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Which granites are harder, black, red or salt/peppers?

There are many types of granites. The black granites are generally softer than others. The granites that wear easily are much softer then those that appear to last forever. FYI There are many types of granites and some fall into a category geological... Read More

What gives stone its color?

The color in all stone is derived from minerals and organic matter. For example red marbles are red due to the presences of iron. Green marble gets its color from a mineral called serpentine and so forth. There are several excellent books on rock and... Read More

How do I determine the the hardness of marble?

All minerals have a certain hardness. The hardness of a mineral is determined by performing a scratch test. A scratch test is based on the Moh’s scale of hardness. A German scientist invented this scale by taking several known, pure minerals... Read More

travertine tile bathroom

Q. I have a 2nd floor shower with moisture resistant sheetrock. I want to put 18" travertine tile on the walls above the pan. Using modified mortar, can these tiles be put on the wall with mortar blobs leaving an air space behind tile or do the tiles... Read More

Will the cold cause my stone to crack?

Q. Will the cold cause my stone to crack, or is there some way to treat it to prevent this? A. Being natural, no two stones are going to have the exact same characteristics. That being said, freezing temperatures alone do not affect stone. What... Read More