Polishing Marble is done using multiple products and procedures depending on the stones, this process gives the marble its luster.
The marble surface always needs to be totally cleaned, remove all traces of dirt, grit, waxes and sealers before polishing.
Equipment needed for larger projects include a floor buffing machine. For smaller applications a small hand held buffer can be used. You'll need buffing pads that fit which ever machine is being used.
For the first polishing, an application of a Marble stripper should be used. If you can visually see the grout between the floor tile, use a stiff bristle brush or plastic scraper to clean the dirty grout. After stripping, rinse the floor twice with clean water and a clean mop.
Allow the floor to dry completely. Clean the machine to remove any stripper left. Place a clean pad on buffer and apply Marble polish to the area to be polished.
Apply polish in a 3' x 3' section of the floor. Spray a couple of squirts of the Marble polish onto the surface, using a side-to-side motion, buff the floor until dry. Now go to an adjacent area and do this step again. Work in blocks of four sections until the shine begins to appear.
Next move to four different sections. When starting the application process, you may need three treatments to get the desired level of shine. The best results have been obtained when the surface has a nice even shine, and feels a little bit sticky. Do not over buff and scratch your tiles, go slowly.
After you finish polishing, you will need to buff the corners by hand with a small wad of steel wool pad, this will remove residue and even out the glow. With a clean dry dust mop, sweep and remove the polish residue shavings and throw away. Smaller surfaces such as counter tops are able to be done by the home owner; however, you may want to consider a professional contractor for the larger areas such as Marble floors.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Marble flooring has always been considered as the symbol of prosperity
Marble flooring has always been considered as the symbol of prosperity. Ancient architectures have used marble flooring to signify wealth and power of a place.
A very good example of the splendor of marble flooring is the Taj Mahal, which is considered as one of the ancient wonders of the world.
At present, marble flooring is very much still the symbol of wealth and power. The black marble and the white marble are still considered as the favorites when it comes to flooring. These two types of marble flooring are also considered as the most expensive by far. On the other hand, the off-white and the gray marble may come at slightly cheaper prices but since marble are inherently expensive; you can still spend a good amount of money if you want to have marble flooring. However, if you want to give you house that classic elegance; you may as well invest in marble to achieve your desired effect.
Advantages of Having Marble Flooring
Aside from the inherent beauty of marble, there are a number of advantages that you can get if you use marble. Marble flooring is easy to clean. If you place do not usually have heavy traffic, you can maintain your marble floor by simply sweeping it everyday. You may mop it with water every now and to remove some stubborn dirt. Unlike wood flooring where you will need to take precautions against wetness and dampness so you don’t have to worry about damaging your marble floor when you put water on it.
Furthermore, unlike in wood flooring where it is sometimes difficult to remove stains, marble flooring do not stain easily. If you spill something on your floor, just wipe it off and everything will be as good as new.
To maintain its luster and shine of your marble flooring, you should polish it every now and then. You may use one of those quick polish formulas available in the supermarket to help you do the job quickly. The good thing about these quick polish formulas is that they are very easy to apply and could give you very good results.
Another advantage of having marble flooring is that marble is very durable. If you notice, old building such as the Taj Mahal has been there for centuries but the marble flooring is still as good as new. Depending on the type of traffic that you get, it may take several years before your marble floor with really show some signs of deterioration.
A very good example of the splendor of marble flooring is the Taj Mahal, which is considered as one of the ancient wonders of the world.
At present, marble flooring is very much still the symbol of wealth and power. The black marble and the white marble are still considered as the favorites when it comes to flooring. These two types of marble flooring are also considered as the most expensive by far. On the other hand, the off-white and the gray marble may come at slightly cheaper prices but since marble are inherently expensive; you can still spend a good amount of money if you want to have marble flooring. However, if you want to give you house that classic elegance; you may as well invest in marble to achieve your desired effect.
