weighing when they price your project. 1. Stone type Granite is hard and slow to cut, so removing deep scratches takes more time than on marble. Marble and limestone are soft and fast to hone but etch easily, so the polishing stage needs more care. Quartzite sits in between and is notoriously inconsistent slab to slab. Terrazzo and concrete have their own equipment and sequences. The stone sets the baseline. 2. How deep the damage goes A countertop that is merely dull needs a light hone and polish. One with visible scratches needs coarser diamonds first, and every extra grit step is another full pass over the surface. Etch marks, lippage between tiles and old coatings that have to be stripped all add passes. This is why photos with low-angle light matter — they show us depth. 3. The finish you want A high polish takes more steps than a honed (matte) finish. Some clients moving from polished to honed are surprised that it is not cheaper — removing a factory polish evenly is its own job. 4. Edges, corners and detail work Machines cover open floor and countertop quickly. Everything the machine cannot reach — under the cabinet overhang, around the faucet, in shower corners, along stair nosings, ogee edges — is hand work. A small powder room with a lot of edge can take longer than a