Rose Restoration has been restoring marble surfaces for over 40 years — countertops, floors, showers, vanities, fireplaces, lobbies, and commercial installations across Virginia, Maryland, and Washington DC. We bring damaged, dull, etched, or stained marble back to life through diamond honing, precision polishing, and professional-grade sealing.
Whether you have one etched kitchen countertop or 10,000 square feet of hotel lobby marble, we handle the evaluation, the process, and the result — from first visit to final polish.
Marble is a soft, calcium-based natural stone. That softness is what makes it beautiful — and what makes it vulnerable. Acidic liquids etch the surface. Daily use creates dull traffic patterns on floors. Scratches accumulate on countertops. Hard water leaves deposits in showers. Over time, even well-maintained marble loses its original finish.
Marble restoration is the process of mechanically refinishing the stone’s surface using progressively finer diamond abrasives — removing damage, restoring smoothness, and bringing back the finish. It is not a coating or a topical treatment. The marble itself is refined, polished, and sealed.
This process works on virtually every type of marble — Carrara, Calacatta, Statuario, Crema Marfil, Emperador, Thassos, Nero Marquina, and hundreds of other varieties. Each marble has different hardness, porosity, and veining characteristics that affect how it’s worked. Our technicians adjust their approach based on the specific stone, its condition, and the desired outcome.
The result is marble that looks and feels like it did when it was first installed — or better, if the original installation had lippage, uneven polish, or poor sealing.
The core of every marble restoration project. Honing removes scratches, etch marks, and surface damage using diamond abrasives. Polishing follows — refining the surface through progressively finer grits to achieve the desired sheen level, from a soft matte hone to a mirror-like high gloss.
The grit sequence, pressure, and technique vary by marble type. Soft marbles like Carrara polish differently than harder varieties like Crema Marfil. Our technicians have worked on thousands of different marbles over four decades — the stone tells them what it needs.
Etching is the most common marble problem we address. It happens when acidic substances — lemon juice, wine, vinegar, tomato sauce, most bathroom cleaners — contact the marble surface and dissolve the calcium carbonate. The result is a dull, rough spot that catches light differently than the surrounding stone.
Etch marks are not stains. They are physical damage to the stone’s surface. No cleaner removes them. They require mechanical honing to restore the smooth, polished surface. Light etching may need only a polishing compound. Severe etching requires diamond honing followed by full repolishing.
Surface scratches from furniture, shoes, pet claws, and daily wear are removed through progressive diamond honing — starting at a grit level appropriate to the scratch depth and working through finer grits until the scratch pattern disappears and the original finish is restored.
Marble stains — oil, rust, organic matter, ink, and dye — are treated with professional poultice applications that draw the stain out of the stone over 24-48 hours. Different stain types require different poultice chemistries. Rust stains need iron-specific reducers. Oil stains need solvent-based poultices. Organic stains from coffee, tea, or wine need oxidizing poultices. Some deep or old stains can be significantly reduced but not fully eliminated — we assess each stain individually and set honest expectations.
Chips, cracks, and broken edges are repaired with color-matched epoxy or polyester fillers. The repair material is ground and polished flush with the surrounding marble. On uniform white marbles like Thassos, repairs can be nearly invisible. On heavily veined marbles like Calacatta, repairs are clean and functional but visible under close inspection because the veining pattern cannot be perfectly replicated in filler material.
Lippage — the height difference between adjacent marble tiles — is corrected by grinding the entire floor surface flat with coarse diamond tooling. The result transforms a floor of individual tiles with uneven edges into a seamless, monolithic marble surface. This is the most dramatic visual upgrade we offer for marble tile floors. Learn more about lippage removal →
After restoration, we apply professional-grade impregnating sealers that penetrate below the marble’s surface to resist staining without changing the stone’s appearance or texture. Impregnating sealers do not create a surface film — the marble still looks and feels like natural stone.
Sealer type and application method vary by marble type and location. Shower marble gets a water-repelling sealer. Kitchen countertops get a stain-resistant sealer. We match the sealer to the application.
For marble surfaces that face daily acid exposure — kitchen countertops, bars, reception desks — we offer Marble Armor, a thin, transparent protection film that prevents etching, staining, and bruising entirely. Available in gloss and satin finishes. It is the most effective way to protect marble from the damage that sealer alone cannot prevent. Exclusive to Rose Restoration in the DMV area.
