Thursday, May 6, 2010

disinfect Granite

Blue Pearl Granite is from Norway. This coarse grained blue Labrador has a dark blue-grayish background with glimmering light blue to dark green crystals which reflect light.There are many different varieties sold under different trade names.
Examples of Blue Pearl Granite varieties : Marina Pearl, Blue Peart GT, Royal
Blue TFV and TFM


Clean the granite surfaces with neutral, mild household cleaners, few drops of dish washing detergent and warm water or use natural stone care products. Usage of much cleaner or soap may leave stains and cause streaks, if it forms more stains clear using warm water and a clean sponge or rag. Dry the surface after cleaning with a soft cloth and clean spills immediately.

Granite Polishing Question Please Help!

Dear Findstone.com,

I am writing because I have granite countertops and a full wall backsplash in my kitchen recently installed and worked on. The installer albeit a handy-man grinded down the seams (two on the counters) and one across the backsplash near where the hood is located) with the diamond-pads, water and an electric grinder and worked up from 400 to 1300 grit paper (he might have also used some 3000 but I'm not sure). But the granite still looks dull at the areas he worked on! Is there any type of polish that can be applied to give those areas the same or similar luster appeal as the other un-touched areas? I have consulted with a few places one said they can polish it out with a higher grit paper costing somewhere between $120 to maybe $400 if its a 2 hour or 4 hour job, and another said they can do the same although it would be extremely difficult to get the luster back and it would cost $2,000 unless he just applies a wax that would last for some time but would need to be re-applied again. A third granite installer looked at the areas and he said the backsplash is impossible since water cannot stick vertically so I can't do anything with that! The granite, I believe is called Lady Luck from the distributor where I purchased it from but on your website seems closer to Agate. I think my backsplash near the hood is ruined and don't know what to do to get it's luster back.

Thank you ahead of time for your help.

-Andrew

disinfect Granite

    HI I love your website, so much info! I'm consideriing getting Blue Pearl for my kitchen. Can you tell me if it is granite or another stone? Also, being in a kitchen, how do you disinfect granite without ruining it? All in all, do you think Blue Pearl is good choice/ Thx John

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Total Beginner and New Homeowner needs help with W

Background: I recently purchased a newly finished condo conversion and as a first time home buyer I really did not know what I was getting into in terms of having white marble. I thought it was just very sleek looking but within the first month of living there realized that even water that was not dried up would leave stains, water marks, or even raised white residue? (sorry my best try at explaining) I'm worried I'll ruin a new apt before I'm even settled.

I'm totally new to the forum and extremely new to anything DIY/ home improvement so in adv I truly appreciate the help

From what I've read I know I have to seal the marble. What is the best sealant to use? How should I clean it beforehand? I've listed what I know about the marbles below, please let me know if I should use diff products on each.

Product recommendations would be great, the simpler it is (feel free to dumb it down for me) the better.


Kitchen:
calacatta gold marble slab (white in color: unpolished) for the kitchen counters

Bathroom:
Bianco Dolomiti marble (white in color: polished) for the top of the sink

I also have white marble on the floor of my bathroom and the floor of my shower (not sure of the name of it)

Ubatuba spot polished dull

Please read, what would you do if you had this happen to you? I have no luck =(
So my granite counter top is finally installed. The only problem is that there is a crack in the sink cut out near the cabinet edge. The installer (Alvaro Lopez) told me that the crack happened during the elevator ride to my apartment. I'm not sure I believe him because I was there the whole time and the slab never hit anything, or was dropped, or bumped,or even moved rapidly in any way, but lets just say that's what happened. I do have to mention though, that the installation was delayed by a few days because, all of the sudden, Alvaro decided that the granite needed to have metal re-enforcing bars installed underneath the slab to give it extra support, you know.... just in case. Was this a result of having cracked the slab at the shop during the cutting process and deciding it was too dangerous to transport the cracked slab to my apartment and have the piece break completely on him while moving it around? Well, we will never know because he only pointed out the crack as soon as we got off the elevator and as we were pushing the slab on the cart to my apartment. What an eagle eye he has, to be able to spot a hairline crack all of the sudden in the hallway while in motion pushing cart with the slab on it. I'm sure he never knew it was there!....right. If it sounds fishy to you, your not alone, but anyway back to my dilema.

