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

I spilled a chemical on my Pietra Cardosa countertop, causing it to turn white. How do I restore the color?

Fri, Aug 19, 2022 Pietra Cardosa, etch damage 0 0 404 0/5 (0 Vote)

Q. I have a Pietra Cardosa countertop, and one handprint sized area has turned almost white on the black counter top because of the spilling of a descaling chemical solution that I was using to clean an appliance. If you have any suggestions for how... Read More

Does travertine pool coping need to be sealed? Can it be dyed?

Mon, Aug 16, 2021 travertine, pool coping, stone sealer, dye, color enhancing sealer 0 0 483 0/5 (0 Vote)

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 into�... Read More

Will Acetone Remove the Seal on Granite Countertops?

Fri, Mar 1, 2019 removing sealer, acetone, alcohol 0 0 351 0/5 (0 Vote)

Q. We have hairline scratches in our Granite vanity counter top that look like it has just scratched the seal and not the stone. Will Acetone remove the sealer so we can verify, fix and reseal the area? Also what Acetone would be recommended for... Read More

black spots on travertine shower

Mon, May 25, 2009 mold on travertine, bleach 0 0 353 0/5 (0 Vote)

Q. My master bath was remodeled approx. 8 months ago and we used honed and tumbled travertine. It was professionally installed and moisture barrier was used in shower. Approx a month ago, I noticed a few black "dots" on the floor of the shower (they... Read More

Restoration of Crema Marfil

Fri, Mar 6, 2009 marble cleaning, marble polishing, marble etching, etch removal, repair marble, restore marble 0 0 363 0/5 (0 Vote)

Q. I have a new home (1 year old). I chose to have crema marfil marble installed in the master bath. The entire floor and the walk-in shower are crema marfil. Neither the installer or the contractor gave me any warning about care of the stone and... Read More

remove travertine tiles

Mon, Jan 12, 2009 removing travertine tiles 0 0 321 0/5 (0 Vote)

Q. I have to do a repair around a jetted tub set in 12" travertine tile landing. All the tiles are set in grout. Is there a way to dissolve the grout & save the tiles? Thanks, Tom--A. Hi Tom, There is a risk factor involved with this task. Of... Read More

Efflorescence - Removal and Prevention

Tue, Dec 23, 2008 0 0 354 0/5 (0 Vote)

Efflorescence - Removal and Prevention By Frederick M. Hueston www.stoneforensics.com The crystallization of soluble salts in Historic masonry causes severe deterioration of the substrate. This crystallization is called... Read More

Can travertine be polished after it has been sealed?

Thu, Dec 25, 2008 travertine, shiny, shinier, polish 1 0 338 2/5 (4 Votes)

Q. We recently had travertine cross cut Torreon placed in our kitchen foyer and hallway the floor was sealed by the installer. However we would prefer to have more of a shine to the floor then we presently have. Can we, now that the floor is sealed,... Read More

The slate steps on our front porch have developed a hard white deposit coming from the grout lines. How can we clean it off?

Fri, Jan 21, 2022 0 0 647 0/5 (0 Vote)

The white deposits are salts, which are bleeding through from the grout joints or from the mortar. An acid wash will be required to remove the salts. If the deposits are heavy, try scraping them off before washing the slate with acid. Several acid... Read More

What’s the best way to clean grout off a newly installed marble floor without dulling the marble? All grout cleaners seem to contain acid.

Thu, Jan 20, 2022 0 0 713 0/5 (0 Vote)

Several excellent grout cleaners are available from your stone care supplier that will not dull polished marble. Try a mild solution of bleach ; use a soft tooth brush to apply the solution to the grout joints and scrub lightly. TIP If the grout is... Read More

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