Home | About Us | Info | Buy | Sell | To Pay | Images | Library | Advice | Search | RSS Feeds | Site Map | Contact Us  



 
ADVICE WANTED!   November 29, 2003
www.findstone.com   info@findstone.com
   
Q 5891: We have a newly installed granite countertop, "Rainbow". The seam edge on one of the pieces is chipped on the top surface. The chip size is 1/4" x 1/2". The front bottom edge also is chipped, a deep, narrow, triangular shaped divot. All the seams are rough looking with little chips. The installers filled the seams with epoxy, but it is not smooth and level. We have paid 2/3 of the bill, holding onto the last 1/3 until all is to our satisfaction. We are very disappointed concerning the chips. We don't know what to do about this. We feel we are paying so much, that we should not accept the chipped granite. There are other minor things that bother us. There is a seam in front of the sink, the grain does not match at all. We were told that they try to match up the grain as much as possible. It just doesn't look like it. The same seam in front of the sink is not lined up exactly. The two pieces do not line up as well as we would think they should be. Are we too picky? This is a $7000 job, and we expected higher quality. The granite is beautiful, but the seams are not. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.Thank you, Karen, Nov 29, Reply
R1: Dear Karen: For what you're reporting, no, you're not too picky. It looks to me like "Michelangelo" struck again!! The seaming is one area of the fabrication process where you separate the men from the boys: there shouldn't be any chipping and the epoxy should be perfectly flush with the stone surface. A seam in the middle of the sink hole is a big NO-NO in my book, especially in the case of an under-mount sink. What's more, the "masters" who seam there (because they don't want to bother rodding) just cut the slab in half after making the sink whole and put it together again on location. In other words, the matching of the two pieces is never an issue. In your case, it sounds like they tried to put together two pieces from two different slabs or from two different spots in the same slab. You should demand the replacement of the whole thing, or your money back in full. Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
 
Q 5889: I am interested in installing Perlato Royale on the walls of a shower, but have been told that marble is a bad choice for showers. Do you have information for maintaining marble in a shower? Is the agglomerate somehow better suited for a shower situation than natural marble? Thanks, Larry, Nov 29, Reply
R1: Dear Larry: The negative thinkers are just plain ignorant about marble maintenance; therefore they spit out the "easy solution"! :-) (May all the gods forbid that they contemplate spending some time contemplating the idea of getting some basic stone education! Perlato Royale is an excellent choice for a shower stall enclosure. Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
Q 5888:We have a kitchen granite countertop. Our current faucet, which uses a 13/16 inch mounting hole, needs to be replaced. However, all the new faucets we like use a 1 3/8 inch mounting hole. Is it possible to enlarge our mounting hole without the granite cracking? Who should I contact for this service? Many thanks. This is a great site. Mark, Nov 29, Reply
R1: Dear Mark: Yes, it is possible and it is not a big deal. Get hold of your fabricator. Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
Q 5887: Can you tell me what the difference is in the grades of granite I found a color Black Galaxy in grade 3 and grade 2 besides the price are the grades different in thickness? and quality and how do I know if i am paying to much money for a particular grade? what should I be looking for when picking out granite counter topsHoping you can help me out, Nov 29, Reply
R1: There are no official standards anywhere in the entire world (unfortunately) about stone grading. Whatever grading has been disclosed to you is strictly voluntary. The thickness of a slab does not determine the grade. It's hard to tell what to look for in writing. The bottom line is that eventually you will have to rely on the contractor reputation and business ethic. I seldom comment about any one particular stone. There may be differences within the same stone (and I'm not talking about looks, here!) from one bundle of slabs and the next. The slabs may have also been either "doctored" (which is bad), or "resined" (which is good) by the factory, which would make a big difference. Even more important, what's a good stone in the hands of some "Michelangelo"?! Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA
 
Q 5885: I found a victorian marble table in an antiques shop that has stain damage to the marble top. I appears to be rust from a metallic object that was damp. It left its impression in the marble top. Is there any way to remove this stain? Michael, Nov 29, Reply
R1: Dear Michael: I doubt, but you can try. When it comes to stain removal, either you buy one of those expensive "Professional kits" (that no true professional ever uses!) at a stone retailer near you, or you can spend less money and get my comprehensive guidelines on how to remove stains by using inexpensive and far more effective means that you may already have in your household! Such impressive piece of literature will also tell you how to tell stains apart from "stains", and what to do about the latter! I Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
