Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Marble Restoration Fort Lauderdale


Maintaining the original, natural shine of marble can be a tricky task.  If you're looking for companies that specialize in marble polishing in the Fort Lauderdale area, there are plenty of choices.  Initially, the DIY homeowner may think to do it themselves.  However, this can be a project that might be left to the professional marble polishing companies.

When it comes to marble polishing Fort Lauderdale residents should look to the pros to handle the larger restoration jobs.  With the proper tools and equipment a marble polishing company should be able to do the job efficiently and with minimal headaches.  Most importantly they'll get the job done correctly the first time.

If your looking for marble restoration Fort Lauderdale residents should look to the pros.  As we get closer to the holidays, this is a job that can be rather tedious and crowd your day.  During these hectic holiday times, with friends, family and guets stopping by, it's best to call a marble restoration company in Fort Lauderdale to expidite the job.

Happy Holidays!                                      

Friday, December 16, 2011

How to Repair Marble


For many homeowners, upgrading your home's kitchen with marble or granite counter tops is a good way to add value to your home.  Unfortunately, the addition of quality marble to your kitchen can be very expensive.  To protect your investment it's important to stay vigilant against wear and tear.  All too common are the cracks or chips that may appear in your marble counter tops.  From time to time we get questions like; How to repair marble?  How to repair chipped marble?  How to restore marble?

Repairing Chipped Marble Can Be Easy

Here is a quick way to repair using the DIY method:

When repairing chipped marble, ensure that the area has been cleaned thouroughly and dried with a very absorbent fabirc.  Something similar to acetone is strong enough to clean the surface, while not degrading the marble.
Next, adding a poly-epoxide or similar bonding material, place a small amount on the bottom of the chip and place it back into the divet.  Apply pressure for a few minutes to ensure that it's firmly in place and hold tightly.  Once secured, be sure to whipe away and epoxy or glue that has been left behind.

If you're looking to repair marble or restore marble in your home, it's always good to consult with a specialist in this area.  One such specialist is Classic Marble Restoration based out of Miami, Florida.  Classic Marble specializes in restoration and cleaning of marble and stone.

Friday, December 9, 2011

How to Care For Marble Counters and Floors


Here are some quick steps to care for marble counter tops and floors, all you need is acetone, amonia and a clean rag.  Marble is a pretty soft stone, so it's good to make sure you take extra care of it and clean it as often as needed.  Especially in high traffic areas, like kitchens.  To ensure that your marble counters or floors are cleaned properly, please make sure to remove all small items that may have been left behind.  Items like tacts or pins may scratch the marble while you're going through this process.

The first step to cleaning marble and stone floors or counters is to whipe it down with a wet cloth.  This will eliminate most of the surface dirt that has collected.  The next step would be to take some ordinary dish soap and get a nice lather going.  Using a nice circular motion, start to go over the marble.  Next what I like to do is take hot water and go over one more time to ensure that all the soap has been removed, as any soap left behind will leave a dull look to the marble.  Once you've taken some time to dampen the stone, take a shammy cloth and start to buff out the marble.

These are some easy steps to care and clean for your marble.  For tougher jobs or for jobs that encompass larger areas, such as floors, it's good to consult with specialty companies that actually specialize in marble restoration and cleaning, like Classic Marble Restoration based out of Miami, Florida.  You can visit their site and view some impressive before and after photos at www.classicmarblerestoration.com

Friday, December 2, 2011

Cleaning and Restoring Rust Stains on Marble

One of the hardest stains to clean on Marble and Granite is rust.  Restoration of marble and granite that is stained with rust can be challenging, but with a little work, your effort will pay off.
First, you must understand that not all chemicals and products that claim to help rid your stone of rust will do the job.  Some will actually hurt the overall natural look of your stone.
At Classic Marble Restoration in South Florida, they use a tried and tested method for helping out these tough situations.  First, is Classic Marble's years of marble and granite restoration experience that is most important.  Second comes the equipment used and third in the method of extracting the iron or metal out of the stone.  Classic Marble uses a special mixture that they've developed over the years that has proven to be effective in extracting  rust and helping in the restoration of the marble and granite.

