If you’re new to stone restoration, one of the biggest mistakes you can make is using the same diamond pads for every type of stone. Marble and granite might look similar, but they’re totally different—they need different tools, different techniques, and different levels of care to get a perfect polish.
Marble: The Soft Stone That Needs a Gentle Touch
Marble is high in calcium, which makes it soft and sensitive. It can be damaged by acids (like lemon juice or vinegar) and heat, so you have to be extra careful when polishing it.
Our Go-To Strategy: Use specialized wet pads, like Alpha Ceramica EX. These pads are designed to be gentle on marble while still getting a smooth finish.
The Key Trick: Keep your tool’s RPM low. If the pad gets too hot, marble can get “stunned” (a cloudy, dull spot) or burned. To get that deep, wet-looking shine everyone loves, finish with a high-quality polishing powder and a white or yellow buffing pad.
Granite: The Tough Stone That Needs Persistence
Granite is made of quartz and feldspar, which makes it super tough and heat-resistant. It can handle more pressure than marble, but it still needs a strict process to polish well.
Our Go-To Strategy: Follow a strict grit progression—start at 50 grit, then move to 100, 200, 400, 800, 1500, and finish at 3000. Skipping any grit will leave scratches that ruin the final look.
The Right Gear: Use DiamondX resin-bonded pads. Granite is super dense, so it doesn’t dissipate heat quickly. If you can’t use water for wet polishing (like in areas with no drainage), stop every 30-60 seconds to let the stone and pad cool down. This prevents the diamonds on the pad from glazing over, which would stop them from cutting effectively.
The Bottom Line: Treat marble with care and finesse, and take your time with granite—persistence is key to getting that flawless, high-gloss finish.