Q 5884: After searching the net, i realized that we installed imperial white granite in the shower. Boy oh boy i feel like i've been had. Any recommendations on how take out the water stains before i reseal it 4-5 times or should i just reseal it without taking the water/moisture out? Your help would be much appreciated, Mike, Nov 29, Reply
R1: Dear Mikie: You MUST take the moisture off before sealing your stone with a good quality impregnator like my MB-4 My product will seal your stone with three applications, tops (wait 24 hours between each application). Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
Q 5883: My floor has had 7 coats of sealer on it and it still is not right. Ever time a coat gets put on there's a rough patch here and there not always in the same spot. This last coat that was put on looks like it bubbled and now it pitted. what if anything can I do besides start over, I have already paid the contractor for the job.Cathy, Nov 29, Reply
R1: Dear Cathy: And exactly what kind of sealer are you talking about? A topical sealer - like a wax or something - or a sealer for stone, a.k.a. impregnator? If your case is the former, then somebody is doing something wrong with the waxing and buffing thing; if your case is the latter, then somebody should put in jail your contractor and throw the key away! A sealer for stone is NOT topical: NONE of the stuff is supposed to sit on the stone surface, being that all impregnator/sealer are below-surface sealer. Didn't anybody read the direction on the bottle, for crying out loud? Have the whole thing stripped out (it won't be easy) and get some intelligence on the subject before going on with some other "experiment". Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
Q 5882: There has been many hours put into preparing my Spring Green granite counter top. Yet unfortunately, as the sink hole was being cut out the slab broke. Almost no chips have fallen out, but it is still split in two. After reading many of the threads on this site and others it seems like repairs can be done to still use the slab, and make it secure, although the crack will still be somewhat visible. Can you offer me a step by step description of how to do and what to do to make sure that I follow the best practices? Tim, Nov 29, Reply
R1: Dear Tim: I don't understand: are you a DIYer making his own granite countertop? If that's the case, well, I'm sorry, but I've got some bad news for you. Before cutting out the sink hole you should have rod the stone in front and back of the hole itself. Now the slab is broken in two pieces and you hope that you can but it back together. Well, let me tell you what's involved: you have to glue the two pieces together with epoxy glue to match the color; then, if you have to have a small chance that it will stay together, you will have to rod the areas that you didn't rod before; after that, once the whole thing is installed and the sink is in place, you will have to grind, hone and polish the surface of the stone where you made the repair. Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
Q 5881: I wonder if you could give me your opinion on the following kitchen combinations: flooring: Bruce Hardwood, Gunstock stain on Oak. cabinet: Fieldstone, Brighton Cherry with Ginger stain countertop: Granite, Autumn Brown appliances: stainless steelIs there another countertop that would complement our other selections? We had considered UbaTuba, however we thought it to be too dark.Thanks.Tim, Nov 28, Reply
R1: Dear Tim: Don't ask me: I'm 25% colorblind!! :-) I can only advise you as a mechanic, and as such what I say is that I seldom comment about any one particular stone. There may be differences within the same stone (and I'm not talking about looks, here!) from one bundle of slabs and the next. The slabs may have also been either "doctored" (which is bad), or "resined" (which is good) by the factory, which would make a big difference. Even more important, what's a good stone in the hands of some "Michelangelo"?! Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
Q 5880: Last year, we bought a house with black slate tile kitchen countertops.They now have are discolored to a horrid gray in some areas and have numerous water rings. I have now realized that they were probably never sealed. What can I do (if anything!) to restore them? Thank you for your excellent advice page. I'll be well informed when it comes time to remodel, Travis, Nov 28, Reply
R1: Dear Travis: Even if it had been sealed you'd have the very same problems. For what I know, the only thing that could give you peace of mind is to rip out the whole darn thing, replace it with a "good granite" and live happily ever after. But what do I know about slate anyway? I'm sure that some slate big gun will chime in no time with a sure solution to your problem. Assuming that they are not too busy selling it, that is. But don't you worry, is gonna be any day now … aaaany day …! Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
Q 5879:You guys were right. I should have never bought it. Now that I have, 1) Is there a chemical I can use on my countertop to universally stain it? 2) If I decide to get rid of it, what would you suggest in lieu of granite that is durable. Is Quartz any good? Whitney, Nov 28, Reply
