Labrador Antique Granite

I recently had a Labrador Antique Countertop installed in my kitchen and the top has a far different appearance from the slab I was shown. The surface has extensive "pitting" (approximately 15-20 marks per four square inches) across all of the surfaces. The pits are even rough to the touch, almost like sandpaper and especially when you use your fingernail. I had the installer and distributor out today and the distributor indicated that this was normal especially for Labrador Antique as it is not very common. I disagreed and they felt it was a personal preference. From any angle, the counter never apperas clean and always looks marred. I was wondering if anybody had experience with Labrador Antique and if in fact this is normal? Also, is there any "Granite Quality Experts" I could consult (Dallas TX perhaps?) Is there any governing group over stone quality? Thanks.

stainless steel dishes clean. Help!

Its hard time to keep my stainless steel appliances clean. I have been trying numerous household products to clean my dishes and wished to see no mark remains on them. But i have failed. Please help with some product that is gentle and that helps me to get rid off the marks on my dishes.

whitish rings on black stone

Dear Maurizio,
I've been reading many of the posts on the findstone page in order to find the best solution for my problem. The story is one that you have probably have heard multiple times....our more-than-competent kitchen contractor never communicated to us that our new stone (granite) needed to be sealed after installation. Alas, the stone has developed off-white rings/stains within one month!!!! The stones color is black with some very fine gray specs (almost fully black...see attached pictures). I have already tried your peroxide and talc poultice with no success after 2 days of drying.

I contacted a local stone professional and after seeing the attached pictures, they are suggesting that I strip the entire surface since the stains are due to a wearing process of a factory installed enhancer on black stone, and the spots cannot be addressed individually....of course their estimate was more than generous (500-600.....american!!!)

Any thoughts, suggestions, direction??? Can I still do this myself...being that the estimate is way out of my budget?? Any help would be much appreciated.

Carlos Martinez

granite in water?

    We have put barstools in our pool and I would like to put granite tops on them. Is that ok? Lisa

supports for overhang

Hi, I'm new to the forum and need some advice.

I've just had granite counter tops installed. It's 1-7/32 in. thick.  It has a 20 in. overhang.  the overhang is actually a curve of about 120 degrees over a standard rectangular cabinet (approx. 24 in. wide).  The 20 in. overhang runs a distance of about 50 in. on one side and 40 in. on the end. (Basically a big ellipse hanging off one side and the end). 
We plan to use corbels to support it.  My question is what size and spaced how far apart?
The installer recommended 2 six in. corbels on the corner, one to support the side span and one to support the end span.

 
Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks Mike 

Re: Granite install issues

Hey guys,

We just redid our kitchen and had new 1 1/4" thick absolute black granite installed.

Anyhow,

A couple of problems came up:

1. One of the seams is not colored right part of the way through...

2. the bullnosed edge on our island looks messed up, the pics explain it... the rest of the bullnose profile on the counters is nice and round / sharp, this section, its like they ground the stone too much or something.

3. One of the seams in the back is raised... installer said it was the best he could do cause the stone was warped...

Are these issues to be expected or would you get the installer to fix these things?

I imagine the bullnose issue means the granite needs to be pulled out and replaced... how does an installer break the seams etc?


Your input is greatly appreciated!findstone2009-07-25 10:50:36

Toronto Granite Countertop

Toronto Granite Countertop

Monsu Design is one of Greater Toronto's premier stone specialists. Over the past few years, we have evolved from being solely cutting Granite and Marble counter-tops to importing, designing and cutting of a whole range of Granite and Marble products. Last year alone, we have served hundreds of homes in Toronto and beyond. We will turn your kitchen to be your pride and joy with our unique design and state of the art modern craftsmanship.

    findstone2009-07-25 10:49:47

Absolute Black: scaring and bleaching

Hi,
I recently had Absolute Black granite installed in my kitchen. After installation I sealed the granite with 511 sealer from Home Depot. Ive only used the counter a few times and we immediately had waterspots and rings from bottles. My girlfriend used the green side of a sponge to try to remove one of the spots (thinking it was just dirty) and now there is a large dull/scratched spot where the finish seems to be worn away. I don't think that the finish could be worn away so easy with a plastic sponge, so Im wondering if we recieved something other than granite. Anyways, here are the pictures and please ignore the light reflections.

