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

When it rains, I notice a dark stain running around the perimeter of each granite tile on my back porch. This outline doesn’t seem to ever go away. What’s causing this and can it be cured?

Fri, Jan 21, 2022 0 0 643 0/5 (0 Vote)

This shadow or halo is a sign of moisture in the granite. When the stone gets wet, it turns dark; the granite then dries from the center out, leaving a moisture shadow which has the appearance of a stain. To eliminate this shadow, the granite will... 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

What type of mop should I use on my marble tile floor? Sponge or string mop?

Thu, Jan 20, 2022 0 0 674 0/5 (0 Vote)

A string mop is preferable to a sponge mop. A sponge mop has a very small surface area, and can easily pick up sand and debris which will scratch the floor. It has been shown that after several swipes with a sponge mop, you are only spreading the... Read More

I tried honing and polishing a granite tile that had been sandblasted. When I polished, it had a spotting appearance. Did I do something wrong?

Thu, Jan 20, 2022 0 0 642 0/5 (0 Vote)

No, you didn’t do anything wrong. When granite is sandblasted the force of the abrasive destroys the crystal structure of the granite. This is why you are seeing a blotchy appearance. Unfortunately the damage has been done and there is very... Read More

I have these circular scratches in a large granite floor. The scratch pattern is in a row of three in each tile and is about ten inches in diameter. The tiles are 12 by 24 inches and the scratch pattern runs perpendicular to the longer edge of the ti

Thu, Jan 20, 2022 0 0 596 0/5 (0 Vote)

If these scratch patterns are what I think they are then they probably occurred during fabrication. Some polishing machines have ten inch diameter polishing heads. It is not unusual to have these patterns show up after the floor has been polished.... Read More

We have a pink marble tile that has some brown veins and the veins are soft and coming out. Is there anything we can do to stop these veins from softening?

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

The material you are describing is probably a marble known as rossa perlinio. This type of marble, when it is formed has mud running through it and this is what the soft veins are---mud. Unfortunately the only cure is to fill the veins as the erode... Read More

How do I prevent water from leaking through the baseboard edges and down onto the first floor. There is a small space between the tile floor and the wall.

Thu, Jan 20, 2022 0 0 828 0/5 (0 Vote)

The best way is to seal this space with silicone or acrylic caulking. Run a bead around the perimeter of the base. When you are done with the job the caulking should easily peel off or you can leave it in place. CAUTION If you use silicone caulking... Read More

I am trying to hone a saturnia tile floor and it is chewing up my diamonds, any suggestions?

Wed, Jan 19, 2022 0 0 704 0/5 (0 Vote)

What diamonds are you using? Resin bond diamonds will not last on a saturnia floor. I would recommend using metal bond diamonds, or bricks. Saturnia is a very abrasive stone and will require very abrasive pads.Try using some of the diamond brick... Read More

limestone tile cleaner

Thu, Jan 15, 2009 limestone, neutral cleaner, etching 0 0 368 0/5 (0 Vote)

Q. What is the best cleaner to use on limestone floors? The floors in my bathroom are starting to look very dirty, with grayish marks and spots all over. A. It sounds like your floors have been etched -- probably by using an acid based cleaner. Many... Read More

Slate installation

Fri, Sep 25, 2009 Slate Installation thin set epoxy thinset tile adhesive 0 0 339 0/5 (0 Vote)

Q. Refacing a fireplace with 30cm slate tiles. What is the best adhesive to use (only about 25 pieces of tile involved so don't want to have to purchase a 50lb. bag of anything)? Would a premix mastic work? Will I need to provide support for the... Read More

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