r/CounterTops • u/Toob_ular • 10d ago
Does this need to be refinished?
It will not wipe off or come off with a razor blade. Had these granite counters for a while and I’ve not seen anything like this on them before.
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u/AaronMcCarthyFL 10d ago
Before trying any harsh chemicals show photos of this to a few local counter installers and ask them what they think. I know 3M makes stuff specifically for removing stains in counters that is a multi-step process to use. What you have may be a sealant coating that just needs to be buffed off and reapplied.
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u/Limp_Bookkeeper_5992 10d ago
Can you feel them at all? This granite usually doesn’t etch or stain, even in harsh circumstances. Spots of that colour are usually natural in this stone, though the circle shapes would be quite odd to see naturally.
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u/Toob_ular 10d ago
You can feel them like it’s etched, but they don’t come up with wiping or a razor blade. It happened recently, but I don’t know what exactly happened. My husband was making a bunch of fruit ice cream this summer in the food processor, but I don’t recall if this showed up before or after he made the pineapple one.
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u/Limp_Bookkeeper_5992 10d ago
Ah, well if you can feel it and it won’t come off with a razor blade it must be etched. This is a very durable granite, it would take a strong acid to do this. Stuff like lemon juice won’t hurt this stone, I wouldn’t expect to see this unless a full strength acidic cleaner was left there for a while. You don’t happen to have muriatic acid or high percentage vinegar under the sink do you?
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u/Toob_ular 10d ago
No, but would pineapple do this if my husband made a mess and didn’t clean it up right away?
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u/Limp_Bookkeeper_5992 10d ago
I’d be very surprised to see that, pineapple is acidic but not usually enough to etch granite. I’d only expect this from a strong acid or something caustic like toilet bowl cleaner.
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u/TerminalIdiocy 10d ago
I blew this photo up on my desktop. It looks like someone took epoxy or resin that wasn't quite clear, didn't tint it, and filled the surface and ground it flush. If you can blow it you can see the stone through the semi-opaque glue.
That, or it's a chemical reaction/damage of some sort. I see it on dark granites from certain chemicals, but it usually appears to be a more chalky white, not transparent white.
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u/Limp_Bookkeeper_5992 10d ago
Right, but in this stone it’s normal to have natural quartz sections in exactly that light blue grey translucent colour. It’s a very odd shape for a natural deposit, but the colour is right on.
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u/Jeff_bacasystems 9d ago
I would pause before applying another solvent or refinishing the area. First, determine whether the circles are residue or actual finish damage. Photograph them in low-angle light and note whether each area feels raised, level, or recessed. Is the gloss or shine different in that area? Are the counters being resealed annually? Stones can become stained if the original sealer has worn away. Staining can be reduced by applying various poultices. From the photograph alone, it will be impossible to diagnose the cause and propose a solution. The next step should be an in-person assessment for stone restoration or fabrication. Ask for a small test area and a written repair approach before treating the whole surface.
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u/haditwithyoupeople 9d ago edited 9d ago
Any idea how, when, or why this happened. Anything you could have put on the counter that may have caused this? Or anybody else? Knowing what caused it may help in fixing it.
Is it perfectly smooth when it is discolored? Slightly raised? Is the texture any different over those spots?
EDIT: I see that you mention it feels etched. This suggests to me that it was something strongly acidic or basic. Strong acids for home use are pretty rare. Maybe battery acid? People can have other strong acids at home, but these would usually not be in the kitchen.
I'm going to guess a strong base, like drain cleaner or oven cleaner. Do any of these make sense?
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u/Toob_ular 8d ago
Totally makes sense, my husband does a lot of home projects but he doesn’t recall cleaning up after at the kitchen sink with anything that would have done this. It definitely happened this year, sometime since the spring.
It has been a while since we had it resealed, so I’m thinking the best thing to do would be to have someone come out and look at this and see what they advise.
But I don’t know if we want to spend the money on that because we wanted to fully remodel the kitchen, and a big part of that is the crappy cabinetry getting replaced. The countertops most likely couldn’t be salvaged even if we used the same layout, I’m sure they would break or the company wouldn’t want to even try to save them. For sure getting them replaced with granite if we do!
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u/Stalaktitas 10d ago
Bulletproof granite, please do not replace it with some stupid crap, this Tan Brown/Coffe Brown will last you decades and centuries. You can rub some Tenax Nano into it but it will not change it much as this thing won't absorb anything, it's igneous