Stains on Black Galaxy Granite

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Stains on Black Galaxy Granite

by Marcy
(San Francisco, California USA)

QUESTION:

Hi, I had black galaxy granite installed in my wet bar. After one family event, there were glass ring "etched" stains all over the counter. What can I do to repair? They will not come off with anything. My bar is ruined now!

ANSWER:

First, some background info on Black Galaxy just FYI. Black Galaxy granite is very stain resistant. It is quite possibly the most bullet-proof surface on the market.

Most liquids/substances will evaporate before they'd ever stain.

In fact, Black Galaxy typically cannot be sealed. Sealer just won't absorb. With marble you will get glass rings from etching, but granite does not etch.

So, it isn't the stone itself that is the problem. One of three things (or possibly a combo) is causing the "etching."

Possible problems:

1. A sealer was erroneously applied
2. The granite has been "doctored"

Applying a sealer to a stone that cannot absorb it will often result in a streaky/hazy film left on top.

You may not get the streaks, if the sealer was wiped off the granite adequately, but the sealer residue inevitably left on the granite is sometime sensitive to acids like in alcoholic drinks, fruits, sodas, coffee, etc.

"Doctored" granite is a problem with black granites. A black paint or polish is applied to cheaper gray granites to make them more black and more expensive.

This is usually a problem with absolute black and not so much with black galaxy. Doctored granite will etch and show "glass-rings" just like marble.

A third possibility is that you don't have Black Galaxy, but a dog stone that contains calcite (a mineral reactive with acids and possibly prone to staining, but I doubt this is it).

You can test for doctoring and other issues using the FORENSICS Granite Test Kit.

Here's what you need to do:

Get some methylene chloride... a potent and noxious solvent. Won't hurt your granite, but it will take off whatever is on top and along with the finish off cabinets and walls and anything else, so be careful and have good ventilation.

On a small area over a glass-ring, pour out a little methylene chloride. Let is soak for a bit, then agitate/scrub the area with a soft-bristle brush. Wipe completely dry.

Notice any difference in the surface color? If yes, you have doctored granite. That is fraud and you have a legal issue with the warehouse/company that sold it.

If no color change, is the glass-ring gone? If yes, then there was probably sealer on the surface that is causing these reactions.

You may want to use the methylene on this spot a couple times. Then spill some lemon juice on the same spot. Let it sit for a few minutes and wipe up.

Any spot? There shouldn't be.

Spill lemon juice on another spot that wasn't cleaned. Any spot? I should leave a spot, an etch mark like the glass-rings, so....

If yes, then you have your answer. There is something on the granite that needs to come off.

If the methylene chloride reveals a bright shiny black galaxy that doesn't etch, then repeat the process to clean the whole surface.

If the color changes, then I'd go back to the installer and demand a new countertop. Hopefully they will correct it. If not, you should contact a lawyer to send a letter,etc. to motivate them.

Be sure to test the new slab prior to installation.

The situation sucks. Hope this helps.

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.

I highly recommend Stone Care Pro Products to maintain all your marble, stone and granite countertops and floors in optimal condition. I've used other good products (Stone Tech, Miracle, MB) but found Stone Care Pro is the most reliable and effective and cheaper too!

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Stains on Black Galaxy Granite

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Lime away
by: Ryan

Hi Marcy,

Typically you do not want to use such a caustic product like Lime away on any stone and they even warn against it. Sometimes similar products can be used to remove rust stains, etc., but with the knowledge that it may cause some surface damage to the stone.

But I'll have to remember about the success you had with it.

I'm glad the problem is solved!

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Rings Black Galaxy Granite
by: Marcy

I tried the varnish remover without any results. Next I used Lime remover and the etched stains just came off. Granite looks beautiful now. Go figure. I used lime on the area treated with varnish remover and other areas not treated with varnish remover. All areas were cleaned by Lime remover.

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Rings Still Visible
by: Ryan

Sorry to hear that Marcy. And to clarify, you need to scrub the areas with a soft-bristle brush after letting the methylene chloride soak a bit.

I'm not saying you didn't, but the wording of your post makes it seem like you poured it on, let it sit and then wiped it off.

Now that may take off some of the sealer or doctoring dye, but they are meant to be permanent, so you really have to work it to get it off.

