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disinfect Granite

2010-05-06T13:30:00.002-07:00

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 TFMClean the granite surfaces with neutral, mild household

Granite Polishing Question Please Help!

2010-05-06T13:30:00.001-07:00

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

disinfect Granite

2010-05-06T13:30:00.000-07:00

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

Total Beginner and New Homeowner needs help with W

2010-05-05T13:30:00.004-07:00

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

Ubatuba spot polished dull

2010-05-05T13:30:00.003-07:00

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

Used the wrong cleaner!

2010-05-05T13:30:00.002-07:00

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

Unsealed slate cloudy/hazey after grouting

2010-05-05T13:30:00.001-07:00

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

Total Beginner and New Homeowner needs help with W

2010-05-05T13:30:00.000-07:00

Totally frustrated with maintenance!

2010-05-04T13:30:00.004-07:00

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

Granite is Healthy Material for Home Application

2010-05-04T13:30:00.003-07:00

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

Nero Assoluto Black granite

2010-05-04T13:30:00.002-07:00

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

Fireplace images

2010-05-04T13:30:00.001-07:00

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

Totally frustrated with maintenance!

2010-05-04T13:30:00.000-07:00

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

Expectations from our fabricator

2010-05-03T13:30:00.004-07:00

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

freeze-thaw

2010-05-03T13:30:00.003-07:00

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

2010-05-03T13:30:00.002-07:00

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

2010-05-03T13:30:00.001-07:00

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

2010-05-03T13:30:00.000-07:00

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

Soapstone as shower surround

2010-05-02T13:30:00.004-07:00

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.

seal or not to repair fissures

2010-05-02T13:30:00.003-07:00

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

2010-05-02T13:30:00.002-07:00

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

2010-05-02T13:30:00.001-07:00

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

rust stains on travertine shower wall

2010-05-02T13:30:00.000-07:00

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

Water stains in Azul Macaubas

2010-05-01T13:30:00.004-07:00

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

Can Polished Black "Granite" be chemical free?

2010-05-01T13:30:00.003-07:00

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

grout or caulk around shower base

2010-05-01T13:30:00.002-07:00

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

new to forum

2010-05-01T13:30:00.001-07:00

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?

2010-05-01T13:30:00.000-07:00

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

lemon citrus stain on travertine

2010-04-30T13:30:00.004-07:00

I have 5 kitchen counter top travertine tiles that have white patches from lemon juice and need to remove stains. Do I use some poultice to extract the stain like Stain Removal Guide: For Stone, Tile, and Concrete) Fred M. Hueston or wet sand it then seal it. This is more expensive wanted to know if there are any tricks to this. I have read some contradicting reviews of what to use. the

Granite

2010-04-30T13:30:00.003-07:00

Hello just discovered this site and thank you for all the information located here. I've learned a lot. I cannot find on your country-stone page anything regarding "Key West Gold". Can you tell me where it's from, type of stone and care instructions that apply? Thank you for your time

Removing glossy finish on travertine

2010-04-30T13:30:00.002-07:00

hi I am looking to do the opposite of what most people are :-) I've installed travertine on my walls in my entrance and i am very happy ... except that there is a little bit more gloss or luster than I would like so my question is what is the easiest way to get back a more rough stone look? Some of the recommended chemical etching others have recommended silicone carbide wet sanding

Baltic Brown Granite

2010-04-30T13:30:00.001-07:00

Can someone give me information on this stone? Is it a true granite? Did it really need sealing? Is there any special care for this stone? The Kitchen is not yet finished and I would like to be able to give my client accurate information on care and maintenance before it goes into service. findstone2010-02-03 16:52:06

pet stains on unsealed tile

2010-04-30T13:30:00.000-07:00

My cat had an accident on my unsealed travertine floor. How should I deal with this? I've put some pet stain enzymatic remover on it 'anti-icky poo' and 'nature's miracle'. thanks

Quartz Countertop Scaling Question

2010-04-29T13:30:00.004-07:00

When the plumbers installed my sink faucets - they used regular plumbers putty to seal the hot and cold water faucets. It reacted with the surface and left a ring of white, scaling around each faucet. (I read that there is a non- reactive putty available - but my plumbers did not use it!). How can I restore the counter surface in these small areas that ring the faucet stems?

pet urine on unsealed travertine

2010-04-29T13:30:00.003-07:00

My cat had an accident and some of urine penetrated the travertine tile. What's the best way to deal with it? I sprayed on Nature's Miracle. The tile is already installed so I can't pull it up. Thanks

Why are my Black Galaxy tiles being discoloured?

