Crystallization of Marble & Terrazzo in San Diego

Crystallization, or vitrification, adds gloss to calcium-based floors such as marble, limestone, travertine and terrazzo through a chemical reaction at the stone’s surface.

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Quick answer

What Is Stone Crystallization?

Crystallization, also called vitrification, is a way of adding gloss to calcium-based stone such as marble, limestone and travertine, and to terrazzo. A weighted floor machine with a steel wool pad works a solution of acid, magnesium fluorosilicate and water into the surface. The resulting chemical reaction and friction produce a high-gloss finish that is part of the stone’s surface, not a coating like wax.

Why it matters

A Long-Used, Much-Debated Technique

Crystallization has been used since the 1960s with varying degrees of success, and it remains a debated subject among stone care professionals. Used appropriately on the right stone, it produces a durable, high-gloss floor.

Marble in public spaces looks impressive but loses its appearance and color over time without proper care. Crystallization is often the final stage of restoring marble floors and walls, and it takes specialized equipment and experience.

Technician polishing a marble floor with a hand-held diamond machine

Where it is used

Which Surfaces Can Be Crystallized?

Crystallization relies on a chemical reaction with calcium, so it is used on calcium-based stone and on terrazzo, mainly floors and walls in public spaces and homes.

Marble

The most common crystallized floor.

Limestone & travertine

Other calcium-based stones.

Terrazzo

Marble-chip floors in a binder.

Floors & walls

Often the final stage of marble restoration.

Our process

How We Reach a High Gloss

Remove stains & wear

Industrial diamond pads of progressively higher grit take out stains and surface wear.

Choose the finish

Depending on the result you want, the surface is either buffed or crystallized.

Crystallize

A weighted machine and steel wool pad work the crystallizing solution into the stone.

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Features

What Crystallization Gives You

Why it is used on marble and terrazzo floors.

A high-gloss finish on marble and terrazzo floors.
A surface that is often slip-resistant.
Extra shine from the friction and pressure of the process.
Gloss created by a chemical reaction at the stone’s surface.
No surface film: unlike wax, crystallization does not build up on top of the stone.

Compare the options

Crystallization or Buffing?

Both are final gloss steps after diamond pads have removed stains and wear. Which one is used depends on the result you want.

	Crystallization	Buffing
How the gloss is made	Chemical reaction at the stone’s surface	Buffing powder or polishing paste
Stones	Calcium-based stone and terrazzo	Marble, granite, limestone and other stone
When it is used	Final gloss on marble and terrazzo floors	Final step after honing and polishing

When it is not the right option

When Is Crystallization Not the Right Option?

It is a long-used but debated technique, and it only suits some surfaces.

Stone that is not calcium-based, such as granite: see buffing instead
When you want a honed, matte look: diamond honing
Deep scratches, stains or lippage: these are removed first with diamond pads or grinding

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