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f10/pharcydeabc/AbsoluteBlackGranite008.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f10/pharcydeabc/AbsoluteBlackGranite007.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f10/pharcydeabc/AbsoluteBlackGranite004.jpg

Commercial Building Maintenance

We are doing up our new house and our bathroom needs new
skirting board bearing in mind we're planning to have a vinyl flooring. findstone2009-07-25 10:52:19

proper sealing & installation of crab orchard

Hi! I recently had crab orchard steps and a front stoop installed. Within a week, the steps developed black dots and the stoop developed large black areas. it appeared to be mold. an interesting side note is that a piece of crab orchard stored in the garage also developed mold. (so that seems to rule out faulty installation as the cause.) the contractor has cleaned the areas with an acid wash. it helped significantly but black stains and the black dots remain. could the root cause be shipping the stones without proper cleaning? or perhaps do to improper sealing (does crab orchard need to be sealed?) also, any advice on next steps? thank you for your help. any info would be greatly appreciated.   

Sandstone Patio

I have a sandstone patio here at my 80-year-old Cleveland, Ohio, home. The patio was re-done last year, but using the old stone that has been here forever. Several stones have moss on them and are very slick. A few have some black spots that look like mildew. I've heard everything from blast-'em-with-a-pressure-washer to get-a-scrub-brush-and-some-bleach for cleaning recommendations. What is the best thing to use, and how often does the patio need to be cleaned?    

Anyone know anything about schist?

I'm in the process of renovating a house and looking for countertop material for the kitchen as well as a small bar area in the living room. I found a schist that I really like (Saturnia Cosmus), but I don't know anything about schist.

- Anyone know what the strength/durability is for schist? Is it appropriate for kitchen countertops (and the associated wear and tear)?

- If so, would 2cm be okay, or would we need to go with 3cm?

- I'm also looking at a brazilian granite that I like, just not quite as much as the schist. What would be the pros/cons of choosing the schist over the granite?

- Ihave a small sample of the schist from the stone yard. Are there any scratch/stain/chip/crack/etc. tests that I should do to the sample to see if the schist is durable enough for a kitchen?

Thanks in advance for any advice or insight. It's a big purchase and I'd hate to get it wrong.

Costs for Travertine Pool Deckin

    I'm working with a local landscape architect to build and install an 850sq ft. pool with decking and other areas of hardscaping. In total, it looks like about   2700 sq ft of hardscaping is needed. Can anyone give me a good idea of what the sq ft. cost would be to do a job like this in travertine pool decking materials. I realize that the type I choose will influence costs, but I am just looking for a realistic estimate of what labor costs should be and materials (either total or per sq. ft). Thanks in advance for any thoughts and assistance!

i want to stain sandstone

hi there everyone and anyone that can help with advice on this one. i have some grey sandstone that i cleved  into slice and wish to use it as a sort of veneer on a  feature wall.  i tried to see if i could change the colour and using an oil base wood stain i got a really cool effect.  my only concern is that i should either seal the stone or coat it. with the stain being and oil base is this even possible???

desperate for advice

Travertine Floor

Hello, we are building our new home and really loved the look of Travertine.

Is travertine a good choice for flooring in regards to wear and tear ?

We are worried that the holes would be natural magnets for all sorts of dirt.

Also it seems to be a softer marble compared to some solid stones like
serpe giante (whose price is very expensive).

I was also thinking of using an impregnator sealer and after all pores
have been sealed, to apply a surface epoxy sealer as an extra film to
prevent dust getting into the natural holes....

Any of your expert advises would be very much appreciated.

many thanks in advance,

Clarence, Indonesia

alochol etching stain

How do I remove a vodka alochol etching stain from absolute black granite?