Advantages of Having Marble Flooring
Aside from the inherent beauty of marble, there are a number of advantages that you can get if you use marble. Marble flooring is easy to clean. If you place do not usually have heavy traffic, you can maintain your marble floor by simply sweeping it everyday. You may mop it with water every now and to remove some stubborn dirt. Unlike wood flooring where you will need to take precautions against wetness and dampness so you don’t have to worry about damaging your marble floor when you put water on it.
Furthermore, unlike in wood flooring where it is sometimes difficult to remove stains, marble flooring do not stain easily. If you spill something on your floor, just wipe it off and everything will be as good as new.
To maintain its luster and shine of your marble flooring, you should polish it every now and then. You may use one of those quick polish formulas available in the supermarket to help you do the job quickly. The good thing about these quick polish formulas is that they are very easy to apply and could give you very good results.
Another advantage of having marble flooring is that marble is very durable. If you notice, old building such as the Taj Mahal has been there for centuries but the marble flooring is still as good as new. Depending on the type of traffic that you get, it may take several years before your marble floor with really show some signs of deterioration.
Marble tile has become popular is because of its sheer beauty
One particular type of flooring that is very popular when it comes to bathroom and kitchen remodels is marble tile. There are many benefits that go along with choosing the right type of marble tile for your flooring. One reason that marble tile has become popular is because of its sheer beauty. In addition, there are so many different types of marble flooring to choose from that you are sure to find a tile color that fits with your color scheme in the kitchen or the bathroom. Marble tiles comes in so many sizes, making it a very versatile option when it comes to flooring.
Marble tile is also very durable. Its durability is related to the fact that marble is a very strong and hard material. Because of this, you do not have to worry about your dog or cat clawing up the floor with their paws or your children scratching up the surface with their toys. The benefit of a marble tiles durability means that once you install the tile you do not have to worry about replacing it for a long time. Ten years down the road you can rest assure that your flooring will look as beautiful as it did the day you installed it.
In addition to the many benefits of marble tile, there are also some downfalls to the material as well. Because the materials is so strong and hard, it is also very heavy. Because of this, you have to be careful where you install the tiles. Your floor may need extra support in order to hold the heavy tile, therefore it is important to have your current floor inspected to ensure that it will be able to withstand the weight. Marble tiles also require a little more maintenance when it comes to cleaning. With marble tiles it is important that you keep them clean to ensure that they will not stain.
Marble tiles can also be fairly expensive. If you still have your heart set on installing marble tile in your house somewhere, but do not have the budget to do so, there are synthetic marble tiles available. This option is less expensive, however it is also less durable and will not have the exact same look as genuine marble tiles.
Marble tile is also very durable. Its durability is related to the fact that marble is a very strong and hard material. Because of this, you do not have to worry about your dog or cat clawing up the floor with their paws or your children scratching up the surface with their toys. The benefit of a marble tiles durability means that once you install the tile you do not have to worry about replacing it for a long time. Ten years down the road you can rest assure that your flooring will look as beautiful as it did the day you installed it.
In addition to the many benefits of marble tile, there are also some downfalls to the material as well. Because the materials is so strong and hard, it is also very heavy. Because of this, you have to be careful where you install the tiles. Your floor may need extra support in order to hold the heavy tile, therefore it is important to have your current floor inspected to ensure that it will be able to withstand the weight. Marble tiles also require a little more maintenance when it comes to cleaning. With marble tiles it is important that you keep them clean to ensure that they will not stain.
Marble tiles can also be fairly expensive. If you still have your heart set on installing marble tile in your house somewhere, but do not have the budget to do so, there are synthetic marble tiles available. This option is less expensive, however it is also less durable and will not have the exact same look as genuine marble tiles.
House Cleaning tips
For people leading busy modern lives having a house cleaning, a checklist is pretty well. The only way to make sure that all of the household cleaning tasks get carried out regularly. Some of the following ideas can be left for that ‘once a year’ spring cleaning, whereas others should be done monthly or weekly, if not even more regularly.
A 25 point checklist for cleaning your house:
1) Wipe down any wall tiles with a degreasing agent; you might also want to clean the grout with an anti-molding compound.
