New Marble Has Steaksby NTV
QUESTION:I have just had marble tile (arrabescato carrara; honed) installed in our bathroom and it has a dull, streaky appearance.My guess is that this was caused by the sealing process as the tiles out of the box are nice and shiny. How can this be fixed? ANSWER:First, we need to clarify. Is the marble honed or polished?You say it is honed, but the tiles in the box are "nice and shiny," which would indicate a polished finish. Now honing can still produce a high sheen, but it is never really shiny. The reason I ask is that honed carrara would probably not get hazy from sealing. Most likely the sealer would absorb properly. Polished marble is a different story. Yes, it could be the sealer, but it also could be grout that has dried on the surface. However, grout is usually a bit more coarse and the surface will have a texture. When a sealer dries on top, the surface is still smooth, just hazy/streaky. To remove sealer: use some acetone on a small spot. If that takes it off, repeat over the whole floor. If you think it is grout haze (it will have some texture), then order some Hard Water / Soap Scum Remover... that will take it off. Don't use a "grout remover" because many of those are acidic and will etch/damage the marble.  Good Luck,Ryan P.S. Get all the facts and simple step-by-step solutions to any problem with our Granite & Marble Maintenance Manuals. |
