Granite Problem

[New guy]

Recently applied Miracle Sealant 511 Impregnator to a newly installed emerald pearl gx polished granite counter top. (i.e. black, dark green with silver and blue dime size flexs throughout, very dark and shinny granite). All went well, except on edge near bullnose there are a few small areas that look like dull smudges in certain light. Applied a small amount of sealant to these area and buffed of fimmediatelty thinking it was dried sealant, this did not work. Fabricator used acetone and #0000 steel wool, and buffed thinking it might be adhesive, this did not work. Turns out fabricator used a wax on edge and bullnose (BellaItalia brand) before I applied sealant, could this be the problem? Can anyone help with removing these spots located only on edge near bullnose.

Thanks,

NG

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[doitright]

Hi NG, Welcome! :)

Question of the day - What is your name? (Don't worry, we won't bite.)

Unfortunetly, some fabricators don't diamond polish their edges. When they're waxed, this is just one of the problems. :bang:

[New guy]

Doitright,

My name is Wade and I live in Northern CA. Any suggetions on what I need to do to correct this Granite problem? Or what I should request fabricator to do to rectify.

Thanks

[Michael of Stonehenge]

Hi Wade, Emerald Pearl is actually a Syenite of the Larvikite group from Norway. One unique attribute of your beautiful stone is the prismatic lamellar crystal formation. When the aformentioned crystals run in a certain orientation their luster has a lesser luster as compared to the main body of the stone. Polishing EP is indeed difficult, it is too bad your in California as compared to Western New York, not only can I polish the heck out of EP I can actually exceed the factory luster ...imagine that. Allow your fabricator to correct your concern or perhaps they know of an old timer like myself who can spot factory blend granite. Michael of Stonehenge

[Steven Hauser]

Hi,

Not only is Michaeal correct that a repolish is necessary, the syenite group typicallly doesn't require wax or impregnating sealers.

It sounds like a reaction between the coatings.

[Stoneguy]

>>All went well, except on edge near bullnose <<

Is that on the surface, near the bullnosed edge? If so, the guy polishing the bullnose oops'ed and touched the face with his polishing pads, then tryed to hide the spot with some wax rather than polish it out.

>>Turns out fabricator used a wax on edge and bullnose<<

Fairly common procedure. Some black wax applied to a properly polished edge does a nice job of darkening up natural microfissures in the stone, and *can* add a bit more lustre.

Black wax applied to a less than properly polished edge helps the fabricator get the stone out of his shop and in your house with less work for him.

Black wax applied to a bad spot on the face caused by ametuer craftsman (and I use the word loosely) is only a temporary fix, it usually lasts just about as long as it takes for your check to clear.

>>Recently applied Miracle Sealant 511 Impregnator <<

Totally unneccesary for your stone. Emerald Pearl needs no sealer of any sort.

>>Can anyone help with removing these spots located only on edge near bullnose.<<

You need someone like the guy you see here:

http://www.alpha-tools.com/products/wgp/twistouch/twistaction/index.html

Who knows how to use these:

http://www.alpha-tools.com/products/wgp/twistouch/index.html

[New guy]

Michael, Steven & Stone Guy,

Thank you all for your advise and methods to solve this problem. Local granite personel have all given similar advise. Can you please list the types of grits and sequence required to correct this problem. I want to educate myself as to what needs to be done, and compare to what fabricator suggests. Any tips and things to look out for would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
NG

[New guy]

Fabricator came out today to try to rectify the problem. First tried to explain that the blemishes along the edge were due to the piece being cut so close to the edge of the granite slab. A little history, I had insited before job began that we only needed one slab due to diamentions of slab we purchased. I had previoulsy given the exact measurements of my kitchen counter to a buddy who is a fabricator for twenty-five, who would have done the job if he lived closer. Any way, my buddy gave me the diamentions of 130" X 70" needed to fabricate with only one slab. He explained that since we were using Emerald Pearl and grain was not an issue, as well as the slab having a straight edge all the way around, one slap this size would work. After fabricator left tonight I thought, how could blemishes be caused by this, since the spots are on three sides of a 92" x 42" cut piece, and only two of fabricated edges could of come from edge of slab.