R1: Dear Whitney: We were right about what? First off, you can't "stain" granite. Second, just because you chose a bad "granite" it doesn't mean that all "granites" are bad. Your specific intelligence on the matter was bad! :-) If I'd suggest a different material to you I'd be lying, because nothing is more durable and easier to maintain than most commercial granites. Now the question is: "which ones are the good guys?" I seldom comment about any one particular stone. There may be differences within the same stone (and I'm not talking about looks, here!) from one bundle of slabs and the next. The slabs may have also been either "doctored" (which is bad), or "resined" (which is good) by the factory, which would make a big difference. Even more important, what's a good stone in the hands of some "Michelangelo"?!Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
Q 5878: I have noticed a stain on my granite and I believe it came from a banana that was bruised and absorbed into the stone. It's the only thing I can think of since I have been very careful to not leave anything on there that would stain. The stain is about the width of a large banana and about 2-3" long. Is there anything I can do about this? My granite is rather light, but has some browns and blacks in the pattern. Suzanne, Nov 28, Reply
R1: Dear Suzanne: It can be classified as an organic stain. When it comes to stain removal, either you buy one of those expensive "Professional kits" (that no true professional ever uses!) at a stone retailer near you, or you can spend less money and get my comprehensive guidelines on how to remove stains by using inexpensive and far more effective means that you may already have in your household! Such impressive piece of literature will also tell you how to tell stains apart from "stains", and what to do about the latter! Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
Q 5877: My husband and I are considering getting granite countertops – slab not tiles. I’ve heard from a few friends that my cabinets and floor (basement lot) may not support a slab and I should look at tiles. My contractor said my cabinets, walls, and floor would support slabs. Have you heard of any support problems with granite slabs and should I consider tiles because of the support issue? Thank you - Dee, Nov 28, Reply
R1: Dear Dee: Don't listen to unqualified comments from unqualified friends. If your contractor states that there are no problems (and I personally believe him: there are only extremely rare instances when a floor can't support a slab countertop) go for it.Concern yourself on the choice of the "right granite" - among a long list of good choices! I seldom comment about any one particular stone. There may be differences within the same stone (and I'm not talking about looks, here!) from one bundle of slabs and the next. The slabs may have also been either "doctored" (which is bad), or "resined" (which is good) by the factory, which would make a big difference. Even more important, what's a good stone in the hands of some "Michelangelo"?! Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA
Q 5876: I'm thinking about installing White Carrara marble in my boys' bathroom, since I've already chosen White Carrara countertop in the same room. But I'm afraid my boys may have numerous accidents around the potty and stain the stone. Do you think it's a bad idea to choosing White Carrara in this case? Urine can stain the stone? If it's OK, what kind of sealer should I apply? Thanks! Eriko, Nov 28, Reply
R1: Dear Eriko: Urine can stain marble in two wais: 1. by actually being absorbed by it and turn it in a yellow color. 2. By etching it (urine contains ureic acid). The former problem can be minimized with the application of a good quality impregnator/sealer, like my MB-4. The latter can't be avoided at all. All in all, it's a high maintenance material. Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
Q 5875: We have some new granite countertops. They have been sealed by the contractor. Generally doing fine with them. Once in a while we see a water mark, but it dries out quickly. this morning we noticed a ring mark that does not seem to be drying and we are not sure what caused it. Teenagers?? Any suggestions? David, Nov 28, Reply
R1: Dear David: Teenagers don't stain, oil does! It looks to me like you have an oily stain, which clearly indicates that your countertop was not impregnated/sealed properly. I bet that they only apply the impregnator once at the time of the installation and … good-bye, right? When it comes to stain removal, either you buy one of those expensive "Professional kits" (that no true professional ever uses!) at a stone retailer near you, or you can spend less money and get my comprehensive guidelines on how to remove stains by using inexpensive and far more effective means that you may already have in your household! Such impressive piece of literature will also tell you how to tell stains apart from "stains", and what to do about the latter! Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
Q 5874: I just noticed about 3 or 4 spots where the granite has dryed out and looks pitted. What do you do to repair/fix the dry pitted and damaged sections? Thanks, David, Nov 28, Reply
R1: Dear David: Nothing, they are natural flaws in the stone. You could rub some paraffin wax onto them, but it's only a temporary fix. Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
Q 5873: I live in Alabam where the dirt can be pretty red in places. Is there anyway I can remove the stains it is leaving on my son's granite marker? The stone is not polished the lettering is carved not raised and there is no dye on the stone.
