With a marble tile floor, your home definitely gets a bold new look. Marble is such a magnificent piece of stone that creates a unique and elegant look like no other.
Over time, marble tiles develop ugly cracks and marks due to wear and tear. There are several approaches to hide them and keep your floor as polished and shiny as ever.
marble affairs
The treatment to apply to your marble tile floor depends on the qualities and properties of the marble itself. Have someone do a chemical analysis of your stone. Marble must contain at least 60% calcium carbonate or CaCO3. Dolomitic marble also contains magnesium silicate.
People may be surprised to learn that some material they thought to be marble is actually not after extensive analysis. Real marble is very strong and can withstand pressure for several years before needing to be re-polished and re-sealed. Treatment of materials that are not really pure marble will not hide the cracks.
hide the cracks
First, assess the length and depth of the cracks. Mix up enough poultice to cover all the cracks you found. Place the poultice carefully over the cracks and do your best not to spill it onto the nearby surface of the marble tile floor. Use a small, even block of wood to press down to completely fill the cracks. Leaving any air spaces inside will cause the material to swell and rise over the edge as the material dries.
Allow enough time for the poultice to dry, which is around one to two hours. Subsequently, take a fine sandpaper and smooth the excess material that comes out of the edge. Take some colored powder that is the same shade as your marble floor and rub it over the poultice with your hand. Be sure to rub the powder deep enough and evenly enough to match the color of the marble. Let everything settle and dry for 24 hours.
After a day, check to see if the surface is level and the crack is completely sealed and hidden. Get some wax and buff the floor to bring back the shine and luster. The seal will last between 6 months and a year. You can regularly treat the cracks in your marble tile floor every few months to ensure that it remains smooth and beautiful.
Other useful materials that can hide cracks are wax sealants and cement fillers. Be sure to apply enough material to cover the cracks without leaving air spaces inside. Always press the material after each application to set it as firmly as possible to last several months.
If the cracks are too large or there are inaccessible air spaces at the bottom of the marble, you may need to remove the entire tile and replace it with a new one. Be sure to clean and remove the hollow area after removing the damaged tile before laying the new one to keep the surface even and smooth.
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