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

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

I have to polish a narrow strip of granite that runs as a border along side a strip of flamed granite. The polished granite strips are about six inches wide. How do I hone the polished granite without honing the flamed granite?

Thu, Jan 20, 2022 0 0 598 0/5 (0 Vote)

The situation you describe is becoming increasingly popular. It seems designers and architects are mixing different finishes together making it very difficult to restore the polished portion. The only way to restore the polished granite without... Read More

I used a stone cleaner that contains hydrofluoric acid on a polished granite and it etched the surface. I thought acid will not effect granite?

Thu, Jan 20, 2022 0 0 657 0/5 (0 Vote)

Acids generally will not harm granite but hydrofluoric acid is the exception. Hydrofluoric acid will etch polished granite as well as glass. Never use HF on polished granite. Read MSDS and label directions. FYI Hydrofluoric acid is a common chemical... Read More

Will the marble slurry I collect in a wet vac be safe to dispose of down the drain?

Thu, Jan 20, 2022 0 0 722 0/5 (0 Vote)

This will depend on what type of sewage system the drain has. If you are dumping slurry down the drain and the systems is on a septic tank you take the chance of upsetting the delicate balance of the septic system and killing the bacteria in the... Read More

In the process of grinding a marble floor. I am getting a lot of the corners of the marble cracking. Why is this happening?

Thu, Jan 20, 2022 0 0 815 0/5 (0 Vote)

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

I have to restore an outdoor sign that is made of a black agglomerate marble, the sign is faded and is very gray. I performed a small test patch and I was successful at restoring the sign. The question I have is, what caused the agglomerate to fade a

Thu, Jan 20, 2022 0 0 597 0/5 (0 Vote)

Agglomerate marbles are made of a combination of marble chips and a polyester resin. Polyester resins are very sensitive to ultraviolet light(UV) and therefore should not be used outdoors. To answer your question, yes, the marble will fade in a very... Read More

I just looked at a marble floor that had some type of a wax on it. There appears to be a blotchy appearance as if something is coming up from the marble and just under neath the wax. What is this?

Thu, Jan 20, 2022 0 0 634 0/5 (0 Vote)

It sounds like moisture is trying to escape from the marble. This is a problem if a non breathable coating is placed on the marble. You will need to strip the coating off the floor and allow it to dry for several days. I would suggest polishing the... Read More

I have been told that there is a shelf life to grinding bricks. I have been using the Frankfurt style bricks and I have many that are several years old. Do I run into the danger of the bricks being bad?

Thu, Jan 20, 2022 0 0 614 0/5 (0 Vote)

Most bricks are made of material known as magnasite. The magnasite has a shelf life of about one year. If you have bricks that are made of magnasite and they are older than one year you risk the chance of them falling apart. There are newer bricks... Read More

Can steam be used to clean stone surfaces? We have silicone caulking on a granite sidewalk and steam from a hotsy machine is the only method that will take it off.

Thu, Jan 20, 2022 0 0 684 0/5 (0 Vote)

Steam can be used effectively on stone surfaces but be careful if you use any chemicals such as alkalies. Rinse the surface throughly if using alkaline cleaners. TIP Another good method for removing caulking, tar or chewing gum from granite surfaces... Read More

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