@Final Seal Pros @Stoneshine have either one of you used Marble Armor? What's your opinion of it and does it compare favorably to Tuffskin and StoneGuard?

Haven’t heard of marble armor, not interested jn exploring any film other than SG.it’s patented.

Thanks for the update dmac.. sorry to hear about your trouble. Look fwd to seeing what you come up with!

@final seal pros is the seaming at all noticeable when applying it on L-shaped counters or where an island is too big for one sheet of stone guard?

Nope, not at all.

Has anyone here used More Anti-Etch sealer on white marble counters that are also white slab backsplash? The rep here told me he can only seal the countertops. I am worried the backsplash will look different than the counters..

Joanna, That’s the problem with MORE. it can’t be done vertically, although they say they can. It’s not possible it looks terrible and doesn’t level properly. StoneGuard on the other hand can be easily applied to vertical sections. We do it all the time. I’d go with the film if you can, it’s better overall and been out much longer

We do a good number of anti etch applications each week.

Every product will have its pro's and con's along with what the clients budget will be.

Am pretty sure no one affiliated with Anti Etch would disparage another companies product or business.

We are respectful of other products and the companies that represent them.

Our group likes to educate consumers so they can make choices that suit their needs and budgets.

Anti-Etch can be finished to any level hone or brought to a full polish matching area's like water falls and backsplashes where its difficult or cant be applied.

Anti-can be applied to vertical surfaces if the finish is honed.

Anti etch applicators are an amazing credible bunch of men and women working together to provide a great service to clients around the world.

@clt3 - I somehow missed your post - and photo of island with More anti-etch. Your island countertop looks o

incredible! Definitely doesn’t look like anything has been applied to it in the photo - obv ”in person” is what matters - happy to hear that it looks perfect!

Now that another 6 months have passed, are you still haloy with it? I am finally getting ready to start on my kitchen shortly (long story of renovation hell).

My kitchen island is also a ”unique” shape - 5 sided. The wall with my sink is on an angle - and cannot be modified because it’s an exterior wall (well, I am pretty sure that it could be changed - but i am renovating my entire house (indoor and outdoor) - and haven’t even looked into the cost because we are already spending a pretty significant amount of $$$.

Also, the kitchen functions well, so while I’d rather have a rectangular shaped island, it’s not in the cards!

My plan has been to only use marble on the island with something easier to maintain on the perimeter. How many sf is your island countertop? Would you mind confirming how much it was to add the More anti-etch per sf? THANKS!

@dani_m08, yes 6 more months and the counter is still perfect. Couldn't be happier.

@Chris Fratello - I am hoping to use marble. What company did you use in Boca Raton? What did they charge to apply MORE Anti-Etch? Is your marble honed? How is working out? Any issues? Can you see the coating? Photos would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I am looking to refurbish a round marble table. Considering anti-etch. Does anyone know of any good anti-etch installers in Orange County Calif.?

yes-Call Ted McFadden at sureshine cares. (714) 627-9001

https://www.sureshinecares.com/

Ted will take good care of you!

@Final Seal Pros (or others) Can you apply Stone Guard to a round table with full bullnose overhanging edge and have the edge come out looking good and hold up over time? thx in advance for the info.

In 7 years, Never done it on Bull Nose, very uncommon edge these days.

I think edges don't really need to be done. However with anti etch(edges are an option) you can protect almost any edge profile. On a round table the anti etch will look good and uniform. There is a linear foot charge for the service. Films can't go over the edge but can be applied on a straight edge .

As far as holding up on edges, they can get chipped from impacts but if its a residential application it should hold up great-

What is the difference between TuffSkin and StoneGuard?

StoneGuard is patented, which is upheld to the highest standards of the USPTO. StoneGuard was created specifically for natural stone. No other product can make that claim, others are either a re-boxing of a film used for another purpose or partially changed to mimic StoneGuard

If anyone reads through this whole thread, you can see how desperate Final Seal Pros is to disparage anything other than his own product. That should hold weight in itself. He's been removed from multiple Facebook groups and blocked from multiple Instagram pages for being belligerent and acting like you see here, including insulting one of the posters here for deciding to go with AntiEtch. He's never been trained on AntiEtch, so whatever failures he claims to have experienced can't be taken seriously. AntiEtch installers are investing upwards of $10,000 or more to be trained and to obtain the equipment and materials needed to provide this service. They are pre-vetted before they can even sign up for training. I only bring this up so you can understand how seriously the applicators take this process. This isn't a lickity split, in and out service.

AntiEtch isn't an end all be all. Nothing is. The top has to be maintained like any other top. It does not negate the need for basic maintenance, it does however completely eliminate etches and stains. Are there challenges for installers? Yes, just like there is for applying films and refinishing the stone itself. Can it be damaged? Yes, just like films can, along with the natural stone itself. It isn't for everyone. It isn't a sticker that can be peeled off and there is no edge. You literally cannot see or feel the edge when it is finished properly.

