NEVER. MARBLELIFE has never charged an estimate fee, and we never will. We know that an educated customer is our best client. We are committed to assisting our client base in learning how to care for their stone, tile and grout and are confident that should you decide to move forward with your project that you will select MARBLELIFE

NO. MARBLELIFE long ago developed the means of using a little water to trap dust and stone particles as they are removed from the stone. This mixture is then vaccummed up as we work. Typically, we have no more than 10 to 20 sq ft of floor being worked on at any time.
As each section is completed you can walk on it without tracking dust or dirt.
We recognized long ago that maintaining a clean operation was important to our clients.

MARBLELIFE is the answer.
Whether you are looking to
- simply enhance the gloss or shine, or need
- remove deep scratches
- repair holes or cracks
- repair or restore grout
- level high tiles or
- replace tiles
Give us a call. MARBLELIFE will customize a solution to your needs and desired outcome.

No. Acidic damage can be readily repaired by a properly trained stone craftsman. Restoration is typically substantially less expensive than replacement. MARBLELIFE can restore your vanities to a new appearance. Give us a call.

Grout is very porous. Unless properly sealed when installed AND sealed every few years after being installed your grout will act as a sponge absorbing every liquid it encounters. Believe it or not, the most prevalent culprit contributing to dirty or stained grout problems is dirty mop water, and improper mopping techniques. Most people do not realize that when mopping a floor you wring out the mop FIRST so that it is damp but not wet when mopping a floor. This allows the dirt to be picked up and transferred to the mop bucket. A wet mop dissolves the dirt and allows it to run into the grout line where it concentrates as it liquid evaporates away. A wet mop effectively cleans the tile top while dirtying the grout line. Dirty mop water does the same thing. A rule of thumb we teach our teams is that if you glue a quarter to the bottom of your mop bucket it is time to change the water once you can no longer see the coin. Okay, so what can we do about this situation? If the grout has been routinely sealed a tile-and-grout-cleaning may be all you need to restore a clean appearance. However, in most cases no one remembers to re-seal and therefore the grout becomes stained, at which point the best option is MARBLELIFE's COLORSeal Grout Restoration which applies a color-matched topical seal to the grout restoring it to its original appearance, while applying a professional grade topical seal providing substantial improvements in stain resistance going forward. COLORSeal costs little more than a cleaning but offers eye-popping results.

MARBLELIFE (www.marblelife.com) and NTC (The National Training Center of the Masonary Trades, www.ntc-stone.com) both market a line of surface specific care guides which do a very nice job of providing an in-depth explanation of care requirements for each surface including marble, granite, limestone, terrazzo, ceramic, slate and porcelain. Or simply contact your local MARBLELIFE stone craftsman at 800-209-9596. They cannot only help you but can also source and deliver any product you may need to care for your stone or tile surfaces.

Stain Removal is the ONLY service that a stone restoration company CANNOT guarantee. Stains are the result of colored liquid being allowed to seep into the stone. While in most cases a seal can be removed, in virtually all cases it requires patience, multiple treatments and either your time or your money. Each stain requires a different poultice and solution to remove. If you know what the stain is you have a much better chance of effecting a solution quickly. If you do NOT know what the stain is it is still possible but may take a little more time to define the appropriate solution.
Stain removal is based on the principal of dilution, and homogeneity. Just as when you pore your milk into your coffee you can see it mix on its own over time, similarly if a poultice containing a stain-solving liquid is placed in contact with the stained area, the solving liquid will first be absorbed into the stone where it will seek to dissolve the stain. Once the concentration of liquid in the stone equals that in the poultice it has reached an equilibrium, and as the poultice on top of the stained stone begins to dry, the process is reversed with the liquid in the stone moving back out into the poultice. As you can imagine, it takes some time for this process to occur, generally each application needs about 24 hours. Second, in many cases you will need more than 1 application and in some cases may require a dozen applications for a stubborn stain. As such, if you choose to have an outside contractor perform this work this can be an expensive process, sometimes if a comparable stone can be matched to the stained area it is actually faster and less expensive to replace the tile. If on a counter however, one needs to go through the process. The stain removal process is NOT a difficult one, as such one can typically do this work oneself if so inclined.
MARBLELIFE will typically offer our clients the option of showing them how to do it themselves and then coaching them, as one alternative to MARBLELIFE providing the service.
If you are looking for information on how to remove a particular stain the best information source is MARBLELIFE's Stain Removal Guide available online at www.marblelife.com or NTC's (The National Training Center for the Masonry Trades, www.ntc-stone.com) stain removal online resource. In all cases, your local MARBLELIFE stone craftsman is available to assist you through the process at 800-209-9596.