Fissures and Green blue lines

I just had installed "Lady Dream" granite about 3-4 weeks ago. It was beautiful. There was a fissure line in the stone located on the breakfast bar, about 20" lone and then stops. I was told it would buff out and was normal.
WEll, about 4 days after the install, slight green-blue shaded spots started to appear. Then about every 2 days, they got worse and more. Now they form a line that goes one inch way from the fissure and run the length of the fissure plus, in front of the sink there is a line starting and on the drain board side, two line much like "fingers". I have not cleaned it or done anything. The original contractor has tried several things with no real impact. He thinks it is mold but not sure and I think it might be copper. Both the contractor and the fabricator say they have never seen this. They are frustrated and I left a message last week telling them this was not acceptable. I am not getting any reply back from them. Anybody ever have dealings with this before? I picked the slab at the fabricators and saw nothing like I have now.

Many thanks,
Susan
scottemf@aol.com

What is the durability of these stones?

Hi all!

I'm looking to remodel my bathroom and have decided on a granite countertop for the vanity (49" x 22" slab). My last experiance with granite was my kitchen where I had "Blue Starlight" installed and it is held up great over the past two years.

In the bathroom however there will be more water and perhaps makup / hairspray spills (from the wife [IMG]height=17 alt=Embarrassed http://forums.findstone.com/smileys/smiley9.gif" width=17 align=absMiddle> ) so I want to make sure that the granite I am looking at are as non-pourous as my kitchen slabs.

Here are the four I am looking at from the place where I bought my kitchen granite from, but I will probably buy somewhere else as it would seem that their "15 year sealer" is snake oil as per a prior post from Maurizio so I figure I will get it where ever it is cheapest! I have ordered samples and will do some tests but I would appreciate any opinions you may have.

Canelle

Shadow Grey

Platinum Blue

Blue Opal

Thanks!

    findstone2009-07-13 19:52:20

real granite

    Is Golden Lace a true granite and does it need sealing

Rust Stain or Oxidation? Any Help???

Heelo,

I am a fabricator in Arizona and I need some assistance. I have a client who is having a problem with her bathroom counter top. Here are the details:

the stone is giallo ornamental 2cm granite.

problem: she has a rust colored stain or oxidation coming out of her stone on the surface of the counter top. it seems to be following a natural vein. the problem is it is starting to turn the vein this rusty color. there is a small chip, about the size of 2 pinheads by the faucet about 2" near the sink bowl. The rust seems to start from there but is now moving along this vein. she thinks water is seeping into this chip and that it is following the vein and turning it a rusty color as well. I have not seen this before.

Does anyone have any advice on how to stop this from spreading or possibly remove the staining??? thanks in advance.

Jim

Keeping travertine clean

We put honed travertine throughout our house when we built it 3 and 1/2 years ago. I hear everyone say they love their travertine so I can only guess we are doing something really wrong because we absolutely hate it. The travertine butts up to each other and where the "grout lines" are, it gets filthy. The only way to keep it looking half way descent is to scrub every line with a scrub brush. We tried sealing half of it to see if that helped with the problem but it didn't. Maybe we used the wrong grout? Not sure. I am at the end of my rope with trying to keep it clean looking. Anything you could tell us would be greatly appreciated....    

Candle Wax Stain on Soapstone Countertop

I have an outside kitchen countertop made of soapstone (unoiled) that I love. Several candles accidentally dripped over and left a dark mark on the stone. Can you tell me how to get them out? I tried acetone but that didn't take it out.I tried boiling water but that did not work.   Do I need to make a poultice? And if so, what should the poultice be made of? Thanks in advance for your help.

Tennessee Crab Orchard for an outdoor countertop?

