Lately we have been receiving many calls concerning the fading of black granite countertops and floors.

The majority of complaints are on Absolute Black and Zimbabwe Black. Some fabricators try to blame the fading on the misuse of cleaning chemicals, acids etc. Although one should never use inappropriate chemicals on granite surfaces, this is not the reason for the increase in black granite discoloration.

Why black granite fades?

The answer is, black granite should not fade. gray dark granite imported from Asia is sometimes doctored with dyes and oils to darken the surface and turn black. The fading is nothing more than the dyes and oils being removed. Of course the wrong chemical will remove the dye out faster but I have seen many of these dyes removed using simply water and a mild cleaner.

Test your tiles and slabs before installation.

Before purchasing a granite slab or tiles, perform the following test to find out if it has been doctored:
Make sure you have a sample from the same material you are expect to be install.

Take a clean white rag and apply acetone to the surface of the granite. If any residue or black color is observed on the top, do not accept it, it has been dyed. If you get no dye from the acetone then take some MEK (Methyl Ethyl Ketone) and apply it to a different part of the stone. If you get any color transfer, the stone is dyed. These chemicals can be purchased at most home improvement or paint supply stores.

Can Dyed Granite Be Repaired?

The reason granite is dyed is that its natural color is gray and it doesn't have that deep black color that some black granites have. For this reason many factories use deceptive methods to doctor these slabs and tiles and sell them off as deep black granites.

It you're already facing this situation and need help resurfacing your counters and floors call us, do not try to wax your granite surfaces it will start peeling, the correct approach is to hone the material to remove any etching marks and stains, deep clean and apply Uniblack parts one and two follow by 3-4 coats of enhancer sealer to enhance the gray granite into black again.