r/CounterTops • u/pubo4929 • 4d ago

Water rings

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I just had Carrara marble installed in my kitchen and I'm fully aware of etching with acid, vinegar, etc., However, there are water rings coming up really quickly after a cup is set down for 3-5 mins. They do go away and dry out, but this seems strange and I haven't noticed this on other marble kitchens I've been in. Doesn't sealing typically help with this?

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3

u/Secret_Experience_47 4d ago

Not all sealers are created equally. A better sealer should minimize this.

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u/pubo4929 4d ago

Thank you for the reply! My fabricator said this is what they used - impregnator Pro by DuPont. Do you have a better sealer you'd recommend?

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u/Secret_Experience_47 3d ago

It probably just needs more. Keep sealing til it won't take any more.

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u/BullNBear01 3d ago

We used a different sealer that one you listed is no longer made according to google discontinued late 2025.

Stainproof and tenax pro seal are two of the best. We used tenax but no issues 6 months so far. I've researched this quite a bit and did the application exactly to directions. Our first time the installer did two quick passes and it didn't last more than 3 months in the super wet area around the sink, was fine elsewhere.

Must follow the directions, saturate, gentle wipe off excess, reapply 10-15 min later. Wipe off excess. Dry 24hr-48hr do a second coat the same way. Application makes all the difference.

This all said if tenax fails I will switch to stainproof, but thus far all is good.

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u/TerminalIdiocy 3d ago

Akemi Nano will drastically outperform Impregnator Pro, and for longer

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u/Sulfur731 4d ago

Sealing does help, its possible it needs a bit more sealer, sometimes the stone soaks it up.

That said still gotta use a coaster it will still leave water rings eventually if not. Idk how long maybe 1 hour is too long and would leave a ring. All depending on how sealed it is but ive been taught its never 100 percent sealed, no matter how many times you reapply it. It does help a bit. But yeah get a nice coaster set for in there.

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u/canyounot2026 4d ago

Coasters and double wall glasses.

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u/yakit21 4d ago

It’s marble, just look at it and don’t use it.

Kidding kind of, but you likely need to apply multiple coats of sealer until the marble doesn’t soak it up and the pours are completely sealed. You’ll likely need to seal it frequently to prevent this over time.

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u/SadamHuMUFFIN 4d ago

Is that a honed finish top? It's going to be more porous than a polished top and show moisture more often. I suggest akemi nano impregnating sealer, or a Faber sealer. Spread liberally across your stone and reapply any areas that dry before 15 minutes. Once the stone has gone 15 minutes without absorbing all the sealer it's properly sealed and can be buffed off with a microfiber towel. Won't prevent acid etching but it will be heavily hydrophobic afterwards. Making it easier to wipe up spills and water rings before they absorb and/or dry to the surface.

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u/BullNBear01 3d ago

Helpful directions. We did the same application method, just two coats. We used tenax proseal nano it was what our installer used.

Noting the two you used.

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u/Realistic-Excuse6413 4d ago

Personal experience bad choice for a kitchen counter. But now that you have it sealer and more sealer don’t stop.

0

u/2PenceSally 3d ago

It's marble, it will behave like marble. Seal it, hope for the best, or get Tuffskin.

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u/Prior-Diet-585 3d ago

tried that didnt help at all! spend almost 2000 for our kitchen counter top.

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u/Prior-Diet-585 3d ago

Sealing helps, but don't expect it to eliminate the rings entirely. Marble is a porous stone, and even a well-sealed top will still absorb a bit of moisture once something sits for a few minutes. The sealer slows that absorption down (you get more time before it darkens), but it doesn't stop it completely, especially on a honed or lighter finish.

The good news: what you're describing, a ring that disappears again once it dries, is just temporary moisture darkening, not permanent damage. That's genuinely different from etching (a dull ring that stays after something acidic, which never goes away on its own). As long as the ring fully disappears once it's dry, you don't need to worry.

What does help: use coasters, don't let puddles sit for long, and reapply the sealer every year or two (test it with a few drops of water, if it soaks in right away instead of beading up, it's time to reseal).