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Honed imperial danby marble

9 years ago

We just had honed Imperial Danby marble installed in our kitchen, laundry room, and three baths. I noticed when I googled caring for honed Imperial Danby marble that your name came up and that you love it. I am concerned about caring for it. I have tested a sample piece by putting liquid make up on it, oxi clean spray, catsup, mustard, and etc. on it. I used barkeepers friend to remove the make up stain that remained. I noticed after I wiped them all up that it looks like I had removed the sealer from the marble. You could only see it if your tip your head a certain way and let the light shine over the marble. I know that they tell you not to use bleach, Vinegar, or ammonia on it. What suggestions do you have as to what to use to clean it up and what would remove the sealer other than those three that I mentioned? Is it wrong to use barkeepers friend? I was so excited when I saw that you love yours and would love to feel the same way about mine also! Please give me as much advice as you can. Thank you so much! Gerry Kruse

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PRO

Diana Bier Interiors, LLC

9 years ago

Gerry, I just saw this post on Houzz today, and wondered who you were addressing the question to? In any case, I'll give you my best advice from personal experience.

I just installed honed white Olympian Danby marble on my kitchen countertops. It was sealed by the fabricator before installation and I haven't done anything to clean it except wipe it down with a very mild soap and water. I've never used anything abrasive like Bar Keepers Friend or strong like bleach or ammonia. It is more beautiful than I ever imagined, but I did lots of research on white marbles before I pulled the trigger. I've been using the kitchen for about 2 months now and I have absolutely NO stains on it. However, it has etched from anything liquid, such as lemon juice, tea, tomatoes, coffee, and even plain water. The etching does not bother me one bit--you can't see it unless you look for it in bright sunlight on the "right" angle, and I was well aware of its propensity to etch before I bought it. All this being said, I do not have children in the house, but I do have a very sloppy husband! Do your research and examine the type of cook you are and whether you need your countertop to be bright and shiny forever.

Also, don't be misled by the engineered quartz claims--that it is indestructible, doesn't show marks or scratches, etc. etc. I had Caesarstone Raven (a dark gray) in another kitchen and it is stained by watermarks under the drainboard that are impossible to get out. It also has scratched from I don't know what, and has numerous chips around the sink. I've also been informed that you cannot put hot pots on it as the resin in it could cause heat damage to the stone. Add to all this the fact that it is VERY expensive and not natural looking, and I wouldn't do it again. Natural stone wins hands down in my book.

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Comments (17)

