Maintaining Red Marble Patio Tiles Six Years After First Visit in Newbury
I recently had the pleasure of revisiting a property in Newbury that I first worked on around six years ago. The job stood out in my memory—not just because of the work involved, but because the property itself is truly unique. Styled like a Mediterranean villa, the home features a stunning Spanish Red Marble patio that gives it a real wow factor. In fact, we did write about at the time and if you want to visit that post please click here: Red Marble Patio Newbury
The client had spent the past few years living abroad and had rented the house out in the meantime. Unfortunately, during that period, the patio had been exposed to the elements and was showing signs of neglect. The once vibrant marble was now dull and in need of some serious TLC.
Cleaning a Red Marble Tiled Patio in Newbury
Given the size of the patio, I worked in sections to manage the restoration efficiently. I started by thoroughly brushing and vacuuming the surface to remove loose dirt and debris—essential prep before burnishing the stone. With water as a lubricant, I began the refinishing process using a 200-grit diamond pad on a weighted rotary machine. This coarser pad did a great job cutting through the built-up grime. I then followed up with a series of diamond burnishing pads starting with 400, 800, and finally 1500-grit to gradually refine the surface and close the pores of the marble for a smooth, polished finish.
In some areas—particularly around the edges—I came across thicker grime that needed to be broken down first. For those spots, I used Tile Doctor Remove and Go, which helped loosen the residue so the diamond pads could do their job more effectively.
Sealing a Red Marble Tiled Patio
I returned the next morning to check that the marble had dried completely and was ready for sealing. Luckily, the weather had stayed warm, which helped speed up the drying process. This time, instead of the Colour Grow sealer I used on my first visit, I opted for a newer product—Tile Doctor X-Tra Seal. It’s especially well-suited for exterior stone and performed brilliantly.
Not only did X-Tra Seal enhance the natural beauty of the stone—bringing out the deep reds and striking white veining—it also penetrates deeply into the surface, offering long-lasting protection from within. It’s a great option for coping with the often-unpredictable UK weather.
It was a real pleasure returning to this property and seeing the transformation all over again. The Marble looks as good as new—and the patio is once again a standout feature of this beautiful Mediterranean-style home.
For aftercare I continued to recommended Tile Doctor’s Stone Soap Cleaner which will clean and help maintain the patina on the stone, also it won’t prematurely erode the sealer like more aggressive cleaning products you find in supermarkets.
Professional Restoration of a Red Marble Tiled Patio in Berkshire
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