The Truth About Heat and Natural Stone | {location}

Marble and granite are known for their durability, but that doesn’t mean they are immune to heat-related issues. While granite tends to be more heat-resistant than marble, placing a hot pan directly on either surface can lead to unnecessary risks.

Understanding how heat interacts with stone can help you avoid costly damage.

What Can Happen When You Put Hot Pans on Stone

Even though stone is formed under extreme pressure and heat, your countertop is not the same as bedrock. It has been cut, polished, and in some cases resin-treated. Sudden temperature changes—also known as thermal shock—can affect stone in several ways:

• Marble: Prone to discoloration, dull spots, and thermal shock cracks.
• Granite: More heat-resistant but can still experience resin damage, burn marks, or stress cracks.
• Sealers: Many sealers can discolor or weaken under extreme heat.

How Damage Appears

If heat causes damage, you may notice:

• A cloudy or white mark on marble (often an etch or heat-related dull spot)
• A dark spot or burn mark on granite
• A small crack radiating out from where the hot pan sat
• A ring-shaped mark caused by hot cookware

These issues do not typically repair themselves and often require specialized equipment or training.

How to Fix the Damage

The right fix depends on the type of stone and the type of damage:

For Marble:

• Etches or dull spots: These require honing and repolishing—something best handled by your professional stone restoration PRO.
• Burn marks: Light marks may sometimes be polished out, but deeper ones require resurfacing.

For Granite:

• Burn marks: Your PRO can use abrasive compounds and resurfacing tools to remove the affected layer.
• Cracks: A trained PRO can fill and repair cracks using resins, adhesives, and color-matching techniques.
• Discolored resin: This typically requires restoration or refinishing.

DIY attempts often make the damage worse. When in doubt, call your PRO.

How to Prevent Heat Damage

• Always use trivets, hot pads, or heat-resistant mats.
• Avoid placing slow cookers, air fryers, or toaster ovens directly on stone surfaces.
• Do not rely on the stone’s “heat resistance” as a guarantee—stone varies widely.

When to Call your PRO

Contact your restoration PRO when:

• A heat mark, crack, or dull area does not come off with normal cleaning
• You see a change in shine, texture, or color
• The countertop surface feels rough or uneven after heat exposure

A trained PRO has the right tools and skills to restore stone safely and effectively.

By Fred Hueston. This article is one of a series of Caring For It™ articles written and published on behalf of Surface Care PRO Partners.