lemon citrus stain on travertine

    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 stains are about 3 weeks old and the tiles were never sealed they are rough not smooth polished.

Granite

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

    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 etc.

looking forward to your answers

thanks

Baltic Brown Granite

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

    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

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

    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?

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 further with lemon juice applied for 30mins, 60mins and 12 hours (refer LemonTen30Sixty12hrs.jpg showing 10, 30, 60mins and 12hrs from left to right). I asked the supplier why this is happened because granite should not be affected at all by any acid other than hydrofluoric acid. His reply is as follows:

 "Spoke to the manufacturer and there is no coating of any kind whatsoever on your granite tiles, they are pure granite, they have not even been sealed, only polished. The tiles have come from the most highly regarded manufacturer and none of their products have any coatings on them.

They have done an investigation on your tile and have said:

Your particular granite tiles are not 100% non porous, they are the tiniest amount porous (0.03 to 1 porous) and will therefore need to seal your tiles.

The reason you got the mark is because the acid is eating away at the 'oxide' in the granite, it has nothing to do with having a coating of any sort on the tile."

I did a similar test on a sample of Black Galaxy from a different supplier and found there was no mark after 30mins for lemon juice or white vinegar. However, there was a slight mark left after I let some lemon juice and white vinegar total dry after 24 hrs over a very hot day (refer DryLemonVinegarOtherSup.jpg).

I have heard that wetting the back of the tile reveals the true colour. I submerged the tile in water for six hours face down in a paint tray and put another tile face up next to it (refer BackFrontColorDiff.jpg). There is a significant difference. However, the sample from the different supplier seamed to be even lighter when submerged and placed on top of the tile (refer OtherSupBackColorDiff.jpg).

There doesn't seem to been any substance on the side of the tiles to indicate any doctoring (refer SideColor.jpg).

I put hydrochloric acid on half of one tile and let it stand for 24 hrs to see how bad acid could discolour the tile as a worst case scenario. The standing hydrochloric acid turned yellow (refer Hydrochloric acid on tile.jpg). I wiped it off (being careful not to get any acid on the other half of the tile) with a white rag and it turned it yellow (refer Stained rag.jpg). I put the rag on the clothes line to dry and when it did the yellow almost totally disappeared (refer Dried rag.jpg). I then hosed down the tile with water (again being careful not to get any acid on the other half of the tile). The tile was very grey where the acid was but also went significant grey where there was no acid presumably just from the acid fumes (refer Tested and untested tile.jpg). I did not dilute the acid which was the strongest type from the hardware store (i.e. probably 30%).

The acid may have etched the tile as its reflective ability seems slightly diminished (refer Reflection.jpg). The surface feels noticeably rougher than the untested section when running a rag across it with your finger.

I put hydrochloric acid on another sample of Black Galaxy from a different supplier and let it dry for 72 hours over very hot weather (refer DryHCLOtherSup.jpg). I wiped off the substance with a white cloth (refer Dry HCLWipedOff.jpg). This sample was significantly greyed.

Could there just be a colour enhancer or resin coming off the tiles? There does not appear to be any case for resining the tiles (other than to change the colour) as the tiles seam to be solid and free of imperfections.

 

I did the olive oil test over night on the HCL tested tile and HCL tested piece from another supplier. It darkened the greyed area almost instantaneously (refer Oil test after1min.jpg). I left it overnight (refer Oil test after 12hrs.jpg). I vigorously cleaned both pieces with a soft sponge and dish washing detergent and couldn't get the stain out (refer Oil stained tile.jpg and Oil stained Other Sup.jpg). I would imaging the MC will do the same thing as the HCL and make the stone more pervious. At the moment I do not have to seal the tiles, I like the colour, but will have to be careful with acids. If I strip the tiles I will have to seal them and do not like the colour.

It seams that whatever is darkening the tiles, be it colour enhancer or resin, is also sealing the tiles. I'm tending to want to put them down as they are and work out a way to best maintain them. To best do that I need to know what is providing the colour.

If I do the oil test on the back of the tile and it does not stain, does that mean it has been resined? Or is the resin just applied to the face and not right through the tile? If I knew that, I could try and source some resin and just re-apply it as needed to maintain the current look.

Or if it has been resined, does this mean the tile doesn't breath? If this is the case I can just put a topical acid resistant clear coat to maintain the finish.

How do I determine if the tile has just been colour enhanced on the face? If I knew this I could just source similar colour enhancer and re apply as needed to maintain the finish.

Will the MC react with the stone like the HCL or will it just strip the colour enhancer of and will I be able to see the stuff on a white rag after wiping the MC off?

 Does anyone know what pH the Methylene Chloride is as I don't want to etch the tiles if I use it to strip them?

Any answers to the questions above would be greatly appreciated so I can work out what to do.

damaged slate tiles

    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 have no legal recourse. Is there anything I can do to get this mess off my tiles without damaging them further?
Thank you
Amanda ( hong KOng)

BRAND NEW GRANITE BENCHTOP LEMON STAIN

    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 because of its small pores

i think it has been factory polished ?

can any body help me with how i can get it back to looking the way it should

thx


dave

Granite stain from fake flowers

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 many stones had fake flowers ours was the only one stained. Does anyone know what can cause this to happen? Do we have a defective piece of granite? I don't know much about granite but is there a sealer or some sort of protective cover that was not originally put on our piece?

Thank you again.

Granite recommendations

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 these be inappropriate as the veins are too porous? Thank you. findstone2010-01-20 13:47:07

Unwanted grout on Travertine surface

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 lost.

Two Questions...

1. What is the best way to remove the grout from the smaller pits on the surface? The stone has not been sealed yet.

2. Also are there any "enhancing" sealers?

Can Engieered Quartz Stone be moulded in to curves

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 would be gratefully received.

Stuartp21

Cleaning Granite Countertops !

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 inexperienced to ruin their new investment in their home. Before deciding to make a major expensive purchase for a home improvement project, such as installing granite countertops in the kitchen, it is important for the homeowner to know what will need to be done to clean and maintain the items that are installed in their home.

Many individuals that are considering purchasing granite kitchen countertop believe that since the granite countertops are expensive, cleaning and maintaining the countertops will be expensive as well. The truth is that cleaning granite countertops is an easy and inexpensive maintenance process that will only take a few minutes of the homeowner's time each time the countertop is cleaned. The items used can generally be found around the house or purchased at the local supermarket at minimal cost to the homeowner.

Cleaning granite countertops should be done whenever needed and immediately after something has been spilled on the countertop to prevent staining. The easiest cleaning solution to use is a simple solution of non-abrasive soap and water, applied using a sponge or a soft cloth so that the finish of the countertop does not become scratched. If all of the water is not removed from the surface of the countertop, the water will dry and water spots will appear on the finish of the countertop but they can easily be removed by cleaning the countertop again.

