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

I just installed new grout in a granite floor and after 24 hours it is all turning powdery. What can I do to fix it?

Thu, Jan 20, 2022 0 0 759 0/5 (0 Vote)

The are many reasons why the grout becomes powdery. If the tile is very absorbent it will soak up most of the moisture from the grout preventing it from curing properly. Too much water added to the grout mix can also make the grout powdery. To repair... Read More

Is there a filler I can use on travertine that will take a polish? I tried using grout and it will not polish.

Thu, Jan 20, 2022 0 0 658 0/5 (0 Vote)

Yes, there are several fillers that can be used that will take a polish. If the area is small you can use a polyester filler. These polyesters are sold at marble supply houses as Akemi, K-bond, Chemolit, etc. You will only be able to fill several... Read More

I have been hired to grind a green marble tile floor. The problem is that all the corners of the tiles are curled upward. Why did this happen and can I grind the tile without a problem.

Thu, Jan 20, 2022 0 0 659 0/5 (0 Vote)

There is only one solution for this problem--replace the tiles. Some green marbles are very susceptible to curling when they are installed using a water based setting material. The installer should have used a water-less setting material such as... Read More

I am having trouble polishing a travertine floor. I can get a good polish except for the fact that I have a lot of dull spots on the floor. Why is this and is there a way I can make the shine even across the surface?

Wed, Jan 19, 2022 0 0 583 0/5 (0 Vote)

Travertine is a marble that has a lot of holes. These holes are filed at the factory with a colored Portland cement. When you polish the marble the fillers do not take a polish. This is why you get dull spots. The only way to eliminate the dull spots... Read More

What sealer should be used to protect fossils so kids can handle them?

Wed, Mar 3, 2021 fossils, limestone 0 0 439 0/5 (0 Vote)

Q. I'm a park educator (park naturalist) working at a fossil site in Canada. I'm putting together sets of fossils for use in classrooms, including some Green River fish fossils, which are in very soft limestone that flakes in delaminates... Read More

Can tile be painted?

Fri, Apr 24, 2020 painting tile, backsplash, countertops 0 0 341 0/5 (0 Vote)

Q. I just bought a house that has very dated floral designs baked into various kitchen tiles on the counters and backsplash. Is it possible to remove the design and repaint the tile? I would be ok with a different color tile as long as I could... Read More

Will solvent remove grout haze on porcelain tile?

Fri, Sep 6, 2019 grout haze, porcelain tile, solvent 0 0 341 0/5 (0 Vote)

Q. Is there a solvent that can be used to safely remove years old grout haze from porcelain tile? I can provide more information as you need. Thank you. A. For standard grout, you will need an acid-based grout cleaner. For epoxy grout, then a... Read More

The shine on our travertine marble has not looked even since it was installed. The installer told us that this was characteristic of the stone. Is this true?

Sat, Sep 8, 2012 travertine, uneven shine, cement filler 0 0 400 0/5 (0 Vote)

Q. The shine on our travertine marble has not looked even since it was installed. The installer told us that this was characteristic of the stone. Is this true? A. Your installer is correct. Most travertine contains many holes that are filled with a... Read More

How do we remove one travertine tile from the floor?

Fri, Aug 13, 2010 travertine, crack in travertine, removal of cracked travertine 0 0 397 0/5 (0 Vote)

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

Can cement tiles or ceramic tiles be installed on top of Corian or Avonite?

Wed, Jun 2, 2010 Can cement tiles or ceramic tiles be installed on top of Corian or Avonite? 0 0 354 0/5 (0 Vote)

Q. Can cement tiles or ceramic tiles be installed on top of Corian or Avonite? I am restoring a kitchen on a tight budget, and I prefer to cover the existing countertops vs rip out and replace. A. Yes, you can install them directly over the Corian... Read More

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