How We Restored a 100-Year-Old Marble Staircase in Chicago
By Granite Heroes Team · 2025-01-21
One of our most challenging and rewarding projects: bringing a century-old marble staircase back to its original grandeur.
How We Restored a 100-Year-Old Marble Staircase in Chicago Some projects remind you why you got into this business. This was one of them. The Challenge A homeowner in [Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood](/cities/chicago) contacted us about their building's original marble staircase. Installed in the 1920s, this Italian Carrara marble masterpiece had endured a century of foot traffic, amateur repairs, and neglect. What We Found: - Deep wear patterns on each tread - Multiple layers of old wax buildup - Chipped and damaged nosing edges - Rust stains from old iron railings - Cracked and missing grout throughout Our Approach Phase 1: Assessment and Planning (Day 1) We spent an entire day mapping every inch of the staircase, documenting damage, and creating a restoration plan. With historic stone, you can't rush. Phase 2: Deep Cleaning (Day 2) Removing decades of wax buildup required specialized strippers safe for marble. Layer by layer, we revealed the original stone beneath. Phase 3: Repair Work (Days 3-4) - Filled chips with color-matched epoxy - Re-grouted all joints with matching sanded grout - Treated rust stains with specialized poultices Phase 4: Grinding and Honing (Days 5-7) This was the most labor-intensive phase. We used diamond pads starting at 50 grit and working up to 800 grit, carefully leveling each tread while preserving the staircase's character. Phase 5: Polishing and Sealing (Days 8-9) The final polish brought back the Carrara's signature luminous quality. We se