GuideCaring for marble floors
Caring for marble floors: daily habits, pH-neutral products, pitfalls to avoid and precautions against de-icing salt during a Geneva winter.
Guides
Marble restoration cost per m²: what makes it vary
Area, condition of the stone, finish, access and working hours: the factors behind the price, and how to get a reliable quote.
Practical guide
Why there is no single price per m²
“How much does marble restoration cost per m²?” It is the first question people ask, and a perfectly reasonable one. Yet two floors of the same size can require very different work: a few hours of crystallization for one, several passes of grinding and polishing, repairs and protection for the other.
The price of marble restoration is therefore built up from several concrete factors: the area, the condition of the stone, the finish you want, the layout of the premises and the working hours. Understanding these factors lets you compare quotes on a sound basis and know exactly what you are paying for.
This guide explains each of these parameters without quoting a generic figure that would not reflect your situation: only a quote drawn up after examining the stone gives the right price. Ours is free and given in Swiss francs.
The factors
What makes the cost of restoration vary
These are the main parameters every marble specialist takes into account when pricing a job.
01
The area
The larger the area, the more the equipment set-up and preparation time are spread out, so the cost per m² generally tends to fall. Conversely, a small or awkwardly shaped area (bathroom, alcoves) takes proportionally more time.
02
The condition of the stone
This is the decisive factor. Marble that is simply dull can be revived quickly; a scratched, etched floor with uneven tiles, chips or cracks requires grinding, repairs and more passes.
03
The finish
A mirror polish means working through to the finest grits, so more passes than a honed finish. Water- or oil-repellent protection is added depending on use.
04
Access
An upper floor without a lift, a staircase with many steps, furniture to move, protecting walls and woodwork, removing grinding slurry: the layout of the site affects working time.
05
Working hours
In a residential lobby, shop or hotel, work often has to be done early, late or at weekends so as not to disrupt activity. These constraints are built into the quote.
06
Special surfaces
Steps, nosings, skirting, worktops, fireplaces: these are often worked by hand or with smaller tools, and priced per item or per linear metre.
The key factor
The condition of the marble determines the method
The time spent on marble depends directly on the starting grit. A floor with little damage can be worked from a fine grit; a heavily scratched or uneven floor must start with a coarse grit to level it, then go through every stage up to the finish.
Repairs come on top: filling chips and holes with tinted resin, treating cracks, replacing a tile where necessary, redoing joints. Each item is described in the quote so you know exactly what every line corresponds to.
This is also why regular maintenance pays off: stone kept in good condition is restored more quickly, and the next intervention will be lighter.
The quote
How to get a reliable price
A sound quote relies on accurate information. Here is how the process works, from first contact to the priced proposal.
- 1
Describe the project
Type of surface (floor, staircase, worktop, fireplace), location (municipality, postcode), approximate area, how the space is used and the finish you want.
- 2
Send a few photos
An overall view, a shot against the light to reveal scratches and dull areas, and close-ups of defects. They allow a quick initial opinion.
- 3
Site visit if needed
For large areas or delicate cases, the craftsman comes to examine the stone, take measurements and note any access constraints.
- 4
Receive a detailed quote
Each service is described: preparation, grinding, polishing, repairs, protection, protecting surrounding surfaces, working hours. The quote is free and in Swiss francs.
- 5
Schedule the work
Dates, hours, managing access for a building or a shop: everything is agreed before work begins.
Comparing
Reading and comparing quotes
Two quotes for the same area can look very far apart simply because they do not describe the same work. Before comparing totals, compare content: number of passes and grits, the finish promised, whether repairs are included, final protection, working hours, travel and set-up.
- Is the method described (grinding, polishing, crystallization)?
- Is the final finish specified (mirror, satin, matt)?
- Are repairs to chips and joints priced?
- Is final protection included, and which kind?
- Is protection of walls, furniture and woodwork included?
- Are the working hours and duration stated?
Our services in detail
To get a clearer picture of what each line of a quote covers, see our marble grinding, marble polishing and marble repair pages. For the overall approach, our method sets out the stages of a project.
FAQ
Marble restoration costs: your questions
Why not publish a price per m²?
Because a generic rate would be misleading. Depending on the condition of the stone, the same area may need a simple crystallization or full grinding with repairs. We prefer to look at your marble, from photos or on site, and give you a free, detailed quote in Swiss francs that genuinely matches your project.
Are photos enough to get a quote?
For a modest area in clearly visible condition, clear photos (overall view, a shot against the light, close-ups) often allow a price to be given. For a lobby, a large floor or a delicate case, a visit makes it possible to measure precisely, check access and refine the method.
Does regular maintenance really reduce costs?
Yes, over time. Well-maintained marble stays in a condition that allows light interventions such as buffing or crystallization. Neglected marble accumulates scratches and etching, which then calls for full grinding, a longer job. A suitable maintenance schedule is therefore a sensible investment.
Is work outside normal hours possible?
Yes. For residential lobbies, shops, offices or hotels, the work can be organised early in the morning, in the evening or at weekends so as not to disrupt activity. These arrangements are agreed with you and set out in the quote.
Get the right price for your marble
Tell us about your project and attach a few photos: we will reply with a clear proposal. Request your free quote in Swiss francs.
Guides
Further reading
Guide
GuideRemoving stains from marble
Removing stains from marble: grease, wine, rust, limescale and acid etching. What you can safely do yourself and when to call in a marble…
GuidePolishing or crystallization?
Marble polishing or crystallization: how each works, results, time on site and the criteria for deciding which technique suits your floor or worktop.