Also when the lettering fills with dirt it is easier to read so now I sometimes wish I had had the lettering dyed. Is there anyway to do this now that the stone is complete and in the ground, could I do it myself? (The marker is flat,not an upright monument, and has quite a number of words on it.) Thank you for your advice and/or comments. Connie, Nov 28, Reply
R1: Dear Connie: It's a sad story, and as father of two sons myself I feel truly sorry for you. To clean the reddish staining you could use water (3 parts) mixed with regular household bleach (1 part), using a regular laundry brush (don't forget to wear rubber gloves and be careful not to spill any on your clothing). About the staining of the carved lettering you could use some regular dark paint, after you cleaned, rinsed and let totally dry. Just be careful not to smudge the stone around the lettering when you paint in. It will take some patience and a firm hand. Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
Q 5872: I had granite installed yesterday and have some concerns about the installation. I wanted to get unbiased advice before I take these issues up with the fabricator. We installed 72 sq ft of Volga Blue. It appears that the stone dust from installation was not properly removed prior to the final sealing as it appears streaky and full of hundreds of small scratches. Also there is a seam about 18" from my range top that is very visible and at points I can even feel it. Another issue is that the edge around my sink is not as rounded as the edge of my countertops. Am I just being to picky? or should I insists theses issues be resolved before I make final payment. I appreciate any guidance you can offer on this matter. Sheila, Nov 28, Reply
R1: Dear Sheila: The last thing that you want to do to a stone as Volga Blue is to apply an impregnator/sealer to it, not even my "best of them all" MB-4. The streaks that you notice are probably some residue of the impregnator that was not properly removed. I would urge you to have your fabricator thoroughly strip the stupid thing that had no business being there to avoid the distinct possibility of future problems associated to the presence of the sealer itself. About the seam and the edge issue, I can't comment without actually seeing your countertop. Try to discuss those matters with your fabriocator when they come back to strip the impregnator/sealer. Now, remember, it's never too early to think about the proper maintenance of your stone. Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
Q 5871: I have a steam shower tiled with Crema Marfil Tile. The orginal shower sprung a leak in the liner. A new shower was installed using the same marble. However, this time a tripleflex water proofing material was used behind the tile. It took almost 3 mos. for the cross hatches on the back of the tile to dry out. The grout was mottled. In some places the light colored grout was a dark gray. The top 1/8" of grout has been replaced, but there is still one area that is very dark. The shower has not been used in 2 mos., nor has it been sealed. I'm now being told that *I* chose the wrong material for the shower and have to accept it. I didn't have a grout or drying problem with the original tile.1) Is crema marfil marble contraindicated for a steam shower? 2) Is water proofing necessary and is it to be blamed for the grout not drying? 3) Any other reason for this to happen? Thank you, Kathleen, Nov 27, Reply
R1: Dear Kathleen: I don't have all the answers to your questions, but I'll tell you what I know. Crema Marfil was not a good choice only because the steam will eventually make it dull (like it would make dull every other polished marble or compact limestone). Other than that - which is only a cosmetic problem - there are no counter-indications about the use of that particular material in a shower stall. About the rest of your questions, you should be getting hold of a reputable third party tile setter to consult with about your problems. Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
Q 5870: If I put granite in my kitchen will the maintenance be hard? Will the granite scratch or get dull over time. I am worried about investing in granite then it won't hold up over a long period of time. Lisa, Nov 27, Reply
R1: Dear lisa, granite is an excellent choice for kitchen. it needs little maintenance and lasts forever. only you got to choose the right type of granite.my adivse to you is to go for a good quality black granite or red granite top.these are hard, sturdy and does not absorb oil or any other stains. you got to sprinkle some water and wipe them to keep them clean. all the best Capt. M. Dilip
R2: Dear Lisa: If you choose the right "granite" (among a long list of good choices) it will turn out to be the most enjoyable and worry-free material that money can buy, not to mention its inherent, unparallel beauty! But, like I said, you've got to do some homework! I seldom comment about any one particular stone. There may be differences within the same stone (and I'm not talking about looks, here!) from one bundle of slabs and the next. The slabs may have also been either "doctored" (which is bad), or "resined" (which is good) by the factory, which would make a big difference. Even more important, what's a good stone in the hands of some "Michelangelo"?! Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
Q 5869: I'm renovating a bungalow and am trying to decide between soapstone (which has the low-key matte appearance I really want) and granite (which I think will be half the installed cost at Houston prices and is easier to take care of). Also, I don't know the details, but I got the idea you do not recommend slate.I'll appreciate any information you can send me. Thank you, Marie, Nov 27, Reply
R1:Dear Marie: "I got the idea you do not recommend slate." Wow, is it that obvious??! :-) Go with granite! Deciding on which one is quite important, though! I seldom comment about any one particular stone. There may be differences within the same stone (and I'm not talking about looks, here!) from one bundle of slabs and the next. The slabs may have also been either "doctored" (which is bad), or "resined" (which is good) by the factory, which would make a big difference. Even more important, what's a good stone in the hands of some "Michelangelo"?! Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA
Q 5868: My newly-installed Madura Gold countertop has several streaks that appear to be glue wiped form the installation. Can you tell me, please, how they can be removed? Also, can you give me information on the quality and durability of Madura Gold "granite"? Thank you.Sim, Nov 27, Reply
R1: The most simplest way is put some talcum powder on the stains and wait for it to suck it up.