Get a Free Marble Assessment
We evaluate your marble, explain exactly what restoration will achieve, and provide a written proposal — typically within 48 hours.
Every marble surface gets finished to a specific sheen level. The right choice depends on the application, the space, and your maintenance expectations.
| Finish | Appearance | Best For | Maintenance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honed (Matte) | Smooth, flat, no reflection. Contemporary and understated. | Floors (better slip resistance), bathrooms, modern kitchens, high-traffic commercial | Shows less etching and wear than polished. Easier to maintain casually. |
| Semi-polished (Satin) | Soft sheen, subtle light reflection. | Versatile — residential and commercial. Balanced look. | Moderate maintenance. Shows etching less than high gloss. |
| Polished (High Gloss) | Mirror-like reflection. Dramatic veining visibility. | Countertops, vanities, lobby features, formal spaces | Shows every etch mark, scratch, and water spot. Requires more attentive care. |
Our recommendation: For kitchen countertops, we typically recommend a semi-polished or honed finish unless the client is committed to immediate cleanup of acidic spills — or is installing Marble Armor. For floors, honed finishes are preferred for slip resistance and forgiving maintenance. For vanities and feature walls, high polish creates the most visual impact. Read our full guide to honed vs polished marble →
Kitchen countertops — The most common residential marble project. Etching from citrus, wine, and cleaning products. Dull spots from daily use. We restore countertops in a single visit, typically 2-4 hours, with no overnight disruption. Learn about residential marble services →
Bathroom vanities and showers — Hard water deposits, soap scum, etching from bathroom cleaners, and mold staining in grout. Shower marble requires specialized sealing for wet environments. Bathroom restoration details →
Floors — Traffic pattern dullness, scratches, lippage between tiles, and worn sealant. Floor restoration can include grinding for lippage removal, which transforms the look of the entire room. Marble floor care guide →
Fireplace surrounds — Smoke staining, soot discoloration, and general dullness. Most surrounds can be restored in half a day. Fireplace restoration details →
Hotel lobbies — High-traffic marble floors and surfaces that need regular maintenance polishing. We offer overnight and phased scheduling to avoid guest disruption.
Office lobbies and elevator cabs — Reception areas, directory walls, and elevator interiors in marble or marble-clad finishes.
Retail and restaurants — Bar tops, counters, flooring, and feature walls that take daily abuse from food, beverages, and foot traffic.
Government and institutional — Historic marble in courthouses, museums, capitols, and public buildings. We have preservation experience including work on the Virginia State Capitol.
Most residential marble restoration projects cost between $3 and $15 per square foot, depending on the surface type, condition, and finish level. This is 70-90% less than marble replacement.
| Surface | Typical Cost | Typical Project Range |
|---|---|---|
| Bathroom vanity (10-15 SF) | $3-10/SF | $150-$300 |
| Kitchen countertops (30-60 SF) | $3-10/SF | $300-$900 |
| Kitchen island + perimeter (80-100 SF) | $3-10/SF | $600-$1,200 |
| Shower walls + floor (40-60 SF) | $8-15/SF | $500-$1,200 |
| Entryway/foyer floor (50-80 SF) | $5-15/SF | $400-$900 |
| Full floor restoration (200-500 SF) | $5-15/SF | $1,000-$5,000+ |
| Fireplace surround | Flat rate | $200-$600 |
Commercial projects are quoted per square foot based on scope, access, scheduling requirements, and surface condition. Read our detailed marble restoration cost guide →
1. Evaluation — We assess the marble type, current condition, damage type, and your goals. We discuss finish options (honed, semi-polished, polished) and set expectations for the result. For floors, we check for lippage and recommend whether full grinding is worthwhile.
2. Protection — We mask and protect surrounding surfaces, cabinetry, walls, and fixtures. For floor work, we set up dust containment systems.
3. Repair — Chips, cracks, and holes are filled with color-matched material. Loose tiles are re-adhered. Damaged grout is removed and replaced.
4. Honing — Diamond abrasives remove scratches, etch marks, and surface damage. For lippage removal, we start with coarse grinding to flatten the surface. Multiple grit passes progressively smooth the marble.
5. Polishing — Fine diamond grits bring the marble to the chosen sheen level. Each pass removes the scratch pattern from the previous grit until the surface reaches the desired finish.
