Refinishing a Cultured Marble Vanity Top

by Joan
(baton rouge la.)

QUESTION:
Cultured Marble Countertops

This is a L shaped countertop 78" x 62". Can it be stripped or sanded with electric sander and then sealed?


Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated..... This is a bathroom countertop...

ANSWER:

We are marble/natural stone professionals and not cultured marble countertop (which is a man-made product completely different than stone) professionals. However, it is potentially possible to restore a cultured marble vanity top depending on how severe the damage.

Repairs can be made to blemishes like scratches if not too deep, by buffing (sometimes sanding and then buffing) with an automotive polishing compound, but the protective coatings applied to cultured marble are done so at the factory under specific conditions.

Once the gel coat is significantly damaged or discolored, there is really no fixing it.... at least not by DIY project. Maybe an experienced pro could do it, but likely cheaper and easier just to replace the countertop.

"Stripping and sealing" is something you can do with real marble and stone, but not with a cultured marble countertop, which is made with marble, but is not maintained or repaired like marble at all.

Good Luck,
Ryan

P.S. Get all the facts and simple step-by-step solutions to any problem with our Granite & Marble Maintenance Manuals.

Find the recommended best product brands for cleaning marble, sealing & cleaning granite countertops, travertine, quartz and all natural stone.

Cultured Marble Sink Drain Stain

by Rick
(Tucson, AZ, USA)

QUESTION

I have a dual sink vanity white cultured marble countertop vanity.

It appears they used plumber's putty around the drains. I now have stains around the collar of each drain.

Is there any way to effectively remove the stains? Thank you for any advice you may offer. Respectfully, Rick

ANSWER:

Cultured marble countertops are a completely different product than marble or natural stone.

Usually if a cultured marble vanity top is stained, it is permanent. It could potentially be sanded down a bit and re-coated with the protective gel coat, but I recommend consulting an experienced cultured marble pro because it's tricky.

Contact the manufacturer of the countertops and see what they can offer.

What you don't want to do is apply any harsh or abrasive chemicals like bleach, hydrogen peroxide, comet, strippers, etc.

Sometimes you can get lucky with a very dilute water and bleach solution, but straight bleach (and many other chemicals) will permanently damage a cultured marble countertop.

Good Luck,
Ryan

Removing Cultured Marble Stains

by Bette
(Chesapeake, VA)

QUESTION:

How can I remove the yellow discolorations on my white cultured marble vanity top where towel holder and mirror tray sit.

They are not subject to light and have badly discolored so that I cannot move the objects that sit there. Is there a fix for this?

ANSWER:

First of all, cultured marble countertops and real marble are two completely different animals..... just to clarify. Many don't know there is any difference, but marble cleaning is completely different.

Typically when you stain a cultured marble vanity top (or it becomes discolored), it's permanent.

The reason is that cultured marble has a protective gel coat. It's basically a plastic product and if you've ever stained plastic you know it's nearly impossible to remove.

So, if the gel coat has been stained/damaged there isn't much you can do. A cultured marble professional may be able to sand down and re-apply the gel coat, but it may be (probably) cheaper to just replace the countertop.

If anything, I'd try diluted bleach. Do not put pure bleach on it. Dilute it a lot with water, spray the area and let it sit... but not too long.

Scrub with a nylon pad, but not with anything abrasive and you may get lucky.

Just FYI... DO NOT do this with real marble or you'll etch and damage it. For that matter many chemicals will discolor or stain cultured marble countertops as well especially when in contact with the surface for a long time or when highly concentrated.

Good Luck,
Ryan

Yellowed Cultured Marble

by Virginia
(Mooresville, NC)

QUESTION:

I am changing out my bathroom faucets. When removed the old faucets, the cultured marble countertop underneath yellowed.

Is there a way to get that out before installing the new faucet? The cultured marble and old faucet is only a year old, as this was a new house built in 2007.

ANSWER:

Virginia, cultured marble countertops can be difficult to repair when stained or damaged.

There are several layers of coating, gel-coat, etc., that can be affected. When discoloring occurs it may be permanent or trying to remove the stain/color may just cause futher damage.

I would try a very mild bleach solution (dilute with lots of water) and light scrubbing with non-abrasive pad. The protective coating is damaged by excess harsh scrubbing or chemicals, but it may be gone already based on the staining.

If you manage to get the stain out, then you may consider applying a gel-coat for cultured marble vanity tops (I believe available at a hardware store) to help retard staining in the future.

Hope this helps!

Good Luck,
Ryan

Candle Stain on Cultured Marble Vanity

QUESTION

How do I remove a red candle stain from my white cultured marble vanity sink?

ANSWER:

If the protective gel coat has been damaged and stained you may be out of luck.

Try putting an absorbent cloth or paper towels over the wax and use a hot iron over the cloth. This will melt the wax and the cloth/towel will absorb it.

If this was real marble I'd have further solutions for you, but cultured marble requires totally different care, cleaning and repair. Cultured marble countertops are much less forgiving and cannot be repaired easily compared to marble.

Regards,
Ryan

Soap Stains on White Cultured Marble Vanity

QUESTION:

Soap stains left from liquid soad dispenser on white cultured marble vanity tops?

ANSWER:

Cultured marble typically won't stain (except around the drain) unless the protective gel-coat is damaged or worn away, which would indicate that it's time to replace the countertop.

If this is the case, then the soap has probably absorbed into the layers below the top coat.

You could try using bar-keeper's friend or Zud... sometimes effective. But, don't use any abrasives or bleach (unless heavily diluted).

Your best chance is probably use the method for removing stains from real marble cleaning.

You'll find complete step-by-step instructions in the Removing Granite & Marble Stains e-book.

Good Luck,
Ryan

P.S. Find the recommended best product brands for cleaning marble, sealing & cleaning granite countertops, travertine, quartz and all natural stone.