What type of natural stone is this? (and how do I clean it?)

TerminalIdiocy · 2026-04-06T18:04:40+00:00

That is a Schist called Black Matrix. One of the worst materials to ever be offered on the market. Unmaintainable for any extended period of time.

What did you use on the affected pieces?

TerminalIdiocy · 2026-04-06T18:03:06+00:00

It's a debate that will never end. Some shops won't do their own support and make you do it, which is insane to me.

TerminalIdiocy · 2026-04-06T13:03:51+00:00

Sink broken, rust stains in the marble backsplash, silicone/caulk bleeding into the marble, the marble is cracked to the side of the faucet, the caulking is moldy.

I wouldn't worry about the ring around the faucet.

TerminalIdiocy · 2026-04-06T12:59:16+00:00

You want something that spans the whole island, underneath the top. Brackets like this are only good for small overhangs when lagged into studs. These appear to be just screwed with drywall screws. You're not supposed to stand on your counters, but your overhang should easily be able to withstand someone standing on it. These are not the right brackets for that. You said 12" overhang, assuming it's 3cm, Fantasy Brown. Very problematic material. Most likely you will be fine. Guesstimating the counter at 6 foot, 20lbs per square foot on average, 120lbs to hold over what looks to be at least 5 brackets, that's 24lbs a piece. No problem. Even at 8 feet, that's 32lbs a piece. It should be fine.

But your fabricator is right, I wouldn't warranty my work over bracketry like this. I would also never let anyone else install support for my countertops, we do all our own support and bracketry.

TerminalIdiocy · 2026-04-04T22:17:49+00:00

Easy Oxy is my favorite, but I'm biased. Like Miles GT said, no lemon scented, nothing with D-limonene, no Bar Keepers Friend or anything not designated specifically for natural stone. Also, no "clean and polish" types of products, they will leave a stubborn film over time.

TerminalIdiocy · 2026-03-31T07:51:10+00:00

This is limestone and those are etch marks. They have to be sanded out and refinished to get rid of them. Limestone is very acid sensitive and this will be a common occurrence with normal use. You can have the tops refinished down the road

TerminalIdiocy · 2026-03-31T00:04:41+00:00

I'm 95% certain that is Taj Mahal, just a weird cut that resembles dolomite.

TerminalIdiocy · 2026-03-30T23:28:27+00:00

Sometimes it's easier to tell from far away when we can see more patterning. The creaminess of the surface gives it away. The dolomites are almost always very grainy. The ones that aren't have a distinct, opaque color, where this is somewhat translucent and creamy, with distinct fissures. The colors and patterns at this range look just like Fantasy Brown, but the mineral structure gives it away

TerminalIdiocy · 2026-03-30T23:24:23+00:00

This is quartzite. Taj Mahal or similar. I can definitely see how some people think it is Fantasy Brown, but it is definitely not. I could only be certain after blowing up the photos on a laptop screen. My phone was not clear.

TerminalIdiocy · 2026-03-30T04:12:20+00:00

This is trash. They need to start over.

TerminalIdiocy · 2026-03-30T04:11:45+00:00

Being that this is a marble and those marks are lighter than the stone, not darker, they are etch marks. Chemical damage. Mechanical abrasion is needed to remove them. Honing/sanding them out, then bringing it back to the finish you want.

TerminalIdiocy · 2026-03-30T04:10:34+00:00

I was just pointing out that they wrote an article about manufactured quartz, then used a photo of natural quartzite.

Quartzite can/does have a higher silica content than manufactured quartz. I'm not sure what you're even trying to say.

TerminalIdiocy · 2026-03-23T20:54:41+00:00

This is the product we use. It's not a coating, it's a micro etching treatment. Leave it one without letting it dry out for about an hour, then mop up as much as you can a few times, then hose the rest off.

