Scratched Composite Marble Tiles
by Glenda Lowe
QUESTION:Hi, Last year we purchased black composite marble tiles for the bathroom. We asked about sealing and were told by the salesman that because they were composite they didn't need to be sealed.Now after 12 months they have become very scratched and there a water marks on them. Is there anything we can do to remove the scratches and marks. Many thanks! ANSWER:Composite marble tiles are made using a thin marble veneer glued to a ceramic backing.The process makes the tile cheaper, yet you still get the look and feel of real marble. And since it is real marble on the surface, proper marble maintenance must still be performed. It would help to know where you installed the tiles... (countertop, floor, shower, tub surround). Sealing While it's true that the tiles probably did not need sealing the reason given is wrong. The fact that the marble tiles are a composite has nothing to do with sealing (unless these particular tiles had some type of topical coating applied at the factory). First, marble when polished is nearly non-absorbent and doesn't stain easy anyway and won't absorb a sealer either. Honed and tumbled tiles can be sealed, but it really depends on where they are installed. Shower tiles or tub surround marble tiles do not need sealing because the risk of staining them is near zero. Simply not a lot of products used in the shower/tub that will stain, especially with all that water washing things away. Marble bathroom floors should be honed for traction and thus could be sealed, but again the risk of staining is far lower than a kitchen say. So, some choose to some don't. Sealing marble is a pretty simple job, so I typically recommend to go ahead and seal a honed/tumbled bathroom floor. And the bathroom marble countertops should be sealed if honed. However, most marble vanities are polished and may not be able to take a sealer, which is good... means they won't absorb anything else either. For a polished marble countertop just water test the surface to determine if it will take a sealer. Scratches Marble is softer than granite and will scratch much more easily. And dark marbles will show the scratches even more. "Water Spots" The dull, cloudy, ghost spots you have are not actually caused by water. They just seem like a clear "stain" like from water. However, these are not stains where something absorbed into the marble. So, sealing has nothing to do with this as sealing helps prevent staining only. These water spots are "etch marks" caused by an acidic or too alkaline product of some sort. Marble is sensitive to acids. Acids will corrode marble, which leaves dull and discolored spots where the marble was damaged. Again, it's composite, but still real marble on top, so all the typical characteristics and requirements for cleaning marble still apply. To repair etching and scratches you can use a specialized paste like SCP: Marble Polishing Paste/Etch Remover, which will polish out light scratches and restore the shine and color to etch marks. Unfortunately, the product is available in the only in the US. I suggest you call some local stone fabricators to see if a similar product is available near you. You also may find the comprehensive and detailed information regarding the proper methods for cleaning marble and marble maintenance available in our Marble Maintenance ebooks helpful. And using decorative trays or shelves to store products on (rather than directly on the marble surface) will help decrease scratches and etching in the future. 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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