Have Questions About Floors, Countertops and Other Surface Restoration Jobs?

Silicone Impregnator on the Back of a Tile

Fri, Jan 21, 2022 0 0 681 0/5 (0 Vote)

If you apply a silicone impregnator to the back of a tile before setting, this may cause a bonding problem. Since most setting mortars are water based they will want to repel the water. Use an epoxy-type setting material. TIP: Before setting any... Read More

The color on my red terrazzo floor has faded. Is there a way to bring the color back?

Fri, Jan 21, 2022 0 0 690 0/5 (0 Vote)

There are several techniques that can be used to bring it back, but first it is necessary to determine why the floor has faded. If the fading is due to excessive wear from foot traffic, resurfacing and polishing should return the color. If the fading... Read More

What do I tell my customers when they ask what type of floor mats do I recommend for use on a marble floor? I was told to stay away from rubber-backed mats.

Fri, Jan 21, 2022 0 0 596 0/5 (0 Vote)

What you were told is absolutely right. Rubber-backed mats, as well as some jute-backed mats, can stain a marble floor. Advise them to use only cloth-backed floor mats. Be sure to take them up at least once week to avoid moisture build-up. TIP Also... Read More

I just honed a red granite floor and would like to put some darker color back in to it. Is there some sealer or treatment I can apply to darken it?

Thu, Jan 20, 2022 0 0 660 0/5 (0 Vote)

Yes, there are several color enhancing sealers available that will darken the granite as well as seal it. Check in the resource directory at the back of this book. You may also want to try a mixture of linseed oil and mineral spirits. Start with 50%... Read More

How do you get the color back in a black absolute granite. I ground the tiles flat and used diamonds all the way to a 3000 grit as directed by the diamond manufacture. I have a good shine on the granite but it has a hazy white color and doesn’t

Thu, Jan 20, 2022 0 0 576 0/5 (0 Vote)

Polishing black granite is very difficult and requires a lot of patience and is very time consuming. Here are several suggestions which should help: Make sure you are using a granite polishing compound.* Marble polishing powders will not work on... Read More

How to remove stain from cork backed trivet on marble

Fri, Aug 13, 2010 stain removal, removing stain from marble, poultice 0 0 364 5/5 (1 Vote)

Q. A cork backed trivet stained the marble. Can it be removed by one of your recommended products or methods? A. Yes, you will most likely need to use a poultice that you can make, or you can use a stain sponge. Either way, it may take several... Read More

When it rains, I notice a dark stain running around the perimeter of each granite tile on my back porch. This outline doesn’t seem to ever go away. What’s causing this and can it be cured?

Fri, Jan 21, 2022 0 0 633 0/5 (0 Vote)

This shadow or halo is a sign of moisture in the granite. When the stone gets wet, it turns dark; the granite then dries from the center out, leaving a moisture shadow which has the appearance of a stain. To eliminate this shadow, the granite will... Read More

The Mexican tile on our back porch is displaying a green growth at the corners of the porch. The porch is outdoors, but is covered. What is this growth and how do I clean it off?

Fri, Jan 21, 2022 0 0 614 0/5 (0 Vote)

The green growth you see is probably algae. Algae usually grows were there is abundant moisture. My guess would be that the tile stays wet after a rainstorm, allowing the algae to grow. To clean it, prepare a solution of bleach and water; about one... Read More

The Mexican tile floor on my back porch is turning yellow. Help?

Thu, Jan 20, 2022 0 0 681 0/5 (0 Vote)

First, has the tile been sealed? There are several urethane coatings on the market that are used to coat Mexican tile. These urethanes are sensitive to ultraviolet (UV) light and will turn yellow. Strip the floor and apply a Mexican tile sealer.... Read More

My customer has a new marble floor that has a white powder on it. It cleans up with water and soap, but keeps coming back. Is there anything I can use to clean it off permanently?

Thu, Jan 20, 2022 0 0 701 0/5 (0 Vote)

This a common condition, especially if the floor is new. When the marble is installed, it is set in a mortar base that is wet; as the moisture leaves the mortar, it carries with it dissolved salts which are deposited on the surface of the stone. This... Read More

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