If your floor has dark grout lines, hairline gaps or chipped edges, polishing alone won’t fix it. You need the gaps filled first. In Singapore homes, that usually means marble gum or epoxy grouting. They sound similar, but they do different jobs.
What is marble gum?
Marble gum is a resin filler that is colour-matched to your stone. It fills cracks, chips, pinholes and the joints between marble slabs. Once it hardens, the floor is ground and polished so the filled areas sit flush with the stone.
Done well, the joints almost disappear. The floor looks like one continuous surface instead of a grid of separate tiles.
Best for:
- Marble and terrazzo floors with visible joints
- Hairline cracks and small chips in the stone
- Floors you plan to diamond-grind and polish
What is epoxy grouting?
Epoxy grout is a two-part resin used in the joints between tiles. Unlike traditional cement grout, it is non-porous. Water, oil and soap scum sit on top instead of soaking in.
That makes it the stronger choice for wet and messy areas. For a closer look at the epoxy process, read our guide to epoxy grouting.
Best for:
- Bathroom floors and walls
- Kitchen floors and backsplashes
- Homogeneous and ceramic tiles with blackened or mouldy grout lines
Why not just use cement grout?
Cement grout is cheap and common, but it is porous. In Singapore’s humid climate, it absorbs moisture and dirt. Over time it turns dark, cracks and grows mould, especially in bathrooms. Re-grouting with epoxy fixes the problem at the source instead of hiding it with bleach.
Quick comparison
| Marble gum | Epoxy grouting | |
|---|---|---|
| Main use | Filling marble joints, cracks and chips | Sealing tile joints |
| Finish | Ground and polished flush with the stone | Neat, sealed grout lines |
| Water and stain resistance | Good once polished and sealed | Excellent |
| Best rooms | Living room, bedrooms, corridors | Bathrooms, kitchens |
| Pairs with | Marble polishing | Tile cleaning and polishing |
Which one should you choose?
It depends on your floor:
- Marble floor with gaps or cracks: marble gum, followed by diamond grinding and polishing.
- Tiled bathroom or kitchen with dirty grout: epoxy grouting.
- Both in one home: common in older HDB and condo units. Many homeowners do marble gum in the living areas and epoxy in the wet areas in one visit.
Signs it’s time to fix your joints
- Grout lines stay black even after scrubbing
- You can feel gaps or ridges when you walk barefoot
- Small chips or cracks are spreading along the joints
- Water seeps under tiles in the bathroom
Get the right fix the first time
At GU Marble Polishing, we handle marble gum filling, epoxy grouting, and marble, terrazzo and granite polishing for HDB, condo and landed homes across Singapore. Send us a few photos of your floor on WhatsApp and we’ll tell you which treatment it needs, with a clear quote and no hidden costs.