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

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 0 583 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

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 0 774 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

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

I have an unusual problem. A customer of mine installed a limestone wall on the outside of his property. It is adjacent to and old limestone wall that has a growth of algae, mold and lichens. Can I get the new wall to look like?

Thu, Jan 20, 2022 0 0 581 0/5 (0 Vote)

In other words how can I grow algae and molds on the new wall? For this question I contacted a bryolgist at a major university. Bryologly is the study of molds and fungus. He gave me the following formula. Prepare the following mixture and paint it... Read More

I am working on a marble floor that has brass strip in place of the grout. Can I hone and polish this floor without removing the brass?

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

Yes, the brass will hone and polish just like the marble. Don’t be surprises if the brass strips are polished to a mirror shine. Brass will however leave a greenish color stain on the marble. If this occurs it will be necessary to poultice the... Read More

I am having trouble polishing an unfilled travertine wall. I am using polishing powder and it is accumulating in the pores of the travertine. Is there a better way?

Thu, Jan 20, 2022 0 0 603 0/5 (0 Vote)

Yes there is. You can polish a travertine wall with a solution of “charged water.” Charged water is a mixture of oxalic acid and water. Mix approximately one pound of oxalic acid to one gallon of water. Take this mixture and transfer it to a... Read More

I have a large lobby of white marble and when we mop it there are streaks left on the floor. How do we eliminate the streaking?

Wed, Jan 19, 2022 0 0 657 0/5 (0 Vote)

It sounds like you may be using an improper cleaner in your mop water or you are using a dirty mop. Try switching to a daily cleaner specifically designed for marble flooring. Also make sure the mop is clean and that it is only used for the marble... Read More

How do I clean the polishing powder out of the grout lines on a marble floor?

Wed, Jan 19, 2022 0 0 739 0/5 (0 Vote)

During the polishing try to keep the floor as wet as possible. Try to prevent the polishing powder from drying in the grout lines. While the floor is still wet apply a solution of stone soap and water, agitate the grout lines with the mop and pick up... Read More

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