Marble Etching Acid

Acid stains such as by a toilet bowl cleaner or battery acid cause what is known as etching on marble.

Marble etching acid.

Although they look a lot like stains an etch mark is a physical alteration to the marble s surface by the acid. Substances that contain acid ammonia and alcohol can etch marble meaning that the finish or the shine is removed if you accidentally spill one of these three substances. If needed a professional marble restorer can always be called to repair the damage. Thats why it looks so dull compared to its beautiful surroundings.

An etch is not a stain and cannot be prevented by using even the best penetrating stone sealer. Etching is a corrosive chemical reaction that essentially eats at the marble. I have seen it used by the hyatt hotel on their polished and honed white marble that was full of etch marks from food wine drink spills. Because marble is a soft stone and made of calcium carbonate it is very prone to marking and etching.

Marble is more porous than other common countertop materials like engineered stone sold often as simply quartz or soapstone so it can be prone to staining and etching a k a light. Lower than a 7 is on the acid side and higher than a 7 is on the basic side. What the acid has done is remove part of the surface of the marble and what is left behind is marble that was below the surface and is therefore unpolished unlike the rest of your marble. So we paid visits to every marble topped bar and marble furnished ice cream parlor we could find cocking our heads to the side peering down long polished surfaces to examine the damage left by countless drippy.

Yes you can prevent etching on polished marble and polished granite. Acid sensitive stones like marble limestone travertine and onyx are prone to etching. Marble etching occurs upon contact with acidic foods and drinks like coffee soda wine alcohol and when harsh products like bleach vinegar ammonia and most common brand name cleaners are used for cleaning marble. Think of it like a burn that removes the finished.

Here is a list of some surprising substances that can etch stone. When my husband and i were researching our kitchen renovation a couple years ago marble countertops were the clear frontrunner but we were nervous about the inevitable etching. When acidic substances come in contact with these stone types the acid actually begins to eat away at the surface which creates dull spots known as etching. When acid touches your marble surface and reacts with the calcium carbonate a tiny bit of the surface is eaten away and dull spots known as etches are created.

For more information see our 7 facts about etching on marble. Etching in marble countertops is caused by the same thing acid. These stains can be difficult to remove but not impossible. Etch marks are commonly identified as water marks or stains.