We were contacted by an upset homeowner in Dartmouth after their cleaner had used Viakal to clean their brand-new marble-tiled wet room. Viakal is an acid-based limescale remover, and unfortunately, it should never be used on acid-sensitive stone like marble.
The product had been sprayed onto the wall tiles at chest height and left to sit for around two hours. As it ran down the walls and onto the floor, it left a visible white etching on the beautiful dark green marble.
Our Assessment
After a reassuring initial conversation, we arranged a site visit to assess the extent of the damage and carry out a test. The results showed that while the etching on the floor was more severe than on the walls, we were confident it could be restored using diamond burnishing techniques.
The client accepted our proposal, and we scheduled the restoration.
The Restoration Process
We began by thoroughly cleaning the marble tiles using a specialist stone cleaner to strip away any remaining product and prepare the surface.
Next, we used a series of diamond burnishing pads, starting with a coarse grade and gradually moving to finer grits. This method carefully removed the etched surface and restored the natural polish of the stone.
The same process was carried out on both the walls and the floor, using the appropriate tools and pressure to suit each surface.
Sealing and Finishing
Once fully dry, we sealed the marble with Tile Doctor X-Tra Seal — a hard-wearing, oil-based sealer ideal for wet areas. This enhanced the natural colours of the marble and offered strong protection going forward.
The finished result was a beautifully polished, rejuvenated space. The etching was no longer visible, and the stone’s natural elegance had been fully restored.
Project Outcome
The customer was relieved and delighted with the result. What had seemed like a costly mistake was fully resolved without the need to replace any of the stone.
We took the time to walk them through proper aftercare, recommending safe products and explaining how to avoid future damage.