If the homeowner prefers, they can purchase a countertop cleaning solution from the manufacturer of the countertop to ensure that what they are using for cleaning granite countertops will not mar the surface of the countertop. These cleaning solutions are used by the manufacturer and the installers to clean the countertop properly after installation in the home to ensure that the countertop looks its best for the homeowners. The cleaning solutions are reasonably priced and a single bottle will last for a long period of time.

In addition to cleaning granite countertops on a regular basis, the countertop will need to be resealed to keep the countertop looking beautiful and new. Resealing the countertop will need to be done every couple of years either by a trained professional or by the homeowner as a do it yourself project. The application of the sealant is important because it protects the stone from outside elements, allows the beauty of the stone to shine through, and provides a usable surface that is both durable and strong.findstone2010-01-20 13:53:48

What is better-Peruvian or Turkish Travertine??

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 on the matter, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Neil

To Seal or not to Seal?

    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, and i guess kills all germs, is there somthing better? Also, i've notice two small scatches on surface not deep only surface(they look like little white lines). How do I go about buffing them out? Any help appreciated, tx.

new granite

    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 ' treatment to the surface. Nothing else. He says it
should only cause the water to bead up and should not be any issue itself.He now plans to send a crew to apply a sealant used on marble to stop these rings from occuring. Does this seem like a good idea? We really love the stone but are confused as to why this is happening and what should be done.

Thank you.

pitted travertine vessel sink

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, I'm confused after reading these forums about to seal or not to seal!?!? Which shall it be?    

Travertine as a bread stone?

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

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 these be inappropriate as the veins are too porous? Thanks you. Cheryl Resnikfindstone2010-01-11 19:09:12

Stone Maintenance at Home ！

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 beautiful colors, is not recommended for countertops and kitchen islands because of its etch-able nature and its high vulnerability to acid damage.

Now trendy, slate and limestone with a honed finish are ideal for a kitchen backsplash and for flooring. The soft rustic character of these stones can be refined through color enhancers and sealants that slightly alter the dusty stone appeal. For exterior pavers, patios and grilling surfaces, slate and granite are perhaps the best choice in natural stones because they withstand freezing and thawing with an excellent perseverance. Marble, on the other hand, holds water through its veins that will later expand with freezing, leading to destructive cracks and spalling.

One misconception regarding the application of sealants is the difference between a "coating" and a "sealant." Generally, a coating of any kind should never be applied to natural stone because it will close the natural pores and veins, thus creating a moisture barrier that will ultimately damage the stone's physical strength and possibly the natural coloration. Rather, for highly used or high-traffic areas, select and apply a superior impregnating sealant that soaks deep into the pores and veins of the natural stone. With an impregnating sealant application, water vapors are allowed to pass through the core of the stone.

"If you apply the correct sealer the first time, you very likely won't have to seal it again," Huligar says. There are three categories of impregnating sealants: solvent-based, water-based and silicone-based. Porous stones, such as travertine marble, require a thick silicone-sealant whereas dense stones, such as black granite, require a thin solvent-sealer. For the majority of other stones, a water-based sealant is most commonly applied because of its median thickness and clarity. Conversely, for low-usage areas such as a on a kitchen backsplash, a sealant is not obligatory. Exterior applications of granite and slate - such as pavers - do not need a sealer either unless they will be exposed to the possibility of spilled acidic drinks or from barbeque grease or other food debris.

Regardless of the natural stone type and finish, it should be kept clean daily. Gritty dirt and acidic liquids such as those commonly found in foods and drinks should especially be removed in a timely manner. Selecting the correct type of cleaner for the type of natural stone is important. Granite and marble, for example, should not ever be cleaned with acidic cleansers. A product such as Lustro Italiano should be applied once a month, Huligar explains. This particular product does not have any added aromas, and it is completely transparent from the bottle to its application. Daily cleaners by Lustro Italiano primarily enhance cleaning maintenance of polished and honed stones by leaving them better protected against the next acidic spill or watermark. The product is not recommended, however, for applications such as steam showers because the daily cleaner's chemical compounds can be altered by extra minerals in hard water. Additionally, this product is intended exclusively for natural stone rather than for Portland cement countertops or any other man-made products.    findstone2010-01-11 19:05:30

Bali Limestone

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 would be greatly appreciated.

Xiamen Stone Fair 2010 booth contractor YOHO EXPO

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010.

pitted travertine grouting-sealing

    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 do you get the grout off the relatively rough tile surface when clealing up? So basically what would be my steps in grouting/sealing for pitted travertine...

Thanks for the input. Jake

Choice of sandstone according to climate

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 reply. Thank You.

choice od sandstone according to climate

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 reply. Thank You

Tropic Brown

    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

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 reply. Thank You.

absolute black and water stains

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 you do not wipe every bit of water up any amount of water will leave a spot. I did NOT seal this stone so it is not a sealer problem. What can do done to remove the water spots?   Someone said vinegar but that di nothing at all, the surface is shiny and still looks good but it bothers me to see the spots.

Mixing old with new black absolute

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 new stone be dulled to look like the old black absolute?  Please note, the old and new stones will not be directly adjacent to each, it will be separated by the sink.  The slab company also said that for the old stone they can only do an acetone wash because its already been sealed.  It cannot be "repolished".  Don't know if all this is true, but I would love to hear opinions.  Obviously, I would like not to buy all new countertops.  Thanks.

Adhesive stain on Alabaster

    citrus cleaning agent first then follow up with acetone.

Mixing old with new black absolute

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

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

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

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!

    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 problem is that the chemical appears to have etched the surface of the tile and now looks very dull. The chemical was sprayed on the whole surface of the tile then brush agitated in the grout lines. The scrubbing caused soap bubbles that sat on the surface for several minutes until the rinsing vacuum cleaned off the surface. These bubbles seem to have etched circles of various diameters into the surface of the tiles. You can only see it if looking at the tile at an angle with the light reflection from across the room. I think the PH of the cleaner was PH12. The floor tiles always had a dull / matte surface and the surface sheen seems the same. I have chair leg protectors on the charil legs, but when you slide them around, they seem to leave shinny marks. Have you any experience like this? Is there a cure besides the expense of honing the surface?



I'd appreciate your reply.

Limestone in a shower

    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. The back of the
threshold inside of the shower looks fine after I cleaned it with a
poultice by Miracle. We have soft water which some have said could
cause the spawling problem, but that doesn't explain the front of the
threshold that doesn't get wet like inside of the shower. I have
heard that green limestone or any limestone should not be used in a
shower. We've had several restoration companies try to restore sample
areas, but nothing has worked. Any ideas as to what may be the problem?

Water Mark on Absolute Black Granite

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

   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 on the countertop. I cannot remove the water mark (stain) and am afraid to do anything without professional advice.

Laundry liquid stain on Granit Top

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

   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.

Can this be fixed so that no future problems and that it will look good? Or should I insist on new slab?

Thanks, c.daniels

Crack in Granite Kitchen Countertop

    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

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

New slate shower

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 squeegy would help cause the surface is so uneven.

Then what should I use periodically to clean it. Thank you for your help

black galaxy dulled at seams

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 I seal my black galaxy countertop? If yes, what sealer do you recommend?