2010-04-29T13:30:00.002-07:00

Hi all, I hope someone can help me. I purchased 43m2 of Black Galaxy tiles and did the oil test to work out if I should pre seal them. I left olive oil on for 24 hrs and it just wiped off with no stain so I was happy that I didn't need to seal them. However, I also did the lemon juice test and found that it greyed the granite after only 10 mins. The granite didn't seem to significantly grey any

damaged slate tiles

2010-04-29T13:30:00.001-07:00

I have just had two bathrooms retiled with slate on the floors. I was not on site and the contractor made a huge mess of things. He laid the tiles, then lifted them,and after he relaid them he carried on working in the bathrooms without protecting the floor. My beautiful new slate tiles are now covered in paint drips, dust marks and terrible grouting. THis happened in the Philippines so I

BRAND NEW GRANITE BENCHTOP LEMON STAIN

2010-04-29T13:30:00.000-07:00

hi guys for weeks now i have been trying to find a solution to this problem. i hope u can help me out. i just had a brand new kitchen top installed no one told me about the dangers of lemon/lime needless to say i have about 10 rings all over my new bench top i have come to the conclusion that it is not a stain more an etch out of the polish i was told this does not need to be sealed

Granite stain from fake flowers

2010-04-28T13:30:00.004-07:00

Hi to all and thank you in advance for your replies. My family and I have a big problem. A very dear family member has passed away and about 4 months ago we bought a memorial stone made of granite. Over the holidays my mother for the first time placed a set of fake flowers in the person's memory and a few days later our granite was stained red. We walked all over the cemetery and although

Granite recommendations

2010-04-28T13:30:00.003-07:00

I'm preparing to shop for granite for a kitchen island that is 11 feet long. It appears from what I've read that I will have difficulty finding a continuous piece of stone of that dimension. Question 2 has to deal with the fact that I was hoping to purchase a piece of stone that was a work of art. Photos of Solarius, Lapidus Gold, and Louisa blue are the kinds of stones I was looking for. Would

Unwanted grout on Travertine surface

2010-04-28T13:30:00.002-07:00

Just installed Noce travertine in the Versaille pattern in the kitchen. Using unsanded grout, the spaces between each stone were filled as well as the pits on the surface. I am not happy with the visible grout on the SURFACE of the stone. I understand that larger pits should be filled to prevent spills from being unreachable to clean, but much of the beauty of the natural discolorations are

Can Engieered Quartz Stone be moulded in to curves

2010-04-28T13:30:00.001-07:00

Hi, I am interested in using quartz stone in my kitchen which I am currently re-designing. I have included a number of curves together with dropped edges of varying sizes which I would like to incorporate in to the final design. My question is whether quartz stone only comes in slab form or can it be molded into curves and other shapes? if so, what the process is to achieve this? Any advice

Cleaning Granite Countertops !

2010-04-28T13:30:00.000-07:00

There are many people that are leery about purchasing a granite kitchen countertop because they do not know the proper way of cleaning granite countertops. Paying a great deal of money for an addition to the home, like granite countertops, can be scary for individuals that are unsure about how to care for the new addition to their homes, as there are many things that can be done by the

What is better-Peruvian or Turkish Travertine??

2010-04-27T13:30:00.004-07:00

I am looking for a premium outdoor Travertine. I have the supplier who carries Turkish Travertine saying his is the best. I have the supplier who carries Peruvian Travertine saying it is the best. I could also consider Italian although I dont know much about it. I do like the Pervian, it is very pretty, the Turkish Travertine seems to powder a little. Please help with your knowledge and opinion

To Seal or not to Seal?

2010-04-27T13:30:00.003-07:00

Hello, I have Blue in the Night granite from Namibia. I was told it needs no sealing or care, is this so? I did a water test with paper towel, and I didn't see any water darkening stain. I've had it about 1 year now, looks gook but not like it use to. Can I still polish it, and whats the best day to day cleaner, I use antibacterial windex right now. Its eems not to leave any streaking,

new granite

2010-04-27T13:30:00.002-07:00

Hello, We live in Calgary Alberta Canada and have just done a kitchen reno which includes Wild Wine granite. The supplier indicated it was from Norway but it looks like its Brazilian? Is it really granite? how should it be treated? We are getting rings on it that seem to be caused by innocuous things like chicken broth in a pyrex measuring cup. My fabricator has applied a 'silicone like '

pitted travertine vessel sink

2010-04-27T13:30:00.001-07:00

My travertine bathroom sink has developed pits in the bottom of the vessel which collects standing water, which molds. Some of the pits seem pretty deep. This is very unslightly, and I would like to know if there is a product that I can use to fill the pitts. The sink has a marbeling type design, so I don't want the fix to look like patchwork. Hopefully, there is something clear to use! Also

Travertine as a bread stone?

