What Causes Etching On Polished Granite Countertops

If you re researching marble for your kitchen countertop you might be wondering how strong the acid needs to be.

What causes etching on polished granite countertops.

The powder is slightly abrasive so it removes shallow scratches stains. A polished finish is the shiny high gloss type of finish with the deepest color saturation commonly seen on marble and granite countertops. Etching is part of the reason i chose honed instead of polished countertops. Although it is resistant to etching acids and other corrosive agents may etch its surface.

Since etching can remove the polish or sealant from marble the stone can become more vulnerable to scratching as well. While severe damage may require professional repair homeowners can fix most mildly etched granite surfaces themselves. Common causes of etching. Granite and quartzite are also great alternatives.

But substances like cooking oils that don t evaporate can cause permanent stains if they re allowed to soak into the stone. Etching is commonly caused by liquids that are acidic in nature. When water seeps into your granite countertop it leaves a dark spot that evaporates in a few minutes and returns to normal. Honed countertops have already been dulled either by a machine or an acid bath.

Common household cleaning products can be a detriment to the professional finish atop granite countertops as can fruit and acidic juices vinegar wine coffee soda bleach and ammonia. Most professionals choose a penetrating sealer because they. What specifically causes etching on marble countertops. This duller more matte stone is more casual and easy to live with in my opinion since it naturally shows etches dull spots.

Once it s smoothed out the granite can be buffed polished or honed and then sealed for protection. This will maintain the gleam while protecting the porous stone from stains. Granite resists most household acids except for hydroflouric acid found at trace levels in. What causes etching on granite countertops.

Because a polished shiny finish is so common many people believe that all marble is supposed to be polished or shiny. Etching is dulling of the polished granite surface by the chemical action of acids. If your granite countertop s dullness is due to light surface etching granite polishing powder may be able to remove it. They are matte and soft compared to shiny polished stone.

To remove etching from a granite countertop the stone must be sanded or ground to level the surface. Acidic foods such as lemons or tomato sauce can discolor a granite counter top and mar its beauty. Our guide to sealing granite countertops is a good place to learn about the process and products required.