R2: Dear Sim: About the streaks you could try to remove them by using a paint stripper based on Methylene Chloride, but I'd call the fabricator back to finish their job, if I were you. M.C. is pretty nasty stuff to handle! Madure Gold is a good stone if properly impregnated and taken care of. Talking about which, it's never too early to think about the proper maintenance of your stone. It's a subject that's all too often neglected and, as you can tell by reading many of this site postings, you're not likely to get good information about it from your dealer or installer (when end-users tell me that they were advised to use water and dish soap, or regular glass-cleaner, my Italian blood reaches the boiling point at the speed of light!). Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA
Q 5867:I used a product called "House Brite" in my shower which caused the epoxy filler to "dissolve" in many locations. I took the manufacturer to small claims court. The judge has asked for "collaborating" testimony from an expert as to if my assertions are true. The manufacturer claims the product is mostly just bleach. Can you make any comments about the use of bleach on a travertine tile shower floor.Thanks.Matthew, Nov 27, Reply
R1: Dear Matthew: Bleach will NOT damage travertine, nor will it ever "dissolve" the cementitious material (not epoxy) that's used by the factory to fill it with. Other than that, I can't make any comment because I have no idea what other chemicals are included in the formula of that particular product and that could be so strong as to dissolve the filler. Your best bet is to try to "clean" a spare tile with that stuff and see what happens. If it does damage the filler, then you will repeat the little experiment in front of the judge. Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
Q 5866: I am thinking of making a pathway and patio area (outside of my house) using broken pieces of different coloured granite and arranging them together like a mosaic and then using grout or concrete to fill the gaps.Can you tell me if you know of any problems pertaining to this and do you know of somebody else who may have already tried this? Iam thinking of using broken irregular shaped granite not neat squarely cut granite tiles. I would really appreciate if you could help me. Will you email me back or do I have to go back to your website and check for an answer? Matt, Nov 27, Reply
R1: There is no problem of doing what you are planning. its ideal for such a usage only be careful not to slip and fall when wet. Capt. M. Dilip
R2: Dear Matt: If you know what you're doing as far as installation goes, you shouldn't have any problem. Just keep in mind that when wet granite is quite slippery! Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
 
Q 5864: I am considering installing Tropic Brown granite counter tops in my bathroom. I was told this granite comes from Finland or Sweden. I have never had granite counter tops before. After reading some comments on granite I have to say I am concerned about staining/pitting etc. I don't want to make a costly mistake; Is this stone a good choice for a bathroom counter top? Any pointers on how to care for granite; cleaning etc.? Thank you in advance for your help, Michele, Nov 27, Reply
R1: Dear Michele: Tropic Brown is one of the few true geological granites on the market and is quarried in Saudi Arabia. (Quite a stretch from Finland or Sweden!) Like all true granites it does have some natural pitting. It's up to the fabricator that you will be choosing to make sure that your slab is a good grade with the least amount of pitting. About the sealing issue, there are no fixed rules: use my little lemon juice test to find out if your particular slab will need to be sealed (usually it does not). About taking proper care of it, Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
Q 5862: I need to color old marble floors and tables. Please advice on products and techniques available. I have access to professional marble for the application if needed. They have not encountered such requests in the past but they can work with the products if they are available.Please indicate how to pay for the consultancy; I am living in Saudi Arabia. Best regards, Dr Nabil, Nov 27, Reply
R1: Dear Dr. Nabil: The reason why the professionals you've contacted never encountered any such request in the past is because there's no such a thing like coloring marble! :-) Marble can be refinished to its original factory polished finish by re-grinding it and re-polishing it, but if the marble professionals you've been talking to said that they never did anything like that in the past, without proper intensive training they will never be able to do it now just by getting some consultation via e-mail. Refinishing marble is the most demanding facet (from a professional point of view) of the whole stone trade. Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
Q 5861: We have a honed granite countertop that was installed 3 years ago (uba tuba). I have recently noticed some scratches, and am not sure how to best remove them. I appreciate your advice. Nancy, Nov 27, Reply
R1: Dear Nancy: Don't! If those scratches bother you so much, get hold of a bona fide stone restoration contractor. Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
Q 5860: I have one quetion and really hope you'll be able to help me... I'm living in Arizona. We put travertine in our house a few month ago. Now in a few tile you can see a hole how can I fill that hole? Thank you for answering, Nathalie. Nov 27, Reply