The problem is not that Alvaro cracked the slab while cutting and moving it around at the shop, and then blamed it on having to move it in the elevator. The problem is that he tried to fix it by putting epoxy on it, and then acid, and the polishing it, and a bunch of other stuff, waxes, etc. He has been to my apartment three times and these are the photos I took after his last visit. I'm starting to get just a little worried that he doesn't have the slightest clue on what he's doing. Whats worse is that I just read that Ubatuba granite does not have to be sealed and that's what his next brilliant idea is when he comes back on Tuesday and applies 511 sealer on it, so that then I will have to strip off the sealer with noxious paint strippers when he finds out that it didn't work either. I need a true professional, please help me!
I also read that granite should not be spot polished. So basically my granite that I'm supposed to pay $1,250 for is ruined. It will never look like it does when it comes out of the big polishing machines that leave it the way its supposed to look. So my question
is; Is there a way to fix this problem or what kind of discount will I get for this glaring defect? I can't believe that the stone can't be polished to make it look like the rest of the stone which is beautiful. I still owe $625 an am unwilling to pay until I get this problem solved, or get some discount to hire a professional to do it.

Very truly yours,
Jorge Sanchez

PS: Link to my doomed scenario of spot polishing:
http://www.woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Blemishes_on_Granite_Countertops.html



Used the wrong cleaner!

I cleaned the travertine flooring in our bathroom tonight, and used the wrong cleaner. I sprayed the cleaner on the floor and after it sat for a few minutes, I mopped it up. Once it dried, there were dull spots everywhere the cleaner had landed when I sprayed. The texture of the floor is still smooth, but the shine is gone everywhere the cleaner was? Is there an easy fix for this? Maybe some sort of polish that will make the floor all shiny again?

Unsealed slate cloudy/hazey after grouting

Hi there, we recently had a backsplash installed in our kitchen - 1 inch natural stone tiles with a border of 2 inch multicolored slate. We have not sealed or applied anything to it. It looks a tad bit "hazey" or cloudy....from the grout? Wondering how to clean this off or what step to take next before sealing? I have read your website and wonder if a color-enhancer would be appropriate in this case? Or a grout releaser? Thank you!

Total Beginner and New Homeowner needs help with W

Background: I recently purchased a newly finished condo conversion and as a first time home buyer I really did not know what I was getting into in terms of having white marble. I thought it was just very sleek looking but within the first month of living there realized that even water that was not dried up would leave stains, water marks, or even raised white residue? (sorry my best try at explaining) I'm worried I'll ruin a new apt before I'm even settled.

I'm totally new to the forum and extremely new to anything DIY/ home improvement so in adv I truly appreciate the help

From what I've read I know I have to seal the marble. What is the best sealant to use? How should I clean it beforehand? I've listed what I know about the marbles below, please let me know if I should use diff products on each.

Product recommendations would be great, the simpler it is (feel free to dumb it down for me) the better.


Kitchen:
calacatta gold marble slab (white in color: unpolished) for the kitchen counters

Bathroom:
Bianco Dolomiti marble (white in color: polished) for the top of the sink

I also have white marble on the floor of my bathroom and the floor of my shower (not sure of the name of it)

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Totally frustrated with maintenance!

We had Black Pearl granite countertops installed about a month ago. Our fabricator/installer said the stone was sealed. When asked about how to clean, or maintenance, he indicated just wipe with a dish cloth. Sounded simple enough.

Well, now I have cloudiness around the sink area...where I do dishes, etc. So I go online to find out what to do about it and I am totally frustrated with the amount of contradictory information that is out there. Here are some examples:

-Black granites don't need to be sealed...if yours is sealed it can cause problems

-You need to use a stone cleaner

-I only use soap and water and mine look great!

-Using dish soap is the problem

Reading through the endless information on findstone.com I read about different cleaners that are available. I decided to contact the granite supplier and ask about maintence, thinking maybe I could buy something locally. I'm told that they usually recommend soap and water.

I don't understand why there isn't concrete information about the care of stone. It's unbelievable!

So now I have done a bunch of research and wasted hours of time and am no closer to a solution.

