Why do marble counter tops become dull?
Marble becomes dull overtime due to two main factors. Factor number one is etching which occurs when the marble surface comes into contact with anything acidic and the calcium minerals that make up the stone start to dissolve. Many popular food items and household cleaning products are acidic and in this case diluted vinegar was used to clean the marble surface which dulled it down. Factor number two is abrasion. Marble is very soft and can easily be scuffed, scratched or bruised. This can easily happen to marble floors when outside debris is tracked in contact with the marble surface.
How do I get my marble counter tops to shine like new?
Luckily marble can be restored to like new and although there is a process to re-finish your marble counter tops it is always recommended to consult an experienced technician first. The process to restore the shine is called honing and polishing and is done with diamond embedded honing pads and specialty polishing powders.
How to polish marble the right way
Step1. Prep. Prepare an area and ensure you have proper equipment. Honing and polishing marble is a wet process and involves grinding the stone surface which is very messy. You will definitely need to plastic off surrounding areas so that the stone slurry does not splatter and cause a mess. You will also need a variable speed angle grinder and an 8″ inch pad driver. You will need diamond embedded honing pads at grit levels 100, 200, 400 and 800, calcite stone polishing powder and white buffing pad. You will also need an alkaline and a PH neutral stone cleaner for cleaning and neutralizing.
step2. Honing. Using the angle grinder start honing the surface with 100 grit pads, make sure to use plenty of water and to keep the honing pad flush on the marble surface. Make sure to keep the trigger slightly pressed and to apply plenty of pressure. Spend at least one minute per square foot and to hone the surface evenly. Squeeze the stone slurry off and repeat the process with the 200, 400 and 800 grit. Examine the area to make sure all the damaged surface has been removed.
Step3. Polish. Use a calcite stone product and the white pads to perform a polishing pass. Use water and apply lots of pressure. You will want to use a wet to dry method meaning you don’t stop polishing a section until the polish mixture has mostly evaporated. After completing an area neutralize the section with an alkaline stone cleaner. Neutralizing is very important because splattering from the polishing powder can re-etch the marble surface and adjacent areas.
step4. Do a final buff and clean. Wipe the area down with a clean rag and some PH neutral stone cleaner and then buff with a clean and dry white pad. Look over your work to see if you missed any areas.
It is important to know that this is a super technical skill to aquire. There is a proces but you will need lots of experience before feeling confident with your skills.
Santa Fe Floor Care is Austin’s top Marble Polishing Company.
Home Owners in Austin Texas chose Santa Fe Floor Care because we have a proven track record and the most highly trained and experienced technicians. Our Website is full of documented success stories that will leave you feeling confident we can get the job done. Each one of our technicians has over a decade experience restoring natural stone and marble surfaces.
Marble Counter top polishng testimonial
“Our marble counter tops were in bad shape with many water marks and a white residue left over from standing lemon juice. I corresponded with Rod for a quote over the phone. On the scheduled day, Rod and a colleague showed up promptly on time and made our marble counter tops look like new again! I can’t believe how shiny they are after the work was done. Incredibly pleased with the customer service and results of the work of this company.”
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Do you have natural stone that needs to be restored to like new? Reach out to us. At Santa Fe Floor Care, we invite you to check our credentials to see for yourself why we are Austin, TX’s preferred and trusted floor care company. CONTACT FORM or call (512) 632-1621 today for a FREE estimate.