2. How to get the luster back on the area around the seams?

3. What kind of daily cleaner should I use?

Appreciate any response and help I can get.

fill limestone pits

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

    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 company to come back out and take a look at them. which they kindly did. the tech said there isn't much he can do about the situation. so he put a wax/polish on it. it looked amazing after he did that. well one week later after one cleaning it is back to looking hazy again. so i call them back up. they tell me "there is nothing they can do about it and that is just the way desert brown granite is".

so my question is, is desert brown granite normally hazy looking or is it normally glossy?
also what route can i go when i am dealing with them?

thank you for any and all help!

Cleaning Solution Damage to Slate

Our brand new black slate hearth has been cleaned by an over enthusiastic
family member, using FLASH cleaning spray (an all purpose bathroom/kitchen
cleaner) - 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 if
it's stained the slate or if it has etched into the slate. The slate was
pre-sealed but how well and with what I don't know. It is probably slate
from china... and probably not the best quality slate in the world but this
is just a guess. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I live in Mexico and need help with countertops

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 counter tops in a country that uses lime quite a lot.  Unfortunatley, no matter how careful you are limes squirt and you don't always see where the squirt went to until after the fact. The owners have even left ring marks from glasses sitting on the counter for only a couple of hours. I have read some of your forums and this counter does not seem to have grooves from etching just the white marks from the spills and lots of water marks from the water around the sink. Can you please send me any info you have and tell me what products to get to help prevent this problem in the future. Thank you very much for your time and expertise.
Sherri

Want a seamless counter in UbaTub

    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

    
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 looked like some kind of soap scum at the bottom of the shower is actually a pitting and deterioration of the stone.

When we first noticed the "swiping", we had the contractor come back in and he tried to rub it out to no avail. It was his opinion that our cleaning person used some product that damaged the tiles. We doubt this as some of the damage is higher on the wall than she ever (unfortunately) cleans. She also swears that she has used only mild products designed for granite and marble. When we noticed the deteriorating tiles, we again had the contractor come in and he said he would replace those, but insisted that the discoloration and "swiping" patterns were our fault.

Can this damage be fixed or do we have to replace the entire bathroom tiles?

If you can give us any advice at all, we'd be very appreciative.

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

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°C     43.80

Result of quored to 2 decimel places but the accuracy of the result are as follows:-

1) signification figure for element <0.1%
2) signification figures for element >0.1% but <1%
3) signification figures for element >1%

The percentage of the calcium carbonate (CaCO3) content in the above sample is about 98.5%



all i wanna ask is..   

is this type of stone consider as good ?

what can i do with this type of stone ?

are there any buyer in your country ?

i have around 2-3 thousand tons

thx for replying..

help with stain on granite and choice of sealer

    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 the granite couldn't answer our question about how to get rid of the stain. Lucky for me I found your site. It seems to me then, that a "poultice" will do the trick as I have been reading that oil and other greasy stains come out that way. Now... I am pretty sure the stain is from butter. Is a poultice the way to go for that, too?

Also, the company who sold us the stone said they had already sealed it with a Penetrating Sealer from Aquamix, which obviously didn't quite do the trick. We decided that after we get rid of the stain we should seal it again but using another water based sealer from Aquamix called Enrich 'N' Seal, Premium color enhancer & Sealer for Stone. Is that a good thing to do? We made some tests on a scrap piece of the same stone putting the sealer and then leaving a chunk of butter overnight on it and the next morning came out as if it had never been there. We know using this sealer the color is "enhanced" which it deepens the color and it gives the stone a little shine. I only want to make sure there is no risk of future reactions with that particular stone and the sealer. Can anyone answer that for me, please? Thanks in Advance. Diana

Discolouring of Granite Kitchen Counter

   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 different than the rest of the counter that I wipe with the dish cloth or where the place mats are they remained the same color as when installed, my question is where I continually wipe is a darker color than where I do not wipe as often, what should I do to bring back the original colour?
Thanks

Hones black Granite

     
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 seem to be removed by typical means, so I thought I would use a enhancer & sealer product (I used the product made by "Stone Specific"). I applied as directed on the bottle at 10pm at night, but the next morning, it still looks like is sitting on top of the stone and was not absorbed into the stone. (Worse than that, it shows the wipe marks when I applied it. When I try to wipe it off, it then shows the wipe marks in the direction of my wiping). So my questions are: assuming this isn't the right product for my stone, how do I take the product off (I tried soap and water and seems to do a good job, except it's back to that dulled grayish haze)? Then, how do I properly finish the stone (and seal it if necessary)? I live in Westchester County, New York and would be happy to pay a professional to do this; however, by reading lots of posts on the site, it's clear that many of those who actually get paid to do this work don't have a clue. Thanks in advance for your help!!- Ed

Is engineered quartzite safe to use on floors

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 be aware of, e.g., using only a particular kind of base (backer), mastic/thinset mortar, or grout? If so, what is the best type of base, sealer, adhesive, and grout to use for this application? Any special techniques? My main concern is preventing the tiles from shifting under pressure or popping off when walked on.

Additionally, are there issues with hardness of engineered quartzite when used as flooring, and its ability to withstand pressure and wear, humidity, temperature changes, etc. that I should be concerned about?

Any particular brands of quartzite tile that you would recommended more than others?



Thanks so much for your help! I really appreciate it.

Basalt

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 for all replies.

Aviva

Is engineered quartzite tile safe to use 4 floor?

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 seem to be more sites selling QZ floor tiles. Is this because there was some improvement made to the product which would make it better to use for floors than before?

Additionally I have a few practical questions which I'm hoping to get answered:

Are there issues with hardness and its ability to withstand
pressure, humidity, temperature changes, etc. that I should be
concerned about?

Are there any particular brands of quartzite tile that you would most
recommended more than others?

Also what is the best type of sealer and grout to use for this
application? Is there a special type of mastic I should use?

Thanks so much for your help!

Water marks on quartz tiles

How to remove water strains from quartz tiles?

Thanks

Help, my black ga;axy countertop was overheated

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 assume the temperature of the hot pan was extremly high.  My mom forgot to add water so it was "cooked" without water before put on the countertop. 

I asked the local marble doctor companies.  I was told if it was damaged by heat, it is almost impossible to fix it as no one know how deep the damage was.


Any suggestion from you? My heart was broken for this piece of stone.  It cost lots of money for us to install it.

Many thanks!!!

