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Etching Removal
Tile Etching Removal in San Diego
Removal of etch marks and dull spots from marble, travertine, onyx and other calcite stones, plus what causes etching and why etched granite is a warning sign.
Quick answer
What Is Etching on Marble?
Etching is chemical damage: white or light-colored dull marks left when acidic or strongly alkaline liquids react with calcite stone such as marble, travertine and onyx. Etches appear as spill shapes, spray patterns from the wrong cleaner, drops or rings from glasses. Refinishing removes etching; if a liquid also stained the stone, a poultice treatment is needed as well.
Why it matters
Etching Is Hard to Remove Yourself
Etching leaves marble rough, dull and uneven, and contact with strong industrial chemicals can eat into the surface. It is notoriously difficult to remove without professional refinishing.
Not every white mark is an etch. Hard water can leave white mineral streaks that look like etching but are deposits on the surface rather than damage to it.
Where it is used
Which Stones Etch?
Etching happens when acidic or strongly alkaline liquids react with calcite. Granite normally does not etch.
Marble
The most common etched stone.
Travertine
Calcite-based and etches the same way.
Onyx
Calcium-based and acid-sensitive.
Doctored granite
Surface-treated granite whose treated layer etches.
Common causes
What Etches Marble
Acidic foods and many ordinary household cleaners.
- Juice, fruit, lemon, wine, vinegar and ketchup
- Caustic soda
- Glass cleaners
- Scouring powders
- Sink and toilet bowl cleaners
- Bleach and ammonia
- Ceramic and porcelain cleaners
- Stainless steel cleaners
- Some personal care products and many other household cleaners
Our process
How Etching Is Removed
The first job is making sure the mark is actually an etch.
01
Identify the mark
Etch, stain or hard-water deposit each need a different fix.
02
Refinish
Honing and polishing remove the etched surface.
03
Treat stains
If a liquid also stained the stone, a poultice is used too.
04
Protect
Sealing, and specialty sealers designed to resist etching, are options.
05
Advise
Which household cleaners to keep off calcite stone.
Before & After
Refinishing Results
Refinishing restores an even surface on etched calcite stone. Results depend on how deep the etching goes.
Granite
Etching on Granite
Granite is an igneous rock, not calcite-based, and normally does not etch.
If granite shows etch marks, it has most likely been “doctored”: artificially dyed by applying a substance to the surface and baking it at high temperature to enrich the color and raise the price. The etching is in that treated layer, not in the rock itself.
Etches on doctored granite are harder to polish out than etches on marble, so they need an experienced assessment before any work begins.
When it is not the right option
When Is Etching Removal Not the Right Option?
Not every dull or white mark is an etch.
- White mineral streaks from hard water sit on the surface: cleaning, not refinishing
- Color soaked into the stone: stain removal
- Etched “doctored” granite is harder to polish than marble and needs an assessment first
Estimates
What Affects Your Estimate
Every estimate is based on the surface itself, and you receive it in writing before any work is booked. These are the main factors that shape it.
Area
One ring on a counter or a whole floor.
Stone
Marble, travertine, onyx or treated granite.
Depth
Light etching or deeper damage.
Protection
Sealing or an etch-resistant sealant after.
Service Area
Serving San Diego County
We remove etching from marble, travertine and other calcite stone for homes and businesses throughout San Diego County, from the coast to inland communities.
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes etching?
Acidic or strongly alkaline liquids reacting with calcite stone: citrus, wine, vinegar and many household cleaners.
Is a white mark always etching?
No. Hard water can leave white mineral streaks that look like etching but sit on the surface.
Why is my granite etched?
Granite normally does not etch. Etching usually means the granite was surface-treated (doctored) and the treated layer is etching.
How can I protect marble from etching again?
Wipe up acidic spills right away and keep acidic and harsh household cleaners off calcite stone. Sealing helps, and specialty sealants such as MORE™ AntiEtch™ are designed for etch-prone stone.
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