Homeowners, interior designers, and architects can all attest to the beauty of natural stone–and the difficulties in maintaining it. “The average person, whether an architect, end user, or designer, have all been wired to avoid stone surfaces in design due to the difficulty in maintaining it,” explains Neil J. Wallin, Principal at Northeastern TuffSkin. Thankfully, the design–and stone–industry can experience a revival in the use of these stunning, luxe natural resources with the application of TuffSkin.
Founded in Las Vegas–and the only sealer approved by the Las Vegas hospitality industry–TuffSkin has been protecting natural stone for over 18 years. “We offer a solution to a problem that was inherent in using natural stone: acid staining and etching,” Neil shares. Any stone used in commercial buildings, the hospitality industry, or residential settings will normally see etching, staining, discoloration, and heat damage over time. But with TuffSkin, your stone, whether it be “marble, granite, quartz, travertine, or really any solid surface,” is guaranteed to remain protected.
While TuffSkin is available throughout the world, Northeastern TuffSkin operates crews across 16 states in the Northeastern United States. With a global network of dealers, the parent company supplies principals like Neil with the proprietary material, which they can then deliver and install for their customers.
What exactly, you might ask, are they bringing? Neil helps to break it down by explaining, “TuffSkin is a polyester substrate that is ingeniously designed to be gas-permeable, but liquid-impermiable.” As stone is organic in nature and thereby, porous, it needs to be able to “breathe” or it will dry out and decay. However, it is obviously vital that a natural stone surface, such as a kitchen countertop, also be impermeable to any liquid spills, acid etching from ingredients like lemon juice, and damage from hot pans. TuffSkin is the immediately available–and long-lasting–solution.
Whether a client is having TuffSkin installed on their new stone counters, or refinishing older stone that has sustained etch marks and then applying TuffSkin, the sparkling (or polished) results remain the same. With a 10-year-warranty in place for “any scenario that comes up,” TuffSkin also protects vertical surfaces, like a stovetop backsplash, for those oil-laden, delicious home-cooked meals that may cause an oil splatter. In commercial use, TuffSkin coverage can be expected to last between 3-5 years in very high usage areas, like a hotel, bar, casino, or cruise ship.
Interestingly, while TuffSkin could be a considered vital addition in a luxe residential redesign, Neil says that “prior to COVID, we rarely did residential[…]COVID was our pivot.” With everyone spending substantial amounts of time at home, Neil saw the demand for TuffSkin rapidly increase, and it hasn’t slowed down.
“In the luxury markets of the world, there are many challenges that come along with buying luxury items,” explains Neil. “With TuffSkin, a person can pick a semi-prescious stone that they would have previously been thought to be insane for considering; TuffSkin allows them to proceed with using the stone they’ve always dreamed of.” For those in the stone industry, TuffSkin has changed the game by “allowing people to purchase stone” after “many people were resigned to ordering man-made surfaces to avoid the maintenance issue.” This led to difficulty moving natural stone inventory, but the application of TuffSkin to luxury stone surfaces “creates allowance for people to comfortably select the stone they love.”
TuffSkin is available in two finishes: Satin and Gloss, “just as stone also has those finishes available.” The benefit of the finishes is a “nice added feature” that allows homeowners to transform their already installed stone. The ability to apply a high-shine gloss to a matte stone and really make it shine, or vice versa, provides TuffSkin customers with a range of design options. Of course, “the formulation of it allows us to be able to remove it and the stone remains pristine as it was when we covered it,” says Neil.
When it comes to installation, TuffSkin dealers and technicians make all the difference. Certified, factory-trained technicians professionally install and service TuffSkin for clients, protecting your environment with face, hand, and feet coverings. And while Neil references the “copycat products” that are out there on the market, he stresses the importance of educating others on how these significantly “inferior to TuffSkin” products cause damage to the original stone underneath. With TuffSkin, the original stone will always remain in pristine condition.
With projects that span Gurney’s Montauk Resort, the Essex House, hotels and casinos throughout Atlantic City and Connecticut, and the private homes of some of the RHoNJ stars, Tuffskin is well-equipped, experienced, and knowledgeable to handle your next stone installation project. For more information, please visit https://tuffskin.net/
Neil J Wallin, Principal
C: (929)930-0604
O: (908)259-8880