R1: Dear Natalie: Get some almond sandless grout, mix it with a latex additive to the consistency of peanut butter, and push it inside the holes using a putty knife. Let it cure for 24 hours, and then "shave" it flush with the stone surface using a razor blade. With the same razor blade you will make sure to remove every film residue. Now, remember, it's never too early to think about the proper maintenance of your stone. Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA
Q 5859: In the new house that my wife and I are buying. The builder has a piece of granite on our island, the granite is 1-1/4" thick and over hanging 12" on two sides. My question. Is there a possiblity of the granite breaking? If so, what kind of force would break it? (not that I want too) Thank You in advance for your answer. Panos, Nov 27, Reply
R1: Dear Panos: An overhang of 12" MUST be supported by either metal braces or wooden corbels. It's one of the rare standards available about fabrication of stone. Now, remember, it's never too early to think about the proper maintenance of your stone. Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA
Q 5858: We have some cooking grease stains on our newly installed (and sealed) slate barbeque and patio. Any recommendations for techniques and products we can use to remove them? How can we prevent this from happening again? Do we need to re=seal with a different/stronger sealer? Nov 27, Reply
R1: When it comes to stain removal, either you buy one of those expensive "Professional kits" (that no true professional ever uses!) at a stone retailer near you, or you can spend less money and get my comprehensive guidelines on how to remove stains by using inexpensive and far more effective means that you may already have in your household! Such impressive piece of literature will also tell you how to tell stains apart from "stains", and what to do about the latter! Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
Q 5857: We have bluestone steps at the front of the house with some old paint spills. The paint may be exterior latex as well as enamel. How do we remove this without damaging the stone??Also, is there a way of cleaning urine stains off a polished marble floor in front of a toilet?? Thanks, Wendy, Nov 27, Reply
R1: Dear Wendy: Use a paint stripper. It should not damage bluestone, but I encourage you to test it in a small inconspicuous area before doing the whole thing. About the urine stains removal, are you sure that they are urine and not toilet bowl cleaner? Do those "stains" look like dull spots? If so, and if they are really urine, my MB-11 will do the trick for you. If they are toilet bowl cleaner, you would need most likely the services of a stone restoration contractor. Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
Q 5856: IS THARE A WAY TO FILL THE HOLES IN THE TILE THAY LOOK LIKE THARE WAS AIR POCKETS IN IT PLEASE HELP HAVE MANEY HOLES PHIL, Nov 27, Reply
R1: Dear Phil: Well, it all depends on what kind of tiles you have. Couldn't you be more specific? Some say that I'm pretty good, but nobody ever said that I can read minds! :-) Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
 
Q 5854: I have tumbled travertine throughout my house--on the floors, in the bathroom shower, wainscoating,counter top and floors. It has been sealed with Miraseal. The travertine is now 2 1/2 years old and the shower is showing a white film on the walls. How do you remove it and then how do you reseal it. Thank you. Phyllis Nov 27, Reply
R1: Dear Phyllis: The whitish stuff sitting on your walls is most likely soap film. You need a specific product like my MB-3 to remove it. After that, I don't think that you need to re-seal your stone. Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA
Q 5853: I bought a soapstone fountain while visiting Brazil. Unfortunately, water leaks through the stone and seeps out the bottom. I would like to buy some type of sealant material to make the bowl part of the fountain more water proof - do you have any product recommendations? Angie, Nov 27, Reply
R1: Dear Angie: It wouldn't really matter what product I would recommend to you. What kind of soapstone is it anyway? Soapstone is the most water-proof stone available! How can you possibly have the problem you're reporting if what you have is soapstone? You'd better get hold of a bona fide stone restoration contractor for consultation. Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
Q 5852: I have a fireplace that has slate around the mantle and the foot of the fireplace. The slate was originally painted white. We stripped all the paint off and we are now left with a very dull luster to the slate. I have asked numerous 'experts' at home improvement stores and all have them recommended what I consider highly flammable products such as linseed oil and butcher's wax.....I would hate to have a few beautifully polished pieces of slate, with no house.I have searched the internet and I have not found any site that can answer my question. I finally figured that I would approach people who know and understand the properties of slate. Please can you advise me on my options. Quintus, Nov 27, Reply
R1: Hi Quintus. It is not the nature of slate to take a polish, so a matt finish is the best you can expect. You can try a color enhancer type sealer -- this may give your stone more of a "wet look" Good Luck, JVC, Expert Panelist
R2: Dear Quintus: To the best of my knowledge, linseed oil or butcher's wax are not "highly" flammable, but this in not the point. The answer to your question is quite simple: if the slate becomes nice and dark when you wet it with water, then if you apply a good-quality stone color enhancer like my MB-6 you will solve the problem permanently. Clean it thoroughly, let it dry completely, than apply the MB-6 and be a happy camper for years to come! Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
