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Q. I have had a travertine patio for approximately 10 years installed in sand. It has accumulated dirt from not being hosed or washed. What products do you recommend to clean it?  A. How to go about cleaning your patio depends on whether your... Read More

Q. My unfilled, but sealed (with a lithofin product) travertine needs a good clean before resealing. What is the best technique for this? There is dirt in the holes, which is obviously worse in heavy wear areas. Thanks A. The best way to clean... Read More

  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

Q. In response to your follow-up question about our travertine patio stained with mud, our patio travertine is directly on dirt. I will try a tile and natural stone cleaner as you suggested and hope for the best! Our travertine does have the wet look... Read More

Q. Hi! We have outdoor noce travertine - unsealed - on our pool patio deck. We had a "dog party" last week and one dog loved to swim. He repeatedly jumped in our pool and then ran through our plant beds, tracking mud all over our travertine. The mud... Read More

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

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

This is a condition known as efflorescence. There are soluble salts in the grout coming to the surface. The large amount of water you used dissolved the salts and they are depositing on the surface. Efflorescence will eventually disappear when the... Read More

The marble tile was most likely improperly installed. Before you grind a floor you should sound the floor by tapping on each tile with a broom handle. If you hear a hollow thud sound then there is a strong chance that the tile has no setting material... Read More

Some grout colors can be bleached by the oxalic acid in polishing powders. You are always urged to perform a small test to determine if this might happen. It is possible to recolor the grout. There are several companies that sell grout colors which... Read More