Discoloration on absolute black granite counter

Hi, I read through your info and seem to have a similar problem as you described on my absolute black counter top. I was canning tomatoes, I toook the jars out of the hot water bath and placed them on a rack which was on the granite to cool. They were steaming and two were expelling some liquid from the covers which puddled under the rack. I did not think anything of it since this is granite and the liquid was a mix of water and juice from the jars. In the morning, about five and a half hours after I put the jars I took up the rack and there were three areas with some residue left on the surface. When I wiped away the residue, the counter was left with three lighter spots. My granite installer came out with denatured alcohol to rub on the spots, but that did nothing. He left and said that he was going to contact his surface product supplier and get back to me. He told me that the granite came from India and that he sealed it before he installed it. I called a few other granite places in my area. They all say that they seal absolute black and all other granites that they sell. Are they all misinformed? I asked the person who installed my granite if the sealer could be buffed off and he replyed no. Why cannot the sealer be buffed or sanded off and the stone repolished? From reading what you have read, it seems as though the only thing to due is use apaint stripper to take off the sealer. This is something that could lead to damaging my cabinets, something I surely don't want to happen. When you say to put the stripper on, how do I remove it from the surface, and how do I know if all the sealer if off the granite? Do I need to buff up the surface to bring back the luster that the sealer provides and if so with what should I us? If my installer refuses to do anything for me, ( the counters were only installed 9 weeks ago) what is my best approuch to getting some satisfaction? If I have to take him to small claims court, what should I bring as backup, (I can't take in the counter top, and I can't get a picture of the discoloration) ? Thanks, Brad

 

Dear Bradley:

 

“ My granite installer came out with denatured alcohol to rub on the spots, but that did nothing. ”

 

I'm shocked to say the least! He used denatured alcohol and nothing happened?!?!... WOW!!! Get out of town!... You must be kidding me!!!

Oh man; how could he possibly think for a split second that denatured alcohol could remove a surface damage?!?... But then again, he also believes that your stone is granite, and he also believes that it must be sealed and all that nonsense!...

 

“ He told me that the granite came from India and that he sealed it before he installed it. ”

 

Why, of course it sealed it!! (Well, better said: he thinks it sealed it!... Oh, I'm sure that he applied a sealer to your stone, but it doesn't mean that he actually sealed it.) May the gods forbid that it gets stained!!! (Did anybody ever saw a true stain on black “granite”? Answer: No – NEVER. It is impossible to stain. So, what do you want to seal it for?...)

If your “granite” comes from India , extremely good chances are that it was maliciously doctored and the acidity of the tomato sauce removed part of the black “shoe-shine” that was applied by the factory to make believe that your stone is black instead of gray. (The color that you see where the doctoring came off is the true color of your stone.) It's a despicable criminal activity that's been going on for years and growing, totally unopposed and, apparently, with the blessing of the stone industry establishment. Fortunately, there the law of the land to protect you.

 

“ They all say that they seal absolute black and all other granites that they sell. Are they all misinformed? ”

 

Did you ask any of them if they know what kind of stone black “granite” is, and if it has any relation to granite?

1000 wrong don't make a right and, yes, those who answered that way to you are all misinformed. I seldom have opinions: I make my statements based on science, not some baloney that some sly salesman can try to make me believe. Thank goodness, nobody ever managed to apply a sealer to my brain, and therefore I can still think by myself!

 

“ They all say that they seal absolute black and all other granites that they sell. Are they all misinformed? ”

 

Considering that A) most likely it is not the impregnating sealer they uselessly applied to your countertop that's creating the problem, but the doctoring agent, and that B) no matter what it is, it reacts to acids, if you wash your countertop with a solution of water and phosphoric acid you will get rid of whatever is sitting on top of the stone. Beware, however, that your stone will turn into a uniform dark gray, which is the best you can expect from it.

 

“ Do I need to buff up the surface to bring back the luster that the sealer provides ”

 

The sealer does not provide any shine at all. Stone is polished mechanically, by abrasion and friction, not by slapping a sealer onto it. The polishing is what determines the final gloss and depth of color of the stone. A sealer for stone is strictly a below-the-surface of the stone product, which does not affect in any way, shape or form the original factory finish, which in this case was most likely (pending further probing) maliciously altered (hidden) with the application of some topical and temporarily darkening agent.  

 

“ If my installer refuses to do anything for me, ( the counters were only installed 9 weeks ago) what is my best approuch to getting some satisfaction? ”

 

1. You write your fabricator a certified letter telling him that you did some homework and concluded that your stone was maliciously doctored. Together with the letter you will send him my message above up to the sentence, “in this case was most likely maliciously altered (hidden) with the application of some topical and temporarily darkening agent.” You will conclude demanding you money back in full and stating that you will held them responsible for any possible damage that could occur to your cabinets during the removal of that phony piece of garbage, or else you will take proper course of action without any further notice.
2. Should this not obtain any satisfactory reaction, you will have your attorney writhe your fabricator a “nice” letter stating that it is your intention to bring the issue to the local D.A. and bring the fabricator on consumer fraud charges, followed by a law suit to demand for the full restitution of the money and punitive damages. You will not need to hire an attorney, but you need him to write the letter to make your fabricator realize that you mean business.
3. Most likely the letter of the attorney will get the result! But should it not, then you will file with the local D.A. a consumer fraud charge against your fabricator. You can also get involved the Better Business Bureau and any other local and/or state agency that are available for the protection of the consumers. Marblecleaning.org will supply you with the preliminary written expertise to support your case, with the understanding that one of the experts will be available to testify at the time of the trial, at no charge, other than traveling, food and lodging expenses.
4. If this still will not obtain the result, after the criminal trial (which you will win for sure), you will take the sorry butt of your fabricator to superior court filing for the full refund of the moneys paid, interests, courts costs, and adequate punitive damages.

 

I really don't think it will ever reach this point, unless your fabricator is on the brink of bankruptcy.

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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