repair damaged marble tile

Hi, We installed (ourselves) a marble tile countertop (against my best advice to my wife). Not even two weeks old, my father-in-law damages about eight tiles with lime juice while mixing drinks on Thanksgiving. I have some experience with stone (BS Geology), so I'm guessing the finish was etched with the acid from the lime juice. I'm hoping a thorough polishing can fix the problem, but here is where my experience ends. I am hoping I can find a compound to help repair the damage, but I don't know where to what to look for.

 

Dear Geoffrey:

 

“ so I'm guessing the finish was etched with the acid from the lime juice ”

 

You're right on the money!

 

Unfortunately, lime juice is too acidic to be fixed with a polishing powder for marble only, like MB-11. Some honing before the polishing will be necessary, and to do that it takes a professional stone restoration contractor.

But a question begs to be asked: Why bother?

Polished marble does not belong in a kitchen – period.

Just about anything you will spill on it (this side of water and cooking oil) will etch it on contact and there's no sealer or what-have-you on planet Earth that could do the first thing to prevent that.

Just get rid of it. It's painful to the wallet but it's only money and a one shot deal. Trying to upkeep that “thing” is going to cost you much more and drive you insane!!

An alternative would be to forget about the shine and produce a low hone-finish (dull and smooth but with no shine). Since you seem to be handy enough, you could do that yourself with an orbital sander and good ol' metal grade sandpaper, starting with 60 or 80 grit and then finishing the job at 120. When you'll spill acidic substances again it will get etched again, but it will not be very noticeable and is easy to fix with some sand-paper.

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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