Historic stone floor surfaces are fascinating because whilst they are designed to last multiple lifetimes, they will show every one of their years without specialist restoration services to maintain and restore their beautiful shimmer.
Possibly the best example of this is found in marble. Despite its reputation as a long-lasting and beautiful stone material for floors as seen in classical antiquity, it is a type of stone that is remarkably easy to mark, weather and permanently stain.
Part of the reason why so many works of classical sculpture are made from marble is precisely because it is easy to work with, but the tradeoff to that is that, without sealants or added protection, marble will lose its shine.
It is particularly vulnerable to water, acidic substances such as orange juice, oil, bleach and harsh cleaning solvents.
These can cause stains as well as cracks or scratches that are harder to remove than they are to cause. Despite looking like a smooth surface, it typically requires more careful cleaning and maintenance than a light mopping or brushing.
Exactly how difficult it is to restore marble flooring back to its former glory can vary, but there are some ways to restore its sheen, fix any cracks and remove stains that have taken advantage of the porous nature of the stone to seep underneath the surface.
Typically, restoring marble begins by using a pH-neutral cleaner to lift away stains. Typical surface cleaners are either too acidic or too alkaline and can cause permanent damage to the surface.
Following this, there is a honing process using ultra-fine sanding pads to remove the top layer of the marble to create a consistent surface that can subsequently be polished using a specialist polishing powder mixed with water to create a paste.
The best results are found using specialist professionals, however. For complex cases or more serious damage, contacting flooring experts is a vital first step to preserving your floor.