2010-04-27T13:30:00.000-07:00

Hello, I purchased (before I investigated) a 14" by 16" by 3/8" Classic Ivory Travertine (from Lowes via Turkey) that I intend to use as a breadstone. It is uncoated/unsealed. Is this a good idea? The man who cut it for me believes it is, and helped me in my search when I told him what I was going to do with it. Thank you for any help on this, Jesse

Purchasing granite questions

2010-04-26T13:30:00.004-07:00

Stone Maintenance at Home ！

2010-04-26T13:30:00.003-07:00

Choosing natural stone based on its chemical and physical properties is a key to successful ease of maintenance and repairs. One of the most important considerations is whether the stone will be in a high-traffic or highly-used area. Countertops, for example, are a location where hard stones such as granite and marble are ideal. Onyx, though it is an eye-catching stone in the wide variety of

Bali Limestone

2010-04-26T13:30:00.002-07:00

We have an extensive area of Limestone tiles (from Bali) as the flooring and some have not been sealed properly. Olive oil has been spilt in a trail on the tiles and was not attended to straight away - some of the tiles are in the sunlight and the oil has soaked in. We have tried many different cleaning options but none have worked. Is there a solvent that can assist? Your help and advice

Xiamen Stone Fair 2010 booth contractor YOHO EXPO

2010-04-26T13:30:00.001-07:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010.

pitted travertine grouting-sealing

2010-04-26T13:30:00.000-07:00

Just purchased "Apollo Gold" pitted tumbled traverting for shower floor and walls. 1) Seller recommended sanded grout for floor and walls. Any issues? 2) Some recommend sealing before grouting. Sounds like a good idea but how can you keep the sealant from getting into the thousands of holes and making it difficult for the grout to stick in the holes? Some say seal after grouting but how

Choice of sandstone according to climate

2010-04-25T13:30:00.004-07:00

We are designing a building in hot and dry climate region. The climate is almost like delhi (India). We would like to use sandstone for dry cladding at the external facade of the building. Max. building ht is 30 mts. Could anyone plz. Suggest which sandstone is the best suitable for above climate? Waiting for your valuable

choice od sandstone according to climate

2010-04-25T13:30:00.003-07:00

Tropic Brown

2010-04-25T13:30:00.002-07:00

Just wondering if anyone had thoughts about Tropic Brown granite from Saudi Arabia. Looking to have this installed in the kitchen, approx 50 sq ft for around $2100. Thanks for any recommendations/comments/criticisms!

Choice of Sandstone according to climate

2010-04-25T13:30:00.001-07:00

absolute black and water stains

2010-04-25T13:30:00.000-07:00

Hi all I have read through a lot of information but have yet to have my concern directly answered, so here goes. I have a stone that is called absolute black and I read this site before buying it so I have heard all the posts about that name and the dying problems, lemons do not affect the surface at all so whatever it is it is very dense, but we are getting water spots around the sink area. If

Mixing old with new black absolute

2010-04-24T13:30:00.004-07:00

I recently bought a demo kitchen that came with black absolute from India. The black absolute has already been sealed and has a dull, non shiny surface. The kitchen layout has been rearranged a bit and as such, I need to get a new piece of black absolute for one section. I found a piece that matches the pattern closely from a slab company, but the stone is already shiny and polished.Can the

Adhesive stain on Alabaster

2010-04-24T13:30:00.003-07:00

citrus cleaning agent first then follow up with acetone.

Mixing old with new black absolute

2010-04-24T13:30:00.002-07:00

You can dull the surface or repolish it. Just call a reputable stone restoration company that has exsperience with absolute black granite.

Sealed my Ubatuba granite countertop

2010-04-24T13:30:00.001-07:00

I sealed my countertops a few days ago and followed the manufactures instructions. Now when we wipe the countertops or place items on it, it leaves a haze or what appears to be scratches. What can I do to fix the problem?