 

Advice wanted on granite choice

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, white double wall ovens). The previous owners installed granite around the large cooktop on a peninsula (extends out from a plain wall--no abutting counters) which we think is verde peacock--looks like a greenish black with some shiny cream specks and rust specks. We want to replace the laminate perimeter counters with granite. Should we go with verde peacock knowing we won't get an exact match (the samples I've seen are greener than our existing granite) or should we use a different granite and if so, what? One counter would be about 12 feet long going into an L shape to abut the left side of the sink with about 2 feet as the bottom of the L and then 4 feet of counter on the other side of the sink ending at the wall ovens. Your suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Laja

Old stains in marble

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 anyone have any suggestions or experience with this type of problem? Thanks a lot!findstone2009-10-22 13:08:58

Water/Liquid Soap Stain - Gold Bage

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 baking soda on the spot to see if it will remove/dry it. Is that what you would advise? How about a hair dryer/heat gun? Over the summer I was on vacation for a week and the stain was better although it did not disappear, I should have sealed it then but, it was the last thing I wanted to do after returning from vacation. I don't want to seal it and then find that I am sealing in the stain.I look forward to your reply.findstone2009-10-22 13:14:37

Is 1mm grouting indentation OK on travertine tile

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 levelled as I feel part of the beauty of these tiles will go. But I need a stronger argumentation than just personal taste. So my question to you is, is grouting supposed to be levelled to the tiles or can it be 1mm or 2mm deeper? Please consider it's a bathroom and it's around the shower area.

Thanks,

Giuseppe

first time install with used granite,sry long read

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 pieces coming together?

2nd question: I have a 15" piece that has broke in the middle from front to back, can i fix it with an epoxy or polyester resin?

One last question: after cutting back splashes, how do i polish the top edge. I have read 400 grit wet sand paper followed by tin oxide.

The counter is not glue down at this point just sitting in place.

many thanks!    

Old stains in marble

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 anyone have any suggestions or experience with this type of problem? Thanks a lot! findstone2009-10-22 13:10:43

scratches on outdoor limestone pavers

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

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

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 following questions:

1. Is there any limestone or any other stone which is available in India and looks like travertine? I was considering Shahbad yellow from Andhra. Would it last and would it look good? Does it have a smooth surface? Vendors here recommend only granite, marble and kota stone. I don't want to go in for kota as it is too dark.

2. I have a small living room (size: 22' x 12'). In such a room, would marble/ granite look good or for maximum impact, we need a larger area?

3. Vendors here say that marble/ granite don't need sealers. Aren't they wrong? If I were to apply sealer, would it be before or after installation? Which is the best quality sealer available here in India?

4. Vendors here do not recommend slate for flooring because they feel that they will break. Is it true?

5. Installers here have not heard about grouting with adhesives. Which is the best grouting adhesive available here?

6. Does granite with a riven finish become difficult to maintain?

It would be wonderful if you will answer these questions.

Thank you.

Crack or fissure in Ubatuba?

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 "repair" it again, but absolutely refuse to replace the slab.

As you might expect, their story is "it's a natural fissure." I think it is a stress fracture. The first repairman told us it looked like someone stood on the countertop.

Could I get any opinions on this? Should the builder replace the slab? Do this look like a natural fissure to you?





There's a slight chip on the edge, which you can feel.


Finally, can anyone recommend someone I could hire to write a report on this to submit to the builder, strengthening my case for replacing the slab?

We're extremely frustrated with the builder. Our plumber won't install a water filtration system until we resolve this. Installation involves drilling a hole, and he doesn't want to make the crack worse and get blamed for it. Understandable!

Any feedback would be appreciated.

Crack or fissure in Ubatuba?

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 "repairman" is just not the right person to do the job.

Inform your better business bureau of the problem. Also have a representative from a different fabrication shop (or multiple) give you their opinion(s). Get their opinions in writing and use those to put pressure on the builder.

Polishing Ground Marble

Hi. This is my first post here so be gentle if I get off on the wrong foot.

 

I am a flint knapper and make stone arrowheads, spear points, knife blades etc. Recently, I began mounting some of my stone knife blades in cultured marble handles. Once I've ground the handle to shape with a wet bench grinder and 80 grit diamond wheel, it has of course lost all it's shine and is scratched like you wouldn't believe. Currently, I use a finer grit diamond wheel to take out the major scratches and then begin hand sanding the handles with sandpaper. In the end, I am using 2000 grit wet paper.

 

Some marble has a respectable finish and some are rough as can be with no shine at all.

 

I have searched high and low for some sort of wet/dry sanding/polishing tool that I can use on these handles. Hand sanding is very time consuming. The handles range in size from 5" long x 1-1/4" wide x 3/4" thick down to smaller pieces. As you can imagine, a 4" wet grinder would eat the ends off my fingers since I have to hold the piece in my hand while sanding it. Since most of the handles have multiple contours, I need something small and flexible. Some sort of bench grinder set-up would be ideal but I haven't found anything like that.

 

Other than lithic rock, I am pretty much in the dark about working stone (and this is all cultured marble anyway). I am not interested in attaining a commercial shine on the knife handles but I do want then to be smooth and have a nice luster. Are you aware of any method I can use to polish these knife handles? And if so, a source for the materials?

 

Thank you very much for any assistance you may offer.

 

Polishing Ground Marble

An angle grinder (variable speed) with a good backer pad. Start with 60, 100, 220, 400, 600 grit,  then use a buffer to bring out a nice shine. You can get into something more professional, but I think this will make life easier and keep your costs minimal. In between the different grits of sanding disk dip the handle in water to clean and keep it wet, also you can use a little spray bottle to keep the stone moist.  You will need to fashion a way of holding the handle while you run the grinder. make sure when you get to 220, you have no deep grind marks. This will take practice. I can steer you to more professional tools if you want, I think they are not really needed for your kind of work.

I hope this helps, Please feel free to ask more questions.

To seal travertine or not to seal?

I have read several postings about using travertine in bathrooms.  I am planning on remodeling my bathroom and using travertine in the shower and on the floor of my bathroom.  I am very confused about the issue of sealing.  Some postings suggest not sealing yet I have been told it is very important to use a sealer to prevent it from taking water and to make it easier to  maintain.  I have also heard that certain finishes don't require to be sealed such as a hone-finished, is this true?  Can anyone explain their point of why you would and would not seal travertine in bathrooms???  Thanks!

Can Granite be sealed against acidic liquids?

Hi,
Just installed new granite countertop. Can it be sealed against acidic liquid spills and such? If so, what granite sealer would you recommend? Thanks for any input or suggestions....

Marble & Food Safety

Hi, I would like to know if Marble needs to be sealed in order to be food safe. The marble I plan on using is crema for rolloing out dough, chocolate decorations etc. Appreciate receiving some advice as in this part of the world no one seems to be able to answer my query. Thanks Rochelle

Cat urine on limestone

We have limestone flooring in our laundry room, and our cat recently had an accident on it so I'm trying to find out how to clean feline urine from limestone. I cleaned it with water immediately but it still has an odor, and I think it may have seeped into the grout as well. Any ideas on how to clean this from the limestone and grout without damaging it? Thanks -

marble floor mishap

Hi!  I had urethane coating applied to my marblefoyer floor by mistake.Crema Marfil marble. the product was Bona Stone Floor Refresher. What recourse do I have now to deal with it . I have no idea what to do. Would so appreciate your help. Thanks      Tidy

Blue Bahia Granite discoloration?