If you are considering AntiEtch or a film, or anything else, the best thing you can do for yourself is find your local rep/installer and speak with them, ask for some samples, a portfolio and some references of other clients they have installed for in your area. We're all biased towards our own products, whether intentional or not. There is a database of AntiEtch installers around the country and if there is not one in your immediate area, there is likely someone nearby that will travel to you.

That’s fine Cam. Truth is Anti Etch is failing left and right in our area. Nobody is happy with the product. We speak facts from client feedback. The look isn’t even, the finish has variance, it fails. We get job after job from clients who either had anti etch or looked into it. Incredibly expensive, still new, abrasive process and chemical based. Say what you will, nothing performs better or is more financially practical than StoneGuard. People don’t goop up their cars with resin like liquids, they apply PPF. Easily taken off and doesn’t disturb the original finish. Who wants their brand new beautiful high gloss marble sanded down to dust?
The other thing I hear from clients is a lack of transparency from MORE installers. We aren’t desperate, plenty busy and growing. Believe me. We just speak facts

Also the specific question was in reference to Tuffskin vs StoneGuard. Had nothing to do with your product. Tuffskin is actually really good, just isn’t patented and slightly different makeup. That explanation I gave is straight from StoneGuard corporate. Any film still beats the hell out of a 4-5x cost semi experimental liquid that installers are putting clients on an even more costly annual maintenance program.
You aren’t accepting of outside truth and opinions which is why you banned me out of your feel good installers group.

I asked my fabricator/installer about using Anti Etch as I was considering Fantasy Brn. She said they don't like it, won't use it. Her reasoning was that marble needs to breathe.

Marble doesn't need to breathe; it needs to etch unless it's treated.

Fact of the matter is that any topical treatment over a natural surface which has pores and can trap and pass air or moisture, needs to breathe. The reason that many liquid resins, acrylics or epoxy’s yellow, crack, or fail on natural surfaces such as stone and wood is because that moisture gets trapped underneath as it’s trying to come up and escape. So over time, usually long term like 5 years or more… the topical coating begins to develop characteristics of failure. This is especially true if this same coating is also exposed to natural sunlight which has UV. That UV will accelerate some of those concerns. For Example… before protective film technology got much better, it would cloud or yellow on an automobile. 2 things fixed this… mixing in UV inhibitor technology so that the Sunlight wouldn’t damage the film, and also it’s ability to handle moisture. This same technology has been perfected in StoneGuard. Far as I know, other products either do not have this technology or cannot provide it at same level. Hence the reason why the liquid applied coatings have historically suffered from those issues. Perhaps current products are different, but who’s to tell. All I know is StoneGuard is well over a decade old, with proven results… Hence a lifetime warranty. Other products that have been out for 3,5,6 years and still are in application/durability test phases do claim certain warranties, but it’s yet to be determined what the long term performance will be.

I am a stone fabricator with 30 years experience. I also have several years experience with composites, polyester and acrylic resins and epoxies. I can tell you that any product that creates a film on the stone will eventually fail. You are better off using a penatrating sealer. In reality, if you just clean up spills when they happen, you will never have any problems with staining. If you have marble you will eventually have it etch and scratch. If you use one of the fancy coatings, it will eventually scratch and dull. I don't have an axe to gring or a product to sell you, I only have experience. Personally, I would not waste my money.

The traditional approach is definitely an option and we discuss that often with clients. As we also provide maintenance based refinishing services, etc.
However, technology gets better and better for a reason. One needs to consider constantly staying in tune with change. 30+ years ago these options didn’t exist. It is also only until recent where these products have become very effective and offer people choices. For example nano based liquid sealers provide more benefits than water based penetrating sealers. Hardly 5% of the stone servicing market has tested or used these products. They carry extreme hydrophobic and oleophobic characteristics, more durability, ease of cleaning and sanitation. Better stain protection, by far.
More permanent topical coatings (like the film or resins style) also bring benefits. Not porous so no bacterias, eliminate etching, etc. Yes they scratch or chip, but the film for example absorbs that instead of the surface… which is easily refreshed as needed and saves many issues that require refinishing which sometimes cannot be fully rectified.
Everything has their pros and cons. I think it’s important to really have a full scope approach rather than a rudimentary one.

@Final Seal Pros how does StoneGuard feel where you finish along the edge? Is it easily felt? Could dirt/grime build up there over time? Is it possible to wrap StoneGuard around the edge to the underside, like they do with car panels, so avoid the exposed edge?

