Marble exudes luxury with an unrivalled natural beauty. Created by nature, it contains within its veins a history that makes each slab completely distinctive. But their uniqueness doesn’t stop there. There’s a huge variety of marble floor finishes that can transform a slab into a bespoke tile.
When you Google the word marble, the word polished is usually not far behind. This is largely due to how well marble can take a polish. Compared to granite, for example, it is relatively easy to polish marble. The MoHs hardness scale measures the softness of stone. Talc would score 0 on the scale and diamond would score 10. Most marbles sit around 2 on the scale whereas granite is usually 6-8.
When you view marble slabs, they are often polished. This helps to highlight the brightness of the different colours of the marble. You might not realise that marble actually shares the same geological beginning as limestone. It is the minerals present in the limestone that are responsible for the stunning colours that you associate with marble. For example, iron present in the limestone will results in reddish tones, whereas serpentine is responsible for green marble formation.
Polished stone can look beautiful as a feature wall, but is not always the most practical of marble floor finishes. Over time, with footfall and daily wear and tear the surface, shine will fade. Although this can be restored and the surface can be polished once again, this needs to be carried out by a professional.
A velvet or honed marble floor finish can be the perfect solution. This is sometimes referred to as matte, but this just doesn’t quite do the marble justice. Whilst polished stone might reflect the light perfectly, its brightness can sometimes distract from the true beauty of what nature has created. A honed or velvet finish can actually make the colours bolder, and the veins pop out much more. The benefit of this finish in terms of wear is that it simply doesn’t show the scratches quite so obviously. It is not more hard wearing as such, but simply less high maintenance.
One of the best things about marble is that it can be finished to any level of polish. Marble is often sold as either polished or honed. However, after installation, it can be refinished to any level of shine. A satin finish is a good mid ground for a marble floor finish. It has just enough shine to reflect the light and create an instant impression but is not so polished that every single blemish will show.
You can find out a little more about the process to refinish marble on our services page. The good news is that whatever finish you choose, you can still change your mind. The restoration and polishing process will always cut the stone back to a matt starting point. After this you can polish it in stages until you reach the desired level of shine.
Another marble floor finish that is increasing in popularity is tumbled. This is a slightly more rustic finish and can create a really homely feel. The distressed finish on the stone is created literally by tumbling the stone in a drum with abrasives. The finished product looks worn yet naturally so. Not only can this create a softer overall appearance, but it also negates some of the worry about ongoing maintenance. The patina that natural stone develops over time is without a doubt part of its beauty. A tumbled marble floor has this quality from day one.
To find out more about how to care for your marble floor or any natural stone surface get in touch for your free Athena Aftercare guide or visit our Knowledge Hub for more hints and tips.
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