My husband likes a Blue Bahia granite from an Italian quarry for a kitchen island with prep sink and a long counter. A vendor, who doesn't carry Bahia Blue, advised me that Bahia Blue will change color through oxidation and that the white will yellow. I'm worried that it may not be the right pick. I cook 2-3 full meals a day so it will see use and moisture. Should we be looking at something else and if so what is a good blue color stone for us? Has anyone worked with Bahia Blue? Thanks.

Food stains on slate

We installed slate floors in the kitchen and dining areas of our newly constructed home. The floor was sealed, but food stains immediately began to appear. The installer scraped away at the surface stains, and reapplied the sealer twice . . . but the porous stone continues to stain - the sealer seems to be totally ineffective. How can we get the stains up . . . and what sealer should we use to prevent staining from food and drink?   

Clean your carpet....

You can steam clean your carpet with little or no cleaners provided you pretreat any stains before you start. Shampoos and foam cleaners tend to leave a residue which in turn will attract dirt again. Good luck.findstone2009-09-19 14:04:15

discolored granite

Had granite counter top installed. They sanded and polished a seam, looked good for a couple of months.Now dull and hazey or discolored, dull on outer areas of seam. 1 1/2 to 2in on both sides.Did they go through a clear coat or something. Anything I can put on it to make it shine again? Laquer,clear,paste wax,etc.If they cut into a clear coat and its polished again the dull area might move farther out depending on how far out they polish.
              HELP

Discoloration by Factory Sticker

We are fabricating a new kitchen from Statuary White, however after removing the Antolini Sticker...the glue appears to have discolored the slab...Should we try a Poultice or will it eventually bleed out and back to normal?

John

Sewer backup

Our sewer line backed up flooding half the house. Both bathrooms have travertine floors and the master bathroom shower is a peach travertine. There isn't noticeable stains but the water/sewage was ankle high even in the shower. I wanted to know if chemicals, etc. in the sewage could have damaged the tiles and we just can't see it yet. I know that we can't get the same exact tiles again but we have this travertine throughout the house.

Granite tile over formica

While the so called professionals will tell you to 'rip up the formica', that isn't necessary at all if that substrate is in good flat state and not compromised. However, having said that, it IS important the type of thinset used. I just finished my countertop using blue pearl granite tiles with oak edging stained walnut and it turned out beautiful. There are some base secrets i wish to share with those who endeavor to do same. Buy yourself a decent wet saw such as HD's ryobi for $200. Its like a radial arm saw and will save much grief over the lesser quality. Throw the blade away that comes with it and buy a better blade. Next buy QEP LASH system for eliminating Lippage problems. The thinset I used was Keralastic/Kerabond kit, still available Mapei product. It sticks like nothing else and would even bond to glass, yup, its that good. I choose blue pearl for a couple of reasons: HARDNESS(no stain) and you do NOT have to seal Blue Pearl, its that hard. I used mapei Kericolor BLACK grout. Again, it does NOT need sealing either unless you just feel more comfortable doing so. I satin polyurethaned the oak edging and used CounterMate black Perimeter caulking from HD to fill those small gaps between the oak and the tile..NOT grout. you Should also use UNSANDED grout because of the 1/16th inch spacers(qep lash). I hope this helps someone because it was through forums like these and much research, I ended up with the quality job i have.

Pebble Tiles are turning to be a fashion.

Pebble Tiles are turning to be a fashion.
Many retail company are beginning to sell pebble tiles.

Why are pebble tiles turning to be a fashion?
The first, it is none-slippery. That you do not need worry about falling down in the wet bathroom.

The second, it can be use for massage. Massage feeling you gotten from the pebble stone will definitely make you relaxed. That is the reason why most of the people like pebble tiles.

Third, easy to install. When you cut the pebble tile, you only need use scissor to cut the backing mesh. No special tool needed.

Fourth, Pebble tiles are natural and elegant. No breakage and no scratches.
findstone2009-09-19 14:01:50

CLR bottle left on "black" granite vanity top

Hi.  I have just installed a granite vanity top (Manufacturer says the colour is Black....I'm assuming its a mix granite/calcite type stone).
My wife had placed a bottle of CLR on the vanity for about 5-10 minutes.  When she removed the bottle, there was a light stain(etch?) in the rectangular shape of the bottle.

I have found a bunch of advice ranging from:

1) Try a poultice
2) Let it evaporate
3) try a 10% vinegar to 90% water solution
4) Try a granite cleaner
5) Try a light non-acidic dishsoap
6) Try acetone then a colour enhancer

I will admit that I am no geologist and have zero practical knowledge of granite upkeep.

Is there anyone out there that has experienced a similar issue that has tried something that works....
My desired result is to restore the stone to what it looked like before.

Thanks all.

Granite, possible crack: Should I go ahead with fa

We selected and bought a slab of Madura Gold. The slab has lots of crystals, fissures and patterns. While discussing possible fabrication options at the cutting shop, I noticed a crack(?) which is filled up with a transparent material right in the middle of the slab.  It is almost invisible but I can feel it when I move my hand over it. My fabricator told me that such defects are very common for such stone type. He said 90-95% slabs would have something similar.

Is this common? Has anyone encountered such imprefections?
Should I go ahead with the fabrication and install it on our island?
Any comments and advice would be most welcome. Thanks.

chain oil on silver granite

    Hello natural stone lovers, hopefully there is someone who can help with the following. My chain saw dropped multiple bar oil spots on a clients silver granite patio, I tried power washing, then tried cleaning using santrax cleaner (acid based). This seems to have spread the oil over much more of the patio, there are now large areas of black staining, like the cleaner spread the oil.

Please help!

Zialla "granite"

I must say this website is fabulous! However, I have done a search of the site but cannot find anything on Ziallo granite. I'm hoping someone has heard of it. The manufacturer also called it Ornamental Sage and Summer Sage. Is it a "true" granite? Is this stone rather porous compared to other granites? What's the water absorption %? I want to use it for a kitchen countertop, would you recommend it for this use?

Thank you for your help.

scratches on silestone

You would be better off having the fabricator contact The silestone manufacturer. They will find the best solution without voiding any remaining warranty. 

Zialla "granite"

Ziallo? or do you mean Giallo? Giallo ornamental is pretty popular. It is more porous than many other stones but still a good choice for a counter top.  With proper routine maintenance the stone can serve you for eons.

Granite Steps Stained

I have new granite steps. The worker used Sikagard - Natural Look Clear Sealer to brush on the risers. Much of the excess, like water, traveled across the granite steps and stained them, not evenly. He then came back and tried to rid the stains caused by the Sealer and used Miriotic acid to do it. Nothing changed. Then he used Phospheric Acid, again, nothing changed. He then felt if we cover the whole granite slab on each step, maybe the sealer would stain the granite all the same color; but that made the staining worse.

Is there something I can do? The steps were absolutely beautiful until the sealer was splashed onto the risers, and ran across the granite.

Thank you so much!
Bob

scratches on silestone

    We recently had installed a silestone kitchen top (colour) Tao, it's black. It's great for stains (I tried absolutely everything and nothing left a mark), but we scratched it by accident. Is there any way scratches can be removed from silestone. I have a small child and I can't imagine what his toys will cause whenever he plays on it. By the way it got scratched quiet easily, not a knife cut or anything like that.