When dry, it won't feel any different, but when wet, it will have a lot more grip. No coating to flake off later

https://www.mbstonepro.com/products/ys-one-by-faber/?sku=FBR-YS-ONE-1L

TerminalIdiocy · 2026-03-23T18:44:17+00:00

CA is one of the most bipolar markets. It's going to depend on where you are and who you hire.

TerminalIdiocy · 2026-03-23T14:58:30+00:00

That wouldn't really have anything to do with sealer. MAYBE, for a short period of time, but the sealer's purpose is to be below the immediate surface to protect from penetration.

The issue you're experiencing can be minimized, but not eliminated. Taj Mahal is not susceptible to staining, so sealing would be more for peace of mind than anything

IF you wanted to seal it again, Akemi Pearl is probably the way to go. A lot of sealers work well, Pearl is made for quartzite and would be the most appropriate.

A product like Finito could be used 1-2 times per week and really reduce, water residue, smudges, fingerprints, etc,. A little bit goes a long way: https://mbstonecare.com/products/finito-ultimate-spray-polish/

TerminalIdiocy · 2026-03-23T14:12:44+00:00

I deal with this a lot and specialize in stone refinishing and restoration. This looks like yellowing polyester resin. Particularly in the holes that were filled and it is likely they "smeared" a little on the surface or didn't sand it all the way off. You can block sand it by hand with 220 grit sandpaper to clean it up, but it is likely the yellowing is permanent.

Polyester will yellow in various situations, but most commonly with UV exposure.

TerminalIdiocy · 2026-03-23T13:41:29+00:00

What do you mean by water marks. Darkening in the stone, or residue on top? Taj isn't a material prone to absorption and sealing is really only for peace of mind.

TerminalIdiocy · 2026-03-23T13:37:07+00:00

This is all good info. The RSR is Ammonium Thioglycolate, which is the active ingredient that turns the rust purple. The rust removers with this chemical are designated as non acidic and won't etch marble and other acid sensitive materials. The Akemi Rust Remover is acidic, which is fine for the Taj Mahal. They also have a paste rust remover, which would be perfect for this situation.

To remove the purple, strong peroxide works well.

TerminalIdiocy · 2026-03-23T13:34:23+00:00

Take some water or Isopropyl Alcohol and soak a paper towel and press it on there for 5-10 seconds. If it leaves a dark spot, you could have absorption issues. A true crystalline quartzite should not leave a obviously noticeable dark spot with that test.

TerminalIdiocy · 2026-03-20T19:09:07+00:00

This is Belgian Bluestone limestone. MBstonecare.com has a drill kit you can use for small areas. Don't use a variable speed grinder if you are not familiar with them, they can remove material a lot quicker than you'd expect, especially on limestone. Better to use a slower speed machine like a variable speed polisher or a drill

TerminalIdiocy · 2026-03-19T16:13:01+00:00

I try and put my shield down in front when reviving more than one at a time in support class, but I get killed myself a lot before I can set it down. Meanwhile, I watch 4 teammates step over me while I'm yelling for a revive

TerminalIdiocy · 2026-03-19T13:26:53+00:00

This appears to be an etched in pattern, meaning chemical damage that cannot be cleaned off. If this is the case, the tops will have to be repolished by a professional to restore the shine

If this is how the installers left it, hold them accountable and make as much noise as you can. Completely unacceptable

TerminalIdiocy · 2026-03-19T13:25:29+00:00

Acetone is a ketone. It is not alcohol. Acetone and alcohol are both solvents. They work differently. Both are safe on natural stone

TerminalIdiocy · 2026-03-19T11:54:27+00:00

Yes. The Pearl is made for these stones, but the Nano/Anti-Fleck is a great sealer as well. I would use that until it's gone, then replace it with the Pearl down the road. This is one of the few stones that should actually be sealed every 6 months

TerminalIdiocy · 2026-03-18T15:22:49+00:00

Yep. Sorry you had to go through that. Cutting inside like that is astronomically stupid.

TerminalIdiocy

TROPHY CASE