Marble Kitchen Benchtop White Spotsby Lisa
marble etching
QUESTIONHello, We live in a new development where all kitchen bench tops are marble.Many residents are complaining about the white rings left on the marble bench tops. I have attached a photo of mine. I know that the rings have been left by lemon juice. From the state of my marble bench top we must use an awful lot! I've done the lemon test that you suggest but the puddle didn't darken at all. It turned white immediately. The mark left is white and has a chalky feel to it. I've done the water test as well but it doesn't seem to darken at all. The developers are telling us all that we shouldn't use lemon juice and oil in the kitchen and that we should completely cover the marble bench top when using it. Not very practical. I have tried telling the developers that perhaps the bench tops haven't been sealed but they aren't listening. (I do live in a country where there is a language barrier.) Could you let me know if you think the marble pictured would benefit from sealing and also if you think using a marble of this quality in a kitchen is wise or even common place please? I would like to sound as if I know what I am talking about when I go to battle. These houses are all under warranty. Many thanks, Lisa ANSWER:Although I can't say that installing a marble kitchen countertop is a crime is certainly isn't a good choice for precisely the reason your picture demonstrates.Marble (of any "quality") is sensitive to acids. Acidic substances like lemon juice will corrode marble leaving dull, white or lighter colored spots. It's called "etching." Unfortunately many designers and developers go for the chic luxurious look of marble without having a clue that it is a lot of trouble in a kitchen. Marble everywhere else in the house is not a problem, but a kitchen just gets too much abuse and use and it's absolutely impossible to keep from etching it. Luckily etch marks on polished marble can be removed using a good paste like SCP: Marble Polishing Paste (available in the US) but it is a never-ending battle. Sealing marble has nothing to do with etching and this marble doesn't need sealing anyway. Sealing prevents staining... something absorbing into the marble, which will leave a darker spot. The fact that the water and lemon juice spots did not darken tells you that nothing will absorb very easily or at all into the marble, so no use in sealing it. (just FYI... the point of the lemon juice test is to see if the stone etches... not looking for darkening, but the white spot left behind) This is typical of polished marble.... it is nearly stain-proof since it has such a low rate of absorption. Marble does etch very easily though as your lemon juice test demonstrated, which does make it impractical in the kitchen. Using oil won't be a problem. It won't stain or etch. But there are numerous acidic foods besides lemon juice that will contact the marble. Don't know that you really have any kind of legal case though. Don't see that it is fraud, just poor choice of materials.... but I'm not a lawyer, so maybe a look at your contract will reveal some legal angle to pursue. In the meantime, use cutting boards, coasters, wipe up spills quickly (although etching happens in seconds) and rinse all plates, pots and pans immediately instead of setting on the marble. Good Luck, Ryan P.S. Get all the facts, answers, explanations and simple solutions with step-by-step instructions for any issue, problem or question with our Granite & Marble Maintenance Manuals.
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