Looking After Your Marble Tiles

By Edward Green

Initially flooring was done with non-polished marble for the obvious reason of low cost. It was very durable and maintenance was never a problem. You just needed to sweep and mope up the floor to maintain it. The times have changed and so have changed the marbles being used. Now you have costly marbles glazing like glass. A marble floor polished well looks stunning but it also a fact that it requires proper maintenance. If there are minor problems with your marble flooring you can yourself fix it, otherwise you will need the help of a professional.

          If there are cracks in the marble, repair it with a suitable filler material. Although, if the cracks are very large or the cracks are very small hair line cracks, you cannot fill it. So, the only alternative that remains is replacement. If your marble receives a sharp impact, it may result in the appearance of a stun mark. Generally, it is caused by ladies high heeled shoes. The stun marks can be removed by grinding with diamond abrasives. If the stun marks are very deep and grinding is unable to remove it, replacement can be the only solution. Deep scratches can also be repaired by resurfacing it with grit diamond abrasives.

          If some acidic substances like citrus juice, vinegar, soft drinks or things like that fall on to the surface, it may result in the creation of a dull area on the marble floor which is called “etching”. If the etching is minor, it can be repaired by polishing the area with a crystallizer or polishing powder. Resurfacing the area with diamond abrasives can be used to repair heavy etching.

          Sometimes, a piece of marble breaks away, leaving a chip or hole in the marble. This is called “Spalling.” It can be repaired by filling it with a polyester, epoxy or cement based filler material colored to match the stone. Resurfacing the area to the stone level should also be done. You can also replace the affected stone but it would surely be a costly affair.

          ‘Poulticing’ is a process that is used to remove stains. Poultice powders are available in the market. First an appropriate poultice is prepared and then it is applied on the stain. As it dries, it takes out the stain from the marble. If you find that poulticing doesn’t yield favorable results, you can use the method of “honing.” Honing is the process of grinding the surface to a fresh layer of stone and then repolishing it.

          Another common problem with white marbles is the yellowing of it. It actually happens because of the iron present in it that oxidizes with time, turning it into yellow. Since, this yellowing is because of the marble itself, so replacement is the only alternative. Sometimes, yellowing is also caused by dust or wax coatings that get grounded in. You will have to strip off the coating to get rid of the yellowishness.

          Now, for daily maintenance. It’s very simple though. Mop the floor daily. The marble floor generally loses its shine and polish because of dust, dirt, sand and other fine particles scratching the surface because of foot traffic. What mopping does is that it removes the dust and dirt from the floor and consequently it keeps scratching to a minimum. It is also not advisable to over- wet the floor. A light damp mopping does the best. It is also essential to ascertain that the cleaner being used is neutral (pH equaling seven). Alkaline or acidic cleaners can adversely affect the lustre of your marble.

          Polishing should be done on a regular basis. It is a known fact that if you try to restore a marble that has turned dull, it will take three or four times longer to restore it.  You will have to form a polishing schedule. Polish the floor and see how long it takes to start turning dull. That would give you an idea of the interval of time after which you should polish your floor.

          Use of impregnators and sealers can save your marble from being stained. Removing stains can be an expensive affair and might sometimes be not possible. Use of a good quality impregnator or sealer protects the marble from being stained easily. Actually, an impregnator is a chemical that penetrates the stone. Its property is to repel water, dye, dirt and other substances that cause stains. So, it does not actually coat the surface.

          So, if you wish to have gleaming, sparkling marble flooring, you should be willing to put some effort in maintaining the marble flooring. Though, the effort would surely be worth it.

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About The Author:
Edward Green owns and operates the highly successful Marble Master Ltd Company. Marble Master specializes in the Sales, Installation, Restoration and Refinishing of all types of natural stone and consultancy services to Architects, Restoration Companies and Interior Designers. http://www.marblemasteruk.com.