Marble is a natural stone that can be found in many parts of the world.  It is a crystallized calcium carbonate limestone that is very beautiful, strong, and versatile.  It is elegant yet cost effective, very durable, and is an environmentally friendly alternative to manmade materials.

Marble sample

Basic Description:

Marble stone material is classified with letters from A to C.  Stone more suited for flooring material would be A or B.  These types are stronger.  The C type is more colorful and has sand veins running through out, which tends to crack when walk on over time.  Since marble is a mixture of sand and lime stone, it will react to acid because of the lime content.  Today’s technology makes it possible to use and enhance the unique quality of marble to the maximum potential. 

Honed marble tiles will provide more traction and ease of care.  It can be used as bathroom flooring, kitchen counter and vanity tops, hallways and around hearths and fireplaces.  Polished marble tiles will provide a more elegant look but can be slippery when wet.  No other natural stone can compete with marble flooring to create the formal, elegant, and soft look.  The value of this natural stone is its beauty, timeless quality, durability, and strength.  Builders and designers around the world know that marble can create any style, shape, or mood.  Marble comes in variety of sizes, thickness, varying qualities, colors, grains, finishing styles, and country of origin.  The possibilities to use marble in architecture and decoration are endless.  Marble makes beautiful, luxurious flooring and stairways, on walls both interior and exterior, and add special richness to trim works and shelves.

Here are useful tips to keep your marble from harm.

1. Use honed marble on the floor, in bathroom, and kitchen; it is more resistant to scratches.
2. Avoid using polished marble in high traffic areas.
3. Always follow the directions on your cleaner and avoid mixing chemicals unless specified.
4. Always rinse using clean, warm water.
5. Do not use hot water to clean spilt milk or blood, as doing so make the stain worse.
6. Avoid using chemical cleaners, acids like vinegar and limejuice, grout cleaners, tub or tile cleaners on marble.  These cleaners will etch or dull the stone.  Etching destroys the polish leaving a dull light spot.  Sealed and polished marble is very stain-resistant but will not prevent from etching.
7. Never use a mixture of ammonia and bleach for removing stains.  The resulting fume is toxic and lethal.

Care and Maintenance of Marble:

Marble flooring:

1. Sweep using soft brush or use dry non-treated dust mop to get rid of abrasive sand which may scratch the marble surface.
2. Use mild phosphate-free, eco-friendly dishwashing liquids or powders, suitable detergents (pH 7, neutral), or vegetable oil based soaps and rinse the soap off completely with warm water.

Bathroom:

1. Remove excess water immediately using squeegee.  Soap scum, acid soaps and shampoos, high iron content water and hard water all take a toll on your shower’s appearance.  Hard water is particularly damaging to marble.  Clean up using a solution of half a cup of ammonia in one gallon of water, once a month.
2. Use bleach to get rid of algae in hot tub.

Kitchen:

1. You can scrub your honed counter tops using abrasive, bleach, and soaps with a scouring pad without worrying about damage.  Rinse well and dry afterwards using a soft cloth.
2. Clean up spills immediately.  Fruit juice, soda, coffee, alcohol, salad dressing, etc. may etch your counter tops.

Quality Marble will outlast your building.  It is the perfect material to help reduce manmade footprint on this earth; practical; and adds the aesthetic value of every part of a home.