Oiling Marble Kitchen Tile Countertopby cheap decorator
QUESTION:I found some 12 x 12 New Saint Laurent marble tiles for a great price, and I'd like to use them for a kitchen countertop. I've been experimenting with the staining and etching properties. I etched the highly polished surface with vinegar and used first a 150, then a 180-grit sanding sponge to produce a silky, honed soapstone-like finish.My questions are: Can mineral oil be used on marble to enhance the color? Confectionary recipes recommend oiled marble slabs, so can I start out oiling my marble, without first using stone impregnator? Will the oil eventually cause a 'sticky' build-up? Any advice would be appreciated. ANSWER:I take it that you are going to use your DIY method to take off the polish to approximate a honed surface.That will work although it's a time-consuming job and you'll most likely end up with some unevenness and differences in the sheen, but it may be satisfactory for you. As for oiling, it will darken the marble of course as it will absorb into the stone. You may need to apply multiple coats to get even distribution and color. Be sure to wipe completely free of the oil (once absorbed) or it will be a dirt magnet. And it will eventually evaporate. Just like with soapstone, you'll need to re-apply it quite often to maintain the darker color. And you'll simply forgo applying a sealer. Although it may be possible (never tried it) to seal in the oil by applying a sealer after oiling. I'd definitely experiment with a left over tile before doing the above though. Since you are removing the polish the stone will be a bit more susceptible to stains and of course even when "honed" it will still etch with acids... just not as noticeable. 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. |
