Stone · Melbourne · Since 2014
Marble Sealing Melbourne, done properly.
Sealing stops stains, honing fixes etching.
From $22/m² inc GST $20 + GST Clean and seal. Stain removal and restoration are quoted from photos.
Quicker still: text us a photo for a ballpark.
The short answer
What to know before you seal marble.
Almost every marble problem people bring us is etching, not staining, and the two need completely different work. A stain is colour that has soaked in and a sealer prevents it. An etch is acid eating into the polish, leaving a dull mark, and no sealer on earth prevents it. Knowing which one you have decides everything.
What goes wrong
Dull rings and marks where something acidic sat.
A lemon slice, a glass of wine, a splash of vinegar or a bathroom cleaner will react with the surface and leave a dull patch in the polish. People assume it is a stain and attack it with more cleaner, which makes it worse. The polish has been chemically removed at that spot, and the only real fix is to re-hone and re-polish the surface.
The process
How we handle marble.
- 1
Separate etching from staining
We look at the marks and tell you which are which. It changes the job completely, and it changes the price.
- 2
Hone out the etching
Etched areas are worked back with progressively finer abrasives until the damage is gone and the sheen matches the surrounding surface.
- 3
Re-polish to the finish you want
Honed matte, satin or full polish. This is mechanical, done with pads, not a coating sprayed on top.
- 4
Then seal, for the right reason
A penetrating sealer goes in for oil and stain resistance, which on a kitchen benchtop is genuinely valuable. We will tell you plainly that it does not stop acid.
Questions
Marble: what people ask.
Is my marble stained or etched?
Stains are usually darker than the surrounding stone. Etches are usually lighter and duller, and you often see them best at an angle with light across the surface. If running your finger over it feels slightly different in texture, it is an etch. Send a photo taken at a low angle and we can normally tell.
Will sealing stop my marble benchtop etching?
No, and anyone who says it will is selling you something. Sealing stops oil and pigment soaking in, which is worth doing on a benchtop. Etching is acid dissolving the surface, and the fix is honing and re-polishing rather than any sealer.
Can etched marble be repaired?
Yes, in most cases. Light etching hones out readily. Deep etching where something acidic sat for a long time takes more material removal and occasionally leaves a slight variation. We will assess it before committing to a result.
What cleaner should I use on marble?
A neutral pH cleaner made for stone, and nothing else. Vinegar, lemon, bleach, bathroom sprays and most supermarket cleaners are acidic and will dull the polish over time. This one habit change saves more marble than any product we sell.
Do you do marble floors as well as benchtops?
Yes. Floors, benchtops, vanities, splashbacks and fireplace surrounds. Floors more often need a full hone and polish because of traffic wear; benchtops more often need spot etch repair around the sink and cooktop.
Get a price
Get your marble price.
Three ways to start. Whichever suits you, you'll hear back within 24 hours.