in a most preferred embodiment of the present invention the conditioning of surface 18 comprises reconditioning with both a stone and steam and the reconditioning with the stone is completed prior to the last exposure of the surface to steam by having the reconditioning with the stone completed prior to a final exposure to steam the steam can be utilized to remove particulates that would otherwise be left behind after exposure to the abrasive stone surface such particulates can include abraded portions of pad 14 as well as particulates from the stone in particular aspects of the invention pad 14 can be removed from contact with stone 24 prior to a final exposure of the pad 14 to steam the final exposure to steam can be the only exposure of the pad to steam or alternatively can be in addition to previous exposures which had occurred prior to or during the period that the pad was in contact with the reconditioning stone fig6 illustrates a front view of a portion of a second embodiment apparatus 70 and illustrates a second embodiment exemplary shape of a conditioning head the conditioning head of fig6 comprises conduits 72 24 and 76 terminating in nozzles 78 80 and 82 respectively the nozzles can alternatively be referred to as outlet ports fig6 illustrates steam exiting from the nozzles downwardly extending arrows and impacting surface 18 of pad 14 the steam exits the nozzles in overlapping fans 84 86 and 88 the steam from the fans impacts a surface of conditioning pad 14 at angles from about 0 u00b0 to about 45 u00b0 and the total spray angle of each fan can be from about 105 u00b0 to.