Depends on who trims it, but the way we do it, the sharper the existing edge the better. It cannot be felt, seen, or build up anything. Amazing product, we apply it to $500M high rise residential living properties in downtown Boston all the time. Calls won’t stop coming in. Beats anything else when you comp the performance, look and price

wow. Final seal is putting on the hard sell. ive looked at other reviews and it looks like the product itself, scratches easily but does not damage the stone. with that said you are left with little scratches on your counter top, or holes (accidentally drop a knife) that can create bubbling

Yep - no etching, no staining and no wear and tear like scratches, gouges and chips on the stone itself. Which most marbles being so soft, does exhibit physical wear basically as the same rate as a film or other topical coating treatments. The real benefit of a sacrificial layer in the form of a film? Take it off and throw on a new piece at any time, keep that stone mint, sanitary and easy to clean.
Or as we advise some, do nothing and we’ll happily refinish and polish as needed

We had a huge problem with yellowing on my beautiful marble counter tops. We were told the discoloration was from a sun reaction the anti etch product...

Nancy, is MORE involved? Interested to know what their response and resolution to that problem is.

Hi Nancy,

Have you reached out to MORE to have an investigation done? if you could share your information with us, we would be happy to look into this for you and help get it resolved.

sales@moresurfacecare.com

519-551-7819

Hi Nancy

This issue can be resolved. It seems a bit odd that we dont see your name on file. Please call Ben

Sorry Nancy, I guess you're not on the list. Be sure to call Ben though. 1990s style customer service at its finest

Nancy Lang Adler - how did you ever resolve the issue with More anti-etch??

Apparently Nancy Lang Adler doesn't exist. But if you have any questions am sure you can find answers here or within a network of applicators.

To ensure your natural stone does not etch you have to lay polyester film. There’s 2 main company’s like Stoneguard and TuffSkin. Both almost the same product. One might be little thicker in diameter but same.
I’ve been in the film business for 25 plus years and I’ve installed film on marble for 16 years. It’s shocking to see some of these so called certified trainers lay out film and cut is elementary level of work.

There’s quite a few manufacturers that are making film for stone. If anyone has any questions about film for marble or windows feel free to reach out. I’ll be more than happy to guide you thru the process of making the right choices for you.

I wouldn’t really go about claiming to be some kind of expert when it comes to film for natural stone if I were you. You’re imprint on this segment of the industry seems rather… elementary
No window film installer or PPF installer can hang with the way we apply StoneGuard. Takes them a year to get it down. Mostly because each stone is unique and the application processes are not alike

Just by your comment looks like you been doing this just a year!
And looks like you have a narrow mind on how to install film on stone! So called stone guys being your certified trainers is laughable cuz they are experts on film? Lol

Quite the opposite. Flawless installations for 8 years, full restorative services as well. Nano ceramic coatings, other residential glass films including switchable which runs on low voltage so we are also electricians. automotive PPF, wraps, tints, coatings, paint correction. Your initial comment was overly pompous so you had to be shut down.
Want confidence? We’ll blow doors off of practically anyone applying any residential film, on any surface.
Who uses “cuz?” Are you 16 years old?

Sounds like you guys are Jack of all trades but master of none!
And you guys will blow doors off of anyone applying film on any surface? Really??? Sounds like you’re overly pompous! Are you from Premier in nor cal? Lol

You might want to proof read what you say. Sounds like you’re overly pompous!
To claim that you guys will blow door off of any installer is ludicrous! Lol

Gentleman, or ladies…. Can we please have some civility. Quite frankly nobody cares who either of you are. I can’t even find anything on TE window films.
But if either of you want to show anybody what countertops film installation skills you have, come to Boston. We install it flawlessly every single day and have trained many of the current active and very successful dealers…so good luck showing us anything.
And HU is correct when they say the process varies depending on the material. There are many factors with natural stone.

Licensed contractor from California. Been installing film on natural stone since 2007. How ever you guys do your work I really don’t care. If your clients are happy than it’s all good. But no stone company should put them self out there as an expert on film installation. I’m almost certain I can show you guys some new techniques on installing and cutting. Send me your email and I’ll send you a video of my technique. I don’t mind doing that since your not in my territory.

Nicole, sorry for your experience with that product. We see the same in our area. Unfortunately we find that switching from that product to ours is very difficult. The amount of work required to remove the anti etch coating and then get the stone itself refinished and ready to go is immense. We stay away from it unfortunately.
If your installing company is willing to remove the product and finish the stone properly back to its original look, that may be the way to go.

Folks ? Marble etches. If you can not accept that it will most definitely happen, do not select marble. It is like asking summer linen not to wrinkle. Get polyester.

MORE must have convinced Nicole to remove her negative comments in exchange for properly addressing her concerns

Jan:

You are mistaken. Marble treated with MORE Anti-Etch does not etch.