Yellowed Marble Bathroom Countertop
QUESTION:I have a marble top in my powder room which originally was white with blue veins. It has yellowed to the point that I am thinking about replacing it. However, I have 2 very expensive sink bowls attached to the top which may be broken when removed. I would like to save the counter top in my remodeling if possible.How can you whiten yellowed marble? I am not sure whether it is real or man made. ANSWER:I'd bet your countertop is a man-made cultured marble. These tend to yellow with age. But real marble can yellow under certain circumstances too, so let's take a closer look...If your countertop is real marble you'll be able to see the pattern on the underside. It will be lighter in color and more washed out, but the same pattern will be there. White marbles can sometime yellow in spots when the marble becomes saturated with water oxidizing the iron deposits contained in most white marble. The rusty water bleeds to the surface causing yellow-orange-brown spots. Not common for this to happen on a countertop, since you need a constant source of water and minmal evaporation. Much more common on a marble floor or shower where water can get trapped beneath tiles. The other possibility is any surface coating or wax that may have been applied to the marble will turn it yellow in time. For this you'll need to strip off the wax or coating using the De-Greaser / Wax Remover / Stripper. That may do the trick, but you may also have some residual staining. So, then you'll have to follow the instructions in the Removing Granite & Marble Stains e-book. Or use this Stain Removal Absorber. Or hire a marble cleaning and maintenance professional to grind down and re-finish the marble to like-new condition. If cultured marble the underside will be a flat gray-brown color and you'll be able to see a sort of lip at the edges where the surface coatings end. Just tear out and replace a yellowed cultured marble countertop. Nothing you can do with it. Good Luck, Ryan
|
