By: Mike Marsoun NuLife Stone Care (www.nulifestonecare.com.au) I have noticed an alarming trade practice here in Australia which desperately needs to be addressed. The root of this problem is the same as in the US where you will find ceramic... Read More
Fabrication and Installation
Q: Just had a new marble flooring installed (approximately 2500 sq. ft). Contractor did not mention polishing or sealing--job is now over..just told me to use water to clean the floor. I have since tried to find some info----do you recommend... Read More
Q. Hi, the very first time I set a cutting board on the 6" hang over on my new sun gold quartzite island top, I noticed a crack 3 hours later. The crack extends 10" into the island top and also straight through the separate 2 1/2" beveled edge. This... Read More
Q. Does travertine pool coping need to be sealed? Can it be dyed? We are not really loving our new travertine pool coping. We love the material but not the color. The stone has a honed finish. We were thinking about putting some kind of dye intoÂ... Read More
Q: In India, I have heard that Travertine stone is doctored by adding a substrate to the base of another hard cheaper stone. How can I know whether it is so without breaking it? A: Many of the black granites from India are darkened with dyes, but to... Read More
Q. I was looking online for articles about quartzite countertops. We recently had one installed, and we're having issues with a crack that appeared. I need some information. Should my problematic new countertops be repaired or replaced? The... Read More
Q. I am purchasing natural stone countertops, and I am concerned that I might not recognize the difference between naturally-occurring imperfections and unnatural damage. Can you provide some resources to help me make a good decision on my purchase?... Read More
Q. We just tiled our bathroom with travertine. I was cleaning the stone and getting ready to seal it when I noticed a crack in the doorway where the stone is. It runs from the corner by the door diagonally clear across the whole stone. It has not... Read More
Q. We live in San Francisco and are refurbishing our town house. We would like to use marble on our kitchen floor, but are concerned it may crack during an earthquake. Is there any way to install it that would minimize the cracking?  A. There are... Read More
Q. What is the proper grout for an exterior limestone walkway? Is there a dry grout that can be swept between the stone? Where would I look for stone dust? A. The proper grout will depend on how the stone is set. Will it be set in mortar or placed on... Read More