Mason:

 

We have a cultured marble countertop in our bathroom, bought from a home center less than two years ago.  Some visible marks have appeared in the surface – not deep scratches, but the top no longer looks new.  What might be done to restore the original appearance?

 

DH, Midlothian, VA

DH:

Cultured marble is a mix of finely-ground stone dust, polymer resins, binders, fillers and pigments.  The finished surface is gel coat, not unlike the hull of a boat, or the body of a Corvette.  If the scratches are very light, you may be able to apply a coat or two of automotive wax or a special wax known as Gel Gloss (look in marine supply stores), which should hide the marring for a year or so, at least until the wax wears through.

Longer-lasting renewal may be accomplished by buffing the surface with automotive polishing compound, either by hand or with an electric buffer.

Unlike solid surface products (like Corian), deep scratches may not be easily repairable, since the finish is only surface-deep.

I hope this helps.  Good luck with your visit to the boat store (I always find some neat hardware or doo-dads to buy there), and best wishes for a sparkling “new” countertop!

Mason

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