       My wife and I live in the Dallas area and we very much like the look of some of the Tennessee Crab Orchard, as well as some stone called Rainbow and
Teakwood stone samples we've seen.
We are building a sizeable outdoor kitchen area, and would like to know if these types of stone would make a good counter top.
Your responses to an earlier question on Crab Orchard sandstone was that is was a fairly dense
and hard sandstone. Is it tough enough to handle the constant Texas sun/weather and the stresses my kids and guests would put on it?
Note that it will not be covered or protected from the elements.
We assume we would have to use a good penetrating sealer and possibly have to apply it yearly or biannually.
Foot note: The sides of the outdoor kitchen will be an Oklahoma flagstone veneer, that matches our pools 18" raised beam/edge and the retaining wall set back and around the pool.

We've looked at Granite and cement counter tops, but the sandstones seem to have a great deal more character and color variations. I also want a material that would not radiate enough heat to cook eggs on, especially in our 100+ degree summers.

We look forward to your guidance on this topic.

Rust Like Stain

Heelo,

I am a fabricator in Arizona and I need some assistance. I have a client who is having a problem with her bathroom counter top. Here are the details:

the stone is giallo ornamental 2cm granite.

problem: she has a rust colored stain or oxidation coming out of her stone on the surface of the counter top. it seems to be following a natural vein. the problem is it is starting to turn the vein this rusty color. there is a small chip, about the size of 2 pinheads by the faucet about 2" near the sink bowl. The rust seems to start from there but is now moving along this vein. she thinks water is seeping into this chip and that it is following the vein and turning it a rusty color as well. I have not seen this before.

Does anyone have any advice on how to stop this from spreading or possibly remove the staining??? thanks in advance.

Jim

Sandstone for an outdoor kitchen counter top?

    My wife and I live in the Dallas area and we very much like the look of some of the Tennessee Crab Orchard, as well as some stone called Rainbow and
Teakwood stone samples we've seen.
We are building a sizeable outdoor kitchen area, and would like to know if these types of stone would make a good counter top.
Your responses to an earlier question on Crab Orchard sandstone was that is was a fairly dense
and hard sandstone. Is it tough enough to handle the constant Texas sun/weather and the stresses my kids and guests would put on it?
Note that it will not be covered or protected from the elements.
We assume we would have to use a good penetrating sealer and possibly have to apply it yearly or biannually.
Foot note: The sides of the outdoor kitchen will be an Oklahoma flagstone veneer, that matches our pools 18" raised beam/edge and the retaining wall set back and around the pool.

We've looked at Granite and cement counter tops, but the sandstones seem to have a great deal more character and color variations. I also want a material that would not radiate enough heat to cook eggs on, especially in our 100+ degree summers.

We look forward to your guidance on this topic.

mildew on crab orchard

Hope someone can help with below question:

I resently had a new stoop installed (January) with crab orchard and noticed at installation there were little gray/black spots on some of the stone. Since instalation I noticed that the staining has spread. It looks like mildew to me. Any advice on how to remove the spots if it is mildew or any next steps.
   

Limestone preservation/conservation

    Hi, I'm doing a project in Görlitzer park, Berlin.
In 1998 it was built a huge fountain in portugese limestone, and because of the climate conditions in Germany it broke down the first winter.
Ever since, it has been an argument over responsabilty in the courts.
My interest here is to do what I can do preserve these 'ruins', because as a public feature, the fountain still works. So what I'm wondering is how could it be possible to seal it to prevent any further erosion? Is there any kinds of paint etc. i have no idea if this would even be possible on such a large scale.


Görlitzer park
here's a link with some photos and a bit of info.

All help is recieved with great thanks!

All the best

David Prytz
MA European Arts Practice
Kingston University, London

Hard Water Stains Tips

Hi everybody! This is Andy and I have something to share with you regarding water stains. If you are suffering from hard water stains, I know some secret formula that would help you eliminate hard water stains.findstone2009-06-26 13:30:31

sandstone

   I would be very grateful if anyone could tell me how to remove teak oil from my sandstone patio. Thank you

How to remove rust/reddish stain

Our patio/porch slate floor has a rust or reddish stain that is growing and spreading over the slate.  We have used water and soap trying to clean it but not successful.  Appreciate any advice on how to clean/remove this stain.  It appears to be some type of mold or fungus but not sure.

