Marble polishing and etching are generally misunderstood. These dull "water spots" and "glass-rings" (etch marks) are baffling. And often folks maintain false assumptions and have incorrect concepts about the right means to polish marble or how marble polishing is actually carried out to create a shiny surface finish.
Many assume that the shine or polish on marble comes from making use of a potion, lotion or chemical during marble cleaning.
Additionally, some believe that every one marble is supposed to be shiny and that the uninteresting etch marks are some sort of "stain".
Properly, none of the above is true, but some of it isn't completely false either, which requires some explanation... here we go!
It is not shocking there's confusion surrounding the subject of marble polishing for the explanation that time period "polish" has various subtly completely different meanings within the stone industry.
Most often what is supposed by "polish", "polished" or "sprucing" is in reference to the variety of "finish" on marble, travertine, limestone, granite or any natural stone.
Natural stone will be finished with a quantity of totally different floor types, kinds or seems to be relying on what is needed by the buyer.
A "polished" end is the shiny, excessive-gloss sort of finish with the deepest coloration saturation generally seen on marble and granite countertops.
Because a polished/shiny finish is so frequent, many people believe that all marble is meant to be polished or shiny.
Nevertheless, as famous above, marble (or almost any stone) can have quite a few different end types.
A "honed" finish is satin-easy, but is just not reflective or shiny and the colours are extra muted. It is also identified as a "matte" finish.
Different floor finishes embody: tumbled, flamed, antiqued, brushed, hammered and more. Every of these has a special look, nevertheless all of them are non-reflective. Only a "polished" end has the high-gloss, shiny surface.
It is rather widespread for marble flooring to have a honed end since it's simpler to maintain. And regardless that colours are more muted with a hone end, many stone colors and patterns are more appealing with a honed finish.
A shiny polished end will put on down with foot traffic creating uninteresting trails across the floor. Also, mud and filth are seen rather more simply on a elegant floor.
Typically people purchase a home with a honed ground and mistakenly think that something is mistaken with it as a consequence of it appears uninteresting in comparison with the shiny marble seen in lodges, etc. They motive that it needs to be shiny, or it simply wants "sprucing" with a marble "polish". Let's clarify....
It is a frequent myth that the shine on marble counter tops and flooring tile is achieved by making use of some kind of chemical or "polish" to the surface. Not exactly. The "shine" on marble is just not one thing that sits on high of the marble... it is a half of the marble itself.
While there might be one state of affairs (etching - see beneath) the place a chemical compound can be utilized to polish marble, it utilizes as bodily process (like sanding wooden) to deliver again the shine. The chemical itself doesn't provide the shine.
Additionally, this specialized product is engineered to work on marble (travertine or limestone too) that was originally polished to a shine. So, it restores a broken shiny finish, but is inadequate to create that shine from raw marble to begin with.
The shiny polish seen on marble slabs, tile and other stones is achieved by excessive friction on enormous stone sprucing machines on the manufacturing unit lengthy earlier than it gets to a show room or customer.
A sure finish might be modified or re-completed after set up, but this requires the talent of an experienced marble repair professional using particular tools, abrasives and a multi-step process... not only a wipe down with a chemical or "polish".
Thus, creating a selected end on marble (or any stone) or sprucing marble to make it "shiny" will not be a DIY job.
Nonetheless, let me clarify the refined distinction that arises with the problem of etching.
Mystery of Marble Etching
Marble (travertine, limestone and any "calcitic" stone too) is sensitive and reactive with certain kinds of foods, products and chemical substances, which may damage the floor finish leaving boring and/or lighter-colored whitish spot usually described as a "water spot", "water stain", "glass-ring", or "ghost stain".
So, if you happen to spill acidic orange juice (or any of the numerous other acidic meals and drinks) on marble it can corrode the surface. This corrosive chemical reaction will basically get rid of the shiny floor layer achieved from the marble polishing course of described above revealing the dull marble underneath.
Likewise, should you use the wrong products for cleaning marble (too acidic or too alkaline) you may destroy the shiny finish over your entire floor making your whole marble countertop or flooring "boring".
Etching begins on contact and the longer the exposure the more severe the etching.
And sealing does not prevent etching. You must forestall contact with the reactive substances.
An etch mark just isn't a stain. Nothing has absorbed into the marble. Also, plain water (unless acidic like some nicely and city water provides) doesn't cause it. Etching and staining are two fully totally different processes.
Chances are you'll hear or learn that "marble stains straightforward". Really marble does not stain easily... it "etches" simply and most (together with many in the stone industry) do not know the difference.
This is the twist about how a shiny finish is created and the way marble polishing is done...
As noted above, the unique end (no matter what sort) is done "at the factory" with machines. Applying some potion or chemical does not do it.
However... a beforehand polished marble countertop or tile that has boring spots from etching may be repaired somewhat simply utilizing a nifty DIY marble polish made specifically for this purpose.
Repairing Etch Marks
The Etch Remover Marble Polishing product is very efficient for restoring small areas of delicate to reasonable floor damage. It won't take raw marble and make it shiny or "polish" it, nor is it actually suitable to re-finish a honed marble so it's polished and shiny.
It can make a honed marble shiny, however it's not made for use by a house owner to re-finish a large space like a flooring or total countertop.
It is simple to see why this issue creates such confusion and misunderstanding. The long and short is that no matter finish you want in your marble (shiny, flat, tough, rustic) it is originally completed on the manufacturing unit, by a skilled skilled prior to put in or as a marble repair.
Again, a end will be modified once put in, however that may be a demanding job that requires special abrasives, instruments and the talent of an skilled stone restoration professional. It is not a DIY job... not even for the most convenient of handymen.
Additionally, any end kind you find on marble (say in an existing dwelling you buy) is likely the unique finish.
If it is "uninteresting" or honed, then probably that's the method in which it's speculated to be and it does not "need sharpening".
Although, it might have been etched by using the fallacious marble cleaning merchandise, but that's the only time it ever "needs" marble polishing.
After all, if you happen to'd fairly have a shiny polished end, then you can have a honed floor polished right into a shine by a professional, however there is nothing "incorrect" with the honed floor.
Honed marble etch marks require a unique procedure. No product exists to make use of on a honed surface.