How to Clean Hard Water Marks from Black Granite

I have read the advice to many different folks on these forums--a wonderful set of pages.  In one answer, Maurice tells one questioner that the white water marks left by hard water on a granite counter top are probably on the surface and so can be cleaned.  That's what I have--what appears to be the white residue of hard water on the black "granite" (which, I understand, is probably not really granite) counter top.  The counter top is not purely black, but appears marbled with gray and bluish chunks mixed in (I'm afraid I am not sure what kind of counter top it is, as it was here when we moved in).  There was no mention, however, of HOW to clean the water stains.  Does anyone know how I can clean these white hard water marks off the stone?  I've done an internet search, and I'm not keen on using a razor blade.  Here are some other options I've seen suggested: trisodium phosphate, Pledge with orange oil, marble polish, glass cook top cleaner, and Bar Keeper's Friend.  I'm afraid to use any of these, however, without some more expert advice. 

White Cloudy Stain

I recently purchased a granite countertop (verde fire color). My husband put
a towel on the countertop to dry the dishes: we are currently remodeling and
do not have a dishwasher. He left the towel there for a couple of days while
putting wet dishes there. When I remove the towel it left a light cloudy
stain on the countertop. I was thinking it was only water and it will dry
off, but it is more than a week now and the stain is still there. What can I
do? Is it really water stain, because it is not darker but instead a lighter
gray area and cloudy. I look up at internet and nobody seems to have this
problem with water. The countertop is located on an area that we never use
(otherwise than stupidly put a damp towel over!!) and the cooking area is
not there so it cannot be oil or other things. Plus, we are as I said
remodeling, so basically we only boil water in the kitchen, so what can I
try? Thanks a lot.

Julie

Stone Tile Comparison:

Stone Tile Comparison:

Granite tiles - Marble tiles - Pebble Tiles

Stone tiles are the often choice for the surface of high-end applications. They are expensive but they provide incomparable beauty and elegance.

If you are considering stone tiles, you should be aware of the general characteristics of all those stone tiles, and the options available to you, including installation, before making your final decision. Especially, when more and more applications use pebble tiles, you might need to consider pebble tiles for you bathroom or kitchen as well. Pebble tiles are made of natural pebble stones glued to a backing mesh. The mesh can be cut by scissors to any designs. In addition, when you step on pebble tiles, you will get a massage to your feet. The following table is a summary for the feature of the tiles.

Slippery Surface
Granite Tile Bad
Marble Tile Bad
Pebble tile Good

Resistant to Breakage & Scratch
Granite Tile Fine
Marble Tile   Bad
Pebble tile good

Color
Granite Tile Good
Marble Tile Excellent
Pebble tile Good

Installation
Granite Tile Fine
Marble Tile Fine
Pebble tile Easy

Resitant to Chemicals,

Acids, Solvents, Oils
Granite Tile Fine
Marble Tile Bad
Pebble tile Good

Price
Granite Tile Fine
Marble Tile Fine
Pebble tile Fine

Based on the table shown above, the pebble tile is a very good choice for many application like bathroom, kitchen, backflash, fireplace, swimming pool, fountain, etc. And it turns to be a fashion now. Especially, check the company. You can find the six different color pebble tile starting only from $6.29/sft with free shipping. This is the lowest price I found. Here are some picture I collected from Internet. They are really beautiful. Hope this will be helpful for you to make choices. findstone2009-09-12 12:08:58

Here is some pebble tile installation I collect on

Here is some pebble tile installation I collect on the Intenet for installation and Tips.
1. With the trowel, apply the thinset evenly on the desired area.
2. Lay the pebble tiles down, interlocking each tile on all sides.
3. To fit a tile in a space too small for a whole tile, cut the mesh which hold the pebbles together. You can also remove individual pebbles to fill empty spaces.
4. Once complete, allow at least 24 hours for the thinset to dry before grouting.
5. Apply a coat of sealer to prevent the stone absorbing color from the grout.
6. Apply the grout with the grout float so that the grout is packed in all the space between the pebbles.
7. Allow the grout to set for up to 20 minutes. Then, with a wet sponge, clean the excess grout off the surface of the pebbles.
8. Continue to clean the grout residue with a clean sponge until desired pebble exposure is reached.
9. Allow 24 hours for the grout to dry completely then apply a coat of sealer over the grout and pebbles.
Here is some tips:
1. Sort the tiles before doing the installation. Generally, the tile thickness varies a little bit. It would be better to put together the tiles with similiar thickness at a adjacent area.
2. For the ceiling or wall, if motar is not strong enough to hold the tile, use sheet-rock screws or nails at the corners to hold the tiles.
3. After you fill grout to the pebble gap, to remove the excess grout, you can spray dry sufaces with a little water using mister to minimize grout sticking to the surface of pebbles.
findstone2009-09-12 12:11:49

Why pebble tiles are the best for bathroom shower

Why pebble tiles are the best for bathroom shower floor?
The first, it is none-slippery. That you do not need worry about falling down in the wet bathroom.
The second, it can be use for massage. Massage feeling you gotten from the pebble stone will definitely make you relaxed. That is the reason why most of the people like pebble tiles.
Third, easy to install. When you cut the pebble tile, you only need use scissor to cut the backing mesh. No special tool needed.
Fourth, Pebble tiles are natural and elegant. No breakage and no scratches.
I had done many pebble tile projects.
findstone2009-09-12 12:10:53

Rusted iron ore in Travertine?

    I recently remodeled my bathroom in a grey and tan travertine. Some pieces had rust colored spots that I didn't think much of at the time. Until I realized (from water carrying a trail of rust) that it was rust! The owner of the store from which I bought the stone is giving me some bull about it being natural stone, so its not a problem. I understand that the beauty of natural stone is in the flaws, but rust seems more like something I'd find for 50% in a defect pile somewhere. Can anyone tell me if this is normal/acceptable? I'd like the (installed) tiles replaced, but she is offering to seal the tiles instead. Long story short, is rusted metal ore acceptable in travertine, or is this a major defect?

Note: the tiles came from LA Carpet in Las Vegas, NV

permanent marker stains

    Please Help! I just installed a white Carrara marble backsplash in my bathroom. It was my first time using marble, and the result looked beautiful. However, to my dismay, about 20 hrs. later there are reddish stains in the middle of some of the tiles. Apparently, the black permanent marker I used to mark the backs of the tiles to keep them in order has leached all the way through to the surface, showing the now-reddish numbers in mirror-reverse. Is there any way to remove the stains without dismantling the backsplash?

San Francisco Verde/ Verde Candais?

Could someone tell me if San Francisco Verde is true granite or not? If not, what is it?

I just had it installed as kitchen countertops in the spring and love it. I've noticed it has areas with small amounts of shallow pitting. Is this from the slab not being polished enough or is that just a natural characteristic of the stone?

