When a marble floor loses its luster, many property owners simply ask for a "polish." However, true stone restoration is not a single action but a sequence of mechanical processes. Understanding the specific difference between grinding, honing, and polishing is crucial for managing your expectations and understanding exactly what your floor needs to return to a factory-finish state.
Stage 1: Grinding (Lippage Removal)
Grinding is the most aggressive step in the restoration process. It involves using heavy-duty planetary floor machines equipped with coarse-grit diamond abrasives (usually 30 to 50 grit). This step is not always necessary for a simple shine restoration, but it is mandatory if the floor has "lippage"—uneven tiles where one edge is higher than the other.
During this phase, we effectively remove a thin layer of the stone. This flattens the floor completely, removing deep scratches, etch marks, and stains that have penetrated deep into the pores. The result is a completely flat, monochromatic, and matte surface that looks brand new but has no reflection yet.
Stage 2: Honing (The Smoothing Phase)
Once the floor is flat, we move to honing. This is the bridge between the rough grinding phase and the final polish. Honing uses a series of progressively finer diamond pads—typically starting at 100 grit and moving up to 200, 400, and 800 grit.
Honing removes the visible scratch marks left by the grinding process. Many homeowners actually prefer to stop at this stage. A "honed finish" is a satin-smooth, non-reflective surface. It is popular in high-traffic commercial areas or modern homes because it hides dust and footprints much better than a high-gloss finish. However, if you want that mirror-like reflection, honing is simply the preparation work for the final step.
Stage 3: Polishing (The Chemical Reaction)
This is where the magic happens. Polishing is not just sanding with very fine paper; it often involves a chemical reaction. We use fine diamond pads (1500 to 3000 grit) often in combination with polishing powders containing oxalic acid.
The friction from the machine heats the powder, causing the calcium carbonate in the marble to crystallize and tighten. This creates that deep, "wet look" reflection. At this stage, the pores are tightened significantly, making the stone naturally more resistant to stains, though it still requires sealing.
If you can feel the scratches with your fingernail, you likely need Grinding. If the floor is just dull but smooth, you need Polishing.