 

Vashtie

UBATUBA

Uba Tuba often has black spots in it.  As with all natural stone there is going to be variations in color and pattern.  That is why it's important to inspect the piece that will become your countertop thoroughly before fabrication.

All granite needs to be sealed to protect against staining.  Sealers have come a long way in recent years and are easy to apply and can last for many years.

Here is a link to some FAQs about granite countertops.

http://stonehousekitchens.net/?page_id=41

A quick search of the web will produce much more info about the maintenance granite coutertops as well.

Building with Sandstone

Recently the house next door to ours was demolished.  Much of the historic home used sandstone for the foundation and the proprietor was kind enough to allow me to have it.  I have several sandstone blocks that I would like to use in an outdoor project, but am not familiar with the stone, nor with the type of mortar I should use to ensure a good bond.  I would like to build an outdoor fire pit or a fireplace, but am not sure if sandstone is the right material to use for this.  It sounds like it is not good stone to use for pavers but must be decent for building.  Can anyone provide advice on building with this stone?

UBATUBA

Hello, I just had my kitchen counters done with Ubatuba granite and it was supposedly from a piece that was left over in their yard. After they left I noticed a large solid black spot -- it almost looks like someone used a paint brush on it. I can still see "sparkles" coming thru. The granite people told me this is a normal "flaw" in the material. Is this correct? Also, how do I clean this product? From what I've read I guess I should not be using ordinary detergent. Also do I need to seal this product. thanks kbroph

Cracks & Seams

I am a fabricator with my own shop so I hope I know a little about these subjects.

Everywhere I look in the forums there are people asking for help with cracks and poor seams. There is too much bad workmanship going on out there and it is really hurting fabricators who still take pride in their work.

A little helpful information for anyone considering granite:

1) Seams will always be visible but can certainly be minimized. A good seam will be tight, color matched, not have chips, and level. It takes good equipment and experience but it can be done. Ask to see an installation where there is a seam. If you don't like it, go to another fabricator.

2) Cracks are not a natural part of the stone. Fissures do exist but they are usually filled with resin during processing. Cracks aroung the sink and cooktop are fatal. A good installer will install metal rods in the areas in front and behind these areas to help reduce the chances of cracking. The stone should be installed on level counters so that all areas of the stone are properly supported. Again, go to the fab shop and see if they install rodding.

I encourage customers to visit so they can see the amount of work it requires to fabricate a quality product.

Fashionable colours for granite worktops

Hi all 

In the past few years I have spoken to many people who either are looking at purchasing or who have purchased black granite worktops for their home.

When I was studying many many moons ago, I looked at travel and tourism and i was taught a saying; tourism destroys tourism.

Don't you think the exact same could be said for any fashionable product or product - in this case being black granite.

Recently I have seen a real upsurge in the popularity of brown granite; in actual fact, I wrote an article on brown granite worktops a few weeks back and since writing the article I have spoken to a dozen more people who have also been interested - saying things like; "I just want something different to my friends kitchen".

I remember about 8 years ago thought that brown granite was the rage... Now it seems to be back.. Have any of you found this?

I must say though that there have been a number of other consumers, who have asked me about other colours, but although there is probably a long way to go before brown granite worktops take over, I do think that the days of black stone being the fashionable choice, are numbered!

Just my thoughts 

flagstone in a pool

    What is the formula to make the thinset, to lay flagstone underwater? I am trying to lay flagstone on the bottom and the walls of my underground pool. I would like to mix 1/2 sack of masonary cement and 16 shovels of sand. I would like to know what to mix with it to hold under water to withstand freeze and thaw.
Thank you very much, Wade Gee

slate in cold climate

Can I use slate in a cold climates such as Noway ?

cat urine stain

    Nasty, I know. We kept our cats' litter box on the white cultured marble ledge by the bathtub. We didn't realize they were missing the litter box sometimes. The cultured marble is now stained yellow. Has anyone else ever had this type of stain? Any suggestions? Thanks.