I'm wondering how absorbant the stone is and if it needs to be sealed. I've read that a lot of the black and dark green stones don't need to be sealed because they're so dense, and the sealant will actually just sit on the surface and make it look dull. My installer sealed them when they were installed, but I want to plan ahead for when/if they need to be sealed again.

Also, what is a good food-safe cleaner for everyday use? Mild soap, water, and Borax?

Thanks in advance!
Amy    

San Francisco Verde/ Verde Candais?

Could someone tell me if San Francisco Verde is true granite or not? If not, what is it?

I just had it installed as kitchen countertops in the spring and love it. I've noticed it has areas with small amounts of shallow pitting. Is this from the slab not being polished enough or is that just a natural characteristic of the stone?

I'm wondering how absorbant the stone is and if it needs to be sealed. I've read that a lot of the black and dark green stones don't need to be sealed because they're so dense, and the sealant will actually just sit on the surface and make it look dull. My installer sealed them when they were installed, but I want to plan ahead for when/if they need to be sealed again.

Also, what is a good food-safe cleaner for everyday use? Mild soap, water, and Borax?

Thanks in advance!     

How to flatten granite?

Hi, I acquired some scrap granite from a local yard and was planning to use it as a flat reference surface. Unfortunately when I brought it home I found that the polished surface was concaved and strange it enough it was the same with a new piece I acquired today. The rough sides (unpolished) are probably flatter than the polished sides so what I plan to do is apply some diamond paste on the unfinished surfaces and rub them together until they become flat.

Since one of granites attributes is it's hardness I'm wondering if this will even work. If not I'd like some advice on what options are available. I read that granite is kinda like a mirror in that it has to be extremely flat in order to have a high level of shine. Are there any commercially available services that achieve this level of polish? I'm guessing that such accurate work requires expensive computers and I'm trying to keep the cost to a bare minimum but the piece I have is only 6"x36" so maybe I can afford it. I appreciate any help you guys can give, thanks.

black granite polishing spot

I recently bought a house with absolute black granite counters(polished).
The counters were installed within the last six months. 99% of the counter looks great but I noticed one circular spot (8" diameter) that was lighter and looked like it had been ground (polished). (when you look straight down or the spot is shaded you don't see it as much but when you look at an angle with sun on it, it is very noticeable.   The owner said that there had been some scratches there and the installer ground (polished) the scratches out. The area seems to be lighter in color (gray). I understand that stone will have some problems and there are other areas where some of the grayer stone shows through -small areas that don't bother me.   But this spot does. I was reading about
color enhancer and wonder if this can help repair this small area and if there is one I can use on polished granite. If not color enhancer what else could I do? What product do you recommend?
   

Indoor Air Quality

    Indoor quality refers to air quality inside and surrounding buildings and structures especially when the health and comfort of the occupants are concerned. It can be affected by microbial pollutants such as mold and bacteria, gases such as carbon monoxide and radon, particulates or energy stressor that can cause undesirable effects on the occupants' health. Ventilations are used to reduce pollutants, filtration and source control are methods used to improve air quality in many buildings. findstone2009-09-01 12:02:04

Spilled Goo-Gone limestone

We have a brand new home. I was cleaning some stickers off the glass
fireplace covers and spilled about half a cup full of goo-gone onto
the fireplace hearth. It's a very light, cream-colored limestone.  I
wiped it up as much as I could, but it left a wet-looking spot on the
stone about a foot wide. Is there some way I can get it out? Will it
dissipitate through the stone over time?

I applied alcohol and a blow dryer, with no real effect. How about using a small propane torch?

Please help - this is our brand new home, we moved in 1 week ago, and
this looks horrible, right in the living room.

Thanks

Calcium deposit stains on slate

ANy suggestions on how to remove white calcium deposits off of state tile. The tile is around the inside of my swimming pool and now over time there is a white ring around the top of the pool. ANy suggetsions would be much appreciaed.   

Tomato juice stain on granite

    left a bag of tomatoes on Shivakashi Pink for a few days, and when I picked up the bag, a large stain remained. How do I get it out? Do I use a poultice--I've seen recommendations of different combinations and am unsure what to do next.

sandstone countertops??

i have been planning to use caesarstone in my new kitchen. it's ok and fits the modern decor and seems easy. but it ain't cheap and i don't really love it.

then i saw sandstone countertops in a coffee shop near me. i love them. soft to the touch and natural and just really nice. i read that they're quartz and sand. the color range would work.

can anyone advise on whether sandstone is an acceptable material to use for kitchen countertops? they can or should be sealed? i'm not finding much of anything on line. is this a poor choice?

any info from those in the know would be greatly appreciated. thank you!!

How long to wait before use

I am having floor tiles installed with underflooring heating. Having spoken with two different installers,

1 has advised i would need to leave the flooring 48 hours before use, another has advised that we can use after 3 hours. Can somebody advise how long is required?

Use of incorrect cleaner on Marble

I have recently had my dream bathroom installed with travertine
marble floor and tub wall surround. The marble is honed, filled and
sealed. I (stupidly) used the wrong cleaning solution to clean it
(CLR kitchen and bathroom) and now have steaks across the tiles. What
can I do to rectify this situation? Do I have to reseal it, and if
so, then how?
   

silestone discoloration

Hi,
We just purchased a home where silestone kitchen counters were installed in 2003. We just noticed that on either side of the stove, the front half of the silestone ( a whole band) is darker than the back half. With lights off, it's the same. The lighter color in the rear of the counter is the same color that we see throughout the kitchen.
Undoubtedly there were small appliances on the counter at the rear of the counter, but that doesn't explain why only the front of one of the several kitchen counters has darkened.
What are your suggestions? If we leave everything off the counters for several weeks, will the color start to even off?
There are no windows in the kitchen. There are windows in the family room that the kitchen opens up to.
Thank you so much.
ndesco
   

scratched granite

    I pulled an earthernware bowl across my granite countertop and then when I wiped the counter with a wet dishcloth, I could see lots of tiny scratches from doing this. It only shows when it is wet, not when its dry. Can earthernware scratch granite? Could the scratches just be in the polish- sealer? When its dry you see nothing. I have polished black granite and its wonderful except now Iam horrified that I have unknowingly scratched it!

One more try to post pictures

It did not seem to work, so I give up with pictures. Still need restoration specialist.

Visible side seam on Granite

Hello,
I just had 1 1/2 inch granite counter tops installed the other day. The granite appears to be two pieces one on top of the other and is glued together. So from the side you see a very visible line were both meet.
Is this the norm, have I been given cheap granite and is there a way to polish the sides so that you dont see the seam.

Thanks May

Getting cold feet!!

