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Limstone - water stain

Article Number: 450 | Rating: Unrated | Last Updated: Tue, Sep 11, 2007 at 12:00 AM

My husband has fitted a limestone fireplace. Despite laying a plastic sheet over the cement before placing the base, some water appears to have been absorbed by the limestone, leaving it marked.. Is there anything we can do to get rid of this stain.

Dear Sheena:

The water did not damage your limestone. It is just impossible. All the “water stains” you have on your stone are marks of corrosions (etchings) made by various acidic or other pH active liquids that became in contact with the surface of the stone.

That said, if the stone is finished highly polished, then a good-quality marble repair kit ( http://www.mbstonecare.com) could rectify the situation. If it is hone-finished instead, then some good ol' metal-grade sandpaper will do the job, with the aid of some serious elbow-grease or, better yet, an orbital sander. To avoid dust you have to do the process wet. You may have to start with a 120 grit and go up to 240 and then 400 and, perhaps 600 depending on the degree of sheen you'd like to see. Spend some time with each grit, not just a few strokes.

Finally, if you like the way the stone looks when it's wet, the application of a good-quality stone color enhancer like MB-6 will give you that look permanently.

May I ask you now to please read and e-sign our Statement of Purpose at: http://www.marblecleaning.org/purpose.htm? J

Ciao and good luck,

Maurizio Bertoli

www.marblecleaning.org – The Only Consumers' Portal to the Stone Industry Establishment!