Q. I love our marble countertops but after several years, they are starting to look worse for the wear. In our bathroom, there are spots that no longer shine. I always use granite cleaner but I don’t know what to do with the spots. Can I reseal the countertop or do I need to call someone in to do it? If that’s the case, whom do I call?—MG, Kirkwood
A. The editor sympathizes; she has the same problem. So we checked in with Catherine Buehre, director of marketing and product development, at Global Granite & Marble to pose the question to her. The answer: “Fortunately, most damage that can be done to marble surfaces can also be undone. Stone sealers are meant to soak into the stone and help prevent stains, but do not affect the polish on the surface, which is created mechanically with the use of diamond abrasives. I would advise against re-sealing until any discoloration has been taken care of to keep from sealing any stains into the stone. We carry a few products for the ‘do it yourself’ types at Global Granite & Marble, but the best results are most often with a professional craftsman. A restoration company can come in and bring back the original gleam with abrasive polishing powders and rouges, as well as remove any stubborn stains. The best place to start is usually your installer or fabricator who is familiar with your job. If you don’t have a professional you have recently worked with, try: Stone Masters 636-561-3055, stonemastersinc.org or Amant’s Floorcare, 636-458-2500, amantsfloorcare.com. Both companies specialize in residential cleaning and restoration of stone. Please feel free to give our staff a call at 314-426-1466 if you have more questions or check out our website, globalgranite.com/tips-and-trends/care-and-maintenance_83.”
Have a question about your own home? Email it to cmarshall@stlmag.com.
