Home—Services—Scratch & Etch Removal Gold Coast

Stone Restoration Services

Scratch & Etch
Removal
Gold Coast

Diamond polishing that removes acid etching and scratches from marble, travertine and other natural stone — restoring the original finish without replacement.

Call 0420 385 907 Get A Free Quote

What Is Etching Our Process Stone Types Service Areas FAQ

The Damage

What Is
Stone Etching?

Etching isn't a stain you can clean off — it's dissolved stone, and only diamond polishing brings the finish back.

Stone etching is surface damage caused by contact between acid and calcite-based natural stone — primarily marble, travertine and limestone. When acidic substances such as lemon juice, vinegar, wine, coffee or acidic cleaning products contact the surface, a chemical reaction dissolves a thin layer of stone, leaving a dull, rough, discoloured patch. This damage cannot be removed by cleaning; it requires mechanical diamond polishing to restore the surface.

The Stone Specialist provides professional scratch and etch removal services across the Gold Coast using diamond polishing systems specifically suited to marble, travertine and other calcite-based stones.

15+

Years experience

Gold Coast & Brisbane

Stone types treated

Why It Happens

Common Causes of
Etching & Scratches

Etching and scratching come from everyday contact with acids and abrasives. These are the culprits we see most.

Acidic food & drink spills

Lemon juice, vinegar, wine, coffee, soft drinks and tomato sauce on marble kitchen benchtops and dining surfaces.

Acidic cleaning products

Bathroom cleaners, grout cleaners, tile cleaners and multi-purpose sprays containing acid, used on marble bathrooms and floor tiles.

Abrasive cleaning

Scouring pads, abrasive cleaning products and heavy scrubbing that scratch the surface of polished stone.

Dragged objects

Cookware, appliances, furniture and other objects dragged across stone surfaces, leaving scratch marks.

Foot traffic

Grit and sand underfoot gradually scratching polished stone floor surfaces.

How It Works

Our Scratch & Etch
Removal Process

We match the diamond process to the depth of damage — from a light polish to a full honing sequence.

Surface assessment

We inspect the nature and extent of the etching and scratching, assess the stone type and specify the process and expected outcome.

Diamond honing

We use diamond abrasive pads at the appropriate starting grit to remove the etched or scratched layer. Light etching may need only fine-grit polishing; deep etching or heavy scratching requires a coarser start and a full honing sequence.

Progressive polishing

Progressively finer diamond pads refine the surface through the honing sequence until the desired finish level is achieved.

Final polish

Fine polishing compounds restore the natural gloss or honed appearance of the stone to the specified finish.

Protective sealing

After the damage is removed, we apply a penetrating sealer to reduce the risk of future staining and make the surface easier to clean.

Materials

Stone Types
We Treat

We treat etching and scratches on the calcite-based stone that’s most vulnerable, plus harder stone that scratches.

Marble

The stone most prone to etching. All finishes — polished, honed, leathered — can be restored.

Travertine

Also calcite-based and susceptible to acid etching. We restore polished and honed travertine floors and surfaces.

Limestone

Soft and acid-sensitive, limestone requires careful diamond work to restore etching without over-grinding.

Granite

Highly acid-resistant but can be scratched. We polish granite surfaces to remove surface scratches.

Engineered stone

Benchtops that develop surface marks and dullness are addressed through controlled polishing.

Gold Coast
& Beyond

We service the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Northern NSW. We’ll come to you for an on-site assessment and written quote at no charge.

Robina · Varsity Lakes · Hope Island · Broadbeach · Surfers Paradise · Southport · Burleigh Heads · Coolangatta · Tweed Heads · Kingscliff · Casuarina · Byron Bay · Brisbane & surrounding suburbs

Questions

Frequently Asked
Questions

Can etch marks be removed from marble?

Yes. Etch marks on marble can be removed using diamond polishing. The process removes the damaged surface layer and restores the natural finish of the stone. Light etch marks may require only fine polishing, while heavier etching requires a more thorough diamond honing and polishing sequence.

How do I know if my marble is etched or stained?

Etching is a change in the surface texture and finish of the stone — the affected area feels rough or dull compared to the surrounding stone. Staining is a discolouration that penetrates the stone but does not change its texture. Run your finger across the surface: if it feels different (rough or dull), it is likely etching. If the surface texture is the same but the colour is different, it is likely a stain.

Can scratches be removed from polished granite?

Yes. Surface scratches on polished granite can be removed by diamond polishing. Granite is a harder stone than marble, which means it takes more work to scratch but also takes more effort to remove scratches through polishing.

Will etch removal change the colour of my stone?

Diamond polishing restores the stone’s natural surface finish. In most cases, the colour of the stone after etch removal is the same as, or very similar to, the original. In some cases, polishing reveals a slightly deeper colour as fresh stone is exposed.

Get Started

Request A Quote

Tell us about your project and we’ll be in touch with a detailed written assessment.

Reviews

What Our
Clients Say

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 10 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
       Posted on Google  
   
   Kristen Dawson 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I can’t recommend Nathan highly enough. He truly goes above and beyond, with exceptional attention to detail and professionalism throughout the entire process.

I’m absolutely thrilled with the final result of my kitchen and bathroom—both have exceeded my expectations. Nathan takes real pride in his work, and it shows in the quality of the finish.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Vicki Withington 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I would highly recommend Nathan from The Stone Specialist. He put me at ease with what the process was to repair the small hole and chip in our stone benchtop. He stated that once the repair was done you wouldn’t be able to see where the chip and hole was.
True to his words, you can’t see the repairs.
Very happy with the outcome.
Thanks Nathan
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Roslyn Walsh 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Nathan is a very pleasant tradesman who arrived punctually and the work undertaken was precise such that the repair to the stone is now undetectable due to his efforts to colour match the original and create a very smooth edge to the finished product. Thank you Nathan, job well done!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Paul Lynch 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We have used Nathan from The Stone Specialist for a variety of jobs over the last couple of months, ranging from repairing chips in a bathroom vanity and damage to a kitchen benchtop, through to a major restoration project in our substantial outdoor entertaining area and around our pool, which is finished with travertine tiles.

Many of the tiles had cracked and required replacement, while others had stains and deep scratches. Nathan's workmanship was exceptional, and the finished result exceeded our expectations. The restoration has brought the area back to life and looks fantastic.

Nathan is professional, reliable, and takes great pride in his work. He was always punctual, communicated exceptionally well throughout every project, and kept us informed at every stage.

I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending Nathan, The Stone Specialist, for jobs of any size, from small repairs to large-scale restoration work.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Jess Chi 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Nathan service is 10/10 he is very professional and reliable if your looking for someone to fix your stone or a hole in a tils this is you guy.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Luke Stephens 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Nathan came and did an emergency repair on my marble benchtop for a property I was selling with 2 days notice.
Nathan was a very genuine person and his professionalism and work speak for themselves. Highly recommended!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Grahame Spears 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We appointed Nathan from The Stone Specialtist to restore our worn,scratched dull marble floor.Nathan worked tirelessly throughout the process displaying a high level of professionalism.
The end result was a mirror finish floor that was well above our expectations.
We highly recommend Nathan for an honest reliable tradesman at very competitive prices.
Grahame & Rosie Spears
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Amali Batson 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Stone looks brand new again!! Very easy to deal with and he knew exactly what he was doing. Would definitely use him again!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Kate van der Kwast 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great job fixing a chip in my bench, blends so well. Easy process and good communication.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Jye Broadby 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Stone Specialist fixed a chip in our benchtop and did an awesome job. The colour match came out really good and it blends in well with the rest of the stone.