FAQ > Clearstone Coating > What is the difference between staining and etching?
Surface staining is where a chemical has left a coloured mark on the surface. This stain/mark may be sitting on the surface or be penetrated into the stone depending on how porous the stone is. Sealers will buy you some time to remove the offending chemical before the surface is permanently stained. This will vary depending on the sealer, stone and chemical involved, some chemicals can stain in minutes.
Etching is a totally different problem. A lot of problems that are associated with a majority of stone surfaces are that they are actually etched not stained.
Marble and Limestone are composed of calcite which is highly sensitive to acids spills which corrodes the surface (etching) thus damaging the polished or honed finish. Even acids in water can affect some stones leaving a white ring from a glass left on a bench top.
Etching can appear as a blotch or dull spot, have a lighter coloured (white) bleached appearance, feel rougher, or feel and look as if the surface is pitted. Severe etching can lead to the surface crumbling and flaking.
Some stones like marble and limestone can also be porous and are susceptible to both staining and etching at the same time.
Some stones such as sandstone and basalts are not receptive to a high-honed or polished finish due to their open grains. This can make them more susceptible to staining and etching.
Lustre Ltd removes etches and stains permanently, leaving your surface as new or we can blend the area worked on to match the surrounding area. These marks are not stains they are acidic agents that have reacted to mineral composition of the stone, thereby removing the surface polish.
Please contact us or email us to make a no obligation appointment with a clearstone representative. To ensure the best possible standard of customer satisfaction and communication our specialists meet personally on site with every client to formally assess their needs in the first instance and develop an itemized proposal and quotation detailing the recommended procedure.
Last updated on July 16, 2014 by dino Gagas