What we do and who it is for
We protect and refinish natural stone floors in villas, apartments, hotel lobbies, offices and showrooms. The work covers marble, and also travertine, limestone, onyx and granite. Customers range from homeowners with a new marble floor who want it protected from day one, to property managers whose lobby floor has gone dull under traffic.
Sealing is preventive. If you already have set-in stains, etch marks or yellowing, start with our marble stain removal service, then come back to sealing once the stone is clean.
Why marble needs sealing
Marble is a porous, calcium-based stone with two weaknesses.
- It absorbs liquids. Coffee, oil, wine and water sit in the pores and become stains.
- It reacts to acids. Citrus, vinegar, many cleaning products and hard-water deposits react with the surface and leave dull etch marks.
Sealing slows absorption so spills can be wiped away before they soak in. It does not make marble acid-proof, so etching can still happen.
Penetrating sealers and finishes
- Impregnating sealers soak below the surface and line the pores with a water- and oil-repellent barrier, without changing the look or feel of the stone. They are the right choice for most marble floors.
- Topical sealers sit on top as a film. They can look glossy at first but scratch, wear unevenly underfoot and can trap moisture, so they are a poor fit for a busy floor.
- Diamond polishing uses progressively finer abrasives to bring back a deep gloss in the stone itself, where a floor is dull or lightly worn.
- Crystallisation is a chemical and mechanical process that hardens the surface and gives a high, durable shine. It is a finish, not a sealer, so the two are often used together.
We recommend the sealer grade, whether water-based, solvent-based or oil-repellent, to suit the stone and the room.
The re-seal cycle
A penetrating sealer wears with foot traffic, cleaning and sunlight. A busy floor needs re-sealing every few years, and heavy commercial use sooner, while a low-traffic area can go longer. A simple field test helps: drop water on the marble. If it beads, the seal is working. If it darkens and soaks in, it is time to re-seal. We would rather give you a realistic cycle than sell work you do not need.
Dubai considerations
Fine desert sand acts like grinding paste underfoot, so entrance matting and regular dust control do as much for a marble floor as any treatment. Strong sun through glazing and large temperature swings between outdoors and air-conditioned rooms stress the surface, and hard water leaves mineral deposits that dull polished stone.
We choose the sealer grade and finish with those conditions in mind, and we advise on pH-neutral cleaning so your sealing lasts.
How the job runs
- Assessment. We identify the stone and check its condition, porosity and any existing damage.
- Quote. You receive a fixed quote after the site visit, per square metre and per project.
- Cleaning and preparation. The floor is cleaned, and where needed ground and honed to remove scratches and level lippage.
- Polish or crystallisation. We bring the floor to the finish you want.
- Sealing. The correct impregnating sealer is applied and buffed.
- Handover. We leave the floor clean, with simple aftercare guidance.
What drives the cost
Marble sealing and polishing is priced per square metre and per project. The main factors are:
- the stone type and its condition;
- how much grinding or honing is needed;
- the finish you want, whether polish, crystallisation or sealing only;
- the total area and how easy the space is to work in;
- access, and whether furniture has to be moved.
The quote shows these clearly, excluding VAT.
Related services
Marble sits within wider projects. See marble stain removal for etching and set-in stains, countertops for stone worktops, interior fit-out works and commercial interior design. The full range is on our interior design hub.
Book a free site visit. We will assess your stone and send you a fixed quote. Call +971 50 928 5264.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should marble be re-sealed in Dubai?
Sealer is not permanent. It wears with traffic, cleaning and sunlight. A busy floor benefits from re-sealing every few years, sooner in heavy commercial use and later in low-traffic areas. A quick test: drop water on the marble. If it beads, the seal is fine. If it darkens and soaks in, it is time to re-seal.
What is the difference between a penetrating sealer and crystallisation?
A penetrating (impregnating) sealer soaks into the pores and protects against stains and water from within, without changing the look. Crystallisation is a surface finish that hardens the stone and gives a high, durable shine, but it does not provide deep stain protection. They do different jobs and are often used together: crystallise for shine, seal for protection.
Will sealing change how my marble looks?
An impregnating sealer is designed to be invisible. It works below the surface and does not alter the colour, texture or sheen of the stone. If you want added shine, that comes from diamond polishing or crystallisation, which we can carry out in the same visit before sealing.
Can you seal marble that is already polished and looks fine?
Yes, and it is the best time to do it. Sealing is preventive care, so applying it while the stone is in good condition protects it before spills cause stains or etching. We clean and lightly prepare the surface first so the sealer penetrates evenly.
Does sealing stop etch marks?
Sealing greatly reduces staining from absorbed liquids, but it does not make marble acid-proof. Etch marks are a chemical reaction between acid and the stone's surface and can still occur from spills like citrus or vinegar. The fix for existing etching is honing and re-polishing, which we cover under marble restoration.
How is marble sealing and polishing priced?
It is priced per square metre and per project, because the stone type, its condition, the grinding or honing required and the chosen finish all affect the work. We give a fixed quote after a free site visit and assessment, quoted excluding the 5% VAT applied in the UAE.