Daily Maintenance and Renovation of Marble

Marble floors are widely used for their aesthetic appeal, but due to their material properties (mainly composed of calcium carbonate, relatively soft, porous, and not resistant to acids and alkalis), they are prone to the following common problems in daily maintenance:

1.Surface stains penetrate and form stubborn marks

Marble is porous in texture. If daily liquids (such as oil stains, coffee, red wine, soy sauce, etc.) are spilled and not cleaned up in time, they will quickly penetrate into the interior of the stone, forming dark marks that are difficult to remove. In particular, light-colored stains on dark marble and dark stains on light-colored marble, once penetrated, can hardly be eliminated by simple cleaning.

2.Scratches and surface abrasion, leading to loss of luster

Marble has low hardness (about 3-4 on the Mohs hardness scale). In daily use, if it comes into contact with hard particles (such as sand brought in by shoe soles, metal debris), furniture feet without protective pads, or is rubbed with hard tools, it is prone to fine scratches. After long-term accumulation, the surface will gradually lose its original mirror-like luster and become rough and dull.

3.Acid-alkali corrosion causing surface dullness and damage

Marble is not resistant to acids and alkalis. If cleaning agents containing strong acids (such as hydrochloric acid, oxalic acid) or strong alkalis (such as some heavy oil cleaners for kitchens) are used, they will react chemically with the calcium carbonate in the stone, resulting in surface corrosion: in mild cases, “dulling” (local loss of luster, whitening) occurs; in severe cases, pits, spots, or even peeling of the surface layer may form.

4.Water spots and moisture damage

When in a humid environment for a long time (such as bathrooms, kitchens) or when water is not wiped dry in time after cleaning, water will penetrate into the interior of the marble and combine with minerals in the stone to form “water spots” — dark patches with blurred boundaries on the surface, which are difficult to fade even after drying. If moisture is accompanied by mold growth, black mold spots may also form in gaps or on the surface.

5.Failure of the protective layer due to improper maintenance

If regular waterproof and anti-fouling maintenance is not carried out, or inferior protective agents are used during maintenance, the “protective layer failure” of the stone will occur, losing its anti-fouling and waterproof capabilities, and accelerating stain penetration and corrosion. In addition, excessive grinding or the use of incorrect polishing agents (such as acid-containing crystallizing agents) may damage the surface structure of the stone, thereby exacerbating wear.

6.Problems at joints

If the joint filler used in marble paving is of poor quality or aging, it will cause water and stains to penetrate into the base layer from the joints, and may even cause the stone to warp; long-term friction may also lead to damage and unevenness of the stone edges at the joints.

In response to such problems, we have designed corresponding solutions.

Deep Cleaning and Care for Marble

Tools and Materials:

SC Swift Deep Floor Cleanser, Green Shield, crystallizing machine, 3M red pad, steel wool pad or 3M white pad, dust mop

Operation  process:

1.Clean the marble floor with SC Swift Deep Floor Cleanser(a weakly alkaline cleaning powder that won’t damage marble), a crystallizing machine, and a red pad;

2.Use an automatic floor scrubber to thoroughly rinse the floor with water, remove the moisture, and let it dry.

3.Spray Green Shield on the floor (5-10 ml per square meter), and use a steel wool pad or 3M white pad with a crystallizing machine;

4.Grind the Green Shield evenly until dry, which takes about 2-3 minutes, and a strong crystal shield protective film will form on the floor.

5.If there is dust on the floor, clean it up with a dust mop and repeat the operation with Green Shield, which will make the protective film of Green Shield more firm and bright.

Solutions for Marble Loosening and Efflorescence

Efflorescence is often a “signal” that water has entered the interior of marble: surface efflorescence indicates that water has carried salts into the marble, and long-term water retention and alkaline substance erosion will further damage the marble structure, leading to loosening; conversely, after the marble becomes loose, the number of micropores increases and water absorption rises, which will exacerbate the penetration of water and salts, making efflorescence more serious, forming a vicious cycle of “efflorescence → loosening → more serious efflorescence”.

In response to this problem of soft stones such as marble, we have launched the “Revontulet Dry Grinding System” to reduce the amount of water used on stones with high water absorption. When used in conjunction with 2-in-1 Stone Reinforcing Hardener, this system can effectively inhibit the spread of efflorescence, help seal stone pores, and cover dark cracks.

Tools and Materials:

Revontulet dry grinding pads, 2-in-1 Stone Reinforcing Hardener, Green Shield or MR Marble Polish Paste, crystallizing machine, flat mop

Operation process:

1.Dry grind the floor with Revontulet 50# dry grinding pad (if less dust is desired, dilute GT-1000 Stone Disease Prevention Polishing Fluid with water 13-15 times and wet grind with Revontulet 50# dry grinding pad).

2.After the floor is dry, dry grind with Revontulet 100# dry grinding pad.

3.Clean up the dust, apply 2-in-1 Stone Reinforcing Hardener with a flat mop (a thin layer is sufficient), and after drying, dry grind the floor with Revontulet 200# dry grinding pad.

4.Clean up the dust, apply 2-in-1 Stone Reinforcing Hardener with a flat mop (a thin layer is sufficient), and after drying, dry grind the floor with Revontulet 400# dry grinding pad.

5.Clean up the dust and dry grind with Revontulet 800# dry grinding pad.

6.Clean up the dust, then perform crystallizing and polishing with Green Shield or MR Marble Polish Paste.

Notes:

1.Revontulet 50# dry grinding pad can be used for dry or wet grinding. If wet grinding is performed, it must be used withGT-1000 Stone Disease Prevention Polishing Fluid, and the rotate speed is controlled at 350-400 rpm.

2.When applying 2-in-1 Stone Reinforcing Hardener , pay attention to the dosage and do not apply too much. Grind the floor only after the 2-in-1 Stone Reinforcing Hardener layer is dry.

3.When grinding with 100# and 200# dry grinding pads, the rotate speed can be adjusted to 550 rpm.

4.When grinding with 400# and 800# dry grinding pads, the rotate speed can be adjusted to 1500 rpm.