If you are located in the South Florida area, please give Classic Marble Restoration a call or email today and let them assist in removing those nasty rust stains from your marble and granite.

Monday, November 21, 2011

Marble and Stone Polishing

With the holidays quickly approaching, it's time to get your marble and stone floors restored!  Servicing the entire tri-county area Classic Marble Restoration will work with your hectic holiday schedule to ensure your floors are looking clean and sparkling.
Using today's latest techniques and equipment, CMR specializes in Fort Lauderdale Stone Floor Restoration  as well as granite and marble.  Contact Classic Marble Restoration today for new and exciting offers and promotions.  Let's get those floors back to shiny-new!

Monday, November 14, 2011

Clean Your Dirty Marble Floors

Marble flooring is a beautiful and surprisingly durable flooring option. It has an attractive and elegant appearance that adds instant appeal and class to most every design. However, marble flooring is not the easiest flooring to take care of. Marble can become cracked, stained, or scratched if not well cared for. If you have marble in your home, particularly marble flooring, you really need to know how to properly care for it.  

Daily cleaning and sweeping is necessary to keep your marble in good condition. Just use a damp mop in clean warm water. Many types of cleaners will discolor or erode the surface of your marble floor. So if you are hell bent on using a cleaner, it needs to be a marble cleaner specifically. Don’t use vinegar or any type of acid to clean marble. Marble flooring tends to be porous, therefore colored drinks, wine, fruit juices, etc will stain marble. If you or a guess spills on marble, be sure to clean it up right away to avoid staining.

In cleaning a marble floor, warm water is your safest bet. However, if your marble floor is just disgusting and you need to really clean it, it’s ok to use a tiny amount of ammonia added to the water to make a cleaning solution. Similarly, neutral pH soap can be used very sparingly mixed with warm water. The best bet for cleaning marble is to use a marble cleaner or just plain warm water.

Monday, October 17, 2011

Granite Countertops - Granite Cleaning, Granite Restoration

Granite Cleaning and Restoration

Granite is a excellent material for floors and kitchen countertops. Granite is an igneous rock, meaning that it was formed with heat and pressure deep within the Earth’s crust. The minerals inside the granite appear as small flecks throughout the stone. There are many  types of granite. Some have veining and look similar to marble. Granite, being a dense-grained, hard stone, can be highly polished in a variety of other ways. Granite is available in a broad spectrum of colors. Granite can be found right here in the U.S. and also from the mountains of Italy, India, Brazil, China. Granite’s durability and beauty make it one of the most popular natural stone choices available.

Granite Kitchen Countertops


Granite is the perfect material for kitchen countertops. While synthetic surfaces can scratch and melt under hot cookware, granite resists heat and scratching. Granite is relatively most bacteria-resistant because it is not porous. Granite is durable and retains its color and is not affected by lemon juice, coffee, tea, alcohol, or red wine. It is also scratch resistant and easy to clean with mild soap and warm water. Because granite naturally comes in a variety of colors and is strong, durable, and stain resistant, it is  ideal for kitchen countertops, food prep surfaces, table tops, floors, cladding, paving, and curbing.



Sealing Granite Countertops



Granite countertops should be sealed with a high quality stone sealer. Ask your contractor if your granite is already sealed or if needs to be sealed. Have it professionally sealed during installation. Stone surfaces then need resealing about once a year. This you can do yourself or you can have a professional seal the granite for you. Sealing your granite surface is relatively easy and inexpensive to do yourself. To seal a granite surface, clean the granite with a mild detergent that does not contain ammonia. When cleaning granite, avoid using Windex or other products with ammonia or solvents. Ammonia will remove the sealer. Solvents will do the same. Allow the surface to completely air dry for several hours. Next apply a high quality stone or granite sealer according to the manufacturer’s directions. Wipe off the excess as per package directions.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Costs of Marble Floor Installation

Getting a marble floor installed professionally usually starts around $9 -$20 a square foot including materials and labor. That translates to $900 -$2,000 for marble floor installation in a 100-square-foot area. Rare and expensive marble floors including sought-after light shades, engraving, hand-painting or special finishes cost from $10 -$40 a square foot for the marble. Installation can add another $10 -$50 or more per square foot. This would make for a total of $2,000 -$9,000 100-square-foot area.