2) Working through the drawers and cabinets systematically in your kitchen, take everything out of them and then clean the inside thoroughly with a domestic cleaning agent. Take this opportunity to throw out any foodstuffs that are past their ‘use by’ dates or anything else that’s not being used to free up space.
3) Thoroughly clean all of the work surfaces in the kitchen with a domestic cleaner.
4) Clean the sink, taps and drainer with cleaning agent’s suitable to the materials they’re made from.
5) If necessary, defrost and then clean the inside and outside of the fridge and freezer, use an anti-bacterial cleaner for this job.
6) Similarly clean the insides and outsides of the wash-tub and dishwasher, a general domestic cleaning agent will do here.
7) Again, using the general cleaner, wipe the surfaces of kettles, toasters or other appliances. For a micro-wave oven you can also clean the inside of it with a general household cleaner.
8) To clean a hob and oven you should use the cleaning products recommended by the manufacturer, especially for the inside of the oven.
9) Bins need cleaning inside and out with a household cleaner. If possible do this out doors to give them a thorough cleaning.
10) Finally clean the kitchen floor. Sweep it clean first and then use the cleaning products recommended for the type of floor surface you have.
11) Clean any bathroom cabinets or furniture fittings as you would do the kitchen ones, also polish any mirrors in the bathroom.
12) If necessary de-scale and then clean the shower screen, shower tray, bath-tub, sink, toilet, bidet and all the fittings.
13) De-grease the wall tiles in the bathroom; also use a mold remover on the grout if necessary as in the kitchen.
14) Finally sweep and then clean the floor with a product suitable for the flooring material.
15) For all rooms and areas, dust them thoroughly, including door tops, light fittings, rails, surrounds etc.
16) When vacuuming or cleaning floors anywhere - always move any moveable furniture and clean thoroughly before re-positioning it.
17) Once the surface dirt has been removed from a floor covering, use the correct product to wash it too.
18) When cleaning bedrooms lift the mattresses and turn them.
19) Polish all surfaces and mirrors.
20) As well as vacuuming floors, vacuum soft furnishing such as chairs and sofas.
21) Wipe down doors with a damp cloth from a detergent solution.
22) Clean all the windows, inside and out, also clean the frames and sills.
23) Brush out the garage and workshop, cleaning surfaces and windows etc there too.
24) Brush any driveway, path, patio or decking; followed by a good cleaning with an appropriate detergent.
25) Finally, after all that hard work, get yourself in the shower and clean yourself up. Of course by doing that you’ll dirty the shower - and can start all over again...
A 25 point checklist for cleaning your house:
1) Wipe down any wall tiles with a degreasing agent; you might also want to clean the grout with an anti-molding compound.
2) Working through the drawers and cabinets systematically in your kitchen, take everything out of them and then clean the inside thoroughly with a domestic cleaning agent. Take this opportunity to throw out any foodstuffs that are past their ‘use by’ dates or anything else that’s not being used to free up space.
3) Thoroughly clean all of the work surfaces in the kitchen with a domestic cleaner.
4) Clean the sink, taps and drainer with cleaning agent’s suitable to the materials they’re made from.
5) If necessary, defrost and then clean the inside and outside of the fridge and freezer, use an anti-bacterial cleaner for this job.
6) Similarly clean the insides and outsides of the wash-tub and dishwasher, a general domestic cleaning agent will do here.
7) Again, using the general cleaner, wipe the surfaces of kettles, toasters or other appliances. For a micro-wave oven you can also clean the inside of it with a general household cleaner.
8) To clean a hob and oven you should use the cleaning products recommended by the manufacturer, especially for the inside of the oven.
9) Bins need cleaning inside and out with a household cleaner. If possible do this out doors to give them a thorough cleaning.
10) Finally clean the kitchen floor. Sweep it clean first and then use the cleaning products recommended for the type of floor surface you have.
11) Clean any bathroom cabinets or furniture fittings as you would do the kitchen ones, also polish any mirrors in the bathroom.
