Marble counter top in kitchen

Dear Maurizio, I recently had marble tile counter tops installed in my kitchen (I was assured that marble had been used in kitchen for 100's of years and would be appropriate even though I have a young family and do cook) However I am already having some issues - the marble is high polish and overnight there is a dull area that feels rough.(sounds like acid damage according to your site) At first I thought it was just something that needed to be wiped off - but it appears the finish is gone. I have to be able to cook in the kitchen. I always use a cutting board. I am not sure how this has happened. Please advise if this damage can be repaired and how to do it. Are there products available in Canada - where can i get some? Should I ask my contractor to repair? And how am I going to avoid future damage? How do I know what kind of marble I have? and was it completely crazy to have this type of counter top installed in my kitchen. Thank you for your assistance. I am looking forward to your reply. New to marble and quite distressed. Must be able to cook for my 3 young children. Help me! Kindest regards, Susan

 

Dear Susam:

Polished marble does not belong in a kitchen – end of the discussion.

Is it been used for 100s of years in kitchens back in the old country?

Indeed! But…

 

The stone itself has nothing to do with it. It's rather a collective culture issue.

All throughout the Mediterranean basin marble is a very popular stone as a kitchen countertop and everybody enjoys it. (Limestone is not so popular, but certain types of limestone could be acceptable in relation of what follows.) In Northern Europe and all throughout North America , many like the way it looks, but nobody enjoys it!

How's that?

For the simple reason that In Southern Europe they never install a polished marble countertop (or a polished marble floor, for that matter). They start from a hone-finished surface and then they start using and abusing it and only care for it with a good-quality stone cleaner (like MB-5). The “worse” it gets, the better they like it! It's considered “aging.” It's like a pair of old blue jeans, if you know what I mean: a highly sought “lived-in” look.

While the looks of an old pair of jeans is very much appreciated in Northern Europe or in North America , too, the same principle does not seem to apply to stone. Most people over here expect their stone to look like brand-new all the time, and any “change” is not considered “aging”, but a damage that needs to be rectified.

Hence the problem.

The question now is (although it's kinda too late at this point): regardless of your geographical location, which one of the two groups do you belong to? J

Since you have your marble countertop already in place, the best advice I can give you to have a professional stone restoration contractor turning the polished finish that you have now into a low-hone finish (smooth but with no sheen) by using a good-quality honing powder. (Honing diamond pads may leave swirl marks.)

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

Ciao and good luck,

Mauri z io Bertoli

 

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