Before you try anything: always speak to a professional before cleaning, treating or applying any product to your stone. Every slab is different, and the wrong product can cause permanent damage. Contact us or a qualified stone restorer first.
Quick answer
Emperador marble etches from acidic drinks and food, and on a dark polished surface an etch shows as a pale, dull mark. Its veins frequently contain resin fills. Clear protection film keeps both the brown stone and the veins covered, so cocktails, citrus and wine wipe off without leaving a trace.
Key points
- Dark and Light Emperador are both calcite marbles.
- Etches look pale and dull against the brown.
- Dense veining often includes resin-filled fissures.
- A favourite for bars, where acids are spilled constantly.
A bar-top favourite with a weakness
Emperador comes from Spain in two main tones: Dark Emperador, a deep coffee brown, and Light Emperador, a softer tan. Both are crossed by a dense network of lighter calcite veins. The look is warm and forgiving of crumbs and dust, which is why it is so popular in hospitality.
The problem is what bars pour. Citrus garnishes, cocktails, wine and soft drinks are all acidic, and on dark polished marble every drip leaves a pale etch. In a busy venue a new Emperador bar can look patchy within weeks. Our commercial installs are done after hours so the venue loses no trading time.
Veins, fissures and fills
Emperador's veins mark old fractures, and many slabs are strengthened with resin in the larger fissures before polishing. The fills are normal, but they are softer than the stone and can wear or dull at a different rate. Film sits over the whole surface so stone and fill wear identically, which is to say, not at all.