Adhesive stain on Alabaster

2010-04-24T13:30:00.000-07:00

I have an antique alabaster pedestal. At some time in the past, it has had an adhesive sticker (probably a price sticker) on it. The paper is long gone, but the perfect adhesive "ghost" still remains. Any thoughts or tips on removing this? Thanks, Kevinfindstone2009-12-16 12:39:52

Selecting a good fabricator

2010-04-23T13:30:00.004-07:00

I live in the Northern VA area and need a list of excellent installers in this area. Where/How can I obtain a list. My wife has gotten fixed on yellow bamboo, but I am having second thoughts about using this stone on the kitchen countertop. I want the advice of the installer I choose on this stone and how to care for it.

Botched grout cleaning - help!

2010-04-23T13:30:00.003-07:00

I have 18" tiles throughout my entry way, dining room and kitchen area. They have antique edges with sanded grout, the grout lines are about 1/2" wide. I have about 700 sq. ft of tile. I just had my white grout cleaned and in several areas the grout was so dirty, they had to use an aggressive cleaner called Viper Venom Tile & Grout Cleaner. I am pleased that the grout came very clean. My

Limestone in a shower

2010-04-23T13:30:00.002-07:00

We have green limestone in a shower. Within 6 months, the tiles were discoloring and the surface looked like it had soap scum/residue on it. The tiles on the front of the threshold began showing signs of spalling and developed a scaly finish. The top of the threshold looked like it had been walked on so much that the surface was worn away and didn't look like the other tiles at all.

Water Mark on Absolute Black Granite

2010-04-23T13:30:00.001-07:00

I would have a stone restoration professional look at it. I have dealt with these problems and was able to polish out with proper granite polishing compound and hand machine.

Water Mark on Absolute Black Granite

2010-04-23T13:30:00.000-07:00

We installed an absolute black granite countertop a few weeks ago. A guest put a glass with some water and ice cubes on the countertop and I left it there overnight, thinking it would do noo harm. In the morning when I removed the glass it left a circular watermark on the granite, the exact size of the glass. This was probably caused by condensation because the glass was dry before it was put

Laundry liquid stain on Granit Top

2010-04-22T13:30:00.004-07:00

HI, Unfortunately, I left the cap of the laundry cap on the granote top, which had some laundry dtergent on it and made a ring stain. I need some advice on how to remove the stain. Many thanks for any suggestions.

cracks in crema marfil counter

2010-04-22T13:30:00.003-07:00

Just had crema marfil installed on countertop in bathroom. When I picked out the slab it had no visable cracks. Now it was installed there are 2 cracks which are not veins and fissures since I can feel uneven edge. The fabricator says he can fix the cracks but I am concerned that they could get bigger over time. He refused to replace the slab - saying it is just part of the marble.

Crack in Granite Kitchen Countertop

2010-04-22T13:30:00.002-07:00

My wife had a crock pot on our counter top and the heat put a crack in it that runs about 7 inches in a Y shape. You can see it is raised a little bit but not bad. What do i need in order to fix this crack?

New slate shower

2010-04-22T13:30:00.001-07:00

If anyone reads this just to let you know I found my answer, thanks anyway.

New slate shower

2010-04-22T13:30:00.000-07:00

We just put in a slate shower. The shower has slate on the walls and also the floor. We have no problems yet but I was wondering on a daily basis how do we take care of it so that we don't get hard water marks etc? It is already sealed and ready to go. I am hoping to use it for the first time tomorrow. Should we wipe it down everytime we shower and with what should we use? I don't think a

black galaxy dulled at seams

2010-04-21T13:30:00.004-07:00

I just recently installed black galaxy kitchen countertops. Don't think the installers did a good job. Found that the area around the seams(which was sandpapered) are dulled and had no luster(even seems to be whitish). When I use the Method Daily Granite cleaner to clean around that part, it seems the luster came back but will disappear within seconds when it dries. 3 questions: 1. Should

fill limestone pits

2010-04-21T13:30:00.003-07:00

I have acid etched Jerusalem limestone. Love the look but want to fill voids/pits to use for bathroom vanity. Is there some clear polyurethane or anything I should use for this?Thanks,Ray

Desert Brown is hazy

2010-04-21T13:30:00.002-07:00

We had desert brown granite countertop installed about 3 months ago. when they installed them they looked like they where dirty. so we didn't think much about them at the time. after the installers left we went about cleaning them with soap and water. using what the installers told us. they came clean but never really shined like i have seen other granite counter tops do. so we called the

