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Etching Versus Staining on Marble and Other Stone
Readers of riverside custom countertops guide often describe a dull spot on a counter as a stain, when it is really a different kind of damage. Telling the two apart decides how the spot should be treated.
What an etch is
An etch is a chemical burn. Acidic foods and drinks such as lemon juice, tomato sauce, vinegar, wine and some cleaners react with calcium in marble, limestone and travertine and eat away a thin layer of the surface. The result is a dull, slightly rough patch that is often lighter than the rest of the stone. It shows most on dark or polished stone, and it feels different under a fingertip. Wiping does nothing, because nothing is sitting on the stone.
What a stain is
A stain is a substance that soaked into the pores. Coffee, oil, ink and red wine can all do this. A stain changes the color of the stone, usually darker, and the surface stays smooth. Sealing slows stains down but does not change how acid affects marble.
Why the difference matters
- Stains can often be drawn out with a poultice, a paste that pulls the substance from the stone over a day or two.
- Etches cannot be poulticed away, because the surface itself has changed and needs to be refinished.
- Quartz and most dense granite resist etching far better than marble, which is why marble tends to show wear in a busy kitchen.
Blot spills promptly, rinse with water, and keep cutting boards under anything acidic. That habit prevents both problems.