What does the warranty actually cover?

I'm highly skeptical, but hopefully Bill and some of the other stone experts will chime in.

granite-girl, please stop the spam.

Stacey, I found one more thread where lascatx warns against Dry Treat, saying it makes the marble feel plasticky. =(

Here is a link that might be useful: Another Thread

Thank you, erika!!!

I am going to try to stop by my local place before I head down to Gerrity tomorrow, and I'll ask to see a sample of honed marble treated with Dry Treat. I also want to look at their more expensive slab again. They were telling me about how they really selectively search for the best, warmest, least grey Carrara slabs and that is why theirs are more money.

Honestly, I think I would still love even the lesser quality slabs!! But I am going to look at Gerrity so we'll see. I prefer to use local businesses, but I have to say that the folks at Gerrity have been really terrific, patient and helpful, and their pricing has been competitive on the other stones I priced. So hopefully I will like their slabs and come home with one reserved and a date for templating scheduled!

Stacey, best of luck at Gerrity tomorrow! I noticed that aside from difference in color, the lower grade marbles had more pits and imperfections. Sometimes the pits were not that noticeable because they used something to fill them in. Maybe you can ask them the grade of the slabs they show you.

Here's some info I found on the difference in marble grades:

Marble is classified in 4 grades. Grade A is sound, uniform marble with no flaws or voids. Grade B is similar to A but may have some occasional faults that may need filling. Grade C has variable in quality with some flaws such as veins, voids and lines of separation. These faults are usually filled and reinforcement may be necessary. Grade D is similar to C but with a higher proportion of faults and requires filling and/or reinforcing.

Yeah, I was just looking into this. But I believe most Carrara is at least B and more often C, anyway, because of the veining. I could be wrong, that was my impression after 30 minutes or so of internet searching on carrara marble grades. I'll ask though!

I'm glad someone remembered my comments -- I got a sample and thought the stuff was awful. If you need that, you shouldn't get marble. If you like marble, you won't be happy with it.

Thank you lascatx-
I called and they don't have any samples of DryTreat on honed marble to show me :(
So.... it doesn't sound like a risk I want to take!!!

It's weird, though. The salesman was clearly very "INTO" stone, really gushing about the soft, gorgeous qualities of honed marble, telling me about the honed limestone he has in his kitchen, etc etc. I find it a little hard to believe that he would approve of a product that drastically changes all the characteristics he was oohing and aahing over! Maybe DryTreat has improved their finish? Or, maybe the fabricator just feels they need to push the product so they don't get as many calls back about stains etc?

>>Maybe DryTreat has improved their finish? Or, maybe the fabricator just feels they need to push the product so they don't get as many calls back about stains etc?

Or maybe they make a lot of money pushing the product the way appliance salesmen push extended warranties.

I have not used the product personally. Dry-Treat touts Stainproof as being an impregnating sealer that prevents oil and water based stains.

A few of my fellow SFA fabricators have run side-by-side tests with Dry-Treat and STT's sealer (a two part sealer consisting of a solvent based first application - SB - and a final application called FE) In their tests, the SB application alone outperformed the DryTreat sealer.

Bear in mind that no penetrating sealer will prevent etching in calciferous stones like marble, travertine or limestone. Etching is caused by a chemical reaction between acids and the calcium and is not dependent on absorption to occur. The only way to prevent that would be to put a physical barrier between the stone and the acid. This is most often achieved with a topical treatment that forms a film on top of the stone. (and which totally defeats the purpose of getting that particular stone in the first place. It is almost like covering your couch in vinyl so dog hair and little kids won't stick to it)

STT is a sealer made in America by some very fine stone craftsmen - specifically for stone crafters. They have a good product, but do not cater specifically for the homeowner yet. If you are interested in using their products, you are welcome to give them a call and they will sell in smaller quantities on a case by case basis.

I am in no way affiliated with them, but have used their product and think they are an outstanding company.

Here is a link that might be useful: Surface Treatment Technologies (STT)

A lot more folks like the look and idea of marble than are comfortable with living with it -- especially since we aren't used to it in kitchens we've grown up with. We just hear it will etch and stain, so folks become afraid of it. Fear creates a need for something to get rid of the fear. A market is born. They require trained applicators and the market is controlled, so it is more expensive and stays more expensive -- and the salesman is just going tot try to figure out what you want so he can sell it to you. If you are saying you are afraid of marble, it is an option he can present to you. And you're right -- if you come back and complain about the marble, they can tell you that you should have used the Dry Treat.

I don't know the other sealer mentioned above, but I would suggest that you don't agree to anything without testing it on a sample of your surface. I really don't feel compelled to suggest anything more than a good quality penetrating sealer. My fabricator used StoneTech and it has been great. Never a stain -- with messy teen boys and a house full of ketchup, tomato sauces, chocolate, chili, lemon juice, vinegars, oils, coffee, tea, and wine.

In another thread you said you saw how a seriously etched piece of marble was brought back nearly to its original state with some buffing. You are not likely to have anything nearly that bad in your kitchen. If you were okay with that, I'd stick with that. If not, go to something totally different.

If I find that treated tile in the garage, I'll let you know -- but they shouldn't sell anything they can't show you a sample of, especially if it changes the surface of your stone (they say it gives an orange peel" texture to the surface).