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tumbled marble backsplash maintenance

Article Number: 354 | Rating: Unrated | Last Updated: Sun, Aug 19, 2007 at 12:00 AM

I am redoing our kitchen and thinking about using tumbled marble tiles for the backsplash. I know that marble counter tops are very susceptible to staining. If the back splash tiles are sealed, then do I need to worry about maintenance?

Dear Jordan:

" I know that marble counter tops are very susceptible to staining."

You know wrong. Contrary to widespread and popular misconception, marble is a rather dense stone and therefore very difficult to stain. Polished marble, however, "stains" like crazy!...

What's the deal here?

Quite simply, all those "stains" on polished marble surfaces are not stains at all - no matter what they look like. They are rather acid etching (marks of corrosion) caused by pH active substances by just becoming in contact with the stone. Those "stains" have nothing at all to do with the (limited) absorbebcy of marble, but strictly its chemical make-up, which is mostly calcite.

That said, etch marks could not possible show on a surface as unpolished and rustic as tumble-finished marble.

Treat your tumbled marble with a good-quality stone impregnator/color enhancer like MB-6 to effectively seal it while giving it permanently the "wet look" without any sheen; or a regular impregnator like MB-4, if you prefer a pale color. And you will be just fine! 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!