Hello all. I am a stone counter top fabricator and have been in the industry for 19 years now. When it comes to the problems associated with counter tops and fabricating I have seen well alot, Im not going to say all. Obviously, as i am online now looking to see what is the current state of this quartzite "staining" situation that has seamed to be more and more common, It is always good to see what the customers are posting and sometimes discouraging to see what the "fabricators" are telling them. I am currently resolving a dark edge issue before I send it to the customers house and put my name on it. In my 19 years I have never left a customer with a counter top that had an issue such as this and left them hanging. I am not claiming to know everything or more than the next however i will give you all my input and with an open mind hear your thoughts on this and any other issue you are welcome to share or ask about.
There are a few things that are in my mind certain. This is moisture or water that is penetrating into the edge. I think this may best be understood if I explain the process of fabrication and why we get this.
The stone is of course quarried and cut out of the earth in big blocks. Its then sliced into slab form which is typically 3 centimeters or roughly 1 1/4 inches in thickness. It is then polished using usually a 6-8 step diamond grit polishing process. now here is were the curve ball comes. when the stone is not quite polished or (honed), it is dried and filled with a penetrating epoxy/sealer then polished the rest of the way. This process wasnt always so common 15 years ago. The stone was cut, sliced , and polished and sent to us and we were responsible for sealing the 100 percent pure unsealed stone. At that time there were a few quarries sealing and treating slabs and charging a lot to do this marketing it as as such. However due to what Im assuming is the quarries being able to yield more of the material, stronger material, and fabricator feedback, Most quarries are now sealing and or treating the slabs. So, when we cut these slabs into the shapes that so elegantly cover your cabinets, there is a Raw unpolished, unsealed edge that we have to custom router or polish as well as seal and or treat to match the factory treatment of the surface of the slab. the treatment of these edges are handled differently according to each stone.
Most marbles just get sealed. Most granite get treated with an air dried (not epoxy) treatment that darkens the edge and seals it, and most quartzites are just sealed. Now keep in mind that when we fabricate the stone it is in most cases hopefully done "wet" so that the fabricators dont die from breathing the silica dust over the years, aaaand it prolongs the life of the blades and polishing pads. Its just better. anyway, the water enters the unsealed, untreated edges through the fabrication process. We then dry the stone completely, treat it, and or seal it, depending on the stone.
Conclusion:
If the stone arives to your house with the edge darker it can be 2 possible things.
1: The moisture is still trapped in there.
Solution: using rubber gloves, and being extra carefull not to get the acetone on your cabinets. Wipe or soak the edges with acetone and white (uncolored or print type) paper towels and once the spots are gone reseal immediately with a good sealer. make sure you open windows and ventilate. A few coats would be better. lowes and home depot have a few types and there a few good options online. I use Tenax proseal.
2: The Fabricator treated the edge with a treatment that darkens the edges to make it match the face and it wasnt really necessary. The product is called (Ager).
Solution: The above process should have the same affect. Once it lightens the edge, Seal it.
If the counter top is installed and looks great and eventually darkens around the edges and certain spots.
1: The edge wasnt sealed enough or a cleaning product that you have been using is breaking down the sealer.
Solution: Again carefully use the acetone method mentioned above. and when it lightens reseal the edges, and the areas where the acetone was used.
Note: When dealing with natural stone. weather or not your neighbor or the forum online says, and whether or not the stone is treated at the quarry or not, it is in my mind better to seal your counter tops once in a while. Its not that hard and you paid a lot of money to have this natural, beautiful hunk of rock put in your house. Look at it this way. Your counter tops are older than Jesus ( NO really they are) so with a little care they will be here longer than you and I. If your purchase of your counter tops is recent enough contact your fabricator and explain these issues to them but please dont tell them"you heard online" lol we hear a lot of weird things followed by I read it online.
I hope this helps and feel free to ask any questions. I will be posting more about some other concerns that i see people having in the future. Such as the Green spots( blumes), Why is my edge lighter, and how do i remove a stain?
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