6. Sealing — We apply an impregnating sealer matched to the marble type and application. The sealer penetrates below the surface to resist stains without changing the marble’s look or feel.
7. Walkthrough — We review the completed work with you, confirm satisfaction, and provide care and maintenance instructions specific to your marble and finish level.
40+ years of marble expertise. We have restored Carrara, Calacatta, Statuario, Crema Marfil, Emperador, Thassos, and hundreds of other marble varieties. Every marble behaves differently — we know each one.
30+ full-time technicians. We handle everything from a single vanity to a 10,000 SF hotel lobby. Same company, same quality standards.
Exclusive Marble Armor provider. We are the only company in the DMV area that installs Marble Armor — the most effective countertop protection available for natural stone.
Residential and commercial. McLean kitchens and Pentagon City lobbies. Georgetown townhomes and Tysons office buildings. We serve both markets with equal attention.
Quoted by The Washington Post as a stone care expert — four times. Our expertise is recognized beyond our own website.
4.8 stars, 116+ Google reviews, BBB Accredited. Our reputation is built on 40 years of results.
Most residential projects are completed in one visit. A single countertop takes 2-4 hours. A full bathroom (vanity, shower, floor) takes a full day. Floor restoration for 200-500 SF takes 1-2 days. Commercial projects are scheduled based on scope — we work overnight and on weekends for occupied buildings.
Yes. Etching is physical damage to the marble surface caused by acid contact. We remove it through diamond honing — mechanically re-smoothing the surface past the damage. Light etching can sometimes be addressed with polishing compound alone. Severe etching requires full honing and repolishing.
Almost always. Restoration costs 70-90% less than replacement and produces a surface that looks and feels like new marble. Replacement involves demolition, disposal, fabrication, and installation — a multi-week, high-disruption project. Restoration is typically completed in 1-2 days with no demolition.
Yes. Shower marble restoration includes removal of hard water deposits, soap scum, mold staining, and etching from bathroom cleaners. We hone and polish the marble, treat grout if needed, and apply a water-repelling sealer designed for wet environments.
Honed marble has a matte, smooth finish with no reflection. Polished marble has a glossy, reflective finish that shows the veining more dramatically. Honed is more forgiving for daily use — it shows less etching and wear. Polished is more visually striking but requires more attentive maintenance. Read our complete guide →
It depends on use and maintenance. Kitchen countertops typically need attention every 3-7 years. Residential floors in moderate traffic every 5-10 years. Commercial lobby floors may need annual maintenance polishing. Proper sealing and daily pH-neutral cleaning extend the interval significantly.
Most stains can be significantly reduced or fully removed using professional poultice methods. Oil stains, organic stains (coffee, wine), and rust stains each require different poultice chemistries. Some very old or deeply penetrated stains may be reduced but not fully eliminated. Read our marble stain removal guide →
Marble Armor is a thin, transparent protection film applied to marble surfaces to prevent etching, staining, and bruising. Available in gloss and satin finishes. It is the most effective protection for marble countertops that face daily acid exposure. Exclusive to Rose Restoration in the DMV area.
Yes. We restore marble in homes (countertops, vanities, floors, showers, fireplaces) and commercial properties (lobbies, hotels, offices, restaurants, government buildings). Same expertise, same crew quality.
Virginia, Maryland, and Washington DC — within 100 miles of our Fairfax headquarters. We regularly work in McLean, Arlington, Alexandria, Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Potomac, Georgetown, Capitol Hill, Tysons, Reston, and throughout the DMV metro area.
Watch Rose Restoration bring a marble mosaic floor back to life — careful grinding, polishing, and finishing to restore intricate mosaic patterns without damaging the original design.
Ready to Restore Your Marble?
We evaluate your marble, explain exactly what restoration will achieve, and provide a written proposal — typically within 48 hours.
Rose Restoration handles marble restoration across all property types — from hotel lobbies and office buildings to private residences and luxury homes. The same professional-grade diamond abrasive equipment and 40+ years of expertise apply whether the project is a 10,000-square-foot commercial lobby or a homeowner's kitchen countertop. Our process delivers the same quality results at any scale.
For homeowners looking for countertop polishing, floor restoration, shower repair, or vanity honing, visit our residential marble restoration page for detailed residential services and pricing. For countertop restoration including chip repair, stain removal, and re-polishing, we serve both residential and commercial clients throughout Virginia, Maryland, and Washington DC.