PRO
Grout Works of Central NJ
9 years ago
You did not remove the sealer you removed the, top layer of the stone itself albeit a very thin one. That is why it is dull since only the surface of the marble was polished not the deeper layers. This is actually the explanation and definition of an etch mark on marble. Anything acidic like the items you used will etch marble if it is in contact long enough or pushed into the marble like by wiping it in or placing a cup on it as on the classic rings which people think is a water mark but is actually and etch mark pushed in with the bottom of a glass....
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Plasticguy-clearstone is pricey and has its place in the commercial/high end market. The product doesn't actually go on clear-its poured onto the surface and left for 24 hours as it hardens cloudy and opaque. Then with abrasives the coating is honed or polished. It is a lot of work as we will move thru grits ranging from 80 thru 4000 dry. Then with the use of polishing automotive compounds we can establish a great finish. Lots of pros and cons-I am a traditional stone refinisher. Coatings on marble is still strange for me but there is a place for this. However if you are going to hone (matte) finish and seal your stone properly I just don't see the reason for it. Vitremela is a very thin coating and may be available in the future. It offers no guarantees and is easily removed. I enclosed a pic of a clearstone polished job we did. If you look closely on the right side middle of table the installers left a seam open. We filled it with clearstone and it picked up the colors of the stone. Along with some whitish/grey we placed inside the seam it looked pretty natural. Besides that it was no longer a crumb trap it looked a lot better.
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i don't think it'll be too much. black/white on the counters, black/white with the backsplash. sounds classic. your elements (AB granite and marble with subtle veining) aren't all that busy, so i think two backsplashes, in this case, won't be too much. your kitchen sounds like it's going to be beautiful. (just by way of suggestion, i recently saw an installation that had marble mini-bricks and a niche like you describe, but they did the niche in a black/white marble basketweave pattern and it was gorgeous).
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Comments (22)
Thank you, marthavila! I also love this kitchen and know I'm extremely lucky! (You should have seen the shoebox kitchen in our prior house which we lived in for 12 years! I could barely turn around and used to put a large cutting board over my sink to achieve a bit more "counter" space!) segbrown - I took some pics I hope will be helpful to you! Our lights are centered on the peak - we put a flat piece of wood there so they would attach nicely. I did place the island so it would end up being centered under the lights. By the way, the ceiling is a nice grade of cedar with whitewash on it so the knots and grain show through. I love it! The beams are "fake" as in they don't actually support anything, but we felt we needed them to break up the otherwise very large and plain ceiling. Oh, and I don't like my large pendants! The bulbs are extraordinarily hard to change (too difficult to describe, but trust me - it's an exhausting, two person, very difficult and awkward job!) Also, the glass is beaded in such a way that it looks filthy. The glass also can not be removed for easy washing - you have to wipe it while it's hanging. I got them from Capitol Lighting and can't remember the brand right now - will post later if anyone wants to avoid them. I don't think lights that are off-center on the ceiling would look bad. I'd do that to get them centered on the island for sure! Warning about a vaulted ceiling! If you are redoing your cabinets also, be sure to ask for finished tops on your uppers! Since mine weren't able to be seen on a daily basis, the KD decided I wouldn't want to spend a few bucks to have a flat, smooth surface to easy dust every month or so. What I was left with were rough, unfinished "bowls" on the top of my cabinets. The shims showed and the wood was rough and not easily wipe-able. I paid much more to have someone come fit tops onsite after they were installed. It would have been better/easier to just have it done at the factory. Here are the pictures - Here you can see that we centered the refrigerator between two doors and under the peak of the ceiling. Here you can see that we didn't/couldn't center the opposite wall since there is only one door to the left.
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Comments (5)
Aww gee Martha! You know they have that nice serpentine on that page too! I'll certainly look into the Danby stuff if I can find it out here. Some very nice options, although I'm going to put it in the "white" category at the moment. I should confess I'm nervous about matching a stone with a white body to white cabinets. I assume you want it different, but not off, but...um...I'm not sure I'm capable of that sort of matching. Good advice on the etching, Ruby. The serpentine doesn't etch, but it does scratch--I should try to get a honed sample and see how scratches show on that. Marble would definitely need to be honed--we are pretty hard on things and a head start on the patina would be helpful.
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Barbara C
3 years ago
I am aware this post is five years old but I’m wondering if you could give an update on how your marble looks now and if, and how often, you reseal it.
PRO
Diana Bier Interiors, LLC
3 years ago
Hi Barbara, I know I am not the OP, but I'll give you my 2 cents! My Danby marble was installed in 2015, and is has definitely shown wear and tear. LOTS of etches, and a few chips where a pot or wine bottle has nicked it. I haven't re-sealed it at all, and I have NO stains. The grout is missing from the seam at the sink, and I will need to have someone come in a re-grout it. But it still looks beautiful and you can only see the etches when you look at a certain angle with the light shining on it.
Barbara C
3 years ago
Diana, I’m not sure why I never saw this earlier, but thank you for your response! Our Danby Marble was installed 5 or 6 months ago and I absolutely love it. Ours has not yet stained either and we have just a few etches. So glad we went this route!!
PRO
Haute Shoppe Studio
2 years ago
Would anyone be will to post a few pics of their Danby Marble? I’d love to see!
PRO
Diana Bier Interiors, LLC
2 years ago
Here's my honed Olympian White:
Suburban kitchen · More Info

Suburban kitchen · More Info
Barbara C
2 years ago

Above are pictures of our Danby marble- love it as much as I did when it was originally installed and I'm so glad I didn't settle for something else.
PRO
Haute Shoppe Studio
2 years ago
Wow! It’s beautiful! Thank you for sharing! Is it honed? Love all the warm colors.
Barbara C
2 years ago
Not sure if you are referring to my marble or the pictures of Diana Bier’s marble above mine, but mine is honed. ( I was advised to use honed mable because the etches aren't as obvious; an easy decision for me because I prefer less shiney surfaces anyway).
PRO
Diana Bier Interiors, LLC
2 years ago
Yes, mine is honed as well for the same reasons that @Barbara C gave.
PRO
Haute Shoppe Studio
2 years ago
Both are beautiful! Thank you for posting.
PRO
Haute Shoppe Studio
2 years ago
Hello Danby marble lovers. Getting mine installed this week. My fabricator is trying to talk me into a mitered thick edge and I just want it plain with a soft edge. No thickening. The slab is 2cm Any thoughts or pictures?
Thanks!
Shasta
2 years ago
Montclair Danby 2 1/2” miter
PRO
Haute Shoppe Studio
2 years ago
Shanta stunning kitchen. Thank you for sharing!
Cheryl BKaun
last year
@Barbara C Gorgeous kitchen! What color paint and are those countertops Darby IMPERIAL?

Thank you!
Cheryl BKaun
last year
@BarbaraC

Gorgeous kitchen Barbara! Love love your tile backsplash. Could you share the details? Is the backsplash honed?
We just installed our honed Imperial Danby countertops and are in love. Now to get the tile wrapped up!

Thanks in advance!

Cheryl

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