If your granite floor is looking dull, you may be wondering how to restore its shine and make your granite tiles look brand-new once again. Find out, and learn everything you need to know about granite polishing.
Granite Polishing Is The Best Way To Restore The Gloss Of Granite Flooring
Granite polishing involves using a gritty compound such as a powder or a liquid paste to buff away a thin layer of granite from the surface of the tiles – similar to how sandpaper is used to sand down wood and other materials.
By doing so, the scratched, dull, and damaged surface of the granite is removed, which allows a fresh layer of beautiful, brilliant stone to be exposed, revitalizing the appearance of your flooring.
If you want to polish your granite floors by hand, you can do so. Using a buffing pad, you’ll simply apply the recommended amount of granite polishing compound, then work it into the floor by gently applying pressure and moving the pad in a circular pattern. As the gritty polish is rubbed against the granite, the top layer will be removed gently, revealing the fresh and clean stone beneath.
However, this is very time-consuming for a large granite floor. Granite tiles are usually polished using power tools, such as a hand-held rotary buffer. Very large granite floors, such as those found in commercial buildings, may be polished using a stand-up floor polisher.
How Often Does Granite Flooring Have To Be Polished?
This depends on the level of foot traffic and wear, that granite floor experiences. A granite floor in a kitchen or entryway that gets a lot of traffic may need to be polished every 5 years, while flooring located in a more out-of-the-way location, such as a bathroom, may only need to be polished every 15 years.
The easiest way to tell if your granite surface needs to be polished is to just look at the floor! If it looks dull, scratched, and dirty, polishing it will revitalize the natural stone, and allow you to feel great about how your floor looks once again.
Do I Have To Seal My Granite Tiles After They’re Polished?
Yes. Polishing the granite tiles exposes the bare stone to foot traffic and environmental contaminants, which means that it can quickly become damaged or dull if it is not properly sealed after it has been polished.
We recommend applying a solvent-based or water-based sealer to your granite tiles after they have been polished and cleaned. These penetrating sealers enter deeply into the pores of natural stone like granite, filling them up and creating a more durable, beautiful surface.
In addition, sealers help bring out the natural colour of the stone, as well. Solvent-based sealers create a shinier finish, while water-based sealers have a more matte finish, so keep this in mind when choosing the right sealer to apply after granite floor polishing.
Need To Restore Your Granite Floor? Contact Us Today!
Granite flooring can be polished and sealed on your own, but the job can be difficult and time-intensive if you’ve never done it before. So leave this task to the professionals – contact Sydney Tile & Stone Care today to have your granite tile floors polished right away.