Need some advice on this counter - how to correct?

[boazcan]

Here is what we have: Very porous with obvious darkened areas from oils around cook top and sink. Has a pretty thick topical sealer on it. Came off the tile fairly easily, off course the grout is another story. I know the removal of the oils will be minimal, but what about trying to enhance the lighter areas to match? This is atleast 10 years old.

Test area with Soy Stripper:

The result

 

[Ron Lippold]

Brian I would try some base board stripper in a can. Should not be a problem.

 

[Mikey P]

About the ugliest and most delicious countertop I've ever seen.

Tumbled marble..Good grief.

Yep, strip out then saturate it in some thing dark and funky like used motor oil to even it up..

Our poultice it a few times , you will have to make many trips so charge a fortune.

Jack hammer would be my advice to them

 

[boazcan]

It's not so much the sealer, as it is the dark areas around the stove and sink. Either trying to get them lighter or enhancing the lighter stone to match the darker. I know the sealer will be PIA in the grout. Then once I remove the topical on the counter, then what to do with back splash. It will be glossy if I do not remove. I will then have to put some type of glossy back on the counter to match. The grout is dirty under the sealer. I am just not sure what direction to go with a proposal to the client.

 

[ted mcfadden]

This material can have a gloss or a sheen without using a topical. What you are seeing could be over application of color enhancer, which is common. The back splash looks pretty clean. I have seen these where the previous applicator used a paint brush to apply the color enhancer and let it dry. Applying a topical to the counter may not be the best solution for your customer. You can get a shine by buffing it with a twister pad or a high grit monkey maybe 1500 or 3000. My approach would be to strip and degrease with special attention to grout lines (no acids). Then I may polish with diamond renew or a twister pad if the customer likes the sheen or to match sheen of back splash. Detail clean it and seal with a good impregnator.

When it comes to practicality, this is not a good counter. It's a petri dish. The customer should be cleaning this with a strong alkaline cleaner and a brush.

 

[Rob Fairfield]

I agree with Ted. A topical is not the answer here. If the customer wants a sheen the Monkey or Twister pads will do the job. If necessary you can "POP" the sheen with a product called Polish Pro. You mist it on and buff to a polish.

The deal with this counter top how ever is getting it stripped cleaned and disinfected properly first.