Refinishing Brown Marble Vanity Counter Top

Emperador Brown marble vanity left side before polish dull
Emperador Brown marble vanity left side before refinishing dull
Emperador Brown marble vanity overall before polish dull
Emperador Brown marble vanity overall before polish dull
Emperador Brown marble vanity left side shiny after polish
Emperador Brown marble vanity left side shiny after refinishing
Emperador Brown marble vanity overall after polish shiny
Emperador Brown marble vanity overall after polish shiny

Recently we got a request for refinishing marble on a vanity top for a homeowner in Cambridge. The stone was a variety of Emperador, which can be fussy to polish. Photos are on this page. You can get a better resolution photo by clicking on each image one at a time to see detail.

The process was a one day event. The homeowner removed the faucet spigot and handles herself to allow us to do a better job. We recommend this, but it’s not always critical, depending on where the gloss needs attention

First we use diamond abrasive disks to remove etching, so called ‘water spots’, and then smooth out the stone, eliminating scratches and allowing light to reflect better. Then we use a polishing powder made for marble countertops, buffing it to a shine. If you google the expression ‘refinishing marble’, you’ll get all kinds of results, some even implying that marble restoration is something anyone can do at home with no special equipment. That’s just simply not true. These steps require years of specialized training and practice to get it right.

The final step is a clear penetrating sealer to protect the marble, and then it’s ready to enjoy and use again!

If You Need Marble Refinishing

If you have a kitchen or bathroom marble counter top that you’re not happy with, feel free to get in touch with us to get free quote for restoration and refinishing. You can fill out the form below or just call or text us at 617-221-4002.


Our contact information:

Act One – Marble and Tile
15 Main Street # 138
Watertown MA 02472-4403
617-221-4002 Text or Call

Service Area Map of Eastern Massachusetts
We Service All of Eastern Massachusetts

Can ‘Water Spots’ Come Out of Marble?

Water Spots on Marble Countertop
Water Spots on Marble Countertop

We often have property owners tell us they have unsightly ‘water spots’ on marble counters and vanity tops or marble floors.

They DO look like dried spots of water, but the difference is that they have dulled the marble surface, and so they stand out from the rest of the stone.

Are these really water spots?

No, in almost all cases they are small acid etches.

Or, as the folks at marble.com put it: “Marble etching is surface damage due to a chemical reaction in the form of a dull mark on the natural stone that contains calcium carbonate. The etching is caused when an acidic substance comes in contact with a Marble surface”.

So water doesn’t create etches on marble. We use lots of water to hone the marble and granite while removing the etches, so it can’t be caused by water. The only exception is water so heavy in the mineral content that it actually leaves a film deposit on the surface of the granite or marble. It is correct to call them hard water deposits.

Before you say “Oh, I never use acid on my marble!”, pause and consider: Many common products or liquids the marble may come in contact with have an acidic component. Do you ever have, for example, orange juice? That’s a mild acid. Lemonade? Fairly strong acid. Vinegar? White or red wine? Pickles?

Even cleaning agents can contain acids, especially tile and grout cleaners, toilet bowl cleaning liquids and even some ‘natural’ based cleaners that use natural vinegar.

Additionally, cosmetics like shampoo and hand soap can contain citric acid, so it’s fair to say that in most residential usages, marble is likely exposed to more acid than we think at first.

The Solution To Water Spots on Marble?

  1. Have the marble professionally restored. If you call us at 617-221-4002, we might be able to give you a recommendation on who could do that…. 😉
  2. Review cleaning liquids and cosmetics used. Yes, it’s a pain in the neck, but it’s also a one time project. If no acid touches the stone, you simply won’t get etch marks.
  3. If you have a countertop that you’d like to not only restore but also protect against future etching, let us know and we can review some options with you.

The good news is that about 99.99% of cases, etches and water spots on marble come out completely, so they’re no longer visible.

Our contact information:

Act One – Marble and Tile
15 Main Street # 138
Watertown MA 02472-4403
617-221-4002 Text or Call

Service Area Map of Eastern Massachusetts
We Service All of Eastern Massachusetts