Q 5851: I am an architect who has a client who has Red Torcicoda granite countertop in the toilet rooms of his building. The owner has sealed the granite twice a year with a siloxane type sealer made by Bostic. The sink is mounted to the underside of the stone. The joint between the bowl and the top has been sealed. The countertops continue to water stain around the bowl and fixtures at the countertops that get the most use where water stands on the stone for most of the day. No water staining has been observed away from the sink, faucet, and edge of the stone. What can be done to limit the water staining? Will a different type of sealer help? Randy, Nov 27, Reply
R1: Dear Randy: "Red Tarcicoda"??? What on earth is that?? :-) You must be more specific on describing the "water stains" to me: what do they look like? Are they temporary darker, or do they look like whitish or dull residues? If the latter is the case, can they be cleaned easily? Without the answer to that I can't venture any diagnosis. Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
Q 5850: I recently had a granite countertop installed, on Tuesday as a matter of fact. It is pink and green with some dark grains in it. It has now developed dark circular areas on the surface. Do you know where these have come from and how to get rid of them? I tried the lemon juice test on a sample and the juice did not absorb or leave a mark. Sarah, Nov 27, Reply
R1: Dear Sarah: You must be more detailed with the description of your dark circular stains. What do they look like? Rings? Solid round things? Are they perfectly round or just somehow round? Did they develop out of the blue sky or did you have something sitting on the stone surface for a while where the mysterious stains are now? Let me know and then we'll take it from there. Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
Q 5849: Can I put a stone color enhancer on absolute black granite if the penetrating sealer has already been installed? Serena, Nov 27, Reply
R1: A good black granite does not need any colour enhanser. nor does it require penetrating sealer.u have some inferior black material but rest assured the coloured enhansers dont work.Capt. M. Dilip
R2: Dear Serena: You can try, but if the impregnator previously applied is any good I doubt that it will work. Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
Q 5848: Is this a "Granite" or not? We just purchase and "installed" this. There are a lot of pits and fissures that I had not noticed. I apparently did not do my homework. It also seems to flake? How often should it be sealed and with what? Also, what is an impregnator? It seems to absorb quite a bit? Did we make a mistake? Help! Shari, Nov 27, Reply
R1: Dear Shari: Is "this" what?? "I apparently did not do my homework." Yes, is does sound like you didn't! :-) "It also seems to flake." That's no good, lady! "What is an impregnator?" An impregnator is a penetrating (below surface) sealer that's used to clog the pores of the stone in order to dramatically reduce its absorbency rate. "It seems to absorb quite a bit?" Well, then you need to impregnate (seal) your "this"! "How often should it be sealed and with what?" Well, the answer to "with what" is easy: with my super-duper MB-4 impregnator for stone, of course! :-) How often? Every 10 years or so if you use MB-4. Every 2 or 3 years (or less) if you use something else (read the manufacturer's recommendations on the product's bottle). Maurizio, Expert panelist
Q 5847: What is the best way to strip wax and/or sealer of green marble...Not sue exactly what type marble I have. It has white veins but probably isnt vermont verdi...I used paint remover, and carburator cleaner (experimenting on a broken piece) it worked, didn't seem to etch, but left the marble dull looking. I also experimented to see what type marble I have...it drills ok with hard bits....it doesn't seem to etch with vinegar......muratic acid out of the bottle does eat up the veins.....Thanks for the help Ken, Nov 27, Reply
R1: Dear Ken: Mmm … let's see … how about a wax stripper, available at any janitor supply company?! :-) The reason why the marble is dull it's probably due to the fact that they never took care of it, which is probably what triggered the previous owner to put some wax on it! If I were you I would get hold of a bona fide stone restoration refinisher. Now, you'd better watch out! Stone refinishing is the very pinnacle of all the activities related to stone, from a professional point of view. Unfortunately, there are a lot of quacks on the loose out there! How could you tell a champ from a chomp? Could you trust the recommendation of your local stone distributor, or contractor, or your interior decorator? Hardly! Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA
Q 5846: I just purchased a home with a tumbled marble backsplash in the kitchen. The former owner did not grout the installation. How do you grout this very porous material? Jim, Nov 27, Reply
R1: Dear Jim?: About "this very porous material" I don't know. About grouting your tumble marble you could use … mmmm, let's see … grout, maybe?! :-) Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
Q 5845: I am having a kitchen designed and I am interested in a slate countertop and flooring. What are some advantages/disadvantages in working with slate over marble or granite. Steve,Canada, Nov 27, Reply
