The coastal environment here creates several specific challenges for marble. Salt air carries moisture that can penetrate the stone, especially if the sealer has worn away over time. This moisture can cause staining, etching, and in severe cases, spalling where pieces of the marble surface flake off.
Temperature fluctuations between seasons cause expansion and contraction that can create hairline cracks, particularly in older installations that may not have proper expansion joints. Many historic Sag Harbor homes were built before modern moisture barriers were standard, so water infiltration from behind the marble is also common.
Hard water deposits from Long Island’s mineral-rich water supply can also build up over time, creating that cloudy, dull appearance on marble surfaces. Regular maintenance and proper sealing can prevent most of these issues, but once damage occurs, professional restoration is usually the only way to fully address the problems.