Common problems ／ 03

Stains and oil marks on marble and granite

Marks from spilled oil or drinks stay inside the stone and do not go away.

Key points

Stains on marble and granite are often oil or water that has soaked into the fine pores of the stone, and dull marks where marble has lost its sheen are where acid has dissolved the surface. Because the removal method differs by cause, we confirm with a test before removing the stain, then apply a treatment that makes it harder for dirt to soak in. Deeply soaked-in stains will not necessarily all come out.

A stone floor before application. White spots cover the whole surface.
The photograph is one example. We decide on the cause after checking on site.

01

Possible causes

  • Stone has fine pores, and oil and water soak deep inside
  • Marble is vulnerable to acid; lemon, vinegar or acidic detergents can take the sheen off the surface (this is not a stain but a mark where the surface has dissolved)
  • Brown stains from iron in the stone rusting and coming to the surface

02

What we check on site

  • The type of stone and its surface finish (polished, flamed, rough)
  • The cause of the stain (oil, water, rust, loss of sheen from acid) and its depth
  • Detergents or chemicals used before

We do not decide on the cause, or whether the work can be done, from photographs alone.

03

How we deal with it

  • Remove what can be removed with stain removal suited to the cause
  • Apply anti-soiling treatment that makes it harder for dirt to soak in
  • Suggest polishing separately for loss of sheen or scratches

04

What it cannot do

  • Deeply soaked-in stains will not necessarily all come out. How far they come out is explained based on test results
  • Anti-soiling treatment does not fix scratches, chips or loss of sheen

05

Before you try it yourself

Do not use acidic detergents, vinegar, lemon and the like on marble. Blot up spills promptly instead of rubbing.

06

What affects cost and time

It varies with the type of stone, the cause and depth of the stain, and the extent.

The on-site survey and estimate are free. Where there are costs, such as for distant locations or when scaffolding is needed, the installer in charge will tell you in advance.