Waxing Dull Marble Table

by gail baxter
(marysville,wa, usa)

QUESTION:

I have a marble table that Mop and Glow was put on it. We tried taking it off with Lysol and amonia and some came off and now half the table is dull and half is shiney.


My husband wants to put hard wax on it and buff it.

It is a salmon color but don't know the name. I had an man look at it who suggest acid to take off the Mop and Glow and then hone it.

He said that it would be better to do that than make it shiney again because it will show every mark.

I can't get a hold of the man and my husband wants to work on the table himself. What should I do. Will hard wax really harm the table???

ANSWER:

I'm sorry to say it so bluntly, but everything you have done so far is wrong.

First, you should use only products safe for cleaning marble.

Most brand-name household products and other common cleaners like ammonia, vinegar, bleach, etc. are too harsh and will damage marble as you have seen.

The dullness you are seeing is a chemical burn (called etching) from the products that have corroded the shiny polished layer of your marble table.

Wax will not solve the problem, plus putting wax on marble countertops, floors or tables is a bad idea.

Wax is still recommended in some
circles and it won't necessarily hurt the marble, but it's a poor solution and is hardly ever used anymore.

Wax scuffs easily requiring constant buffing, re-application eventually turning yellow requiring stripping.

But even after waxing you'd still see the a difference between the dull and shiny areas.

And acid will make the whole table dull because acid will do just what your cleaners did and corrode the shiny surface.

This will leave you with a honed surface that won't show etch marks as easily as a polished surface, but it will stain more easily, so you'll have to seal it.

What you need is to re-polish the surface using ETCH REMOVER / Marble Polishing product, which is easy to apply and use.

Now, if you have caused excessive damage and the marble is rough to the touch, then you may have to call in a marble maintenance professional.

Severe damage is pretty rare, so the paste will likely do the trick, but just so you know the paste works like magic on mild to moderate etching (which is what it is designed for) but professional refinishing is the only option for severe etching.

Once you get the table repaired, be sure to always use place mats, trivets and coasters to protect the finish. If you do get an etch mark again, then you'll have the paste to quickly repair it restoring the shine and color.

Comments for Waxing Dull Marble Table

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Removing wax from an old marble table
by: David

I recently purchased a used marble table. The top is travertine and quite shiny.

The label on the back recommends waxing for maintenance, but I presume this is no longer the recommended route.

If I assume that the surface has wax on it, what is the best way to remove it so that I can seal it with the more up-to-date product?

==== Countertop Specialty comment:

Correct, waxing marble is no longer the preferred method to maintain the surface. Has not been for decades.

To remove any wax use the Heavy Duty Marble Cleaner.

Then you can apply a Marble Sealer.

A stone sealer will prevent liquids from absorbing and staining. However, marble can still get etched from contact with acidic foods, drinks and harsh cleaners.

Etching can be repaired using the Etch Remover-Marble Polishing product.

So, be mindful to use coasters and placemats to guard against etching. Also, do not use typical household cleaners as most are too harsh for marble and will damage the surface.

For regular cleaning use the Granite & Marble Cleaning Spray.
Polishing Alternatives: Waxing or Vitrification on Marble Floor
by: Anonymous

Hello,

I would like to ask a question relating to my palladian style floor.

The floor is slightly uneven and some of the grout contains sand/grit. Therefore, I am told it cannot be polished without scratching the marble.

I have been suggested vitrification or waxing.

To me, waxing seems very similar to vitrification, neither being ideal.

What do you think would be the best way to approach this? Are there certain products that might be better options than ones I keep reading on the internet about?

Thank you for your time.

==== Countertop Specialty comment:

True, neither waxing nor vitrification (recrystallization) is the best option for polishing a marble floor.

Waxing is very old-school and the easiest method. But will require significant upkeep and periodic stripping and rewaxing.

Some companies like vitrification instead of traditional polishing as it doesn't require much skill vs. traditional polishing, but they can often charge more.

And yes... it has many drawbacks.

Read our Recrystalization vs. Standard Marble Polishing article for our full perspective.

Of the two, vitrification will yield a higher gloss for sure.

Wax can only make a honed or matte surface so shiny.

I don't know the reason you want to refinish or repolish the floor but if the only reason is that you prefer the polished look over a honed finish, then I'd say don't bother.

You risk creating problems you don't have and the repeated cost of the continual upkeep needed with both waxing and vitrification (which often does not last a long time).

Just leave it as is. A honed marble floor is very common and looks great.
Matte lacquer finish on marble coffee table
by: Anonymous

My marble coffee table has a matte lacquer finish.

It arrived with a few marks on it and the furniture store advised to wipe with a damp cloth (done), or use turtle wax.

I am feeling skeptical of using the wax, firstly because it is a matte finish, not a glossy one.

The marks seem to be from some sort of mesh that was on the surface, as I can see the grid marks. Your thoughts?

==== Countertop Specialty comment:

Wax is an old-school method to add some shine to marble, but it will yellow in time and must be maintained. These days you'd use a product like the Topical Granite & Marble Polish which is a non-wax based protectant and shine-enhancer.

But you're correct... you don't use wax or the above product on a matte finish.

You mentioned "lacquer". If this is a brand-new marble table, then it should not have lacquer on it. This is something that you might find on an old marble table where someone tried to add or restore the shine.

But lacquer is going to form a coating on top of the marble which you don't want. Like wax, it will scuff and wear worse and is harder to maintain than the marble itself.

If indeed there is such a coating on the marble table, then the mesh pattern is probably imprinted into that lacquer.

It may be that a mesh padding was used to protect the surface during transport.

If you do think there is a coating, then try to remove it using acetone. Acetone will not harm the marble, but it should remove the coating (probably with many applications and some scrubbing with a non-abrasive brush or pad).

If, in fact, there is no coating, then using the Etch Remover / Marble Polishing Powder should remove the mesh markings.

But wash with acetone first and see what happens.

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