StepsMarble staircases
The first flight of stairs is often restored together with the lobby.
Building lobbies
Marble lobbies in Milan apartment buildings
Stone floors and skirting restored section by section, with the building open and a quote ready for the residents’ meeting.
Building lobbies
First impressions, set in stone
The entrance hall — the androne, as the Milanese call it — is the first thing residents, visitors and prospective buyers see. In Milan it is nearly always stone: Botticino or Carrara floors, pink Baveno granite skirting, Ceppo di Gré entrance steps and sometimes wall cladding up to the lift doors. Restoring an apartment building marble lobby in Milan therefore has two aims: giving the entrance back its light and dignity, and doing so without interrupting the life of the building.
A lobby cannot simply be closed. Residents, couriers, cleaners, pushchairs and bicycles pass through all day. We therefore split the work into sections, agree hours with the building manager in line with the building’s rules, and provide notices to put up on the noticeboard and by the lift a few days ahead.
4Lombard stones common in lobbies
12areas across Milan, Monza and Como
7marble treatments
0€for the visit and the quote
Lobby stones
Four materials we know well
The same stones turn up again and again in Milan’s lobbies, and each behaves differently under the machine.
I
Botticino
An ivory limestone from the Brescia area, dense and bright. It takes a good polish but quickly shows a dull traffic path and etching from acidic cleaners.
II
Ceppo di Gré
A grey conglomerate from Lake Iseo, used for thresholds, steps and plinths. Porous and uneven, it is cleaned and protected rather than mirror-polished.
III
Carrara
White or grey-veined, common in period buildings. It picks up rust and greasy dirt easily and needs targeted stain removal before polishing.
IV
Pink Baveno granite
Very hard and often used for skirting and borders. It resists wear but loses its sheen over the years and traps dirt in fine fissures.
The traffic path
From front door to lift: where a lobby wears
In almost every lobby you can spot a duller strip running from the main door to the lift, the stairs and the letterboxes. It is the route thousands of footsteps take each year, carrying grit, dust and, in winter, salt. Either side, the marble often keeps its original sheen, and the contrast makes the entrance look neglected even when it is clean.
Polishing just the strip would create a new difference in reflection, so the whole floor has to be brought to the same finish. We assess whether a general polish is enough or whether light grinding is needed, particularly by the door where traffic is heaviest and slabs may have shifted. Where footfall is especially high, a final crystallisation hardens the surface and makes the result last longer.
Skirting is handled separately: worked with upright machines or by hand, cleaned of shoe and trolley marks, and treated with a stain-resistant sealer that makes the cleaning contractor’s daily job easier.
Organisation
Les Traitements du Sud project, French RivieraWorking in sections, with the building open
We divide the lobby into two or more sections, marked off with light barriers and signs. While one is being worked, the other keeps the route open between the door, the lift and the stairs. The machines run wet and extraction collects the slurry, so no dust drifts up to the flats. Once the first section is dry and walkable, we move on to the next.
With the building manager
From first enquiry to residents’ meeting and handover
- 01
Site visit
We walk the lobby with the building manager, identify the stones and note access limits, permitted hours and any shops or offices on the ground floor.
- 02
A quote for the general meeting
We prepare a clear written quote that owners can follow easily, setting out the work, finish, stages and estimated duration, ready to attach to the notice of the residents’ meeting.
- 03
Schedule and notices
Once approved, we fix dates with the manager and supply notice wording listing the areas and times affected.
- 04
Work in sections
We work within permitted hours, always keep a clear route and leave the lobby clean at the end of each day.
- 05
Handover and upkeep
We finish with a sealer, advise the cleaning contractor on suitable products and, if the building wishes, propose scheduled maintenance visits.
What is included
Our lobby projects at a glance
Every building is different, but some things are part of every job.
- Site visit with the building manager or a delegated owner
- Written quote suitable for presenting at the residents’ meeting
- Notice wording for residents with dates and areas
- Hours set by the building’s rules respected
- A clear route to the lift and stairs at all times
- Letterboxes, front door and walls protected
- Stain removal and treatment of the skirting
- Written guidance for the cleaning contractor
FAQ
Marble lobbies: what owners and managers ask
Does the building stay accessible?
Always. We split the lobby into sections and work on one at a time, keeping a route open between the door, the lift and the stairs. Wet areas are marked off and signposted. For very narrow lobbies we can agree quieter time slots with the building manager, within the building’s rules.
Can the quote be presented at the residents’ meeting?
That is exactly what it is designed for. It describes the work in plain language, separates any options — floor only, or floor and skirting — and states timings and access arrangements. The manager can attach it to the meeting notice so owners arrive with everything they need to decide.
How long does a lobby take?
It depends on the area, the number of sections, the condition of the stone and the permitted hours. A medium-sized lobby usually takes a few working days, including drying time before sealing. The quote includes a realistic schedule the manager can share with residents.
Can dark marks on the skirting be removed?
Usually, yes. Shoe and trolley scuffs come off with mechanical cleaning and light grinding; rust stains near railings and radiators, and greasy marks, need specific poultices left to work for several hours. A sealer then makes daily cleaning easier.
What affects the price?
The floor and skirting area, the type of stone, the depth of wear, the stains to treat, the finish and the working conditions, such as restricted hours or access within Area C. After the visit you receive a free, itemised written quote.
How do I get in touch?
The building manager, a committee member or an individual owner can message us on WhatsApp, even just with a few photos of the lobby, or use the quote request form. We will reply promptly to arrange a visit.
Related
Completing the entrance
Steps
High trafficMarble crystallisation
A harder surface for busy entrances.
ContinuityMarble maintenance
Scheduled visits to keep the lobby looking right over time.
Areas
Building lobbies in Milan, Monza and Como
A lobby ready for a refresh?
Send a few photos on WhatsApp or fill in the form, and we will prepare a free quote ready for your residents’ meeting.