OXIDATION OF ELEMENTAL IRON WITHIN STONE SURFACES(YELLOWING OF STONE SURFACES)

OXIDATION OF ELEMENTAL IRON WITHIN STONE

SURFACES(YELLOWING OF STONE SURFACES)

Frederick M. Hueston 

Sitting in my office one morning I received a call from a very upset homebuilder. He told me he was building a

two million-dollar home on the west coast of Florida. They installed nearly 3500 square feet of a white statuary

marble tile. Over the weekend one of the water pipes broke in a bathroom and completely flooded the home.

They managed to vacuum all the water and started to access the damages. Beside warped wood, soaked drywall

and an irate homeowner the marble tile seemed fine except for some minor water spotting. After several weeks

the replacement of warped wood and drywall began and then he noticed the white marble tile turning yellow. At

first he thought it might be some type of residue so they tried cleaning the marble with some bleach and waterthe

yellowing was still there. The homeowner was getting more and more irate and was threatening a lawsuit.

He asked if I could get down there right away and take a look at the marble and suggest what to do.

The above story is not uncommon and is a frequent occurrence on white marble tiles exposed to flooding. Can

the yellowing be removed or does it need to be replaced? What causes the yellowing and will it get worse. The

following is an explanation of yellowing in white marble and some techniques that may help.

Why Does White Marble Turn Yellow?

The problem of yellowed white marble is not uncommon. All over the United States I have encountered yellow

to brown marble. Although flooding is a common cause there are several other reasons this color change will

occur.

1. Improper Maintenance- As marble wears the highly polished surface begins to disappear. The wearing of

this polish causes the surface to become rough and is a magnet for dirt. If improper cleaners are used, this dirt

begins to accumulate in the pores of the stone and will turn yellow. It is surprising how often I have seen this

condition on marble. Upon investigation in these cases I have found dirty mops being used. Mops used to

clean the restrooms and/or kitchens were also used to clean the marble floors. Floors are mopped with strong

cleaners or wax cleaner combinations or with no cleaners at all.

Cure: If you suspect yellowing due to improper maintenance the marble tile will have to be cleaned with an

alkaline marble cleaner. I would suggest a heavy duty stone cleaner. Be sure the stone cleaner you buy is

alkaline and not an acid since acid cleaners will dull the polish. Apply the cleaner to the marble and scrub with

a soft brush. Be sure to rinse the floor throughly. It may be necessary to repeat this procedure several times to

remove all the imbedded dirt. If after cleaning the marble is dull I would suggest re-polishing and an

application of a good quality penetrating sealer(impregnator). If after several cleaning’s the yellowing is not

removed than proceed to the next cause.

2. Wax Build-up or Coatings- Many marble floors are coated with waxes, acrylics, urethane and other coatings.

Many of these coatings are not specifically designed for use on marble floors. Some of these coatings are of

poor quality and will begin to yellow. It is not uncommon for coating to be applied in multiple coats. As the

coating builds up it becomes soft and dirt is easily embedded in the soft layer. These coatings require frequent

stripping which is often neglected.

Another process used for polishing marble floors is a process known as recrystallazation. If this process is

applied to a white marble floor that contains moisture it will turn the marble yellow. If this process is to be

used, it is important that the marble be dry.

CURE: To remove yellowing due to a wax or coating buildup the marble will need to stripped with a

commercial wax stripper. I would strongly suggest using a stripper manufactured by the same company as the

floor wax or coating. This will help avoid incompatibility problems. Follow the directions on the stripper’s

label and be sure to rinse the floor throughly. These strippers often require the use of abrasive pads which can

scratch and damage the marble surface. Before undertaking the entire project perform a small test to determine

results.