Back to what happened this evening, the fabricator used acetone in one small area, then used a torch to heat another small part along the edge, and also tried a razor. Then finally he used a buffing wheel along the whole length of three edges where blemishes are. He also ran the buffing pad on a black piece of something, before buffing out the blemishes. After buffing out the spots this left small pieces of black shavings. This seemed to work at taking out the blemishes on the face, although the bull nose is not as shiny as the face. I asked the fabricator if this was a temporary fix and he said it was a permanent fix. If the spots came back he would be back. This was very reasuring, as the guy seems to be a very nice fellow. After he left, to be sure I took a small amount of acetone and then buffed with a clean cloth, quess what blemishes are starting to come back. Can anyone explain?

I mentioned the use of diamond grit pads to the fabricator when he first arrived and he was very leary of using them on the face, feeling this could make the problem worse. As this is what many of you fellows have recommened, and got the same advise from my buddy.

Any further help would be greatly appreciated to rectify the problem. Do I need to find someone else to resolve this problem? Did acetone react to black stuff fabricator used on buffer? Could original wax used and sealant be causing the problem? Help!!!

[Stoneguy]

>> After fabricator left tonight I thought, how could blemishes be caused by this, since the spots are on three sides of a 92" x 42" cut piece, and only two of fabricated edges could of come from edge of slab.<<

You thought right.

>>He also ran the buffing pad on a black piece of something, before buffing out the blemishes.<<

The black something is a buffing compound, made up of microfine abrasive and some type of wax. It's handy stuff for adding a little shine to edgework, but it will NOT remove scratches. It's marginally better than black wax, but no substitute for actually polishing out the damaged surface areas.

>>I mentioned the use of diamond grit pads to the fabricator when he first arrived and he was very leary of using them on the face, feeling this could make the problem worse.<<

He is rightfully concerned. Face polishing should only be done by someone who has done a lot of it the past, and knows how to blend the polish into the surrounding area.

>>Do I need to find someone else to resolve this problem<<

If the dull spots are not acceptable to you, that's probably your only option. I started cutting & polishing stone (in a shop) in 1973. I've learned a lot over the years. If one of my shop guys screws up & damages the face while polishing an edge, we put the stone on our radial arm polisher, where we can resurface the slab properly. I myself would not attempt to face polish in the field with hand tools. I know the method, and can preach the technique, but I don't have the experience in doing it myself. You need a restoration expert to do the job. Someone like Michael of Stonehenge.

>>Could original wax used and sealant be causing the problem?<<

NO!
The problem is NOT cause by wax or sealers. The problem was caused by careless or underskilled workmanship while finishing the edge. Abrasives caused the problem, and abrasives need to be used to remove the problem.

>>Did acetone react to black stuff fabricator used on buffer?<<

YES
The acetone removed the wax & black pigment in it.

[New guy]

Stoneguy,

Thank you for your advise and comments on this problem. Your explination of this problem and what is needed are exactly what my buddy told me, and also a restoration expert that no longer works outside of his shop. Do you or anyone know a expert that could resolve this problem on site in Northern California.

Also, what is a good polish for darker graninites after sealing them. As our fabricator also installed to bathroom counter tops using Verde BUtterfly granite that came out beautiful. Do I need to seal this granite with a impregnating sealer.

Thanks again,

Wade

[New guy]

Can anyone recommend a highly skilled granite man in Northern Calif that can remove (polish) problem areas on the face of emerald pearl countertop onsite? As well as polish bullnose that is duller than face.

[doitright]

Hi Wade :)

You can try: www.ntc-stone.com and go to the contractor directory.