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Marble polished or brushed in a shower?

Article Number: 685 | Rating: Unrated | Last Updated: Wed, Oct 24, 2007 at 12:00 AM

I am planning to install Rosso Levanto marble tile in one shower and Emperador Dark in another but cannot decide on polished or brushed finish. What are the advantages of one vs another or is just a matter of personal preference in appearance? Same question with regard to Rosso Levanto fireplace surround. Thank you.

Dear Barbara:

Considering that both marbles (Rosso Levanto is ophicalcite and Emperador Dark is micritic dolostone) are rather resistent to acidic spills, I would say that its more a question of a personal preference that anything else. If it where up to me I'd use the Rosso Levanto brushed and then treated with a good-quality stone color-enhancer/impregnator like MB-6, and the Emperador polished (no sealer of any sort).

However, having said all that, you can get the best material of the planet but if it won't get installed properly it will fail miserably.

Moreover, it's never too early to think about the proper maintenance of your stone. The issue of what you'll be doing day in and day out to your stone is – like it should be intuitive – vastly more important than its sealing (if and when possible and/or advisable) and it's all too often neglected. As you can tell by reading many of this site's postings, you're not likely to get good information about it from your dealer or installer. Don't become another statistic! By logging into the Helpful Hints section of our website at: http://www.marblecleaning.org/helpful-hints.htm, you will be able to get the short version of our maintenance guidelines at no charge. The full version of it – a 7-page document considered by many as an industry benchmark – is available in pay- per-download format in our Educational Literature section at: http://www.marblecleaning.org/literature.htm. In there you will also find priceless tips on the proper installation of a natural stone shower stall.

And remember, every single penny of the cost of the literature will be used to support this site and its cause: your cause.

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Ciao and good luck,

Maurizio Bertoli

www.marblecleaning.org – The only Consumers' Portal to the Stone Industry Establishment!