Was excited about getting granite installed until I read some of the posts on this forum. Now I have nightmares about cracks, mismatched sections, stains and so on. Am looking at 3 choices-lapidus, star beach, and solarius.   Cabinets are a honey tone medium oak and work well with all 3 choices. What is THE MOST IMPORTANT thing I need to do to make sure I end up happy with my countertop??? The fabricator has a good reputation and been in business long time-father and 2 sons. The distributer has been very helpful with advice on what works with my cabinets and explaining the different slabs he has in his warehouse.   My husband has decided it's my decision and I don't know what to do-it is a lot of money and I don't want to end up unhappy like some of the posters I read. Feel so bad for them.

water marks on marble vessel in bathroom

I have a new marble round sink in bathroom.  I am noticing water marks
and have never used any thing to clean  except water.  It is a xylem marble
gray, no tooth paste etc.  Looking for advice before I go back to company.

water marks on marble vessel in bathroom

I have a new marble vessel in bathroom. Have never used any thing to clean
it except water, it is from xylem company, gray in color, no toothpaste etc
used.  Looking for advice before I go back to salesman I purchased it from.

Need a restoration specialist in Wahington, DC/Bal

We recently had a U shaped Granite Sky gtanite counter top installed with 2 seams, one in each corner. The right side seam is beautiful with a 1 " return between matching pieces from the same slab. See below.

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/4442/granitecountertop028.jpghttp://img19.imageshack.us/img19/4442/granitecountertop028.jpg


The left seam joins 2 slabs at the corner. I knew they would not "flow" as well. The problem is that the eased/rounded top edge of the slab on the left extends about 3/4" past the point where the 2 slabs meet at the corner, leaving a gap. The installer tried to fill it in the gap, but it looked terrible. See below.

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/5540/graniteseams017.jpg

They returned to remove material from the seam and put new colored epoxy in. It stll does not look good, but I think is the best they can do. See below.

http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/8674/granitecountertop015.jpg

I love my counter top and do not really want to tear it out. Do you think a restoration specialist could do a better job on the "gap" in the front and possibly the whole seam.

I have been unable to find anyone in Washington/Baltimore area.

I have tried to install the pictures from Image Shack as directed, but, I am not sure they will come through.

Thanks for any advice.

black marble table

    Hello,

I'm writing on behalf of a company. We have 2 black marble tables that we bought a few years ago and they are cracking along the veins. A few pieces are also crumbling apart. Is it normal for a marble table? We thought that it will last for life. Is there a way to repair it? maybe fill the fissures?
Thanks a lot for your answers.

Thank you
Celine

What kind of sub top?

I am doing an outdoor bbq, and need to know what kind of sub top to install. Usually we use 5/8" plywood, but with it being outside, what should I use instead?

Does the furniture market become well your place?

We're investigating the market to make our next plan. Does the furniture market become well in your place in the economy crisis envireoment? For example Asian and Chinese or western style furniture sales condition. Any info would be appreciatedfindstone2009-08-22 11:52:02

Terrazzo on the walls.

Hi,

Can anyone please tell me how to finish terrazzo on a bathroom wall. We normally only grind and polish marble and terrazzo floors and crystallise them to finish. We have been asked to restore some terrazzo walls which would be straight forward enough to grind but we can't crystallise them so what is the best tecnique in finishing to a polished finish. Many thanks for your time.    

new marble vanity top

    Just received new marble top, it has 3 very distinct patch ups , that is seems like lots of little pieces of marble glued into a 20x6cm blocks. the pieces are as small as 1cm each and varying colours. It does not look like normal fissure or cracks in marble and stands out. I can also see the outline of the glue or resin. Is this normal practice or a bad repair job?
Can send photos if anyone can assist.

Another bad seam on polished granite

Our new granite counter top was installed 2 weeks ago in our U shaped kitchen. Granite is Golden Sky and everything is beautiful except for 1 seam. There are 2 seams, one in each corner. The one on the right corner is beautiful with a 1" return and it joins 2 parts of the same slab. The problem is the seam on the left which joins the back wall and a large peninsula.

Hope you can see the pictures. Not sure how to insert them from PhotoBucket

The top rounded edge of the penisula slab on the right extends about 1/2 inch too far past the corner where the edges are supposed to meet so that there is a gap at that juncture. The installer put a "blob" of epoxy to fill it in which promply fell off after 2 days. They returned to try again, but it does not look better. The epoxy on the front edge vertical seam has just come off. The whole seam is wide and not flat.

It is a short seam that goes straight for about 9" and turns left for 2" to end at the beam.

I do not know if it was the template, the fabricator, or the installer (all same company) that is the source of the problem. Is there any advice about a solution? I dread having the peninsula removed and replaced.

They are coming tomorrow for another service call. Thanks for any suggestions.   findstone2009-08-22 11:53:24

"unpolish" granite for honed look???

Hi there! I'm hoping you all can help me - we have polished granite counter tops in our new house and while they're nice, I really love the look of honed granite. I know this sounds crazy, but is there any way I can "knock-down" the finish of our counters for a honed, matte look? Thanks so much!

New granite - is this acceptable

Hi,

I just had a new granite counter top installed in a new bathroom. We don't have much experience with this kind of thing and noticed this on the back splash (see image). The line you can observe is not stone, but something softer (some kind of epoxy).

Is this kind of thing acceptable? I know natural stone isn't perfect, but in my opinion this looks bad.

How can they fix something like this? Is it possible to remove the backsplash or will they have to replace the whole counter top?

I haven't been able to connect with the stone person yet, but should I expect push back?

Thanks,
PB3

Onion on Granite

I left an onion inside a plastic bag on a granite countertop. The weather was very hot and humid. When I realized there was a stain on the granite. I washed with water and soap, but the anion stain is still there. How can I fix this?? Please help me.

Thanks in advance.

Need Help choosing Granite

Hi, I am looking to replace my countertops with granite and would like to know if black pearl is a good color of granite to go with? It seems many people have issues with stains or watermarks so would a lighter color be better? Also is it true that you don't need to seal black granite? If this is the case wouldn't it stain even more?

Marks on Granit

I have dragged a ceramic canister, which unfortunately had a rough bottom, across my granite counter. It marked my counter. The marks cannot be detected by rubbing your finger over them, but I can see the marks it left. Anyway to remove the marks without having to ask a professional smooth the granite with a machine??   

pietra de cardosa vs soapstone vs something else?

I am thinking about installing Pietra de Cardosa (or cardoza) stone or soapstone on my kitchen countertops, and have been finding mixed information on the internet. Is one more highly durable, nonstaining, nonscratching and maintenance free than the other?  Is there another product that haas this look that is even more durable than either?
Thanks

stain on granite

Hi All!

I used a poultice made with talc and 40% hydrogen peroxide on a dark stain that I thought was soy sauce that had soaked into my verde butterfly granite countertop. I followed all the directions that I read about on this website.
When I removed the poultice the stained spot looked different, but not back to normal...it had some gold flecks showing through, but the brown stain was still visible...but now that part of the counter feels a little rough and is no longer shiny.
I'm not sure what to do now. The spot is still there, but I fear that another poultice might damage the spot further.
I guess I can live with the way the stain looks now, even though the natural grain and pattern of the granite doesn't show through...but the bigger problem is how do I get the smooth shiny surface back? It seems that I made it worse instead of better.

Thanks in advance for any help or advice anyone can give me!


Mel