Etching occurs when acidic substances — lemon juice, vinegar, wine, tomato sauce, and most household cleaning products — dissolve the calcium carbonate in marble, leaving dull spots or rings. Etching is surface-level chemical damage, not a stain. It requires mechanical honing and polishing with diamond abrasives to restore the finish. See our full guide to fixing etched marble.
Unlike etching, stains are discolorations that penetrate below the surface of the stone. Oil-based stains from cooking oils and cosmetics darken the marble. Organic stains from coffee, wine, and food leave brown or pink marks. Rust stains from metal objects leave orange-brown discoloration. Professional poultice treatments draw stains out of the stone over 24–48 hours without damaging the surface.
Foot traffic, furniture movement, and abrasive cleaning gradually wear down marble's polished surface. High-traffic areas develop dull paths and uneven sheen. Diamond honing removes the damaged layer and re-establishes a uniform finish across the entire surface.
Impact damage from dropped objects, settling of the substrate, and thermal stress can cause chips and cracks. We repair these using color-matched polyester or epoxy resin, ground flush and polished to match the surrounding stone. The result is a virtually invisible repair.
Marble replacement is expensive, disruptive, and often unnecessary. Professional restoration delivers the same visual result at a fraction of the cost.
| Restoration | Replacement | |
|---|---|---|
| Countertop | $500 – $2,500 | $5,000 – $20,000+ |
| Floors (per sq ft) | $5 – $18 | $15 – $50+ |
| Timeline | Hours to days | Weeks |
| Disruption | Minimal | Major construction |
| Matching risk | None | High (quarry variations) |
Restoration saves 70–90% versus replacement, avoids demolition and construction, eliminates the risk of not finding matching stone, and produces a result that is visually indistinguishable from new marble. Replacement is only necessary when severe structural damage has compromised the substrate beneath the stone.
Rose Restoration has over 40 years of experience with virtually every marble variety available. We assess each stone individually and tailor our restoration approach to the specific material.
Cost depends on surface type, project size, and extent of damage. Residential countertop restoration typically runs $500–$2,500 for a standard kitchen. Marble floor restoration ranges from $5–$18 per square foot. Commercial lobby projects range from $10,000–$50,000+ depending on scope. In all cases, restoration costs 70–90% less than replacement. Rose Restoration provides free on-site assessments with detailed written estimates.
Yes, most marble stains can be removed through professional treatment. Oil-based stains and organic stains respond well to poultice treatments that draw the stain out over 24–48 hours. Rust stains require specialized chemical treatment. It is important to distinguish staining from etching — etch marks are dull spots caused by acid and require mechanical polishing, not chemical cleaning.
Residential countertops typically need professional polishing every 2–5 years. High-traffic commercial floors may need annual polishing. Residential floors in moderate-traffic areas can go 3–7 years between professional visits. Regular maintenance with pH-neutral cleaners extends the interval.
Both are diamond abrasive processes that produce different finish levels. Honing creates a smooth, matte finish that hides etch marks well. Polishing continues to higher grits for a high-gloss, mirror-like finish. Most restoration begins with honing, then the client chooses their finish level. Read our full guide: Honed vs. Polished Marble.
Yes. Impregnating sealer should be applied after every restoration to protect against staining. Most marble should be resealed every 1–2 years. Sealers protect against stains but do not prevent etching — for countertops exposed to cooking acids, consider Marble Armor for complete protection.
Yes. We repair chips and cracks using color-matched resin that is ground flush and polished to match the surrounding stone. The result is a virtually invisible repair. Individual chip repairs typically cost $250–$750.
Countertop restoration takes 3–8 hours. Bathroom vanity tops take 2–4 hours. Residential floor restoration (200–400 sq ft) takes 1–3 days. Commercial projects are scheduled during off-hours to minimize disruption. Surfaces are typically usable within 2–4 hours of sealing.
Restoration is almost always the better investment — 70–90% less than replacement, no construction disruption, no risk of mismatched stone, and a result that looks like new. Replacement is only necessary when structural damage has compromised the substrate beneath the stone.
Rose Restoration has served the Washington DC metropolitan area for over 40 years. We provide marble restoration, polishing, and repair throughout:
Northern Virginia — McLean, Great Falls, Arlington, Alexandria, Vienna, Tysons, Reston, Fairfax, Ashburn, and all of Fairfax County and Loudoun County.
