DIY Marble Restoration: How to Refinish Marble

This article is a follow-up post to our previous article on DIY Marble Restoration: Why You Need a Marble Refinishing Kit.

If you do not have a marble refinishing kit, we suggest reading the previous post to ensure you have the tools you need to complete the following process.

Preparing the Marble Surface for Refinishing

First you'll want to analyze the condition of the marble surface by using a bright lamp. Focus your vision on the dull spots on the marble and look for the outline of the light bulb in order to determine the severity of the scratches or etch markets.

Next, create a border around dull areas with tape. This border should be at least one or two inches away from the effective areas on the marble, allowing for some space to buff over the dull spots.

Starting the Marble Refinishing Process

Now you'll want to start the actual marble refinishing process of honing the marble with the sand discs and buffer machine.

Begin the honing process with a lower grit sanding disc, such as a 220-grit disc. After thoroughly refinishing the marble surface with a low-grit disc, continue the process sequentially with finer grit sanding discs, such as a 400 grit, then 600 grit, and lastly, an 800 grit disc.

Note: Keep in mind while buffing the marble to overlap the target surface area by a half inch each time you move on to a new sanding disc grit. It's also important to stop the buffing machine every 20-30 seconds and clean the surface of the disc with a wet sponge. Check the surface of the disc with your fingertips to ensure that the abrasiveness is still well intact. If the disc is smooth to the touch and has lost its abrasiveness, the disc should be replaced with a new one.

Polishing the Marble Surface

After the marble refinishing process is complete, you can move on to the marble polishing process. Keep in mind that the after mentioned marble refinishing kit accessories do not apply to this process. You will need to acquire a marble polish compound, polishing pad, as well as a marble sealer for the next process.

With the marble polishing pad and compound, polish the entire marble surface that was refinished, along with any outlying areas that were not honed by the buffer. In order to successfully restore and refinish marble to its original gloss appearance, it may be necessary to polish the marble two or sometimes three times (after each layer has fully dried.)

If you own any of the following marble species, you may need a specially formulated marble polish. This is because the following marble species have a unique mineral composition, requiring a marble polish compound with the different chemical make up.

• Thassos (pure white) marble
• Breccia Nouvella (dark brown) marble
• Verde Antique (dark green) marble
• Belgium Black (absolute black) marble

Sealing the Marble Surface

After refinishing and polishing the marble surface, you'll want to protect the marble with a marble sealant product. There are several marble sealants that you can find on the market and most all types are pretty good at protecting the marble from moisture and minor scratching.

First, apply a generous amount of the marble sealant over the entire surface area and allow the sealant to penetrate and set for at least one hour. Next, apply a lighter coating of a marble polish compound and begin to buff-out the residue from the marble surface. This is best achieved with a microfiber polishing bonnet.
Continue this process as many times as you feel appropriate. Usually two or three light coats of marble polish will finish the job.

D.I.Y. Marble Polishing Tips

For some people who have marble surfaces in their home, the marble polishing process might seem like an overwhelming chore.

How frequently should my marble be polished? 

What kind of polisher should I use?

What does the marble polishing process entail? 

These are some of the questions that may cross your mind. Being conscious of these questions is good, because polishing marble incorrectly could end-up ruining your marble surface.

If you use the wrong polishing agent (typically a high-alkaline polish,) you could end up damaging the marble permanently.

So, why is polishing marble such a tricky affair?

When you compare marble to other natural stones, you will find that it's much softer and sensitive to chemicals and common cleaning agents. That is why it is pertinent to find a marble polish that is suitable specifically for marble.

It's equally important to note that there are different species of marble, each offering different characteristics. The minerals composition of each type of marble will react differently to different polishing products.

For this reason, the minerals contained in the marble are ultimately what determine the best way of polishing it, without leaving it susceptible to damage. Colored marble surfaces tend to be quite pure. This means there are very few minerals that have been added to it's composition.

For example, some species of marble, such as Breccia Nouvella (dark brown), Verde Antique (dark green), and Belgium Black (absolute black) require a more refined marble polish that suits its mineral make up. If you own marble like one of these species, you'll need to find a marble polish with a chemistry that renders a more glossy finish.

In addition to polishing marble, it's also important to seal your marble to ensure it's protected from the elements. Many homeowners believe that polishing marble is a sufficient way to protect the surface from staining or etching, however this is a major misconception.

Highly porous marble will require aggressive sealants so as to provide it with the utmost protection, whereas the less porous types of marble may only require a shallow sealant. The main point to keep your marble looking its original quality is both clean and polish marble on a consistent basis.