Marble, Limestone, Travertine, Onyx, Marble, and Conglomerates (natural stone) and Terrazzo is installed on vanities, showers, bathtubs, bars, mantels, walls, countertops, and floors. Most homeowners will come face to face with water rings commonly called water spots.
Over time, these rings, and spots will become a source of frustration. Rings, splatter marks and droplet impressions won’t go away with any Herculean cleaning effort on one's part. These unappealing water spots, rings, and markings are called etching. Etching is when the Beilby layer
has been dissolved leaving damage on the surface of Marble, Limestone, Travertine, Onyx, Marble, and Conglomerates and Terrazzo. Why these stone? Because Marble, Limestone, Travertine, Onyx, Marble, and Conglomerates (natural stone) and Terrazzo are acid sensitive. Mild to strong acid based subatxchnes with damage the surface or Beilby layer of the tile, countertop, shower etc.
WHAT CAUSES ETCHING?
Below is a particle list of substances that can instantly etch Marble, Limestone, Travertine, Marble, and Conglomerates (natural stone) and Terrazzo surfaces on contact.
The substances that can etch is not limited to the following list of substances:
- Wine
- Carbonated water
- Adult beverages
- CLR (Calcium Lime and Remover)
- All Shower and Tub cleaners (acid-based)
- All hard water removers (acid-based)
- All vinegar-based cleaners
- Limes
- Oranges
- Tangerines
- Tomatoes
- Pickles
- Soy Sauce
- Beets
- Beer
- Fruit juice
- Carbonated Soft Drinks
- Hot sauce
- Lemons
- Yogurt
- Grapefruit
- Peppers chopped in concentration
- Tomato juice
- Juice drinks with citrus acid
- Ketchup
- Vinegar
- Mustard
- Salad dressing with vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Tomato sauce
- Marinara sauce
- Pizza sauce
- Mouth wash
- Toothpaste
- Saliva
- Vomit
- Urine
- Coffee
- Herbal tea
HOW CAN YOU REMOVE ETCHING?
Homeowners are not aware of many of the substances that can create etching on Marble, Limestone, Travertine, Onyx, Marble, and Conglomerate and Terrazzo. Some homeowners purchase homes not realizing until it is too late that the various prohibited substances listed above can damage their Marble, Limestone, Travertine, Onyx, Marble, and Conglomerates and Terrazzo floors, showers and countertop. Many will use home remedies to no avail and unfortunately, these efforts can exacerbate the existing etch and cause additional chemical reactions.
There are two types of etching that are recognized by Stone Care of Arizona.
1. SUBLEVEL ETCH
Sublevel etching requires full restoration, Why? The acid based substance has damage the surface and dissolved deep into the surface of the Marble, Limestone, Travertine, Onyx, Marble, and Conglomerate and Terrazzo floors, showers and countertop. The deep impression is a sign the substance has dissolved into the stone and is below where the etching compound can make contact. Since most etching is sublevel etching you might need professional help. Thankfully, Stone Care of Arizona, LLC, the premier cleaning, sealing and polishing company is just a phone call away. We can remove the etching for you.
2. SURFACE ETCH
Surface etching will leave a crusty feel that can be felt with the tips of your fingers. Surface etching feels like rough edges around and in the center of the etch.
This can happen in a few ways:
- When an impregnating sealant is applied to Marble, Travertine, Limestone, Conglomerates (natural stone) or Terrazzo the sealer can create repellency keeping the acid-based substances on top to form a crusty etch as it dries on the surface.
- The other is based on porosity and permeability of the stone, which plays a big part in helping to create a surface etch. How? Porosity is the distribution of pores between tiny grains and pores that exist in open spaces inside the rock. However, permeability determines how fluids and air pass through the stone. Simply stated, the untreated natural stone absorbs more moisture than professionally sealed natural stone.
HOW DO YOU REMOVE A SURFACE ETCH?
If the damage is in the form of a crusty etch, there is a greater chance that most of the etching can be removed. Sadly, there are few home remedies that can be formulated to address the issue.
At Stone Care of Arizona, LLC, we recommend a product called Natural Touch by StonePro. You can purchase a small bottle of this product online.
Stone Pro Natural Touch - Etch Removing Compound.
Simply, follow the directions on the bottle. Before purchasing, please consider whether or not you have a sublevel etch. If so, the etch remover compound will not work. How do you know?
Take your fingers and rub them on the surface. If there is a deep impression, it is a sublevel etch. Sublevel etching can only be removed with the process of restoration.
HOW DOES STONE CARE OF ARIZONA REMOVE ETCHING?
We use resin diamonds to hone below the sublevel etch and then polish to match the existing appearance. Give Stone Care of Arizona, LLC, the premier cleaning, sealing and polishing company a call at,
480-625-0557. We give free advice!
WHAT CAN PREVENT ETCHING?
To prevent most etching will require a lifestyle change on everyone’s part.
- It begins by being careful with the acids based substances that are placed on your countertops, use to clean showers, and bathtubs.
- Stone Care of Arizona, LLC, the premier cleaning, sealing, and polishing company suggest placing mats on countertops and area rugs in trafficked areas to protect the natural stone.
- The need to watch how countertops, showers, and floors are cleaned is very important.
- Be sure to check on the cleaning products the housekeeping service uses. Make sure they are not using any acid-based cleaners to remove calcium magnesium off showers and around sinks with natural stone. Lastly, make sure no one uses vinegar-based mopping solutions.
If you need professional help, Stone Care of Arizona, LLC, the premier cleaning, sealing and polishing company can remove etching in Scottsdale, Cave Creek, Fountain Hills and Paradise Valley, Arizona.
This message is brought to you by Stone Care of Arizona, LLC, and we are the Ambassadors of Clean. To get a free estimate on any etch removal, cleaning, sealing and polishing service, please give us a call
480-625-0557.
Scottsdale Business License: #480-625-0557.
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Stone Care of Arizona LLC
provides natural stone care and tile cleaning, stone sealing and stone polishing for the following cities in Arizona: Cave Creek, Fountain Hills, Gilbert, Glendale, Mesa, Paradise Valley, Peoria, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Sun City, Tempe, Arizona.