Recently installed marble floors look bright and polished. This is because they have been factory polished to a smooth finish and are perfectly clean. Contrary to popular belief, marble floors often are not very durable. Regular foot traffic and pivotal points can begin to “sand” away the even sheen from the original surface.
Although it is a naturally occurring stone, marble is a soft substance with a surface that is easily worn down with regular usage. Dirt and scratches can affect marble’s appearance, clogging the crystals that reflect light and give the stone its beauty. By using abrasive diamond disc on the bottom of one of our floor machines, you can remove the existing wear with low diamond grits. Then you follow a sequential pattern to properly “close” the stone back up preparing it for a final polish. In most cases, a slightly acidic polish is used that further closes the pores of the stone’s surface allowing maximum reflection.
Use of harsh cleaners and topical coatings can also be adding to the dulled look of your floor. You should always use cleaners that are specifically designed for maintaining natural stone like our Stone and Tile Cleaner. We recommend a neutral, free-rinse cleaner for periodic wet mopping. Along with that it is best to use an untreated dust mop for daily maintenance of the floor. Spray and mop type floor products used on vinyl floors are a definite NO and should never be used to maintain stone floors. The use of such products will only increase the maintenance needs of the floor and dull its appearance.
Here are a few quick tips that will help you with maintenance:
– Marble is very delicate and it does require maintenance to look its best. Here are some basic care tips for cleaning marble.
– Marble is a very soft stone and it is much softer than granite. It is also highly porous, so acids very easily etch it. (Vinegar, tomato juice, orange juice, etc)
– It’s also prone to develop water stains or spots, such as marks left by drinking glasses, or water spots after mopping.
– Always wipe off any spills immediately as they happen. NEVER, EVER clean marble with vinegar, as you will destroy the finish, and permanently etch the stone.
If your polished marble is protected with floor finishing sealant, the finish should be buffed or burnished in and reapplied periodically to keep the surface optimally protected and looking good.