MARBLELIFE^® of Chicago

Protection varies based on the surface type—floor, counter, or shower wall. MARBLELIFE offers FREE consultations to provide recommendations tailored to your specific surface, material, and environment. Recommendations include care products, floor mat considerations, daily maintenance, other building surfaces, building use and foot traffic requirements, past cleaner and floor care methods.    

Marble damage can be associated with wear, acid-etching, and staining.  

Seal to Enhance Stain Resistance: Marble is naturally porous and can absorb spilled liquids, leading to staining unless sealed. Typical silicone seals can be removed if exposed to acidic materials, such as vinegar or spills. It’s advisable to re-seal every other year in residential environments and more frequently in bars or hotels. Sealing is much less costly than replacing a stained surface.  

Acid-Etching: Marble can be dissolved by acids. Acidic cleaners like vinegar or citrus-scented products can dull surfaces by pitting them. Avoid acidic cleaners altogether. Use only cleaners specifically designed for marble. MARBLELIFE cleaners are stone and seal-safe, formulated to avoid restoration issues. Approximately 20% of MARBLELIFE’s residential restoration projects involve damage from inappropriate cleaners.  

Wear: It’s not foot traffic that wears a marble surface, but the grains of sand, dust, or hair caught underfoot that create localized pressure and scratches. Regular dust-mopping and using dust-trapping mats at entrances can help extend the life of your floor finish.  

When in doubt, call MARBLELIFE for a FREE consultation. A bit of knowledge can save thousands in restoration costs and save countless fruitless hours of trial and error.  

 We are happy to assist.  

Not always. Sometimes, issues arise from build-up caused by wax-containing cleaners, often marketed as “clean-and-shine” or “Clean-and-seal” products or polishes.  

These products can leave behind waxes or oil, resulting in a dull, dingy look over time. In such cases, MARBLELIFE recommends professional cleaning to remove the build-up and free the surface so you can see its natural beauty.   

We recommend you use a professional stone craftsman to ensure that these materials are removed with a surface and seal safe method. Otherwise, one might create a new issue in trying to resolve the current.   

Once the surface is back under control and free of build-up, MARBLELIFE can recommend care processes and products that will allow a homeowner to maintain the surface.  

A high traffic floor building will require periodic maintenance. But done properly this is much more cost effective than periodic restoration.  

For chips, cracks, or damage from acidic cleaners or spills, no cleaner can repair the damage. Restoration is needed to return the surface to its original, beautiful condition. 

MARBLELIFE-ENDURACRETE will restore your floor to its original appearance unless an alternate finish is specified. Once restored, these surfaces will remain beautiful if cleaned with appropriate cleaners and protected from abrasive materials.