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Yes - MARBLELIFE maintains a broad array of treatments custom tailored to the specific stone or tile surface. We can restore your grout, enrich the color of the tile, slate, marble or granite, and even provide a soft sheen, semi-gloss or gloss finish to the surface. Tell us what you want the final result to be and we can customize a solution for you.
This is part of the MARBLELIFE magic that our technicians love, converting a surface's appearance from old tired and dull to brand new and beautiful.
Let your mind wonder undeterred. In most cases, we can adjust your stone finish to match your desires.
We can also change sanded grout color if need be. It may sound like magic, but is the result of years of R&D and listening to our customer's needs.

With more than 50 locations across the country MARBLELIFE covers more than 50% of the population as of this writing (2008) and expects to have full coverage throughout North America within a few years. The fastest way to find a local MARBLELIFE stone craftsman is to visit www.marblelife.com/service.html and enter your properties zip code in the locator on the left column. You will immediately be provided the contact information for the local office, and have an opportunity to request an estimate if need be.

While there are general guidelines to caring for all stone and tile surfaces, specific information pertaining to your specific surfaces can be found at:
www.marblelife.com/service.html
If you are looking to secure a CARE GUIDE specific to your stone type visit
www.marblelife.com/How-To-Books.html
Of course you can always call your local MARBLELIFE Stone Craftsman at 800-594-2109 and we will be happy to answer your questions.

The #1 culprit of damage to floors is dirt, (grit, sand & dust). The best treatment for your floor is a dry, untreated microfiber dust mop or vacuum, used every day when possible. Damp mopping is recommended on a weekly basis and whenever there are visible spills. For more information about stone care, consult our Caring For It section.

Rugs are a good idea to catch dirt and grit. Walk-off mats or carpets should ideally be "two paces" long to insure that each shoe come in contact with it at least once allowing the carpet or mat to try and knock-off any dust or dirt which could scratch the floor.
However, there are a few things to keep in mind. It is important to use rug holders designed to go under rugs to keep them in place. Sliding rugs are not only dangerous, they are a constant source of new scratches. Do not use rugs that are backed with rubber or latex. Using a rug holder or under-mat that is flexible and "spongy" allows the mat to conform around any grit, sand or dirt which may get trapped under the mat. By conforming the mat reduces the amount of pressure and force the captured grit feels when someone walks over it, reducing its potential to scratch the surface.
Recognizing that decor requirements may prevent you from using a mat or carpet, the alternative is to keep the area dust and dirt free. Removing shoes, if feasible, will always help, if this fits with your lifestyle.

Vinegar is acidic. It is likely that what you are looking at is not a stain but an etch. This acidic spill has literally dissolved micropits into your stone surface.
Stone is typically sealed with a penetrating sealer (versus a topical) as such the seal is in the pores of the stone, with nothing sitting on top of the stone. As such, an acidic spill can readily come in contact and dissolve the stone, it simply cannot ENTER the stone easily.
Have no fear, however, as MARBLELIFE can and restore your original appearance with ease.

