Marble floor Restoration, or the restoration of natural stone floors such as Travertine, Crema marfil, Limestone, Granite, Terrazzo etc, is the art of restoring worn, dull and scratched tiles to their original condition.

Marble and natural stone floors are an expensive and luxurious item and you should only entrust their restoration to an experienced and knowledgeable professional.

Most marble and natural stone floors and surfaces can be revitalised and returned to their original state. When installed and cared for correctly, your stone or marble floor should last a lifetime. We have cleaned, polished, sealed, repaired, and restored thousands of marble and stone floors, dating from the 1700s to modern times.

All our operatives have undergone extensive training and have many years experience restoring and conserving stone and marble floors.

Cleaning and stain removal

Stains can occur very easily in natural stone. If a floor is unsealed, any liquid spilled will seep into the stone. Our stain removal process starts with a very gentle chemical clean and can range up to a poultice or resurfacing of the stone.

Polishing and honing marble and natural stone surfaces

Once your marble, travertine, limestone, granite or crema marfil and stone surfaces are cleaned, we commence the honing and polishing process. The polishing process removes deeper ingrained stains on the floor, such as etch marks and light scratches. These are generally what gives marble and stone that dull and lack-lustre appearance.

Polishing (marble, travertine, limestone,terrazzo, granite)

Polishing is defined as placing a high reflective finish on the surface of the stone. Polishing is usually accomplished using super-fine abrasive powders, but can also be achieved with super-fine diamond abrasive discs or polishing pads.

During polishing, we remove a microscopic layer from the surface of your floor. This can only be achieved by using a series of different grade diamond grits, used in the correct order. Only a qualified craftsperson with experience in polishing should carry out this process – incorrect methods and processes can completely ruin your marble or natural stone floor.

Sealing marble and stone floors

Stone is naturally porous; any liquid spilled on unsealed stone will seep into the stone and stain. By sealing the stone, you effectively seal the pores. This prevents the spill soaking into the stone, leaving it on the surface where it can be cleaned up. Spills should be cleaned up as soon as possible, as they can penetrate if left.

Polished natural stone reflects light and does not need a topical coating or wax to achieve a high gloss finish. We recommend sealing with a topical seal on heavily trafficked floors in commercial environments, or on travertine, quarry or terracotta tiles due to their highly porous nature.

Stone sealers break down in the presence of UV light, when cleaned with harsh cleaners or because of general wear. It is therefore recommended that you re-seal your stone every two to three years.

Marble and stone repairs

Repairs of cracks, chips, unevenness, holes in travertine or marble/stone tile replacement are all part of PMAC’s floor restoration service.

Cracks in stone floors appear because of movement beneath the stone – in the sub-floor. We can repair cracks, but if there is still movement in the sub-floor they will reappear.

Fixing and replacement

We source, fix and replace stone to match existing floors. Loose stones should always be re-laid, as they will eventually crack and may cause damage to the surrounding floor. New stone can then be colour-enhanced to blend in with the existing floor.

Grinding and re-honing

Grinding is a process whereby the surface is aggressively sanded to remove large stocks of stone. This process is usually recommended when stone tiles are uneven.

Honing is the process of smoothing the stone with the use of abrasives, Honing is performed to remove scratches. Honing can leave a stone floor with very little shine, although, at high hones, some stones may acquire a satin like lustre.

Lippage removal from marble and stone floors

Lippage is the term given to uneven tiles that are set higher than one another. Grinding is recommended when lippage exceeds 1/8th of an inch or if a completely flat floor is needed. The method of removal is to grind the floor completely flat, re-hone, and then polish.

Etch mark removal from marble and stone floors

Etches are caused by the acid content in spills reacting with the calcium in stone. Acidic substances include wine, fruit juice, vinegar or harsh cleaning chemicals not intended for cleaning natural stone. This can show as roughness and remove the shine. Etches can only be removed by honing and polishing. The floor should then be sealed with an impregnator.

Colour enhancing marble and stone

Modern seals can be applied to enhance the colour of the stone. It is important to remember that these seals will also enhance stains or blemishes in the stone.