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COMMON USES FOR MARBLE

Marble is a beautiful, classic stone. It comes in a wide variety of colors depending on where in the world it is mined. Marble can be used in almost any room in your house. It makes for an elegant floor, but it’s also stunning as countertop or backsplash material. Marble is also great as a tabletop. Compared to other popular stones, like granite, marble is quite soft. This means that it’s more prone to stains and scratches.

The hardness of stones and minerals is measured on the Mohs scale, which rates a stone’s hardness on a scale of 1 to 10. A stone with a Mohs rating of 1 is very soft and will scratch easily. Marble is rated between a 3 and 5. In comparison, granite typically rates an 8 or 9 on the Mohs scale.

What Is Marble Polishing?

A newly installed marble surface is shiny and lustrous. That shine will dull, however, after years of use. In most cases, dull marble is just a result of dirt buildup. Etching and scratches can also make marble lose its shine. This more extensive damage is typically caused by acidic or abrasive cleaning solutions. Fortunately, stone is a forgiving material. Even the cloudiest, dullest marble surfaces can be polished to a shine by a professional. The experts use special polishing powders and tools to achieve a mirror-like finish. Once it’s polished, marble resists stains well. It’s still a good idea to clean up spills promptly to avoid damage and discoloration.

What Is Marble Restoration?

Light etching and dullness on your marble surfaces is to be expected over the years. If your marble is very old, however, or has been badly stained or damaged, it might need restoration work.

Stain removal is the first step in marble restoration. Your stone technician will use a pH-neutral solution to fix discolored areas. Repair work may be necessary if the marble is cracked or otherwise damaged. If the surface is tiled with marble, your technician will probably need to remove the grout from the damaged section as part of the repair process.

After the repair work is done, your technician will hone the marble surface. Honing doesn’t create a shiny finish, but it does even the marble’s surface and remove any rough areas. After honing the marble, your stone technician will polish it to a shine. They’ll do this with polishing powders and a large rotary buffing machine. Finally, the surface should be sealed to prevent future damage to the marble. Most stone experts recommend resealing marble once per year.