Natural stone tiles can become scratched and worn out over time. This type of wear and tear results in unsightly and dull tiles. Thankfully, buffing brings natural stone tile back to life by removing scratches and renewing the shine.
If your stone tile needs some TLC, consider buffing it. Whether you do the job yourself or hire a team of experts, consider the following advice for buffing stone tile:
Use Filler Compound
Before buffing your stone floor, experts recommend using filler compound to fill in any holes, chips, and cracks in your tiles. Mix the compound based on the manufacturer’s instructions and apply it so that it packs tightly into all holes and cracks. Be sure to extend the compound so that it dries above the tile’s surface level as this will make it easier to use your stone polishing pads to smooth the surface.
Install Polishing Pads
After preparing the surface and taping plastic around appliances, cabinets, and baseboards, you’ll need to install 100-grit stone polishing pads to your floor buffing machine. If you’re using wet polishing pads, you’ll need to fill the buffer’s well with water. This step isn’t necessary if you are using dry polishing pads.
Be sure to have 200-, 400-, and 800- grit pads on hand as you will use them throughout the buffing process.
Buff out the Uneven Spots
When using the machine, you’ll go over the entire floor to smooth uneven spots and level the patches that are covered with the compound mixture. Continue buffing until the floor reaches the desired sheen.
