stains on black granite

Hi, after reading your forum, I realize that black granite is complicated. I was shocked to read that it is not indeed granite. In December, I worked with a very reputable kitchen design company and they offered a couple of companies for my granite selection. I selected the absolute black granite. I have noticed what appears to be waters marks around my faucet and dish drain rack, next to the kitchen sink. I have tried number types to clean it and it always reappears. I am pretty sure that they did use sealant. Also, after reading many forums, it appears to be etching as well, (lighter color, looks like a grayish cloud), which appears to be a sign that the material was doctored as well. I have pictures on my digital camera, if you would like to view the marks. I am unsure how to proceed from here. Do I contact the granite store and have them remove the sealant and see if this works? Or, do I just hone in on the doctoring issues, because that is the bigger problem? Also, do I have a legitimate issue with the fact that I was not aware it was not granite? I am so skeptical now and I am afraid of how to address them. I worry that they will just come in and add more dye or do something that isn't a legitimate fix to the injustice of the situation. And, I won't know any better. I am willing to fight this all the way, but I just don't know how to go about it. My husband and I pretty easygoing, and not the aggressive, demanding type and it appears that is what is needed to get results. Any help and suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Sarah

 

Dear Sarah:

 

“ I was shocked to read that it is not indeed granite. ”

 

Black “granite” is the stone traded as granite that's the farther apart from true granite than anything else on the market, but it is in good company: 98% (no it is not a typo) of the stones traded as granite are not granite. Welcome to the stone industry, where the crook and incompetent rule and nobody challenges them! L

 

“ I have pictures on my digital camera, if you would like to view the marks. ”

 

Send them over.

 

“ Do I contact the granite store and have them remove the sealant and see if this works? Or, do I just hone in on the doctoring issues, because that is the bigger problem? ”

 

You must take it a step at a time. It is quite possible that's the impregnator, and therefore, once thoroughly removed, everything should be all right. If the removal of the impregnator will not work, then we'll go to the next step.

 

“ do I have a legitimate issue with the fact that I was not aware it was not granite? ”

 

Of course you do: it's the law of the land. Moreover, according to the (very loose and amazing – not to say appalling) “standards” issued by the Marble Institute of America (MIA), even if it is not granite, there's nothing wrong (?!?!) selling it as granite, providing that it performs at least like granite. Which means that it has to be scratch resistant and not-sensitive to acidic substances – this side of HF (Hydrofluoric Acid). Black “granite” in general, and black absolute in particular (such denomination legally belongs exclusively to the stone quarried in South Africa – but who cares about the law in the stone industry…?!) is a stone that should be considered even “better” than true granite for the intents and purposes of a kitchen environment, because it's much denser than granite and therefore it is naturally stain resistant, while granite it is not and needs to be sealed. Unfortunately, between the totally useless and indiscriminate sealing thing, the malicious doctoring and the quarrying of certain black stones (sold as black granite) that contains minerals that are actually sensitive to even the mildest acid, the consumer is at the total mercy of the merchants and Lady Luck.

 

“ I worry that they will just come in and add more dye or do something that isn't a legitimate fix to the injustice of the situation. ”

 

That's a distinct possibility. Go log on at: http://www.doctoredstone.org (which is part of marblecleaning.org) and read the two cases history in there. Read also the chapter of my book on stone maintenance and restoration that's specifically devoted to the despicable practice of stone doctoring. It's in there.

 

“ I am willing to fight this all the way, but I just don't know how to go about it. My husband and I pretty easygoing, and not the aggressive, demanding type and it appears that is what is needed to get results. Any help and suggestions would be greatly appreciated. ”

 

We're here to help consumers with their problems, but we're not here to help you solve your particular problem. Assuming that it turns out to be malicious doctoring, we want to stop this illegal criminal activity, and it is not by compromising with the crooks that we would ever be able to accomplish that. So, if your DH's easy-going and result-getting practices are what you want, then you don't need us. And we don't need you, either. And if you want us to help you any further to solve your single problem with total disregards of what those crooks will do to the consumers after you, you will have to pay us. If we go all the way instead, there will be no charge (only the mere reimbursement of traveling expenses and possible testing).

 

But we'll talk about all this if it turns out that it is indeed doctoring. Right now, have the possible residue of the impregnator removed and see what happens.

 

Needless to say, if marblecleaning.org could have its ways, situations like this one would not exist. But we can't do anything by ourselves. We need the support of the consumers to succeed. On that spirit…

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 zio Bertoli

 

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