Cleaning Solution Damage to Slate

2010-04-21T13:30:00.001-07:00

Our brand new black slate hearth has been cleaned by an over enthusiasticfamily member, using FLASH cleaning spray (an all purpose bathroom/kitchencleaner) - one of the more powerful ones at that. Where the spray 'skooshed'onto the hearth, it's left a mark despite being wiped over straight away.Could anyone please advise what our best course of action is? We're not sure ifit's stained the slate

I live in Mexico and need help with countertops

2010-04-21T13:30:00.000-07:00

Hi Maurizio, I'm so happy I found your site. I am care taking a house in Mexico where they put in these lovely so called granite counter tops. I have since been told that they are marble. They were never sealed on the job site and I do not believe they were sealed before as they started spotting immediately. I was told by the installers to be very careful with lime. Go figure the owners put in

Want a seamless counter in UbaTub

2010-04-20T13:30:00.004-07:00

Can I get a seamless counter top that is 12 feet long in uba tuba? I hate the seam. What other material looks great that doesn't have a seam.

Inca Blue honed stone tiles

2010-04-20T13:30:00.003-07:00

What kind of stone is Inca Blue? We selected this beautiful stone for our bathroom walls and it was spectacular. However, after a few months, the stones began to show a pattern as if they had been wiped with something - swish marks. Over time, this has become worse and the tiles are definitely looking unevenly discolored with a dull whitish patina. This week we just realized that what

hmm.. i need some help about test report of lime

2010-04-20T13:30:00.002-07:00

I am just Start running a quarries in malaysia.. and this is my test report Silica as SiO2 <0.01 Aluminium as AI2O3 <0.01 Titanium as TiO2 <0.01 Iron as Fe2O3 0.03 Sodium as Na2O 0.12 Potassium as K2O 0.02 Calcium as CaO 54.44 Magnesium as MgO 0.62 Loss on Ignition as 1025°

help with stain on granite and choice of sealer

2010-04-20T13:30:00.001-07:00

Hello. Thank you very much for taking the time to answer questions. They seem to be so helpful. I have been trying to find ways to get rid of a grease stain, from my newly installed granite counter. (Imperial Coffee from Brazil). From what I have been reading, that could very well turn out to be some other kind of stone. I would appreciate your input on that. Even the people where we bought

Discolouring of Granite Kitchen Counter

2010-04-20T13:30:00.000-07:00

I had installed a grey/dark grey/ivory with purple flecs Granite counter top in my kitchen a year ago, I clean or wipe the counter areas with a dish cloth whenever anything is spilt or after cooking and eating. It was sealed prior to my installation, which seamed right as I did the water test after the install. Now I just noticed that when I moved the place mats that the color under them is

Hones black Granite

2010-04-19T13:30:00.004-07:00

Hello there: Love this website and forum. What an eye opener! Here's my issue: Just bought a house that has what I believe to be a honed black granite (it looks mostly like "Nero Black" (the look of it reminds me of the soapstone we used as kids in grammar school but with grey flecks embedded in the stone). So it had some discoloration in it (like a grey haze) and stains that didn't

Is engineered quartzite safe to use on floors

2010-04-19T13:30:00.003-07:00

Sorry if this is double posted, but I got a message saying it wasn't accepted because of some error in the subject heading... I am thinking of using engineered quartzite tiles for redoing my bathroom and kitchen floors. I understand that I should use a non- polished finish e.g. honed to maximize slip-resistance. But are there special installation or floor preparation directions that I should

Basalt

2010-04-19T13:30:00.002-07:00

We are considering basalt for our kitchen counter top. It is a dark grayish-black color and quite beautiful. I know all stones can etch from acids in foods. Has anyone ever deliberately etched basalt with a food-safe acid in order to uniformly etch the stone? What does it look like? Or, is it better to try and seal it (someone told me NOT to seal it)? Would one etch and then seal? Thanks

Is engineered quartzite tile safe to use 4 floor?

