Need help with marble floor tile

[yvonne38]

We have just purchased an older home with marble in the foyer. It is still in good shape but it seems to be etched, probably with water spots and streaks. Is there some way to polish it up and remove that type thing?

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[doitright]

Hi Yvonne, Welcome! :)

The best way is to hire a local restoration specialist. Make sure they don't "crystallize" the floor! :eek:

[yvonne38]

Thanks John,
What would I look for in the Phone book to call one. And how could I be sure they wouldn't Crystalize the floor. I don't even know what that means. :cry:

[doitright]

Hi Yvonne :)

I suggest you 1st try www.ntc-stone.com, and go to the contractor list. See if there is anyone in your area. You should also be able to find better explaination of the "Crystallization Process" at that site. In a nutshell, it's a process that places a "shell" over the marble not allowing it to breath. Some of the chemicals used also compromise the minerals in the stone, thus causing degradation (over a period of time).

[yvonne38]

Thank you John,
At least this gives me a starting point. We have asked several tile people about it and they didn't have a clue. But their expertise was only in the tile laying and contracting part of the process. Not after they were down and ruined. LOL I really appreciate your advice and I will have a look at the link you sent. Thanks again
Yvonne

[Jim Cuviello]

Yvonne,

Were are you located?

[yvonne38]

Cleveland, TN

[claycarson]

Yvonne, the 'restoration' they are talking about is usually done with diamond based abrasive pads put under a floor machine. Essentially the process is scratching the stone with progressively finer and finer grits, to remove the very top layer of stone and create shine. It only removes an amount roughly equivalent to the thickness of a sheet of paper, but that may be all you need.

If a contractor does not know what a diamond pad is, don't use him. There may be some in your area, but they don't always advertise much. They may not have to. We have some in our town who don't bother and are usually pretty busy anyway.

[doitright]

Thanks Clay for your input! :)

I was not talking about full blown restoration here. Yvonne only wants to spruce up her floor for the sale. Using a marble polishing compound is a lot less costly than using diamonds. As I mentioned, will not remove scratches. Your diamond process (if done properly), will remove lippage and scratches.

[yvonne38]

No we have bought the house and are moving in.

I think just a gentle polishing might help. It is just kind of streaked and spotted like they have left wet shoes or something setting on it and dripped water on it in spots and haven't wiped them up. I may opt to try buffing it myself to just clean it good and put down throw rugs. LOL Much easier and a lot less costly. Is there just a marble cleaner that might help bring back the shine?

[yvonne38]

Thanks for your input Clay, I am still in the thinking process at the moment. I don't know how extensive a treatment I want to use, or just forget the whole thing and just live with it.

[doitright]

Hi Yvonne,

Sorry, I mixed you up with another thread (only the house sale thing). :fim:

Using MPC is tricky business, and you could do more harm than good, if you don't know what you're doing.

Please don't put wax, or any other topical coating on the marble. Get a quote, and save your pennies. You'll be glad you did!

[yvonne38]

Hi again John,
What do you use to clean marble then? It seems like it has some kind of coating on it, maybe like an acrylic wax??? How could I get that off? What is the procedure for just cleaning it. Do I use water, cleaner, what?? i am a total novice on marble.

We have had porcelain tile put down in the 3 bathrooms in the new/old house. And it is not a shiny tile. It was put down, grouted and just washed off. Should I seal it with any thing?

I have tile all over the house we are moving out of, but it is ceramic and no trouble at all. I'm really new to new tiling. Every thing we have had in the past has already been done and was ready to just be kept clean.

Sorry I am asking so many questions, but I am needing a lot of information it seems. :o

[yvonne38]

I will call an expert, seems there are a few in my area, probably in Chattannooga. But I will probably just use throw rugs at the moment and like you say, save my pennies and hve it done at a later date.

Thanks for your advice so far, it sounds really sensible. I won't do any thing stupid. At least this time, glad I found this forum.

Yvonne

[doitright]

Hi Yvonne :)

We invite questions here, don't hold back!

If there is a coating on the surface, we need to determine what it is. If it's acrylic wax, then a high alkaline wax stripper will do the trick. If it's a urethane coating, then a stronger stripper will be necessary. The coating will need to be removed, before a polishing compound can be used. The restoration person would be happy if that work was already accomplished.

As far as maintenance, for all of your tile & stone, a neutral cleaner is suggested.

The porcelain tile is as about durable as it gets. I always treat my grout joints with an impregnating sealer. Depending on the sealer that is used, expect different results.

[yvonne38]

Thanks John, I will see if I can find something to strip off the coating and then just clean it and see how it does. Do you have a suggestion on a high alkaline wax stripper to use? We have a Lowes and Home Depot here. Do they carry a product that would work? :)

[doitright]

Home Depot carries some aqua mix products in the tile isle.
http://www.aquamix.com/hdt&g.htm

They also carry Zep products in the janitorial isle.

I don't have a Lowes yet.

[yvonne38]

Thanks once again John,
I'll try to get by there soon and see what I can find.
I appreciate your time answering all my questions.
Yvonne