12) If necessary de-scale and then clean the shower screen, shower tray, bath-tub, sink, toilet, bidet and all the fittings.
13) De-grease the wall tiles in the bathroom; also use a mold remover on the grout if necessary as in the kitchen.
14) Finally sweep and then clean the floor with a product suitable for the flooring material.
15) For all rooms and areas, dust them thoroughly, including door tops, light fittings, rails, surrounds etc.
16) When vacuuming or cleaning floors anywhere - always move any moveable furniture and clean thoroughly before re-positioning it.
17) Once the surface dirt has been removed from a floor covering, use the correct product to wash it too.
18) When cleaning bedrooms lift the mattresses and turn them.
19) Polish all surfaces and mirrors.
20) As well as vacuuming floors, vacuum soft furnishing such as chairs and sofas.
21) Wipe down doors with a damp cloth from a detergent solution.
22) Clean all the windows, inside and out, also clean the frames and sills.
23) Brush out the garage and workshop, cleaning surfaces and windows etc there too.
24) Brush any driveway, path, patio or decking; followed by a good cleaning with an appropriate detergent.
25) Finally, after all that hard work, get yourself in the shower and clean yourself up. Of course by doing that you’ll dirty the shower - and can start all over again...
Marble flooring whether good or bad - Important information
Marble Flooring Pros and Cons
There is no doubt about it, marble flooring has become one of the hottest new materials on the market for those wanting a sleek, elegant surface on their home floors. But before you make the financial commitment to this beautiful and pricey flooring material, take a look first to see exactly what you are getting into. Along with the benefits, a few disadvantages also appear immediately and with the long-term use of that gorgeously stylish marble floor.
Hard, Cold, Beautiful
The first thing to consider when going over marble flooring pros and cons is its hardness. Of course, that's one of it's attractions: With this type of floor, you won't worry about the dog's paw nails scratching the surface like you would if you selected a wood flooring surface. But then again, if you're thinking about using marble as the material in a kitchen, don't ever plan on dropping a glass dish. That good, hard marble surface will most likely cause even the toughest types of glass to shatter if dropped from any distance at all.
Another thing to keep in mind when evaluating marble flooring pros and cons is their warmth, or rather, the lack thereof. If you habitually run around the house in bare feet, better buy some house shoes if you're seriously considering marble floors. Especially in winter, those tootsie toes will absolutely freeze when you walk across the floor in the morning for that first cup of java. Conversely, however, cool is downright, well, cool, if you are thinking hot summer days/evenings when a nice, cool floor would be welcomed.
Cost
Marble flooring runs on the expensive side. Marble flooring pros and cons must include pricing, which at anywhere from $4 to $8 per square foot, makes this type of material one of the most expensive. You can purchase vinyl tile that looks remarkably like marble for a fraction of the cost of real marble.
You also get some of the benefits marble doesn't offer like a softer feel, ease of maintenance, and simplicity of installation. The fact that marble flooring does cost so much puts in the getting ahead of the Joneses category, however. It costs a lot, so not too many people, at least those sans a silver spoon in their mouths at birth, are going to be using it, which makes it that much more sought after to people for whom that matters.
Maintaining Its Beauty
Probably one of the biggest reasons marble flooring pros and cons should be considered is when it comes to keeping it shiny and clean. Marble does not hold up well in heavily trafficked areas. You will need to regularly polish it to maintain its beautiful sheen.
Also, marble cannot tolerate cleaning products with chlorine, which is guaranteed to ruin its gorgeously shiny finish. The rebuttal to this con is that if someone can afford to have marble flooring installed, they can afford to have it cleaned and maintained properly, a good, logical argument for those who heed it.
Marble flooring pros and cons make it one of those flooring materials each homeowner must decide for him- or herself whether or not it's right for their particular home. It's beautiful, hard to keep that way, hard, cold and inimitable in its league as far as imparting elegance and class. But only you can decide if it's the flooring for you.
