Materials you'll need:

· Epoxy cement
· Fine sandpaper
· Clean rags 
· Oxide powder
· Mild household detergent or marble cleaner 0.35% hydrogen peroxide
· Household ammonia
· Coarse to fine abrasive bricks
· Marble powder or polish
· Chamois, felt or other buffing pad
· Marble sealer

This classic material is enjoying a revival in homes, being seen in bathrooms, kitchens, as well as the traditional uses around fireplaces, and outside as steps and patio surrounds.

How to repair.
Broken pieces should be clean and the edges dry. Apply epoxy cement and press the edges firmly together. Leave for 24 hours until cured.

Cleaning.
To remove small scratches, sand with very fine sandpaper, dampen a rag in water and dip in a tin of oxide powder then rub hard until the surface is smooth and shiny. A chamois can also be used to polish the marble.

Wash stains off with special marble cleaner or mild household detergent. (Some strong detergents can yellow marble if used frequently).

If stain will not wash off, try this: fold a rag, soak in 35% hydrogen peroxide from the chemist, and place over the stain. Pour a few drops of household ammonia over the rag. Leave until it stops bubbling then remove and wipe the area with a damp cloth.

For badly pitted and scratched marble, much patient rubbing and polishing will be needed to restore the surface. The surface is rubbed with progressively finer abrasives, starting with coarse grit and ending with the finest available. The kind sold in brick form is the easiest to use.

Use each grit in turn and do only a few square centimetres at a time, sponging off the grit residue as you go. Work with back-and-forward movements rather than circular, until a smooth surface is obtained. Wipe the surface down to remove any remaining grit and polish with a marble powder or suitable marble polish. A piece of medium weight felt or a damp chamois make good buffing pads. When a satisfactory shine is achieved, rinse the surface and dry with a soft cloth. To prevent staining, new marble can be protected with a marble sealer, re-applied about every six months.