Marble, travertine or limestone? (Tippi- Pakistan)

Hi
Just had a few floors laid in our villa with a product sold to us as marble but locally known as Tippi, I am totally confused as to what it actually is, ie marble, travertine or limestone.

The central motif in the picture is about 12feet wide with differant onyx and marbles, The surrounding 12x18inch tiles are the "Tippi" referred to



Many thanks and excuse my ignorance

thinset/flagstone for a pool

    What is the formula to make the thinset, to lay flagstone underwater? I am trying to lay flagstone on the bottom and the walls of my underground pool. I would like to mix 1/2 sack of masonary cement and 16 shovels of sand. I would like to know what to mix with it to hold under water to withstand freeze and thaw.
Thank you very much, Wade Gee

blue bahia

i have blue bahia for an kitchen island counter top. it is less then a year old and is showing stains and has something that looks  white and kind of crystal like showing on the surface. any ideas what may be going on here?  thanks

Fabricated vs. prefabricated

    I heard from some fabricators that prefab granite is cheaper, lower quality than fabricated. But, whether slab or prefab counter top, doesn't depend where and how the granite is processed in the first place. I live near China and plan on importing granite from there, I am looking at SGS certified vendors. Anything I should be wary of? Some of the articles I have read on this forum, is that China is either 1 or 2nd in processing granite. Is this true?

jerusalem stone spaulding

Ive been refinishing stone for 16 yrs. and have not seen so many jerusalem stone floors spalding and basically destroying the surface. I live in florida which is  of course under sea level, which means a lot of moisture for a sub flooring. why and what would your best solution be for this problem for majority of them being a high polish.

 

 I've been seeing a lot of these floors that have been installed at least five years ago starting from 2004, and have seen them start spalding after 8 months from installation. The only reason ive come up with is either a stone mineral defect because of the moisture or a factory fault.

 

 And also I know there are a lot of stones coming from the factory from a saw cut finish going straight to epoxy fill and the polishing, by them cutting out steps there are a lot of people that have crema, travertine and other soft stones that are peeling from the edge. Have you heard of these problems and do you think they are related.

 

 

black galaxy granite headstone

Hello,
 
i found this site,  findstone.com, and have read through some of the Q&A's. But i did not see anything  specific to the care of granite, when it is used, not as a counter top, but as a headstone.
i tragically lost my 18 1/2 year old son on October 5th, 2008, due to the hazing rituals associated with fraternities, and after careful consideration, i decided on the 'black galaxy' granite, had it formed into a 3-part bench,  and it came from India.
the stone was installed in Tucson Arizona, and this is a very dry climate. however the cemetery where my son is buried, waters the grass, at the least, in his section, every other day with well water, which leaves horrid water spots on the stone.
as of now, my sister and i re-wet the stone, then polish till our arms are ready to fall off, only to still have spots. i was told by some to 'not put any compound on the stone as it is living' and by others 'that it was ok to seal the stone' i am beyond confused about the care of the stone. i intend to take care of it for a long time to come, and want it to retain its beauty throughout time.
i would really appreciate any help that you  would be willing to share.

please reply one way or the other i really need the help

Thank you all so much
Stacy

Apparent Heat Crack in Granite Countertop

We just had granite countertops installed for the first time ever. We love the look, but about a month after moving back in, we noticed a 6-inch crack in the granite in about the middle of the slab running to the edge. We called the installer and supplier who looked at it and they claimed they were stumped by this crack. The installer insisted that we must have been standing on the countertop, which of course we were not. He sealed it and said that it should not grow in size.