What 's Included in Marble Floor Installation?
Cleaning and leveling of the subfloor
Because marble flooring is porous, it can be stained. 

Additional costs:
There can be extra charges for furniture removal and replacement; ripping out and disposing of old flooring material; repairing or replacing a damaged subfloor; and removing and then re-hanging doors. You may be charged around 20 cents extra per square foot to remove old carpet, another 20 cents per square foot for moving furniture, $15 for moving each appliance, $35 per toilet or more.


Because sand and grit can scratche marble flooring, daily dust-mopping is recommended for high-traffic areas. Most well-maintained residential marble floors will need to be professionally honed and polished in 2-4 years. Marble floors that have been damaged ususally require multiple grindings before polishing, which increases the cost per square foot.
 

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Marble and Stone Cleaning and Care Recommendations

Marble Cleaning Procedures and Recommendations
Marble Care for Floor Surfaces
Dry dust mop floors often using a clean chemical-free mop. Use mats and rugs on marble floors to reduce abrasions caused by sand and dirt. Be careful when using a vacuum cleaner on marble floors. The metal or plastic attachments or the wheels may scratch the surface.

Other Surfaces
Clean stone with neutral cleaner, stone soap, or a mild liquid dishwashing detergent and warm water. Clean with a clean rag mop on floors and a soft cloth for other surfaces. Overuse of cleaning products and soap can leave a film and cause streaks on your stone surface. Keep acidic cleaners containing lemon, vinegar or other acids away from marble and limestone. Completely and thoroughly rinse the stone surface after washing. Dry with a cloth. Also keep abrasive scouring powders or creams away from stone surfaces.
Granite Care and Marble Care for Bath and Other Wet Areas
Use a squeegee after using a stone bathing area to help prevent soap scum from building up.
You can use a solution of ammonia and water (about 1/2 cup ammonia to a gallon of water) to remove soap scum from stone. Do not overuse the ammonia because too much and too often can dull the surface of the stone.
Marble Care for Vanity Top Surfaces
Your stone vanity tops should be professionally sealed. Make sure that your stone supplier or installer gets your vanity top sealed for you. Marble wax works well for sealing stone vanity tops from stains and water spots.
 
Kitchen Countertops
In the kitchen, stone countertops should have a penetrating sealer applied. Make sure that is done before the installation is complete.  Of course, for kitchen use, you need a non-toxic food safe sealer.
Swimming Pool & Patio
Remove algae and moss with clear water and a mild bleach solution. Rinse well.

Friday, September 16, 2011

Similarities Between Marble and Granite Countertops

Marble countertops and granite countertops are obviously similar in that they are both natural stone building materials. The fact that they are both stone materials means that they are hard, very heavy, and a bit more costly and time consuming to install when compared to their synthetic counterparts.

Another similarity between marble countertops and granite countertops is that both contain unique patterns created by nature. Because of the uniqueness of each piece of stone, the patterns cannot be exactly replicated. That means that what you order may not be the exact piece of stone that you receive. If you are aware of this up front, you won’t be disappointed later. All of the patterns and colors in granite and marble are beautiful and unique.

Both marble countertops and granite countertops are relatively easy to care for. Unless you purchase a specialty presealed type of stone, you will need to reseal your marble or granite countertops annually. This will help prevent the countertops from becoming stained by oils, wine, juice and food coloring. Both marble and granite resist high temperatures. This makes them great in the kitchen. Although placing a hot pan onto the surface will not burn it, it is possible to crack it if the temperature of the countertop is cold. Think about how a cold glass will crack if you pour hot liquid into it.

