Cleaning

• 1). Make a paste mixture of one part salt and one part dish soap. If the paste is too thick, add enough water to make a creamy paste. Apply the paste over the stones and allow to sit until dry.
  
  
• 2). Brush the paste off of the stones with a stiff bristle brush. Throw the paste residue in the trash.
  
  
• 3). Pour a solution of trisodium phosphate over the stones. Allow to sit for 10 minutes. Rise thoroughly with water to remove any TSP residue. Allow to dry before sanding or painting. In some cases this may clean the stone enough to give it a complete new look. If you like the stone look, this may be enough resurfacing for you.
  
  

Painting

• 1). Brush the surface of the stone with masonry primer if you wish to resurface the stone by painting. Allow the paint to dry for at least two hours, and preferably 24 hours.
  
  
• 2). Brush tinted masonry sealer over the stonework. This will tint the stones and change the color, giving them a new look. Allow the coat to dry for 24 hours.
  
  
• 3). Apply a second coat of tint if you want an even darker color. Allow the sealer to dry for 24 hours before starting a fire if it is a fireplace. Masonry sealer is the perfect accompaniment to a stone fireplace because it can take high heats. Regular paint can only take heat up to 200 degrees.
  
  

Sanding

• 1). Put on ear, eye and mouth protection to keep sand dust from getting into your eyes, nose or mouth.
  
  
• 2). Dampen the surface of the power grinder. Grind the top surface of the stones for several seconds at a time. This will remove the top layer of stone, giving the stonework a new face and appearance.
  
  
• 3). Polish the stone with the stone polisher to smooth them and give them an even and soft look.