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

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

My technician has told me that after completing the routine maintenance then finishing off with mopping a marble tile floor on a hotel maintenance contract, there are streaks across it when it dries. We have tried several different cleaners, yet I al

Thu, Jan 20, 2022 0 0 584 0/5 (0 Vote)

The streaking may be caused by any one of a number of problems. The mop you are using may be dirty. Use a clean string mop and make a point of only using it for the marble floor. Wring the mop out several times as you clean the floor. Are you using... Read More

Here is a question my customer is asking: “We installed a stone floor in my son’s nursery. Because of his allergies, we have been told to clean the floor with a disinfectant. What can we use that will disinfect without ruining the high polish o

Thu, Jan 20, 2022 0 0 621 0/5 (0 Vote)

I suggest you contact a local janitorial supply house and tell them you need a disinfectant with a neutral pH. There are several dozen on the market that will do an excellent job. It will be very important to dust mop the floor as much as possible.... Read More

What is the best way to clean mildew off of marble shower walls without dulling the shine? I have used soap-scum removers in the past, but they only dull the marble.

Thu, Jan 20, 2022 0 0 608 0/5 (0 Vote)

There are several products on the market that will remove mildew from tile, but they will also etch any polished marble surface. I suggest the following technique: Dilute one cup of household bleach in one-half gallon of cold water; add several drops... Read More

How should I advise my customers to remove the soap scum off their marble and tile shower walls?

Thu, Jan 20, 2022 0 0 672 0/5 (0 Vote)

Several products are available at the grocery store for removing soap scum, but they most likely are not safe for natural stone. Most soap scum removers contain acids which should not be used on marble surfaces. These cleaners work well on ceramic... Read More

What type of dust mop should I recommend that my customers use on their marble floors? I was told to stay away from treated dust mops.

Thu, Jan 20, 2022 0 0 685 0/5 (0 Vote)

The advice you received was correct. Most treated dust mops are treated with an oil-based chemical. Certain stones can absorb this oil, causing staining. Strongly recommend only untreated dust mops. TIP Also, tell your customers this: When purchasing... 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 0 717 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

After I finished grinding a marble floor with a 120 grit I noticed that the is grout missing. Can I replace the missing grout without removing all the grout? How do I match the color of the existing grout?

Thu, Jan 20, 2022 0 0 639 0/5 (0 Vote)

Yes, you can replace the missing grout. Be sure to use only unsanded grout . You will also need to wait 24 hours before proceeding with honing or you can wait until you have polished the floor and then replace the grout. Matching the color of the... Read More

I just ground a granite floor and the grout is getting a white powdery residue on the surface of the grout.

Thu, Jan 20, 2022 0 0 775 0/5 (0 Vote)

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

I have a granite kitchen counter top that is uneven. The top is made up of two slabs. The slabs are uneven where they join at the grout line. Can I grind the slab and even it out and more importantly can I match the existing shine?

Thu, Jan 20, 2022 0 0 562 0/5 (0 Vote)

You can grind the uneven counter flat but, I would first check to see why the slabs are uneven. It is possible that the plywood under the slabs has shifted or the granite was installed uneven. Check to make sure the slabs are secure. After the... Read More

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