Laser Cleaning for Stone
in Switzerland.
We clean stone with a pulsed fibre laser. Graffiti, paint, soot, weathering crusts and biological growth disappear, while the stone surface stays untouched and the patina is preserved. Mobile service throughout Switzerland, on facades, monuments, sculptures and historic buildings, with no sandblasting and no aggressive chemicals.
- Mobile throughout Switzerland
- Reply within 24 h
- No chemicals, no sandblasting
Laser cleaning stone: restoration examples
Choose an image below to view examples of stone conservation, detailed relief cleaning and restored historic architecture.
Laser cleaning stone:
what happens and how it works
Laser cleaning stone is a contactless, dry process. The layer that is meant to go, namely soot, paint, graffiti, weathering crust or biological growth, absorbs the laser light and is converted into vapour and fine particles in fractions of a second. The mineral stone beneath reflects a large part of the same wavelength and stays cool. With correctly set parameters, no removal of the sound stone occurs.
Compared with sandblasting or chemical cleaners, no material is removed from the stone. The surface is not roughened, sharp edges and fine profiles are preserved, and the historic patina keeps its character. This is the decisive point with sandstone, with monuments, with weathered sculptures and with fine reliefs, where every blasting pass costs substance. When you clean stone with the laser, the substance stays just as it has grown over the decades.
The working environment also differs significantly. An integrated extraction system with a HEPA filter draws off dust and vapour directly at the working point. The construction site, the interior or the cemetery stays clean, the ground is not covered with wet blasting media or cleaning sludge, and the waste water does not need to be collected. After the work, the stone is immediately dry and can be treated further without any waiting time.
Benefits of laser cleaning sandstone over sandblasting and chemicals
No removal of the surface
The laser removes no stone. Sandstone, limestone, granite or marble keep their surface and their mass. With sandblasting, exactly this substance is lost for good.
Without aggressive chemicals
No acids, no alkalis, no solvents. Nothing that penetrates the porous stone, introduces salts or later effloresces again.
Profiles and edges protected
Cornices, reliefs and sculptural details stay sharp. No rounding effect of the kind that blasting media inevitably creates on fine contours.
Selective cleaning
Only the layer that is meant to go disappears. Original paintwork, stonemason marks or patina worth preserving at unproblematic spots can be deliberately spared.
Clean workplace
Extraction with a HEPA filter directly at the focal point. No blasting sand on the pavement, no cleaning sludge, no waste water that needs to be collected.
Mobile on site
The system fits into a van. We come to the object with the equipment, so facades, monuments and gravestones do not have to be moved.
Cleaning stone surfaces: where we are at work
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Facades and historic buildingsRemove grime, soot and biofilm, the stone stays untouched.
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Monuments and heritage conservationConservation-grade cleaning approved for protected sites.
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Sculptures and reliefsFine control around edges, detail and fragile relief.
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Gravestones and grave monumentsRestore lettering and surfaces without abrasion.
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Masonry of brick and concreteClean brick and concrete without opening the pores.
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Fountains, portals and architectural ornamentationReach ornament and recesses evenly, where chemicals can't.
Suitable stone types
and coatings
| Material | Suitability | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Sandstone | Very good | The classic facade and monument stone. Soot, weathering crusts and graffiti go away, while the grain and the patina are preserved. Parameters are tuned to the soft stone. |
| Limestone and travertine | Very good | Sensitive limestones on portals and interiors. The laser dissolves soot and gypsum crusts without attacking the limestone or leaving acid damage. |
| Granite and gneiss | Very good | Hard natural stones on plinths and gravestones. Very robust to clean, polished and flamed surfaces keep their shine. |
| Concrete and exposed concrete | Good | Facades and components made of concrete. Graffiti and paint disappear, the cement skin is largely preserved. Test cleaning beforehand to select the parameters. |
| Brick and tile | Good | Exposed masonry and historic bricks. Soot and growth come off, the fired surface and the joint pattern stay intact, without opening the fired skin. |
| Marble | Conditional | Fine, sensitive surfaces on sculptures and grave monuments. Always a test cleaning with reduced pulse energy to protect light stones from any tinting. |
How your job works
Photos and context
You send us images of the object, the type of stone if known, the type of soiling that is meant to go, and the location. We get back to you within 24 hours with an initial assessment.
Written quote
You receive an offer with a fixed price or a clear hourly rate, plus travel and an estimated duration of the job. Confirmation by email or WhatsApp.
Test cleaning on site
On site we start at a small, inconspicuous spot. You see the result, we fine-tune pulse energy and feed rate, and then we begin with the main area.
Cleaning and inspection
We work layer by layer, check the surface in raking light and adjust the parameters when the crust thickness or stone type changes.
Handover
You check the result, we clear the working area, empty the filter and hand over the stone dry and ready for the next step: hydrophobic treatment, stone consolidation, coating or simply left as it is.
Mobile laser cleaning for stone on site
Our system is transportable. Laser, controls, extraction and cables fit into a panel van, and a normal 230 V or 400 V socket is enough in most cases. For locations without power we bring a generator. We work throughout Switzerland: Zurich, Bern, Basel, Lucerne, St. Gallen, Winterthur, Aarau, Chur, Sion and all the cantons in between. The larger or more firmly built in the stone surfaces are, the more an on-site job pays off. Facades, monuments, fountains or gravestones do not have to be removed, dismantled or transported, we come directly to the object. You can find more about the mobile service under Industrial Laser Cleaning.
What does laser cleaning of stone cost?
The price depends on the area, the type of soiling, the stone type and the accessibility. The following example values show the typical range. A binding quote follows after we review the photos or after a short on-site appointment. You can find a detailed overview of all factors under Laser cleaning costs.
| Example | Guide price |
|---|---|
| Gravestone or sculpture single object, all sides | CHF 280 - 520 |
| Graffiti removal per square metre of wall area | CHF 140 - 250/m² |
| Facade, per m² depending on crust type and access | CHF 110 - 220/m² |
What customers ask before the first
job
Ready to see the stone under
soot and crust again?
Send us photos of the stone surfaces, the stone type if known, and the location. We get back to you within 24 hours with an initial assessment and a proposed appointment. You see straight away whether laser cleaning for stone suits your project, before anything is fixed.