New to forum, need help on Marble problem?

[Stacy]

Hi,
I origionaly posted this on professionals hangout, but I think it pertains to this section better. Hope someone can help?

New to forums, need help on marble problem?

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Hello,
I just found this forum while surfing the net for a topical sealer and am really glad I found it! This looks like a great site with lots of help. I could use a little right now :-)
My husband (Joe) and I have had our own business for 3 1/2 years. We install tile and also fabricate granite and marble countertops. Before Joe started his own business he worked at a small granite fabrication shop for 7 1/2 years. We feel confident in what we do, but most of it, Joe learned at the fabrication shop and the owner was set in his ways on how de did things. So as we venture out in our own business we hit a problem.
I understand there is quite an opinion on sealing. We have always sealed all of our granite and marble with silox 8 just because that is what Joe's previous employer did. We have never had a problem until now. We installed marble on a bar area and the owner left margaritas on it for a week. Of course it left quite an acid etch. Now we are researching trying to find the best sealer for marble on a bar area. Any feedback would help? Since we have never used a topical sealer, I am leary on how well they work and how easy they are to apply. However, I know that impregnator sealers will not stop acid etch, so is a topical sealer our only choice?
Thanks so much for the help and we look forward to being part of the forum!
Stacy and Joe
Moonlight Tile

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[claycarson]

Stacy -

You guys sound like nice folks - good luck with the business!

But I don't think you're going to find a product that can do what the users want. They don't make a chemical for marble that you can soak in margaritas for a week and wipe it off. Can't be done, to my knowledge.

If a bar is going to get real use, if it's anymore than just an ornamentation for someone's oil sheik guest mansion, if bartenders will put lemons and lemon juice on it...marble just is the wrong material overall. It will always etch.

It'd be like putting white carpeting on the bar. You'd spend all your time protecting it, not using it.

Instead, look for granite, and even then not every granite will work as a bar.

Next customer who wants a marble bar, you steer them to what they really want and they thank you after you explain why.

Sorry I can't be more encouraging, but even liquid wax or polyurethane is not strong enough to be a perfect coating for an active bar.

Maybe someone knows of a better product than me. I'll stay tuned in case such a suggestion is made so's I can learn stuff I don't know...but I won't hold my breath.

[Stacy]

Thanks for helping. Unfortunately, in this case, a designer picked out the material for the home owner (who has lots and lots of money!) and they wanted this exact material. We had thought a topical sealer may provide enough protection, but its looking like it won't.
Next time we will definitely strongly recommend no marble on a wet bar :bang:

Stacy

[KChurch1]

You might suggest a honed finish and for the marble. A good impregnator sealer will help protect against stains and the honed finish won't show the etches as bad. This will reduce the need to polishing the bar on a regular basis. A color ehancing sealer will help bring out the color of the stone after it's polished if they desire that look.
I have seen a uv light cured finish for countertops that was able to protect against acid etching, but it scratched very easily. Installing a glass top over the marble is another option.

[Stacy]

Thanks! That is a good idea too. We will discuss all these options with the home owners and hopefully find something that will work for them!

Stacy

[Aussie Phil]

Put a glass top on it
:)