If any one has any information that they think would be helpful, I'd love to hear it.

Granite is Healthy Material for Home Application

Granite has been quite popular and cost effective option for kitchen countertops. Off late, there has been an inherent confusion about the existing radiation levels in natural granite being used for kitchen countertops, bathroom vanity , floor tiles etc.  

According to the Environmental Protection Agency website citing " Radon is a cancer-causing natural radioactive gas that you can't see, smell or taste, its presence in your home can pose a danger to your family's health. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in America, and claims about 20,000 lives annually." findstone2010-03-04 13:55:19

Nero Assoluto Black granite

Hi, We recently installed black granite in our kitchen. We noticed two lighter strips at the front of the sink. I have tried acetone to remove the white strips, but it appear to make it only wider. The strangest part is the "hole" cutout for the sink does not have these marks on it at all.
I am thinking of using a poutice (baby powder + acatone) or using methylne chloride, but I am concerned about making it worse than better.
I would appreciate any input anyone can give us.

Thanks,
Walter Ottawa, Canada

Fireplace images

Hi All
I am a new member and I come from Jordan.

Just to share with you , as many as 200 images of fireplace designs and images that I collected from various sites, beside lots of   books, pdfs about Fireplace designs and building them!

I personally find many of the images were helpful in selecting stone and the design.   Thus I will appreciate any images and books if   any of you would like to share.
http://rapidshare.com/files/355556542/Fireplace_images_all_design.rar

Thanks

Totally frustrated with maintenance!

    
Most people like to keep it simple, I recommend windex and then buff well with clean towel.

Monday, May 3, 2010

Expectations from our fabricator

    We recently had a countertop (island and other areas) installed - cost us close to $5000.

The fabricator sent us to a particular supplier. We selected delicatus with lots of veining, crystals and character for our countertop. The supplier showed it to us, but we did not notice or even know to run our hands over it to check for smoothness.

Turns out it flakes in many places and if you rub your hand over parts that are highly crystalized you could get a nice cut.    We see it has been "filled" in areas where pitting occurred. We knew there were "fills" when we selected the slab, but didn't know there would be this flaking problem.

The fabricator says its out of their hands because we selected the stone. That perhaps we should take it up with the supplier...however we did not pay the supplier, nor even discuss costs with the supplier... we paid the fabricator 100% of what they asked to do the job.

Any advice on how to handle this? What should we expect?

Are there any products that can be used for making this surface less flaky? Would a grind down and refinish fix this?

L.

freeze-thaw

I am a builder that has received specification to use salvaged limestone roof slates from the "Stonesfield" (UK) region and salvaged 4" limestone veneer from a building in the Bath (UK) area.  The project is in south eastern Connecticut.  Will the freeze-thaw cycle in my region prove too damaging to the limestone?

 

granite suppliers china or india

    hi
i am looking at buying stone from china or india and was wondering if anybody could recommend a good seller
it will mainly be headstones that i will be buying
i am in contact with a crowd called astron global in india
did anybody ever use them before
clansa

grouting rustic 4 inch travertine

I have just installed rough finished travertine tiles for a backsplash. I butted the tiles and it looks great without grout. Is there any reason I HAVE TO grout the tiles?

Delicatus - flaking

We selected delicatus with lots of veining, crystals and character for our countertop. It flakes in many places and if you rub your hand over parts that are highly crystalized you could get a nice cut.    We see it has been "filled" in areas where pitting occurred. We knew there were "fills" when we selected the slab, but didn't know there would be this flaking problem.

Are there any products that can be used for making this surface less flaky? Would a grind down and refinish fix this?

L.

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Soapstone as shower surround

   I have some soapstone panels that are roughly 39"x30"x1.5" (they weigh about 100 pounds). The design will be two panels high. Are there any precautions that I need to take to make sure they will not come tumbling down after the installation is complete? I've read on other sites where silicon is used to attach them to the wall. I am concerned that will not be enough to secure them properly. Or would it be better to use thinset and install them like regular tile?
I am also thinking of not having grout lines(due to the size and weight of the panel) and just sealing the joints with silicon. Is this a good idea?
Thanks

seal or not to repair fissures

After reading many of the posts I am confused. I do not know the type of "Granite." It is an orange and brown color and was in the kitchen when we purchased 4 years ago. Over time there are small areas of pits or fissures noted when you rub hand over counter. If I seal will it fill and smooth the counter again or harm the counter?????    