Friday, September 9, 2011

South Florida Marble Repair

Marble is the most beautiful source of natural stone flooring. Because it is formed by nature, it is always unique. Marble is formed in extreme conditions deep within the Earth. Pressure and heat acting on limestone combine to form the many varieties of marble you see in flooring. It takes months of continuous heat for the limestone to be transformed into marble. Marble can form in a variety of colors such as gray, pink, white, blue, black, brown, and more. Marble is a very popular flooring material particularly for entryways because of its versatility and beauty. Marble provides a stylish, classy, and unique look to floors.  
Marble is an extremely strong and durable flooring material. The calcium carbonate present in marble helps to create its lustrous appearance. However, the patterns and designs in your marble floor can lose their shine and beauty if not properly cared for. Marble flooring must be cleaned and cared for properly in order to maintain its shine. If you have a marble floor, it’s a good idea to contact a South Florida marble floor cleaning professional to maintain it for you. If your marble floor is damaged, you can have it repaired and brought back to its original shine and color by a South Florida marble floor repair professional.  

Monday, August 15, 2011

How to Repair Damaged Marble

If you have inadvertantly damaged your marble floor or counter top, do not despair. You can actually do minor repairs to marble on your own! Marble can be scratched or dulled by using acidic or abrasive cleaners. Also over time, marble can begin to lose it's luster. With a sanding sponge and some marble polish, you can polish up your marble floor or counter tops and having them looking shiny again.

First choose a brand of marble restoration polish. You can purchase marble restoration products at home improvement stores or online. Use the marble restoration polish only on marble that is dull and damaged. If you try to use it on a high shine floor or counter, you end up dulling the shiny finish. So be sure that you only do this on a damaged surface. Use your sanding sponge in circular motion with your marble restoration polish. The process is relatively quick and easy on a small area of marble floor or counter top.

To polish marble that is not damaged, but just in need of cleaning, purchase a bottle of marble polish. It's very important that you only clean marble with marble cleaning products. Products such as Lundmark Wax Marble Polish, MarbleLife Marble Polish, or Stonecare Pro can be used at home for routine cleaning and polishing of your marble floors or countertops.

Monday, August 1, 2011

How to Clean Your Marble Floors

Marble makes attractive and durable floors, countertops, and fireplaces for houses and office buildings. Marble and stone floors and marble countertops encompass one of kind designs along with the strength and durability of natural stone. Because marble is made by nature, it comes in many unique colors and combinations that are always one of a kind. You can rest assured that if you invest in a marble floor, countertop, or fireplace surround, that you are getting a one of a kind design.

With that said, marble flooring can be durable and long lasting if properly cared for. However, if you make the mistake of using acid or alkaline cleaners on your beautiful new marble floor, you will realize how easy it can be damaged as well. If you are going to invest in marble, you had better do a little reading on how to properly care for it. Learning about your marble floor can save you a lot of headache and heart ache later is you unknowly use the wrong cleaner. Here are a few tips on marble care.

1. For everyday cleaning just use warm water.
2. Do not allow marble to air dry. It's prone to water spots.
3. For deeper cleaning use a marble cleaning fluid such as Marble Life's Intercare Cleaner.
4.Clean up spills immediately with warm water. Acidic spills like wine can damage marble.
5. Use a rug on your marble floor's high traffic areas.
6. Remove your shoes so that you're not putting unneccessary wear on your marble floor.
7. Have a professional seal your marble floor with marble sealer.

If it's too late for your marble floor because you or maybe the previous owner has already done something to damage it, no worries. Marble specialists have the knowhow and expertise to clean, polish, color restore, and repair your marble floor.

Monday, July 18, 2011

The Beauty of Marble

Marble makes a great building and decorating material for homes and commercial buildings. Marble floors and marble countertops encompass the uniqueness and durability of natural stone. Marble comes in an endless variety of colors and designs that are always one of a kind. You can rest assured that if you invest in a marble floor, countertop, or fireplace surround, that you are investing in a one of a kind design made by nature.