2010-04-19T13:30:00.001-07:00

Hi I am thinking of using engineered quartzite tiles for redoing my bathroom and kitchen floors. I understand that I should use a non- polished finish e.g. honed to maximize slip-resistance. When I was considering this a few years ago I came across a few websites that said quartzite tiles weren't recommended as flooring, but can't remember why, nor can I find those same sites. Now there

Water marks on quartz tiles

2010-04-19T13:30:00.000-07:00

How to remove water strains from quartz tiles?Thanks

Help, my black ga;axy countertop was overheated

2010-04-18T13:30:00.004-07:00

My mom accidentally put an overheated hot pan on our newly installed black galaxy countertop. Just about 15 seconds, after removing the hot pot, we noticed the stoned seemed to be whitened and left a faded ring. The surface has no crack at all. But the crystal inside the stone seemed to change the color from black to grey and white. The shape of the crystal also looks like broken glass. I

Advice wanted on granite choice

2010-04-18T13:30:00.003-07:00

We are doing a partial and very budget minded remodel of our kitchen. We've added a large window, moved some appliances and cabinets but we're keeping our old cabinets (white painted wood with nice glass doors on upper cabinets), floor (rubber or vinyl terracotta looking tile) and appliances (stainless refrigerator-new, stainless sink-large double with built in drainboards, white dishwashers,

Old stains in marble

2010-04-18T13:30:00.002-07:00

Hello all,We were asked to strip an old marble statue (which had been painted some decades ago and that had several coats of different types of paint on it). We finally got to the marble, just to find some dark and yellow stains imbeded in the stone. They don't seem to come out with commercial compresses and after washing.Our next step is trying to bleach them so they don't look so dark. Does

Water/Liquid Soap Stain - Gold Bage

2010-04-18T13:30:00.001-07:00

I've had my granite in my kitchen for about 5 years and have been good about annually applying sealer to it with products purchased at Home Depot. However, the area around the liquid soap dispenser has a darker color than the rest of the granite. I am due to seal the granite again as it has been a year, this time I went to the granite distributor for the sealer purchase. They suggested leaving

Is 1mm grouting indentation OK on travertine tile

2010-04-18T13:30:00.000-07:00

My wife and I are arguing on the finish of our new bathroom tiles. We have had travertine tiles installed with 2mm grouting gap. Today the installer has done the grouting but my wife is not happy because the grouting surface is roughly 1mm deeper than the tiles'. She says that it will be prone to develop mould but honestly I quite like the finish and I wouldn't like grouting and tiles to be

first time install with used granite,sry long read

2010-04-17T13:30:00.004-07:00

Hi, I am building a cabin a couple hundred miles away and was offered some granite (beats a laminate) that was installed in a kitchen so I went and removed it. It was a "L" shape and it lifted fine but broke on the corner of the "L". I was able to get it cut to the lengths I needed but have some repairs to do and not sure how. First question is how do i fill the butt joints where there are 2

Old stains in marble

2010-04-17T13:30:00.003-07:00

Hello all,We were asked to strip an old marble statue (which had been painted some decades ago and that had several coats of different types of paint on it).We finally got to the marble, just to find some dark and yellow stains imbeded in the stone. They don't seem to come out with commercial compresses and after washing.Our next step is trying to bleach them so they don't look so dark. Does

scratches on outdoor limestone pavers

2010-04-17T13:30:00.002-07:00

I have a step tread will some small scratches. The stone is quarried withg a natural split finish. It has a very dark surface color, so the scratches appear MUCH lighter. Any help greatly appreciated findstone2009-10-22 13:18:36

marble damage

2010-04-17T13:30:00.001-07:00

Argh. I was using phosphoric acid cleaner for floor tile grout. Was about done when I inadvertently set the bottle on the counter, thinking it was dry. It was not. I now have 3 dulled areas (fortunately, the color was not affected) on my marble countertop. Any remedies (short of never doing this again) or must I call in a professional?

Dilemna in stone selection

2010-04-17T13:30:00.000-07:00

Dear Sir/Madam (s),I live in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India which is a very dusty city. Maintenance of granite and marble would be too difficult and I do not like the texture of polished granite or marble. Other members of my family like it though, so we may go in for granite or marble in the living room but such polished stone would look out of place in my bedrooms and dining room. I have the

Crack or fissure in Ubatuba?

2010-04-16T13:30:00.004-07:00

Hello,We bought a new house with granite countertops. I am told the countertops are Ubatuba.A month after move in, we noticed a 5 1/4" crack. It begins at the sink, and appears to run all the way through the granite. I've attached a picture.The builder won't replace the slab. They came out to "repair" it once, and it made no difference. This picture you see is post-repair. They've offered to "

Crack or fissure in Ubatuba?

2010-04-16T13:30:00.003-07:00

The repair is very poor. The area should be properly rodded. Steel rods are supposed to be embedded in the stone at critical areas like sinks. If repaired properly, and with steel rods to prevent the crack from getting worse, I think the counter top can be saved. The bottom line is that the job is not correct until you are happy with it. If repaired properly I would accept the piece. Perhaps the