Lapping Marble

    Hi
       I found this site while surfing the web and I'm hoping someone can help me. I have 3 pieces of scrap mable and I would like to lap them "perfectly flat" so I can use them to sharpen my wood chisels. What media would I use between them when lapping. I don't think they well need to be highly polished when finished.
      Thinks Nick

Coffee Brown "Granite" advice

We are in the process of purchasing coffee brown "granite" for our kitchen countertops. Is there anything I need to know about it, i.e., should it be sealed or no sealing, daily care, etc. I'd like to start off on the right foot. I have been trying to search for any topics on coffee brown "granite" and have not been successful. Thanks for this informative forum !! I never knew there was so much to know about "granite."

rust stains on travertine shower wall

    im in the process of putting up travertine in my shower. i have well water with a high iron level and get rust stains in my shower now.what should i do to the travertine to keep it from being rust stained. do i need to seal it or.......

thanks
matt

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Water stains in Azul Macaubas

   My stone fabricator/installer installed Azul Macaubas over a plywood rough deck with white latex caulk. The stone has dark spots at all of the caulk locations. We waited about 4 weeks for the spots to disappear, but only the ones getting sunlight lightened, and only slightly. We removed the slab from the island and the fabricator has been applying an acetone poultice and letting it sit in the sun, as well as applying heat with a fan heater. After 3-4 weeks, the spots have lightened some, but I don't know how long to expect this to take or if the spots will ever completely disappear. Any suggestions?

Thanks.

Can Polished Black "Granite" be chemical free?

I am looking to have Adelaide Black (aka Austral Black) installed to my folks' kitchen renovation, and would like to be able to steer well clear of any sealers, impregnators, colourants etc, for reasons of keeping to the natural properties of the stone, and not having to use any chemicals on the kitchen surface. I plan to go with a polished finish, which i am hoping will be good enough to repel the usual kitchen spills of splashes of water, sauces, juice, wines, etc. Mom is fastidious and will be good at wiping things up pretty quickly. Could an expert kindly advise if this is feasible, i.e. to finish and maintain the stone with just a polish and no chemical finishers? i have included some information on the "granite" i'm planning to use. I would very much appreciate your feedback! CheersShei p.s I live in Australia, by the way, and am delighted to have found a local source of a black "granite", i'm hoping against hope that this stone is suitable! findstone2010-02-13 12:43:45

grout or caulk around shower base

I had my travertine shower installed about 4 years ago and unfortunately the installer did not do a good job of grouting around the shower floor. I contacted him about the problem so he came back and used unsanded caulk in a matching color in the corners and around the base of the shower. Over the years the corners had accumulated some mildew even though I dry it after each use. I finally found the appropriate caulk and started removing the old caulk but found that in some places there was no grout at all around the base. My question is: Should I try to re-grout around the base and let it dry thoroughly before trying to caulk as added protection?

new to forum

   I have polished a foyer of black marble and after 3000 diamond pads on a 17" floor buffer I need a little higher sheen....Is there a higher grit diamond pad that I need to use...After the 3000 pad I used a crytalizer with #0 steel wool pad but still don't have the shine that the tiles on the walls have..Do I need more weight on the buffer?It is about 80-90 lbs. thanks..

Type of stone and restoration?

Hello

Our fireplace hearth and surround is some type of gray-black stone, but is dull, very scratched and stained. It's about 50 years old, and based on some photos we took, our local granite/marble store thinks it's soapstone, and told us it would either be 3/4" or 1.5" thick. It measures 7/8"s however around the opening, and the bottom measures 1 inch. They also said there is nothing that can be done with it, as it would need to be broken up to be removed. Well, I removed one piece of the floor trim, and the slab can easily be lifted right up, as it seems the mortar or whatever has mostly crumbled. We like the idea of saving the original material. If it could be removed without breaking it apart, including the sides, could it be refinished? If it's soapstone, could it be professionally sanded/smoothed, and at least made slightly shiny/polished? It couldn't have looked this way originally. Thanks.

Crjag