Marble – this noble material par excellence has been a symbol of luxury since time immemorial. It exudes a feeling of royalty. Throughout history, this natural stone has inspired the interior and exterior décor of castles and mansions. Marble flooring is a popular choice for homebuyers today. Despite its durability, this natural stone is delicate and porous in nature and thus stains easily from acidic and alkaline substances like wine, and soda, when any liquid is accidentally spilled or from water spots left after mopping. It is also susceptible to scratching, chipping, and cracking. This metamorphosed limestone with its extraordinary versatility and unparalleled strength has captured the heart of many with its classic beauty and sheer elegance. Unfortunately, over time marble floors lose their natural shine making them look dull and unappealing. But, there’s no need to feel disappointed. With the use of the right technique, your marble floor will start gleaming again in no time.
Trendsetters Facilities and Technical Services (TFTS), the top marble polishing services provider in Delhi, Gurugram, NOIDA, Manesar, Dharuhera, Bawal, Rudrapur, Haridwar, Pantnagar, SIDCUL, Mahindra World City Jaipur, Neemrana has a few tips to share with you on how to restore the lost shine of marble and repair the cracks within. Let’s take a look at them.
How to polish a marble floor?
Depending upon whether the floor is made of natural marble or cultured marble, different methods are used to polish them.
In the case of natural marble, when any liquid seeps into the stone, it gets trapped within and stains are formed. Remove the fresh stains by using a damp microfibre cloth with a neutral detergent. Rub the stain gently and rinse it thoroughly to get a clean surface. And for stubborn stains, mix baking soda, water, hydrogen peroxide, or ammonia, until it forms a thick cleaning paste somewhat like peanut butter. This cleaning paste, called a poultice can then be applied to the stained area and left to dry. The poultice is then covered with a plastic wrapping sheet. Remove the wrapping once the poultice has dried. Add half a cup of water. Then carefully remove the dried poultice with a wooden spatula or a plastic spoon, if required. Clean the surface below with water and dry it with a soft towel.
In the case of cultured marble, the nylon-bristled brush can be used with a non-abrasive household cleaner to scrub off the surface stains. Since cultured marble is manufactured with a protective coating, it is less susceptible to scratches and damage and is hence easier to clean compared to natural marble.
The Process of Polishing
Once the stains have been removed, the next step involves polishing of the marble floor. But, before you begin polishing, make sure the surface is spic and span. Use a soft dust mop or a microfibre cloth to gently remove any dirt or dust. After that mix 45g of baking soda with 0.9 liters of water. This mixture must be applied to the surface in a thin layer. Once it dries after about five hours, the marble surface can then be rinsed well with warm water. Use a clean microfibre or chamois cloth to dry buff the marble. And you can get a sparkling finish. Add a floor-finishing sealant for future protection. In the case of cultured marble even though it is manufactured with a sealed surface, a sealant is recommended to be applied every one or two years to prevent stains.
Let us look at the restoration process of marble floor in detail:
· Sanding or Grinding: This is the first step that involves lippage removal or flattening of marble floors. The high edges and scratches found on the marble are called Lippage. This feature may be present in newly installed tiles, too. Sanding is a very time-consuming and aggressive process that removes deep scratches and lippage with the help of metal-bonded and diamond grits. Once the roughness, ledges, and scratches are all removed, the marble floor becomes smooth. Diamond polishing pads of grit size 30 or 50 are used for the best results. Finally, a marble sealer is applied with a rag to seal the sanded area.
· Honing: This step involves buffing the stone to remove minor scratches or stains that enhance the shine and smoothness and give the marble floors a more even surface. Silicon carbide or diamond particles are used to rub over the surface to shed a small amount of stone. This removes or flattens out scratches and ingrained soil. Powder honing, pad honing, and hard honing are the three different types of honing. Honing will give the floor a matte finish. Usually, diamond polishing pads of grit 100 to 200 are ideal for this procedure. Honed surfaces must always be sealed to protect them from being stained again. A honed finish is ideal for floors, stair treads, furniture tops, etc.
· Polishing: Polishing is the step next to honing. It will give the marble the semi-glossy or glossy finish that you are looking for. Natural polishing powders usually contain the active ingredient potassium oxalate, also known as oxalic acid. By using industrial diamond pads with grit sizes of 400, 800, and 1500, the marble floor will start sparkling once again.
· Buffing or Crystallisation: The method involves using steel wool pads and a weighted floor machine along with an acid solution to restore the shine on marble floors. It is a long-lasting and stable procedure that will not only preserve the stone’s color but also restore its shine and strengthen its structure. This is the final stage in polishing.
· Sealing: Finally, a penetrating sealant must be applied to the polished marble floor to prevent water absorption and cracks.
Additional tips
- Read the instruction manual before using the polisher.
- During grinding, care must be taken to avoid too many incisions that can crack the stone at high speeds.
- Remember to wear insulated gear when polishing wet floors.
- Food items like tea, coffee, fruit juice, sodas, alcohol, vinegar, salad dressing, tomatoes, or tomato-based products must be immediately wiped off with a dry cloth from marble floors irrespective of the floor being honed or polished.
- It is advisable to avoid DIY tricks for cleaning your marble floor.
- Remember to use a pH-neutral cleaner as both acidic and alkaline cleaners can damage and stain the floor.
- Consider keeping rugs at entry points so that you can wipe your feet before stepping onto the marble floor. The surface will be protected from scratches.
- A vacuum cleaner with brush attachments and without wheels can be used to avoid damaging the marble floor.
Removal of stains
Different kinds of stains on the marble floor need to be treated differently.
Oil-based stains: A dilute solution of dish soap can be used to remove fresh stains. Sprinkling corn starch on the affected area helps to remove stains that had not penetrated the marble too deeply.
Ink stains: Hydrogen peroxide can be used for the removal of stains from light-colored stones while acetone can remove stains from the dark-colored floor.
Organic stains: A poultice containing 6 percent hydrogen peroxide can be used to remove organic stains like rings left behind by tea cups or sauce bottles. However, it must be noted that hydrogen peroxide can lighten the color of a dark marble floor. A dilute solution of ammonia can also be used to break up and remove organic stains.
Rust stains can be removed with a poultice composed of baking soda and ammonia or a non-acidic rust remover.
Now that you know a few tips and tricks to revive the lost glory of your marble floor, do not hesitate to choose marble flooring for your house or office. If you still feel proper maintenance of this luxurious stone is not your cup of tea, feel free to take the help of skilled professionals.
