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Marble is everywhere!

Marble dull spots, marble etched marks, marble scratches are some of the things that you need to know. Today you can find this beautiful material in kitchen benchtops, bathroom vanity, wall and floor and coffee table.  However marble is easily prone to acidic etching from soft drinks, wines, fruit juice beverages. This is due to the fact that natural stones contain calcium carbonate hence vulnerable to acidic attacks. Therefore extra care should be taken with wine glasses on bench tops. Also using toiletry products containing acidic compound.

What is marble etched spots?

Once acidic liquids come in contact with calcium carbonate in the stone, the liquids literally dissolve the surface polish hence creating dull spots, and these dull areas are typically called an etch. The more acidic the liquid, the faster and deeper the etching occurs, and in the case of bathroom wall and floors around the showers drains and vanity, these dull spots, etched lines and discoloration are caused by regular runoff of diluted toiletry products.

Could urine affect the marble surfaces?

In surrounding areas near the toilet bowl and urinals, deep etching is usually caused by urine residues, and toilet cleansers that contain phosphoric acid.  An etch sometime always is confused of being a stain, just like a scratch on stone surfaces. The acidic etching from urine changed the surface structure of the stone, and the effect appears to be light, dull and discoloration.

Could I DIY removing marble etched spots? 

I often get clients asked me if they could actually re-polish an etched mark? If the surface etch is minimal and not very deep, using polishing cream or powder and a bit of elbow grease will usually polish up the surface to a satisfactory level. However, if the etched mark is much deeper, the etching shadow still be apparent underneath the polish even though the surface has been polished up. Therefore, sanding and resurfacing the stone is necessary, this usually done by using various grits of diamond discs and powders.

Time to call a professional polisher !

Due to different type of stone surfaces behave differently to the polishing process, this type of work is usually done by a professional polisher. The main aim is to achieve uniformity, shine, colour and clarity. In regard to scratches on countertops, vanities and floors, the above process applies and required hand and floor polishing machines.

Is there any sealer will stop the etching effects?

Surface coating such as polyurethane, epoxy and acrylics can form a plastic layer to stop the etching, however these surface coating do not have a good adhesion on the stone surface, and we often seen delamination occurs within weeks, therefore the only sealer to use is a good quality penetrating sealer.

Penetrating sealers only provide stain repellent, not protection against etching ! 

It is interesting to note that penetrating Sealers cannot stop etching, the product does not form a physical barrier between the acidic liquid and the stone. Why do we still need seal the stone if the penetrating sealer will not stop etching? Applying penetrating sealers will reduce the stones porosity thus providing stain resistance, and provide ease of cleaning and maintenance.

Could marble scratches be fixed ?

Although marble is easily scratch, and daily usage can accumulate scratches over a period of time,  thereby reducing its attractive appearance. However these marble scratches can be fixed by various stages of marble polishing, if you do have marble scratches that need a professional polisher to rejuvenate the surface. Why not contact us on 0425 266 839 for an onsite quotation? and we will make your marble surfaces looking like new again. We also use and recommend Aquamix sealers for a job well done!

Want to improve your new and existing travertine floor?

Travertine cleaning, Sealing and Polishing is the key to a successful outcome. Travertine is a material that requires cleaning, sealing and polishing, therefore it is important to get a professional with equipment to do the job right for you. Getting down on your hands and knees is hard work and back breaking. For better results call us for an onsite quotation, we will advice the best way getting it done properly.

Why is my newly laid travetine floor look hazy and patchy?

This is one of the main concerns from owners of newly laid travertine floor, there are various reasons for the haze and patchiness. However the most likely cause are after grouting and cleaning, the sponging of the tiles is poorly done. Leaving the grout residue drying on the tiles and pores. A day later the grout has all dried up, and the grout haze remains on the travertine surface.

Cleaning grout haze can be a pain to do?

Yes and No. Depending how long the grout is left on the surface and the type of grout being used.  Some grouts have anti-mould, acrylic and water repellent additives once dried and cured, the grout is hard to clean off with just elbow grease and detergent cleaners. This is why we use scrubbing machines with detergent cleaners to clean off these grout residue completely, leaving the floor clean with clarity for sealing.

Why is my travertine floor looks partly under polished ?

From our experience, we have came across with tiles from the factory that look under polished, even various cycles of cleaning, the floor still looked very patchy and unsavoury. Therefore the next step we advise our clients is to have the floor polished up with various stages of diamond pads. This process will make your travertine floor looked uniformly and ready for sealing.

Is there any benefit sealing my travertine floor?

Applying a good quality penetrating sealer will provide good stain repellent and ease of cleaning and maintenance. We recommend and use Aquamix penetrating sealer for longevity of protection against oil and food spillage.

 

 

 

 

Polished concrete is pretty popular these days 

From TV renovation shows to home improvement and decorating magazines, polished concrete definitely getting very popular these days. However it is important to know that there are a lot more to know about this topic than meets the eyes.  Before you dive in and get any concrete contractor to do the laying for you, it is better to go and see their previous jobs. Otherwise you might find the end result is not what you’ve expected!

Selecting the concrete mix from the supplier

There are numerous suppliers that can supply you with standard Portland cement type of concrete with blue metal with random colour aggregates. Of

 

I have seen it all, the facts of the matter are once the concrete is set hard, we the grinders/polishers will expose every little mistakes that the concreters leave behind.

Boot prints, Screed line markings, Low spots, Edges with no aggregates, Bald spots, Wrong water level, Re-bar ghosting, Swiss cheese holes and surface pitting just to name a few, anyway here are some photos of that happen on my client’s floor.

The following sound familiar ??

The builder says ummm….I don’t know much about Polished concrete, I thought my concreter got it all under control.

Yes, the concreters got paid and left site, he is not coming back to see his mess, or fix his mess?, well he can’t because the concrete is set.

The concreter  blame the form-worker not getting the level right, for God sake, you blokes used the laser to set the level, didn’t you?!

Here are some of the photos that I taken on my recent jobs, so be careful who you choose to lay your next polished concrete job. I suggest you go and see his last jobs to determine if he is good at what he do.

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I worked with only a few concreters that I know can deliver of my requests of broadcasting the aggregates, control excessive water spotting, pay special attention to edges, packing the surface using helicopters (three times), double check the form work with laser before approval of the pour, using new timber boarding to do the form work (vertical face to be exposed) etc.etc.