Free Diagnosis Tool
Stone Damage Diagnosis Tool
Etched or stained? Scratched, hard-water buildup, or just worn sealer? Answer five quick questions about your marble, granite, travertine, or limestone and we'll name the most likely culprit — and tell you whether it's a DIY fix or a job for a Las Vegas stone pro.
This is a planning guide based on the most common Las Vegas stone problems — not a substitute for a hands-on look. Some marks are a mix (an old stain over a worn sealer, say), and only an in-home assessment can confirm the exact cause and price.
How this diagnosis works
Stone damage almost always leaves one of five signatures, and each answers to a different cue. Etches feel rough or dull and turn lighter than the stone because acid ate the polish. Organic and oil stains feel smooth but go darker because something soaked in. Hard-water deposits — common in Las Vegas showers, where the tap water runs around 278 ppm — form a white, chalky film that lightens or wipes away when wet. A groove you can catch a fingernail on is a scratch. And stone that looks fine dry but darkens the moment water hits it usually just has worn-out sealer.
The tool weighs your answers to those cues and returns the single most likely diagnosis with a typical fix and planning cost. For the white, cloudy version specifically, our guide on removing hard-water stains from natural stone walks through the descaling step by step, and our marble care guide covers how to keep etches and stains from coming back.
Frequently asked questions
How do I tell the difference between an etch and a stain on marble?
An etch is physical damage to the stone's surface: acid (lemon, wine, vinegar, or an acidic cleaner) eats the polish, leaving a dull, rough, often lighter mark you can sometimes feel. A stain is the opposite — something soaked into the stone and made it darker, and the surface still feels smooth. Quick test: if the mark is duller and lighter than the surrounding stone, it's usually an etch; if it's darker and smooth, it's usually a stain. Etches are polished out; stains are drawn out with a poultice.
Can I fix stone damage myself or do I need a professional?
Light organic stains and a fresh coat of sealer are reasonable DIY projects — a baking-soda or store-bought poultice pulls many stains, and penetrating sealer wipes on in an afternoon. Etches, scratches, and heavy hard-water buildup usually need a pro, because they involve diamond honing and re-polishing to restore an even finish. If you can catch a fingernail in a groove, or the dull mark covers a wide area, it's a restoration job, not a wipe-on fix.
Why does natural stone get white, cloudy spots in Las Vegas showers?
Las Vegas tap water is very hard — around 278 ppm of dissolved minerals — so every time it dries on stone it leaves calcium and magnesium behind. In showers and tubs that builds into a rough, whitish film or spots that look like the stone lightened. Because it sits on top of the surface it often lightens or wipes partly away when wet, which separates it from an etch. It's removed with the right descaler and, on marble or travertine, a polish to bring the shine back.