The mystery was solved when I was cooking pancakes with an electric griddle on the countertop a week or two later. The electric fry pan sits about 2 inches off the counter and was heated to 350 F. I felt and heard a crack as I was cooking and sure enough, there it was - a new 4-inch crack to the edge. This solved the mystery of the other crack, which was located where I had used my electric wok at a similar temperature. I was led to believe that heat was the least of my worries with granite, as it can quite often withstand heat from pots set directly on it, or even a blowtorch (things I would never do). But these were electric appliances at 350 F. Is this a common occurence? I spoke with the installer/supplier and told him of the discovery and he seemed pleased that we solved the mystery, but insists that there is no defect in the granite. IS this a defect? He has no intention of replacing the granite (He'd have to replace the entire countertop for color matching), but would we have a case for legal action? If this is a common problem, I guess it's our fault, or if this always happens, fine. But I am looking for peace of mind that says either there's nothing I can do, or that I should insist on replacement. I would never have chosen granite if I knew it was so fragile - everything I read said it had an amazing ability to withstand heat. Can anyone offer some advice? Answers? The truth may hurt, but it would be greatly appreciated. Thank You!

Prefab Countertops

My wife and I recently purchased a house and plan on resurfacing the bathroom counter tops. We prefer to go with prefab granite as it is easier to get and less expensive. In particular, we really like the color pallet of China Gold for the master bath. We also like Black Galaxy for the other bathrooms and laundry room.  We are also considering Blue Pearl and Paradiso. I've read good things on this forum about Blue Pearl. I've yet to see much on the other stones. I am mostly concerned with China Gold. It's very low cost has me concerned about the quality and the lack of solid info on the web makes me even more concerned. Do we have reason to be worried about China Gold, Black Galaxy and/or Paradiso? Thank you in advance for your input.

Seal Brown Pearl? Volcano?

[QUOTE=BrownPearl]We recently installed Brown Pearl granite and Volcano granite countertops. Do these need to be sealed?[/QUOTE]

 

Hi there BrownPeal

 

As far as I have always been aware; all granite's need to be sealed.

 

If the granite is not sealed then the stone could be easily stained by products such as; coke, oil and acidic juices.

 

To add; I have heard that quartz stone does not require sealing, but we always do regardless.

 

I hope this helps?

 

Alan

best granite for bathrooms

hi i am not good at building materials knowledge can you advise me which one will be the best for bathrooms.. Should use granite in their or not.
findstone2009-06-05 11:48:04

Seal Brown Pearl? Volcano?

We recently installed Brown Pearl granite and Volcano granite countertops. Do these need to be sealed?

chipped slate table

I have a black slate table which was chipped in the corner (dropped during move).  The chip really stands out not only because there is an obvious chuck missing but also because of the color difference between the chipped surface and the non chipped surface.  Is there anything I can do relatively cheaply to fix this chip?  it is an expensive table and it is driving me crazy. and if there is nothing I can do, what would be the price tag to have a professional come in to fix it?  thank you!

Terrazzo

I have terrazzo floors in my "new" mid-century Florida house I am in process of buying. Because I prefer a softer look between matte and semi-gloos, I plan to wax the floors after a thorough cleaning with a neutral cleaner. My question is this--what brand or type of wax has a neutral pH and will be appropriate to use? Carnumba, for instance, is slightly acidic. Thanks for your reply, and wish me luck with my new floor, which I have only peeked at underneath the current owner's wall to wall. Who knows what lurks beneath! I must say, it certainly is difficult to find out about rejuvenating terrazzo here on the Net--good for you to host this forum. Any information you can provide will be cheerfully and gratefully appreciaated. Thanks a million!

Carolinda Brooks
Winter Park Florida
    

Black Composite Granite Sink

We just had a black composite granite sink installed. It had white haze/white streaks on it (prior to installation). Is this normal? I was told it came from being around the other granite products. It looks like hard water stains to me. Any recommendations on cleaning it? Should it be sealed like granite countertops?

Granite Pool Wall - Calcium?

Hi - We have a pool that was dug into the side of the hill in our back yard.  As a result, we have about 3 feet of raised wall above the pool on one side which we covered in beautiful granite.  A few years later the granite is not so beautiful . it has white streaks and in some areas a significant buildup of white "chunks".  We assume this is calcium build-up.   Any suggestions for how to clean?  We have estimates from a tile cleaning company for $700 to shoot glass beads at it ... looking for something a little more economical.  Help - we have a party at our house in 4 weeks and our granite wall is embarrassing.

