Marble Restoration Archives - Oxfordshire Tile Doctor

Chipped Marble Tabletop Repaired and Polished in Oxford

Earlier this year I worked on a neglected Marble table and a client from Oxford saw that and wondered if there was anything I could do to repair a similar table made from marble.

Damaged Marble Table Before Repair and Polishing Oxford

I popped over to look at the table and could see there were some light scratches but more significantly there was a chip in the surface where the client had dropped something heavy on the tabletop. Confident I could help I agreed to renovate the table which included filling the chip, polishing to remove the scratches and then applying a sealer to protect it going forward.

Cleaning and Repairing a Marble Tabletop

The first task was to tackle the chip which began by wiping the marble surface down with thinners to clean of any grease and dirt etc. Next, I mixed up some specialist paint to match the dark red colour of the table and applied it to the damaged area. The hole was then filled with a clear resin building up thin layers until the hole was slightly overfilled.

The next step was to rub down the repaired area with coarse hand-held diamond blocks of different grits to remove excess resin until it was flat. This was followed by polishing the whole Marble tabletop with a set of 6-inch diamond burnishing pads. This action brings up the natural polish on the marble removing the light scratches and helping the filled area blend in.

I usually use the larger 17-inch version of these pads to renovate stone floors, and the 6-inch pads are no different except you have to use them with a hand-held buffer. The process is the same, you start with the 400-grit using water for lubrication and apply the pad to the whole table. Then the slurry is rinsed off and the action repeated with the 800 and 1500-grit pads. The last pad is 3000-grit and is applied with a little water sprayed onto the surface. This last pad has the added advantage of leaving the marble dry so you can move quickly onto sealing.

Damaged Marble Table During Repair Oxford

Sealing a Polished Marble Tabletop

To seal the Marble table a couple of coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow were applied. This is an impregnating sealer that soaks into the stone, occupying the pores in the marble and ensuring dirt remains on the surface where it can be easily wiped away. Tile Doctor Colour Grow as its name suggests contains a colour enhancing formula which is ideal for improving the appearance of a colourful table like this one.

Once the sealer had dried, the stone was given a light buff with a 6-inch white buffing pad to bring up the finish.

For aftercare of stone countertops and tables I recommend the use of Tile Doctor Stone Patina Spray. This is a neutral PH spray cleaner that helps to maintain the shine on a polished stone.

Damaged Marble Table After Repair and Polishing Oxford

Professional Restoration of a Marble Tabletop in Oxfordshire

Etched Marble Tiled Countertop Renovation Oxford

Restoring a Damaged Marble Vanity Countertop in Oxford

1 Comment / Marble Tile Cleaning, Oxford Tile Cleaning, Work by Category, Work by Location, Work History / Barry Woodward

Earlier this year I was working on the restoration of a floor in Oxford and the client asked if I would look at the Marble Countertop in the bathroom. I often get asked to look at additional items whilst on site and always happy to see if I can help.

Damaged Marble Vanity Countertop Before Restoration Oxford

Unfortunately, the stone had been cleaned with an unsuitable cleaning product (probably bleach based) and this had etched the surface leaving what appeared to be an unsightly splash mark ruining its appearance.

You do have to be careful with household cleaning products around Marble, always read the label first and check to see if it is safe to use on natural stone before application. Many products are acidic and will etch into Marble as was the case here. I explained to the client what I could do, and she agreed to add the cost onto the quote for the floor I was already doing. I took photos but it is quite hard to see the damage on the images.

Damaged Marble Vanity Countertop Before Restoration Oxford Enlarged

My base in Chalgrove is only 11 miles outside of Oxford so it’s not a problem to pop back and pick up some extra materials if I need them. In this case I was able to bring them along on day two of cleaning and sealing the floor.

Polishing an Etched Marble Vanity Countertop

The only way to restore a polished Marble surface like this is to use a set of diamond encrusted burnishing pads to slowly hone the stone and rebuild the polish. We do this all the time for Marble floors however the pads are the large 17-inch type, for this you need the smaller 6-inch pads which fit a hand buffer and the smaller handheld burnishing blocks.

I started with the handheld diamond blocks and water, starting with the coarse grit to remove the etching, and then working through the grades to leave a smooth but dull finish. I then followed this up with the 6-inch diamond pads in sequence from 800 grit up to 3000 grit to give the top the desired finish.

Sealing a Marble Vanity Top

When it was dry, I sealed it with a coat of Tile Doctor Ultra Seal which is almost invisible. This product is a no-sheen, natural-look, solvent-based penetrating sealer. It gives maximum protection without a shiny finish, so perfect for this vanity top as we wanted the natural colour of the marble to shine through without a shiny finish.

The client was not only over the moon with the work on the floor I had carried out, she was also delighted that I had been able to restore the vanity top in the bathroom as it had been annoying her for some time.

Damaged Marble Vanity Countertop After Restoration Oxford

I discussed with the customer the best way to maintain the Marble surface was to use Tile Doctor Stone Soap cleaner, this is pH balanced and nice and gentle on the marble and helps maintain the patina. It’s supplied as a concentrate so you only need to use a small amount, it can also be used to clean their newly cleaned and sealed floor.

Professional Restoration of a Marble Vanity Countertop in Oxfordshire

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