Reviving my marble - Tile Advice

[BOFH]

Hi guys, I have a marble floor in my bathroom that I put down about 7 years back. I didn't seal it afterwards as I didn't know I had to.

Now apart from needing a damn good clean, they are heavily scratched in a circular pattern from previous cleaning I guess. I have a DA and selection of pads and wondered if anyone could advise me how to polish out the scratches, what to use etc.

I take it that sealing it after removing the scratches would also be a good idea :smilewinkgrin:

Thanks.

 

[DHTiling]

Hi and welcome.

What pads are they and also what grades do you have.?

Any pics of the scratches/tiles as there are other methods to take light scratching out.

 

[BOFH]

Hi and welcome.

What pads are they and also what grades do you have.?

Any pics of the scratches/tiles as there are other methods to take light scratching out.

Hi Dave, I have various pads for car paint correction but I don't mind buying a specialist pad for this if you can recommend one. The scratches are like what you see in paint where they have been cleaned, swirl marks.

Certainly can't see as much reflection in them as I should but I doubt I could get a pic of the scratches.

Any general advice on how to polish them up a little and what product to use would be good.

Cheers

 

[DHTiling]

Try this first... Sanding stone down to honed finish and then back to a high polish is a skilled job but the Aquamix Renue should do the job if light as you say..

Aqua Mix Renue® 237 ml

Aqua Mix Renue® is a polishing cream that restores the shine to dull, etched, or lightly scratched polished natural stone. Easy to use - no machinery required.

Calcium-based polished natural stone (such as limestone, marble, and travertine) and cement-based terrazzo


Data sheet pdf

Price: £18.97 £22.76 Including VAT at 20%

 

[BOFH]

Many thanks Dave, I'll grab a bottle and hopefully put a shine on the floor and a smile on the missuses face.

 

[Scott]

Hopefully she will be able to see that smile reflected in the floor

 

[Alberta Stone]

This is what you need:
Diamond Polishing Pads for Granite and Marble
Use the dry polishing discs .
They will take any deep gouges and scratches right out.

 

[DHTiling]

This is what you need:
Diamond Polishing Pads for Granite and Marble
Use the dry polishing discs .
They will take any deep gouges and scratches right out.

Not really recommended for DIY use though don't you agree..?

 

[Alberta Stone]

Not really recommended for DIY use though don't you agree..?

True that.
But that is what one would need if there was damage that needed to be ground out, and they work so very nicely.

 

[DHTiling]

Indeed they do as i have a full set.. if the scratches are very light then Renue cream will work but anything you can actually feel with ya finger nail then Nope they have to ground back and re-polished.

 

[BOFH]

Many thanks guys, I've got hold of some Australian stuff that claims to do the trick. I'll let you know how it performs with a few pics if I can. I'll also get a bottle of Renue as well to test out.

Thanks for the advice guys.

 

[DHTiling]

look forward to the pics.

 

[BOFH]

Well I've tried the Australian polish that I brought, probably a nice polish but it failed to get the swirl marks out of my floor. So I think a bottle of Renue will be in order. I was just reading a thread on Twister pads and wondered if they are worth a try or the pads mentioned above.

I messed this floor up from the beginning really, I didn't know it had to be sealed for a start..... I've brought some sealer now but there's a load of polishing to be done first. I also seem to remember using my DA and course compound pad to try and shine the floor up previously, that's probably where the swirl marks came from in the first place.... Oh well, lesson learned

As my floor is only small I'm going to use my DA if it needs cutting back, obviously it's electric and I'll be using some care where water is concerned, any tips on pad selection would be handy and the method.

Dry pads would probably be better using a DA but those Twister pads with light water sound interesting.

I do love polishing with my DA so I'd be quite interested to see how good a job I can do with my floor.

I'm currently setting up a home maintenance company, grass cutting, window cleaning etc. I intend to offer other services on the side, one of which will be re-grouting and deep cleaning of bathrooms and kitchens so I appreciate your advice guys.

I'm certainly NOT a tiler and have very limited knowledge of the different products. Whilst I've tiled my place and several others over the years I would like to take a course and learn the trade properly.

I find tiling very rewarding and the end result stunning when the effort is put in. I'd certainly like to offer it as a service but I'll need some training first I think.

 

[enduro]

I use twister pads...good maintenance pads.

 

[BOFH]

I use twister pads...good maintenance pads.

Well it looks like we could be local to each other Enduro, and having just looked at your site I can see you know what your talking about. I like those work shots, very shiny mate.

Would you suggest using the three step Twister with a little water? I guess I should post a pic of the floor first. I'll take a pic a little later and post.