Q: My Italian marble flooring is just three years old, but it has developed holes and cracks, while the corners have chipped off. Can I sue my contractor for giving me poor-quality stone? What can I do to save the floors?

A: Marble is neither man-made nor factory produced. It is an organic stone formed by nature, so it naturally has cracks and holes in its grain. You must accept this as part of the stone’s character when you buy it, or you’ll be continually stressed about its condition.

As an organic material, marble will change over time in response to its environment, your home in this case. While marble is very tough in general, it is less durable in certain parts where there are seam lines and cracks. Bits of marble may chip off due to hard impact caused by dropped objects, as well as from contact with sharp items like heavy spiked golf shoes and stiletto heels. Wear and tear, which is damage inflicted over time, can be considerable too. Imagine dining chairs dragged over the same spot day after day, and big toy trucks dropped on the floor in the play area – you get the picture.

Instead of suing your contractor, invite him over to seek his advice and help in patching up the cracks. Marble experts know how to fill the cracks with epoxy-marble resin in a matching colour, then seal and polish it up so it forms a tough new surface. Sealing the gaps doesn’t just improve the looks of your marble flooring, but prevents the cracks from widening and causing further – perhaps irrepairable – damage.

Credit
Photography: Tim Nolan
Styling: Nonie Chen
Design: Mike Tan