Polish up on marble restoration

Marble. What is it? Although you won’t find a geologist on staff at ServiceMaster by Stratos, we can answer that question because it is important that we understand the makeup of the surfaces we service – like marble restoration. So, let me explain. Marble is a hard, crystalline metamorphic form of limestone that is used in a variety of ways. It is composed primarily of the mineral calcite and usually contains several other minerals, such as clay, quartz, iron oxides and graphite.

Marble appears in homes, offices, restaurants, event venues — and the list goes on and on. Keeping the expensive stone in good condition can be a challenge, but our experienced team has mastered the art of total restoration without the use of chemicals and without excessive cutting or grinding of the marble. The marble restoration process we live by takes longer than marble honing, but it’s better for the environment.

Five easy, chemical-free steps

• First, we use special pads to grind down the surface of your marble, bringing out a fresh layer of stone.
• We then use a successively finer grade pads to begin smoothing the marble with some high-quality H2O.
• A second swipe with a finer grade pad is required in this step.
• And, for a final rub using an even finer grade pad, we smooth the marble one last time.
• It’s finally time to polish the surface until it reaches mirror-like shine.

Although this process is a good guide, all five steps aren’t always necessary. Sometimes, only steps two or three through five are needed. It all depends on the condition of the marble we’re working with. The extent to which the marble is damaged or dirtied will determine how many steps the process should take.

Larry White has been with ServiceMaster by Stratos since 2000. As a facilities group manager, he oversees jobs in the banking and health care industries in Memphis and the surrounding areas.