Designing Kitchens and Bathrooms - ruined cultured marble

hello fellow d-i-y-ers,

the cultured marble in the bathroom was looking pretty sad so i got some 600 grit wet/dry paper and went to town...

by now, i'm sure you can all guess that the scratches are all gone but i'm left with a dull finish :eek:

any tips/solutions to bring back the shine... i'm willing to rent equipment to right my wrong...

thanks! :D

You should have used 1000 grit. Go to this site and get the info you need. http://mathewsmarble.com/maintenanceinstalls/ Good luck and post back.

dmparo,

All cultured marble, onyx and granite products have a gel coat finish that provides a non-porous, stain resistant surface. I fear you may have ruined it using 600 grit.

Proper care will ensure lasting beauty, elegance and function. Normal cleaning requires soap or a mild detergent. Dow and Lysol bathroom cleaners work well. Other products may be used, but be sure to read the label to ensure the product is safe to use.

Do Not Use Scouring or Abrasive Cleaners. Repeated use will dull the gel coat finish.

Due to their non-porous nature, cultured marble products resist most stains. However, extended exposure to harsh chemicals such as ammonia or bleach should be avoided because they may cause discoloration. Products such as nail polish, polish remover, paint remover, etc. may cause permanent damage.
Occasional treatment with a high quality liquid or paste wax will renew the finish and prevent soap buildup. Avoid colored waxes. Gel Gloss cleaner and polish is designed for cultured marble products and is available at hardware stores, building supply stores.

Minor stains and scratches may be removed using 1200 grit wet sandpaper with a small sanding block followed by a good polish. Be cautious not to oversand through the gel coat, which will result in a permanent dull spot.

Avoid extended or frequent exposure to extremely high temperature water. Household hot water heaters should be set in the normal range of 120 degrees F.

Hope this helps!

to: majakdragon and Doug Aleshire

thanks for taking the time to respond to my enquiry -- this info is sure to help :)

i just checked online with rona and homedepot and 600 grit is the most they have -- do either of you (or anyone else reading) have any idea where i can get 1000 to 1200 grit wet sand paper? :confused:

i can't wait to try out your suggestions and post back the results -- wish me luck!

again, thanks a bunch! :D

dmparo,

You're very welcome.

I would suggest a good hardware store. Best choice may be an automotive or marine supply store. These fine grades are available here.

Good luck!

online it's all over the place, like here:
http://www.sandpaperworks.com/catalog/wet_or_dry_silicon_carbide_paper_322105_products.htm


Main catalog page:
http://www.sandpaperworks.com/catalog/index.htm

Hello, dmparo !

Assuming you have not sanded all the way down through the .030 thick gelcoat surface finish, you have not done anything wrong. You can fix the finish on Cultured Marble / Cultured Onyx using the same stuff you would use for Automotive Finishes. If the GelCoat surface material is still there, wet-sanding with 600 grit sandpaper is the correct way to begin, followed by 1000-1200 grit.

Next you will need an electric buffer with a wool or cotton buffing pad (not polyester!), some medium to fine buffing compound, and finally a good quality "swirl remover" compound applied by hand at the end to remove the superfine scratches made by the buffing compound, and leave you with a new looking mirror finish. When using the electric buffer, don't leave the buffing pad in the same place too long, or you could burn through the clear GelCoat to the substrate below, which can never be buffed to a full shine.

Gel-Gloss, as mentioned by Doug, or any carnuba-based car wax will help protect the surface in the future, and make cleaning a snap.

Good Luck with your project !