Marble flooring is unique, lustrous, and beautiful. But did you know that marble is also very durable and will last lifetimes if properly cared for and maintained?  Marble must be cleaned using only marble cleaner. Other types of cleaners and abrasives will damage your marble floor and dull it's luster and coloring. What do you do if your beautiful marble floor is damaged? Call in marble floor repair specialists.

Marble floor repair specialists have the knowledge and expertise to clean, polish, color enhance, and repair your marble floor. If you have invested in marble, it's important to properly care for the marble floor. A marble floor care expert can professionally clean your marble floor for you using marble floor cleaner. Don't take chances with your marble floor. If you need marble floor cleaning, repair, color enhancing call marble floor care specialists.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

South Florida Marble Restoration, Cleaning, Polishing, and Color Enhancing

If you are looking for South Florida Marble Restoration, Cleaning, Polishing, and Color Enhancing, call the professionals at South Florida Marble Restoration. South Florida Marble Restoration can restore, clean, polish, and enhance your South Florida marble floor. A South Florida Marble floor requires special cleaning and care.

You have to be careful with the cleaning products that you use on your South Florida Marble floor. Many harsh cleaners will damage your marble floor. Don't risk damaging your marble floor. Instead call in the experts to clean your marble floor for you. South Florida Marble Restoration are experts who can clean, polish, and color enhance your marble floor.

When you need your South Florida Marble floor cleaning, polished, or color enhanced, call professional South Florida Marble Restoration experts to help you with your South Florida Marble Restoration.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Stone Floor Restoration

If you have marble, stone, granite, or terrazzo floors, you know that there is nothing more beautiful than a cleaned and polished stone floor. However, if your stone floor is in need of stone floor repair or terrazzo restoration, call in a professional marble restoration service. A Florida marble restoration company can usually restore any type of stone floor - not just marble. If you have stone, granite, or terrazzo, a marble restoration company can polish and restore your stone floor.

Grinding – Is a type of Florida marble restoration which removes the deep scratches and removes lippage. Lippage is the term used for uneven tile edges. Grinding utilizes diamond abrasive pads and water. No dust is created.
Honing - Smaller scratches from everyday foot traffic are removed. No dust is created. .Classic Marble Restoration has various services to help your marble look like new!


Polishing – Offers protection from daily scratches and brings out the color and shine to make your stone floor breathtaking once again.
CleaningFlorida marble cleaning that removes dirt, grime, stains, waxes and polymers that have become embedded in the stone Sealing – Penetrating sealers preserve and protect your stone floor.
Color Enhancing – The beautiful naturally coloring of your stone floor can be restored to it's original brightness. Stripping – Removal of waxes and build up that cause your stone floor to appear dull.
Grout Cleaning and Sealing - Thorough grout-cleaning to make your floor look like new.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Marble Floor Restoration

Marble floors, although beautiful, can be quite sensitive to chemicals and traffic. Many types of cleaning fluids that are marketed for floor cleaning can actually damage your marble floor. Cleaners containing ammonia, acids, or oils should not be used on marble.

Even if you're trying to go green by cleaning with vinegar - Don't use it on your marble floor. The acid can cause etching and destroy the shine on the marble floor. Only use an approved marble floor cleaner on your marble floor or surface.

If your floor is already damaged, etched, or lacking luster, you may need to call in a professional marble restoration company. A marble restoration company can return that expensive marble floor to it's former glory with grinding, honing, polishing, cleaning, color enhancing, and sealing the floor. A professional marble restorer has the tools and the know how to bring back the beauty of your marble flooring.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Full Marble Restoration, Cleaning and Polishing of the Versace Mansion

When Classic Marble Restoration was asked to be involved in the restoration, cleaning, polishing and sealing of the Versace Mansion, we were completely honored. With 19,000 Sq. Ft of Marble Floor we knew we had quite the job on our hands. It took us weeks and plenty of man hours to complete this job as we needed to make sure it came out perfect. And that it did. Thanks to all the staff at Classic marble Restoration for making this a complete and beautiful success. Here are a few before and after pics. Enjoy!


Versace marble floor polishing

Versace Marble Courtyard