How to Finish a Marble Floor

Marble floor in a bathroom

There is nothing more beautiful than a marble floor that gleams in the sunlight and looks pristine. But, in the real world, a home's floors are high-traffic, hard working areas where the finish on a stone floor often develops dull areas. Bringing the marble back to a nice gleam is a good weekend project that should be done regularly to prevent the sealer from degrading to the point where the marble becomes vulnerable to stains.

Things You'll Need

• • Vacuum (non-beater bar)
• • Mild detergent (PH-balanced neutral stone cleaner)
• • Water
• • Scrubber
• • Gloves
• • Acetone
• • Soft cloth
• • Distilled water
• • #0000 grade steel wool (optional)
• • Sealer (see list)
• • Spray bottle or rag to apply sealer.
• • Automotive rubbing compound
• • Buffer
• • Liquid (carnauba based) wax (see list)
• • Other polishing products (see manufacturer's directions) (see list)

Instructions

Finishing A Marble Floor

1. Vacuum the floor thoroughly to remove all traces of grit and dirt. Grit is the number one cause of wear on floors. Don't use a vacuum with a beater bar as the brushes can drag bits of dirt and rock across the floor surface leaving scratches.

2. Scrub the floor thoroughly with a mild detergent or PH-balanced neutral stone cleanser. Be particularly careful to remove all stains and dirt to prevent sealing the stains into the new finish.

3. Wear gloves and remove existing wax by wiping the floor with acetone. Wipe with distilled water and dry with a soft cloth. Problem spots can be lightly scrubbed with #0000 grade steel wool but be certain that every spec of metal is cleaned off the floor or it will rust on the marble leaving a permanent stain.

4. Dry the floor for 2-4 hours (depending on how porous the marble is).

5. Apply sealer based on factory recommendations. Many people use a spray bottle. Wipe off any residue and let the marble floor dry thoroughly.

Non-Essential Additional Steps (Choose Only One Of These):

1. Apply automotive rubbing compound to dull areas (follow product directions). Finish by applying a Carnauba based wax (Flitz) and buff using buffer. This produces a nice shine.

2. Choose a silicone based stone polish product such as "Italian Craftsman". (Silicone based polishes produce a glossy shine, but sometimes leave a greasy appearance).

3. Use a non-silicone based polish like Lithofin's "Stone Conditioner & Polish". Use a power buffer to bring up the shine.

4. Pamir produces a wax shine. This is a thick paste product. Using Pamir is more labor intensive (like waxing a car) but it can be used along marble edges and it will produce a nice shine

Tips & Warnings

• Reseal high traffic marble floors 1-2 times a year. Keep grit off the floor. Mop up spills quickly. Simple Green® and Brightstone offer some green stone cleaning products. Dull finishes on marble floors are sometimes caused by floor soaps not designed for marble. Always rinse marble floors with distilled water as this will prevent mineralizing spots on the marble. Always dry the floor immediately with a towel to prevent water spots.

• Many dish soaps and floor soaps contain acids (like citrus) that can damage marble. Check labels carefully and buy only pH neutral cleansers for use on the marble floor.

References

• Flitz Products
• Keidel
• Simple Green®

Resources

• Italian Craftsman Polish
• Lithofin Products