Travertine set in concrete for pool deck

I would appreciate some advice on the best way to set travertine in a concrete pool deck. The current advice is to poor the concrete slab with forms for the travertine and then wet set the travertine into the formed areas. The travertine would be sealed after it is set.
I have read about issues with the porous nature of travertine and I am not sure if this is the best way.
Should drains be placed under the travertine leading to the gravel under the concrete slab?
Thanks.

Mosaic Tavertine Backsplash

   HELP.. I am about to install tumbled marble tavertine 1 x 1 inch mosaic backsplash in the kitchen and a counter top on some old built in cabinets in the living room ..(light use area)...I have some questions and would greatly appreciate any advice...
can I put the tile directly over the painted wall? what is the best stuff to use?? How true to the color it looks is grout?? when dry is it lighter?? darker??
do I have to have a substrate (cement board?) for the countertop? Looks like most advise is to go ahead and let the grout fill the nooks and crannies... and that I should use unsanded grout.. does anyone know where I can see a picture of sealed vs enhanced tavertine? so I seal the tavertine (or enhance it) then grout.. then seal it all again, right?? I have a tile nipper... if I had to split the 1 inch tiles .. is that what I use?? I was going to do a broken china mosaic.. but fell in love with the scabos tavertine you can see the same stuff on ebay, one big concern is that I do not want to loose any of the color.. how do I protect it?? what would enhancing do to it?? Thank you to anyone who can offer advise!!
    findstone2009-05-29 12:06:30

LImestone pits

    Any advice for new owners of Jerusalem Gold limestone countertop ?

We just got a new JG kitchen countertop - it is beautiful. We are newbies in this stone countertop field and are looking for good advice.

1) The surface has few small pits on it. Should we ask the contractor to fill them or just live with them. Is this normal with JG ? The contractor is not returning our calls, which is a bad sign.

2) One piece has a silky surface texture while the other feels rougher. Is this normal ?

3) Any recommendations for a good sealer? How ofthen should we seal the countertop ?

Any advice will be greatly appreciated

Distressed     

water stains

My new "granite" counter top has water rings from where a glass was sitting on it.  When my husband purchased them, nobody told him he needed to seal them.  They are sending someone to buff out the stain tomorrow.....will this work?   Then, it gets worse because as I was clearing the counter for the buffing tomorrow, I dropped a heavy piece of crystal and chipped the same section of counter.  Can they buff that as well or is all of this just going to be a mess??  The color is "Blue in the night", which is black with blue flecks in it.

marble spots from toothpaste?

    Is there something in toothpaste (e.g., silica or pepermint oils, etc) that would etch a marble vanity surface if not wiped up promptly? Our granddaughters use our sinks to clean their teeth when they are here and we have noticed distinct spots around the sink bowls where the glossy finish is now dull.

Limestone moisture marks

I have finished setting some 18X18 limestone tiles
using the Granite and Stone thin set sold by Home Depot. The thin set is the
"white", "premium" grade stuff. Much to my surprise, the pattern of the thin
set mortar is visible through the thickness of the tiles. I initially assumed
it was water wicking through the porous limestone and I figured it would
eventually evaporate and that would be the end of it. It has now been 2 weeks
and the patterns are still quite obvious. Have I not waited long enough? I know
the limestone tiles take quite a while to dry out when exposed to water, but
this seems like it should have cleared up by now. If it doesn't clear up, do
you think an enhancer might cover up the effect? At this point, I have not put
anything on the surface. Any thoughts or advice would be highly appreciated.findstone2009-05-29 12:04:05

stains

My new "granite" counter top has water rings from where a glass was sitting on it.  When my husband purchased them, nobody told him he needed to seal them.  They are sending someone to buff out the stain tomorrow.....will this work?   Then, it gets worse because as I was clearing the counter for the buffing tomorrow, I dropped a heavy piece of crystal and chipped the same section of counter.  Can they buff that as well or is all of this just going to be a mess??  The color is "Blue in the night", which is black with blue flecks in it.  I have also posted this under "water stains" category