Most of the time when a customer asks us why their countertop is not shiny anymore, it turns out that some sort of film is sitting on the surface. This happens when one does not use the proper cleanser, or when they clean their granite surface with water and dish soap. (This will eventually lead to soap film build up.) Give us a call. We can provide solutions for you.

www.marblelife.com offers a broad array of guidance for virtually any stone type. You can also source the care products you need. OR you can simply call your local office and speak to a certified stone craftsman at 800-209-9596. MARBLELIFE never charges for a consultation, and is always happy to discuss your particular situation and needs. One thing to remember when you are caring for marble, limestone, travertine or grout always insist that anything you put on your stone by acid-free or pH neutral. Acidic cleaners and products WILL damage your stone, and fade your grout over time.
MARBLELIFE is the only stone, tile and grout restoration company in the country that develops, optimizes and manufacturers its own line of stone care products. (Note - not just carries a private label, but develops and manufacturers). We stand behind our products like no one else. If you use our cleaners and do not get the results you expect, we will send a stone craftsman to your location to assess your situation and assist you in finding an appropriate product or service based solution.

YES. Ceramic and porcelain tile surfaces are much harder than your marble, limestone and travertine. These surfaces are acid sensitive and will wear and abrade when dust and dirt our ground underfoot. Remember the Grand Canyon, a one mile deep canyon, was dug by water and dirt. The only difference with your floor is that this process has been ongoing for millions of years in the Grand Canyon, and has just started in your home.
Granite surfaces are harder and with very few exceptions impervious to acids. Still proper care will help you maintain its beauty for years to come. Unless you have been told this surface was resinated (granites less than 5-years old are not likely to fall into this category) you will want to insure your surface is sealed every other year or so to maintain the surfaces' stain resistance.

It depends. If this was the late 1990s the answer would have been an emphatic yes, but things have changed, stone processing processes have improved. While no one "makes" natural stone, they do run it through a series of processes to convert it from a rock, to a slab, to a counter or tile. When the granite is cut into slabs today, most of it is now being "resinated", whereby a polyester resin is vacuumed through the stone. The resin fills the natural pores present in every stone. This is done to improve the slabs transportability. If not done, many of the unusual colored stones, would not survive the shipping process, cracking and shattering enroute. The resination imparts improved flexibility to the slab. As a side-effect, but filling the pores, resination effectively seals the stone. Today, most granite is being resinated and therefore does not need to be sealed. If your counters are older than 5-years and you do not KNOW that they have been resinated, you will want to have them sealed every other year. Sealing is fairly inexpensive, and is certainly MUCH less expensive than the time, cost and annoyance of having to have a stain removed.

Yes there is. I am sure you have no intention of buying a new motor for your car. You take your care in for periodic oil changes and service in order to extend the life of the vehicle. Your stone and tile surfaces are little different - if done properly. Unfortunately, what many companies claim to be maintenance does not meet the definition. A maintenance program is a program that helps you avoid a catastrophic failure or the need for a major overhaul. A restoration is a major floor finish overhaul. If your "maintenance" provider is not prepared to GUARANTEE that your floor will not need to be restored, they are not effectively maintaining the surface. MARBLELIFE has NEVER had to restore a floor for a maintenance contract.
MARBLELIFE maintains more hotel marble and granite surfaces than anyone else in the country. We restore and maintain more than 100 properties every month. Typically, once we restore them we transition them to our maintenance program and they never require restoration again. We have clients in our portfolio for whom we have maintained their high traffic commercial lobbies for more than 15 years without having to restore the floor. Our maintenance clients enjoy two major advantages with the MARBLELIFE maintenance program: (1) There floors always look restored - year round and (2) the cost of maintaining them is significantly less than the cost of periodically restoring them. (3) Once under maintenance MARBLELIFE owns the floor with you, meaning we provide active input in regards to how to clean it, what is used, and when. (4) Our teams are available to address spot etches and repair cracks and dings immediately on appearance versus at the time of the next restoration.
Each maintenance program is custom designed for your floor material and traffic level. Whether we are talking about your residence, your hotel lobby, your hotel shower surface or your office building lobby MARBLELIFE can provide you a program that can eliminate this appearance cycle once and for all.