If the marble tile has been recrystallized, it will be necessary to remove the recrystallized layer. This layer can

often be removed by polishing the tile with a powder marble polish containing oxalic acid. Apply the powder to

the tile, added water and work into a slurry with a hog hair pad and a standard buffing machine. Continue to

work until yellowing has disappeared. If this technique fails then the tile will have to be re-honed. It is strongly

suggested that the polishing and honing procedure be performed by trained individuals. If these techniques fail

to remove the yellowing then proceed to the next cause.

3. Iron Staining- Many white marble tiles contain naturally occurring deposits of iron. Iron is a mineral found

in stone and can occur randomly throughout the stone. If iron is present in the marble tile, it will begin to

oxidize when exposed to water or other oxidizers such as acids and household bleach. White marble tiles can

remain on a floor for years without yellowing then over time may slowly turn yellow and in severe causes may

turn completely brown. This oxidation process is accelerated when the tile is saturated as in the flood in the

above example. This process of oxidation is similar to the rusting of metal. If you expose a brand new nail to

water and air it will turn brown and rust. The same process is occurring with the iron in the marble. If water

and/ or air is eliminated the iron will not oxidize. This is the reason certain white marble suddenly turn yellow.

The process is difficult to reverse and replacement of the tile may be necessary. The following stain removal

technique has proved successful in several cases. Before testing this procedure it is important to first determine

if iron is the cause.

Testing for Iron:

1. Before assuming the marble is yellowed due to iron be sure to attempt cleaning and stripping as outlined in

#1 & 2 cause above. If these procedures fail then testing for iron will be necessary.

2. If a flood has occurred or excessive water was used first check the water for iron. There are several

inexpensive test kits available that can be used to check the iron content in water. Check with your local

plumbing supply store or store carrying water softening supplies. If any amount of iron is detected then it is

possible iron has entered the stone through the water supply. To eliminate the iron there are chelating chemicals

that can be added to the water to prevent the iron from staining. This is very important if the tile is cleaned withthis water.

3. If the water contains no iron and even if it does the tile should be checked for iron content. Remove one tile

and contact a testing lab and have them analyzed the tile for total iron. If there are spare tiles that have never

been installed also have them tested for total iron. If iron is present naturally in this stone, it will probably be

detected in the spare tile. If the results return with iron present then the following procedure should be tested.

4. Check the tile for moisture. A moisture meter is a useful instrument that can be employed to check the tile

for moisture. If the tile contains water, it is very possible that iron is beginning to oxidize.

Removing Iron Staining:

1. Prepare a solution of water and the following chemical: Sodium Hydro sulfite and Sodium Metabisulfite.

These chemicals are available in a product called Iron-Out(TM) from your plumbing supply or home center.

Mix a solution in water and apply to the effected tile. Allow solution to soak into tile and keep wet for several

hours. Do not allow solution to dry. After several hours pick up excess solution with a wet vacuum and rinse

throughly with water and a chelating agent such as EDTA. Be prepared to repolish the marble since these

chemicals can cause etching.

2. If the above procedure fails than prepare a poultice with diatomaceous earth and the Iron Out(TM). Mix the

poultice into a thick paste and apply to a small area. Cover the poultice with plastic and allow it to sit covered

for 24 hours. After 24 hours remove the poultice paste and rinse the area with water and a chelating agent. If

the stain is removed, the entire floor can be treated. If the stain still remains then replacement is the only

solution.

3. There are also some new chemicals that are available which contain Ammonium Thioglycolate which look

promising for removing iron oxidation. Check with several stone maintenance supply companies.

Before the above procedure can be performed, it is important that the effected tiles be dry. If water or moisture

are still present, oxidation of iron may continue

The yellowing of white marble is a common problem. New installations should be sealed with a good quality

penetrating sealer(impregnator) Which will help prevent oxidation of the iron by eliminating moisture.

The above procedure has proven successful in some cases of iron staining however if the outlined test does not

produce the desired results I would recommend replacement of the effected tiles.

Written by:

Frederick M. Hueston

Stone Forensics

www.stoneforensics.com