Most homeowners will only begin to google for marble polishing Malaysia when they begin to see the shiny surface of their marble floor turn dull, scratched, and/or oddly patchy in high traffic areas. If you live in a bungalow, a heritage building or any of the many condos found in Klang Valley, then you probably have a marble, terrazzo or homogeneous tile floor in your home, and the shine wouldn’t have remained fresh since the installation. This is perfectly OK. The fortunate thing is it could be fixed, and it doesn’t need to get the floor replaced at all.
Why Marble and Terrazzo Floors Lose Their Shine
While natural stone and terrazzo are beautiful when installed, they are also susceptible to pores and are relatively soft when compared to the modern tiles that are installed, so over time they show the effects of daily usage. With foot traffic, it slowly surfaces with micro scratches. Spilled liquids should be removed immediately; citrus juice or vinegar, which is considered acidic, can be harmful to the surface if left to stand. When walked on over and over, dust and grit provide a sanding effect that dulls the shiny finish. Humidity and water contact are common in Malaysia’s climate and could potentially cause floors to appear cloudy or stained if they are not adequately sealed and maintained. None of this is to say the floor is ruined beyond repair, only that it has lost its original polish and will need to be reapplied.
Equal Treatment of Marble vs Terrazzo vs Homogeneous Tile?
Not quite, but the general procedure is the same. Natural stone is marble and it is more porous and susceptible to acids, which is why great care must be taken when polishing to ensure that it is not over ground or the surface is ruined. Traditionally used in older homes in Malaysia, particularly in Melaka and Negeri Sembilan, terrazzo is a mixture of marble or granite chips embedded in a cement or resin mixture and is typically easily ground and polished to create a strikingly beautiful finish, one that many Malaysian homeowners don’t realize their terrazzo floors can achieve. Homogeneous tile is more uniform and less porous than heterogeneous tile, and has to be buffed in a different manner, usually with less grinding and more restoration of surface glitter. A professional team will typically determine the type of flooring you have before knowing which technique is best used to get the job done right, as applying the wrong technique to the wrong material can result in damage rather than benefits.
The Polishing Process Step-by-Step
A dull floor is not the same as a dirty floor – it takes more than one pass of the buffer to make it bright. A good job consists of:
Assessment – Checking the extent of scratching, staining and general wear to see what approach to take.
Grinding – A diamond grinding process removes the upper layer of material that is too worn down to be of any use, exposing the new material.
Honing – This is a finer grinding stage to smooth the surface progressively, before polishing.
Polishing/Buffing – Restoring true shine with progressively finer polishing pads to offer a more natural look, as opposed to a slick, temporary surface finish that wears off in just a few weeks.
Sealing – Application of a sealant where applicable to prevent the newly polished surface from staining and etching in the future, thereby extending the life of the work.
The lack of steps, especially sealing, is a primary reason for a nice looking DIY or budget polishing job to fade away in just a month or so.
What It Costs: Price per SqFt
Frequently marble and floor polishing services in Malaysia charge on a per-square-foot basis, ranging anywhere from approximately RM2 to RM4.50 per sqft, but the price may be higher in the case of extremely damaged floors that require more intensive grinding and polishing services or large properties with complicated logistics and equipment positioning. In some cases, the quotes on the market are even higher, particularly if the marble needs to be restored to a high grade with many stages of grinding.
Like many other cleaners and restorers, the exact cost of their work will vary according to:
The state of the existing floor (light dulling vs. deep scratching and staining)
Total floor area
Color of material (marble is not as easy to work with or as inexpensive as homogeneous tile)
The quoted price or separate charge for sealing
The accessibility of the space, including furniture to be moved, tight corners, and multiple rooms
An on-site costing appointment will yield a much more precise cost than a phone estimate due to the differences in floor condition from home to home.
The Risks Involved with DIY Floor Polishing
While it’s easy to get a rental buffer and try it yourself, it’s an area where DIY is often a bad idea. If the wrong grit or pad is used on natural stone, then the surface will be uneven instead of smooth. Too much grinding results in excessive material removal, and thus a shorter lifespan for the floor. Any shine you get will fade shortly after unless you seal properly afterward, and then you will end up where you started—only now your floor is thinner than it should be (and that’s if you get any shine at all!). The buffing stage is not the only part of professional polishing that matters; it’s the proper diagnosis of the floor and proper sequence of grinding and polishing.
How Often Does This Need to Be Done?
Marble floors or terrazzo floors can be polished by a professional every 1 to 2 years, depending on the amount of foot traffic in your home and the daily care taken of the floor between polishes. High traffic areas such as living rooms, hallways and entryways will wear out faster than low-traffic spaces such as guest bedrooms. Between professional services, sweeping and cleaning up spills regularly extends the time before they need to be re-polished and can help keep the floor looking its best for longer.
Adding Value Before Property Sale or Handover
For those getting ready to sell, rent or hand over a property, restored marble or terrazzo flooring really creates a great first impression. A well-cared-for home has a polished floor, while a scratched and dull floor can make even a clean home look tired and neglected. Consider the value it brings to the overall impression of your property—especially for older bungalows in Negeri Sembilan and Klang Valley, or heritage homes in Melaka where original terrazzo or marble flooring is a true architectural element that is worthy of showcasing rather than concealing under rugs.
Restoring Your Floors to Their Former Glory
While tile buffing and marble polishing may not be the first type of cleaning services that come to mind to homeowners, they can make a massive difference in a space. Bamboo Cleaning Services provides tile buffing and floor polishing services in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Melaka with fully-trained staff that evaluate your particular type of flooring before suggesting a way forward. Over the years, your floors may have become dull and lifeless, and you may think that only a full replacement will do—but in many cases, it is possible to restore a floor for a fraction of the price.
