HiLoGraniteGuy
04-28-2007, 10:18 AM
Hi there,
My wife and I are granite countertop suppliers here in Victoria, B.C. (Canada). Recently we sold and installed some kitchen counters to a customer. He was extremely happy with everything, EXCEPT, an issue regarding a stain to the countertop. When I asked him what he was referring to, he advised that it appeared the silicone I used to seal the gap where the backsplash met the countertop had left a dark stain that ran the length of the countertop along the backsplash.
I advised him that the silicone had probably not quite cured but this stain would disappear in short order. I became a little alarmed as it normally sets and disappears within an hour.
To make a long story short, I returned to the jobsite fully prepared to remove the silicone and re-apply. When I went to scrape it off it was still uncured. This was 8 days after the initial application and to say I'm alarmed would be an understatement. The silicone was GE Kitchen and Bath II clear silicone. What has now happened is the silicone has bled into the granite causing a dark stain. Fortunately this is not to the whole kitchen as I had changed the tube 3/4 of the way through the job and only the last 9 feet of countertop received silicone from that tube. I am now waiting to hear about possible insurance coverage through the store that I purchased it from as well as the manufacturer, General Electric. My last option is to remove and replace these counters. The customer doesn't want the aggravation/disruption and neither do I. Any suggestions on how to get rid of this stain?? I did try acetone after removing the silicone with a razor blade but that does not appear to have helped. The customer has also put a space heater on the counters in an effort to dry it out. Again, no change.
If you need a picture of what I'm talking about I can gladly send you one as I have a lot.
Any help you can offer would be very much appreciated!
Sincerely,
Murray Mashford
My wife and I are granite countertop suppliers here in Victoria, B.C. (Canada). Recently we sold and installed some kitchen counters to a customer. He was extremely happy with everything, EXCEPT, an issue regarding a stain to the countertop. When I asked him what he was referring to, he advised that it appeared the silicone I used to seal the gap where the backsplash met the countertop had left a dark stain that ran the length of the countertop along the backsplash.
I advised him that the silicone had probably not quite cured but this stain would disappear in short order. I became a little alarmed as it normally sets and disappears within an hour.
To make a long story short, I returned to the jobsite fully prepared to remove the silicone and re-apply. When I went to scrape it off it was still uncured. This was 8 days after the initial application and to say I'm alarmed would be an understatement. The silicone was GE Kitchen and Bath II clear silicone. What has now happened is the silicone has bled into the granite causing a dark stain. Fortunately this is not to the whole kitchen as I had changed the tube 3/4 of the way through the job and only the last 9 feet of countertop received silicone from that tube. I am now waiting to hear about possible insurance coverage through the store that I purchased it from as well as the manufacturer, General Electric. My last option is to remove and replace these counters. The customer doesn't want the aggravation/disruption and neither do I. Any suggestions on how to get rid of this stain?? I did try acetone after removing the silicone with a razor blade but that does not appear to have helped. The customer has also put a space heater on the counters in an effort to dry it out. Again, no change.
If you need a picture of what I'm talking about I can gladly send you one as I have a lot.
Any help you can offer would be very much appreciated!
Sincerely,
Murray Mashford