What should I consider before buying a marble fireplace?

Marble has been the pre-eminent material for creating artefacts of enduring beauty for thousands of years. It looks beautiful, is hard wearing and carves well.

Marble not only had the qualities that encouraged the Romans and Greeks to use it for their monuments but it was also resistant to heat. The fact that it was used for the centre piece of the home meant that a marble fireplace was one of the most obvious ways of demonstrating one’s status.

But how does a marble fireplace fit into today’s home? What can it entail for the homeowner? The maintenance and care for any marble fireplace is something that should be considered before a purchase is made.

How do I look after my marble fireplace?

Marble is a tough long lasting material – but it is a little porous and is particularly susceptible to staining from acidic solutions and food stuffs.

There is a huge amount of information out there about what to do (and what not to do) when it comes to maintaining your marble fireplace. We send all of our customers a simple Basic Care Guide to follow, but here I have put together the additional information from various sources for you.

Top tips for cleaning a marble fireplace;

• Use a very soft cloth to remove any surface dust and dirt from the fireplace
• To remove any stains on the marble, start with a soft, clean cloth that’s been dipped into distilled water – the purer the water, the better as any impurities can stain the marble
• Make sure that:
  • The water is warm (but not hot).
  • Your cloth is microfibre.
  • You wring the cloth well to avoid excess water.
  • Try not to let the marble air dry, as this can cause water spots

• Lightly wipe the dampened cloth along the fireplace, paying particular attention to stained areas
• Cleaning a working fireplace can get a little messy, so be sure to place down some sheeting to deal with any escaping ash
• If the stone is very dirty, rinse the cloth often so that it does not leave a dirty film behind
• Always remember that speed is of the essence – the longer you leave it, the deeper the stain will penetrate the stone
• If water by itself hasn’t been successful in removing all of the stains, you can use a specialist cleaning product designed for marble. Please note that this is very much a trial and error process. Proceed cautiously…
• Remember to read the directions before using and to test any product or method on a small, inconspicuous area first to ensure the cleaning solution doesn’t damage the marble

After the stain has been removed waxing can bring marble back to its shine. Be sure to use a high quality wax because low-end ones may turn yellow after time. A selection of marble waxes can be found here.

Once the marble is clean and dry, rub the wax over the surface of the stone with a dry cloth. Allow the fire surround to dry completely and then buff it with a cloth or electric buffer until it shines.

You should also avoid using the following when cleaning a marble fireplace;

• Baking soda – it’s an abrasive which could ruin the marble’s finish.
• White vinegar – it’s an acid which can etch the surface.
• Limescale removers – they contain high levels of acid.

What if I get a stain on my marble fireplace?

Getting a stain on your marble fireplace is not ideal but can be resolved. As we have said already, we would always recommend only using warm water and a soft cloth. However, depending on the stain, you may need something a little stronger.

Here are a selection of different stains and potential solutions (as suggested by the Marble Institute)

Oil Based

• Symptoms: Stain darkens the stone.
• Causes: Grease, tar, cosmetics.
• Solution: The stain must be chemically dissolved so its source can be rinsed away. Wash gently with a soft liquid cleaner.

Organic

• Symptoms: A pinkish brown stain.
• Causes: Tea, coffee, soft drinks, tobacco, urine, food.
• Solution: Combine a poultice* with 12% hydrogen peroxide.

Ink

• Symptoms: Pen/ink marks.
• Causes: Pens, ink, highlighters, magic markers, etc.
• Solution: Use hydrogen peroxide for light coloured stones and acetone for dark coloured.

 Metal

• Symptoms: Brown/orange stain. Often in the shape of the object that caused it.
• Causes: Copper, bronze, iron, rust, etc.
• Solution: A poultice* must be used, although rust can be very hard to remove. You could also look into using a commercial rust remover, but make sure the instructions explicitly say it can be used on marble.

Paint

• Symptoms: Can range from accidental flecks to a heavy stain.
• Causes: Repainting or redecorating the home.
• Solution: Small amounts can be removed with a lacquer thinner or even scraped off with a fine blade. A liquid paint remover can be used for bigger stains, although you should check the instructions for suitability first.

Water Spots and Rings

• Symptoms: Fine rings and marks visible on the surface.
• Causes: Water spillage/previous cleaning.
• Solution: Buff dry with 0000 steel wool.

There are lots of products available that can assist with the cleaning and maintenance of your fire surround. These can be Stone Cleaning Products and Stone Sealers, but others are available. When using proceed cautiously and try out on a small unobtrusive area.

As well as a product range, there is another excellent resource of guides that can be found on the Lithofin website.

There are a few more steps you can take to help prevent any issues with your marble fireplace.

• Place felt mats beneath metal mantle decorations to prevent rust stains.
• Never place mugs or glasses on your hearth or mantle, or at least use a coaster if you do.
• Discourage family members from eating near your fireplace.

Hopefully you can tell that if you do choose to go with a marble fireplace, the act of maintaining it is actually pretty straight-forward. It’s just being careful and creating new habits (e.g. no glasses of red wine on the mantel!).

If you do have any questions about any of the above, please feel free to get in touch.

 

A range of sources was used to create this blog post; thanks to the Marble Institute, Fiveways Fires, eBay, Lithofin, Amazon, Stone Cleaning Products and Stone Sealers.

 

*Making and Using a Poultice (as advised by the Marble Institute)
A poultice is a liquid cleaner or chemical mixed with a white absorbent material to form a paste about the consistency of peanut butter. The poultice is spread over the stained area to a thickness of about 1/4 to 1/2 inch with a wood or plastic spatula, covered with plastic and left to work for 24 to 48 hours. The liquid cleaner or chemical will draw out the stain into the absorbent material. Poultice procedures may have to be repeated to thoroughly remove a stain, but some stains may never be completely removed.

Poultice Materials
Poultice materials include kaolin, fuller’s earth, whiting, diatomaceous earth, powdered chalk, white molding plaster or talc. Approximately one pound of prepared poultice material will cover one square foot. Do not use whiting or iron-type clays such as fuller’s earth with acid chemicals. The reaction will cancel the effect of the poultice. A poultice can also be prepared using white cotton balls, whitepaper towels or gauze pads.