Maryland — Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Potomac, Rockville, Silver Spring, and all of Montgomery County. Also serving Annapolis, Baltimore, and Frederick.
Washington DC — Georgetown, Capitol Hill, Northwest DC, Embassy Row, Dupont Circle, and all DC neighborhoods.
We serve homes and businesses throughout Virginia, Washington DC, and Maryland. Click your area to learn more.
Don't see your city? Contact us — we likely serve your area.
One of the most common questions we hear from homeowners in Northern Virginia and Washington DC is whether they should choose a honed or polished finish for their marble. The answer depends on the application, your aesthetic preference, and your lifestyle.
Polished marble has a high-gloss, reflective finish achieved through progressive diamond abrasive processing. The surface is mechanically refined until it produces a mirror-like reflection. Polished marble is the classic, luxurious finish you see in hotel lobbies, Georgetown townhome foyers, and high-end kitchens throughout McLean and Great Falls.
Best for: Foyers, living rooms, formal dining areas, hotel lobbies, and surfaces where you want maximum visual impact.
Considerations: Polished marble shows etching (dull spots from acidic contact) more visibly than honed marble. It also shows scratches more easily in high-traffic areas.
Honed marble has a smooth, matte finish — still refined by diamond abrasives but stopped before the polishing stage. The result is an elegant, understated surface that feels like satin to the touch. Honed finishes are increasingly popular in modern and transitional homes across Arlington, Bethesda, and Alexandria.
Best for: Bathrooms, kitchen countertops, high-traffic floors, shower walls, and anywhere you want marble with a more forgiving, contemporary look.
Considerations: Honed marble is more porous and may need sealing more frequently. However, it hides etching and minor scratches far better than polished marble.
Yes. Our team can convert polished marble to honed, or honed to polished. This is done through diamond abrasive processing — the same technique used in restoration. If your polished marble floors are scratching too easily in a high-traffic hallway, we can hone them to a more practical matte finish. If your honed countertops feel dated, we can polish them to a high gloss. The marble itself doesn't change — only the finish.
| Feature | Polished Marble | Honed Marble |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | High-gloss, reflective | Smooth, matte, satin |
| Scratch visibility | More visible | Less visible |
| Etch visibility | More visible (dull spots) | Less visible |
| Porosity | Less porous | More porous (seal more often) |
| Best setting | Foyers, lobbies, formal rooms | Bathrooms, kitchens, high traffic |
| Style | Classic, luxurious | Modern, contemporary |
Etch marks are the dull, whitish rings and spots that appear on marble when it contacts acidic substances — lemon juice, wine, vinegar, tomato sauce, certain cleaning products, and even some cosmetics. Etching is a chemical reaction that dissolves the calcium carbonate in marble, leaving a rough, dull spot on the surface.
Etch marks are not stains — they cannot be cleaned away with any product. The only way to remove marble etching is through professional diamond honing and polishing, which mechanically removes the damaged surface layer and restores a uniform finish.
Most residential marble countertop etch removal projects in the DC metro area take 2-4 hours and cost far less than countertop replacement. If your marble looks dull, spotted, or ring-marked, request a free assessment — the fix is almost always simpler than you think.
"Polished marble tiles on floor of kitchen, entryway and 3 bathrooms. They also polished and sealed marble countertops in the kitchen and 3 bathrooms. They did an awesome job. It looks great: floor and counters sparkle. The team was really careful in doing a great job. This is the second time we have used them and will use them again."
"Our experience with Rose Restoration was highly satisfactory. They gave us a detailed estimate after an onsite visit. Over 3 days, staff restored marble flooring, counters, and shower; porcelain tile flooring; and granite countertop. The workers were neat, careful, and skilled."
Professional marble cleaning goes beyond what household products can achieve. Soap scum in marble showers, embedded dirt in floor pores, hard water deposits, and organic staining from plants or food all require specific cleaning agents matched to the stone type and finish.
We use pH-neutral, stone-safe cleaning solutions that break down deposits without etching or damaging the marble surface. For deep cleaning, we combine chemical treatment with diamond honing to restore both cleanliness and finish in a single visit.
Common marble cleaning situations:
We serve homes and commercial properties throughout Arlington, McLean, Bethesda, Washington DC, and all of Northern Virginia and Maryland.