If you did scrub and scrub and still no change, then you'll have to hire a stone restoration professional to re-finish the surface.

If the black galaxy was neither sealed nor doctored and thus has nothing "on" the surface that could etch, then the only other explanation I could give is that the stone is not actually "black galaxy."

How could that be? Well, some stones are much more popular than others, so importers may call something "black galaxy" when actually it is a different variety.

It's not uncommon for stones that are the essentially the same variety to be called different names. Some stones have 4 or 5 different names depending on where you buy it.

Black galaxy is well-known and well-regarded as an excellent, near bullet-proof stone. So, say a quarry has a stone that looks similar, but does not have the same composition and/or the same performance as black galaxy... say it etches.

Well, there won't be much of a market for this stone. Whatever you name it, it will soon become known not to buy this stone. But if you call it "black galaxy" people buy it without question.

I know that is maddening, but again stone is a natural product. There is not absolute consistency in the product. So, choosing a stone by name alone is not the way to do it.

You should choose a color you like, but then test it to make sure it has the performance characteristics you desire.

And just FYI... methylene chloride won't affect the "shine".

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Submitted by: Ryan

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Comment
Sorry to hear that Marcy. And to clarify, you need to scrub the areas with a soft-bristle brush after letting the methylene chloride soak a bit. I'm not saying you didn't, but the wording of your post makes it seem like you poured it on, let it sit and then wiped it off. Now that may take off some of the sealer or doctoring dye, but they are meant to be permanent, so you really have to work it to get it off. If you did scrub and scrub and still no change, then you'll have to hire a stone restoration professional to re-finish the surface. If the black galaxy was neither sealed nor doctored and thus has nothing "on" the surface that could etch, then the only other explanation I could give is that the stone is not actually "black galaxy." How could that be? Well, some stones are much more popular than others, so importers may call something "black galaxy" when actually it is a different variety. It's not uncommon for stones that are the essentially the same variety to be called different names. Some stones have 4 or 5 different names depending on where you buy it. Black galaxy is well-known and well-regarded as an excellent, near bullet-proof stone. So, say a quarry has a stone that looks similar, but does not have the same composition and/or the same performance as black galaxy... say it etches. Well, there won't be much of a market for this stone. Whatever you name it, it will soon become known not to buy this stone. But if you call it "black galaxy" people buy it without question. I know that is maddening, but again stone is a natural product. There is not absolute consistency in the product. So, choosing a stone by name alone is not the way to do it. You should choose a color you like, but then <a href="http://www.countertopspecialty.com/sealing-granite-countertops.html">test it</a> to make sure it has the performance characteristics you desire. And just FYI... methylene chloride won't affect the "shine".

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Rings on Black Galaxy Granite - wet bar
by: Marcy

I tested the surface of Black Galaxy Granite with methylene chloride as you suggest. Rings are still present. No change to the color of granite. Still shines as before. I tried this 3 times leaving the stripper on for upto an hour. Now what?

Marcy.

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Black Galaxy Fraud
by: Ryan

Marcy,

You may want to use the FORENSICS Granite Test Kit to accurately determine what is happening with your granite.

There is data available regarding the characteristics of stone, etc., but you'd likely have to prove they did this intentionally. Of course, demonstrating that the product you received was materially different than the product you expected to receive may be enough.

Use the Contact Us form and I'll see what I can do to help.

Cheers

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Black Galaxy Fraud
by: Marcy

Hello,

Several month ago you were very helpful with explaining why my black galaxy granite was stained with etched water and ring marks. I have since gone back-and-forth with the dealer with no luck. They refuse to replace or repair the damaged stone. Now I need to file a small claims case against the dealer. There excuse is they do not "guarantee" natural stone color or pattern inconsistencies. They also claim the problem is that I did not seal the granite before use and/or left water/acidy liquid on the counter for a long period of time. In other words, I didn't wipe up spills in time.

I'm wondering if there is a publication or other resource that I can take with me (to court) regarding the density and high tolerance of black galaxy so I can show the judge. In other words, is there anything official that I can take with me to court explaining that authentic black galaxy granite does not stain like this "naturally" and that it is a dense stone that does not require sealing?

Any advise you can give would be very much appreciated.

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