Etch marks are acid burns that are caused by liquid spills with high or low amounts of acid such as citrus juices, soda, vinegar, commonly used cleaners, most detergents, or bleach. Most natural stones, with the exception of granite and quartzite, contain calcium carbonate,  which is dissolved by the acid when it comes in contact with the top portion of the stone. Vanities can be burned by toothpaste, mouthwashes, hair sprays and other cosmetics with acid.

These liquids leave visible marks in the form of drops and rings, erasing the finish of the countertops and leaving the surface rough. 

When countertops are not sealed they can absorb liquids creating visible stains. The most frequent stains are organic (sauces and drinks), inorganic (dirt, dyes, paint, ink), oil (oil, butter), mold, and rust. We are able to identify each type of stain and apply the best treatment to remove the stains. In many cases, several applications of a stain remover product is necessary to remove the stain.

Marble, travertine and limestone countertops are  softer compared to granite or quartzite countertops, which is why it is easy to scratch them with sharp objects. The depth of the scratch depends on the weight of the objects, and the deeper the scratch, the longer it will take to remove it. Look at our care tips page to learn how to protect your countertops.

On the edge of the countertops, around the sink, it is common to find chips due to accidental hits that occur when washing pots or other heavy kitchen utensils. We recommend repairing these chips as soon as possible, because if they receive another impact, the damage can become greater, making repairs more difficult.

Cracks in countertops occur for several reasons.  

1) Dropping heavy things. 

2) If the cabinets are not level, countertop installers insert supports to level the countertops, which prevents the weight of the countertops from being distributed evenly. This leaves weak areas that break when adding enough weight to them. 

3) To reinforce the thin parts that are in the sink, a channel was made in the countertop and a metal bar was inserted. This bar, when in contact with water, rusts and expands, breaking the countertop. 

4) During installation or transportation, care was not taken and cracks were created that in the future become breaks.

Silicone and caulk are the practical solutions used by some installers to seal joints, on other occasions, they use common grout. 

The problem with silicones and caulk is that in humid environments they detach, forming mold, and in dry environments they peel. Common grout tends to crack, especially at the joints of showers and between the joint of a countertop and the backsplash due to the weight that is applied when cooking.

We use a strong and durable  product in our repairs. It is highly resistant to stains, cracks, chemicals, adverse weather conditions, and climate changes.

On countertops, due to a lot of use,  abrasive cleaning materials, and wrong cleaners, certain areas can start to lose the finish with time or look dull compared to the rest of the countertop. These worn or dull areas can be fixed by honing and polishing the area to the original finish.

If your countertops are in good shape, and its been around 2 years since you had any maintenance done, we recommend getting your countertops deep cleaned and re-sealed to prevent future stains. We seal every stone we work on.

The majority of countertop seams are filled with epoxy and color resin. With time, these joints might become discolored or come out. We can replace the damaged joint filler with new epoxy and color resin to help the pieces stay together.