R1: Dear Steve: Advantages? None whatsoever. Disadvantages? Too many to list! You don't want marble, either! Go with granite! But you'd better watch out: do you know what "granite" to chose and what criteria should you follow for your choice? Furthermore, what's a good stone in the hands of some "Michelangelo"? I did write a very comprehensive article on "How to Shop for a Granite Kitchen Countertop" that will give you all the intelligence you need to venture yourself with confidence in the stone industry jungle! Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
Q 5844: I am interested in putting granite countertops in my home. I have three small children. I was told that because granit is porous bacteria can get into the granit and spread. Is this accurate? Suzzane, Nov 27, Reply
R1: Dear Suzzane. Hope you are not walking around with a limp these days, as your leg has been severely pulled. This is one of those bogus myths perpetuated by the sellers of solid surface countertops who are seeing their business erode to the natural stone industry. Go for the granite if that is what you want, but I certainty suggest doing your homework before selecting a stone and fabricator. Good luck, JVC
R2: Dear Suzanne: Not only is it not accurate, but it is the opposite! It's a vicious lie sprad around by the manufacturers of solid plastic (oops, I meant: solid surfaces - whatever that means) material, such as Corian ® and the likes to try to limit the damage! Commercial granite is much more attractive, a much better material, and cost virtually the same! Not a nice war to be in!! Go with granite! But you'd better watch out: do you know what "granite" to chose and what criteria should you follow for your choice? Furthermore, what's a good stone in the hands of some "Michelangelo"? Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
Q 5843: I am currently installing Desert Gold (color) 12 x 12 tile with marble and granite mortar in a front foyer over an underlayment of Hardibacker. I have installed about 10 tile and have noticed that some of the tile seem darker than others. I understand that granite needs sealed; but does it need sealed before installation or after? I am halting any more installation until I discover the cause & seriousness of this color variance. I am wondering if the cause could also be from uneven mortar distribution. I would appreciate any assistance you could give me. Thank you.Carey, Nov 27, Reply
R1: Dear Carey: Desert Gold (an Orthogneiss from India) is an extremely absorbent stone. The darkening you notice is the moisture of the thin-set material being absorbed upward. If you used white thin-set the darkening will disappear in a matter of a few days. If you used regular gray thin-set, they you may have a permanent discoloration. The fact that the darkening is not uniform is either due to the fact that the stone is not absorbent in an uniform way, or that there's no full contact between the tile and the setting material. About the impregnating (sealing) issue, impregnating before installation would make things worse by slowing down somehow the drying process. Now, remember, it's never too early to think about the proper maintenance of your stone. Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA
Q 5842: I am currently building a new home and looking at kitchens. I have come across a second hand kitchen which is quite new and which has very "dark blue" granite per the owner but which looks black. (they are demolishing the house). There is enough marble there to suit my purposes but which would need to be re-configured with probably one or two cuts needed. Is it difficult to get such cuts made? what is a straight cut likely to cost? Alternatively what would I expect to pay for a new marble bench top measuring approximately 6 linear metres with good quality marble? Sorry if i sound too dumb. Tony, Nov 27, Reply
R1: Hi Tony. So which is it -- Marble or granite??? The only thing marble and granite have in common is that they both polish. Educate your self about the differences before deciding on a stone for your kitchen. Good luck, JVC, Expert Panelist
R2: Dear Tony: There's no way I could answer your question. (But don't worry, you don't sound too dumb!) The only thing I can tell you is that you do NOT want to attempt to do the job yourself! Get hold of a reputable local fabrication facility and consult with them. Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
Q 5841: We recently installed a tile backsplash in the kitchen, but the grout dried very light in some areas, and dark in other areas. Can you tell me what caused the tile to dry different shades, and is there a way to even out the color? One other problem is that I have color-matched sanded caulk for control joints and the grout needs to match this color. Any suggestions? Carl, Nov 21, Reply
R1: Dear Carl: I don't know much about grout. I do know, however, that there are special stains for grout, in all sorts of colors, that work great! Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA
Q 5840: I am interested in the care of a granite countertop and what you can and cannot do on the countertop...ie. cutting, hot plates, etc. thank you. Bob,Nov 21, Reply
R1: Dear Bob: Cutting is never advisable as a practice (occasionally is no big deal). Hot plates or pots are not a problem. About the rest, my maintenance guidelines for residential stone installation are available for a small fee (which could be refundable) on the side bar menu of this very page ("Maurizio's Dos and Don'ts"). Or you can go directly into the "Maurizio's Products" link and order some MB-5 and MB-13. Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
R2: if you install the right type of granite, i am not mentioning the colour of it here, your knife will get blunt often when using on granite so keep some money aside for sharpening them regularly.
excess heat is bound to affect the granite top so be careful what heating equipment you use on top of granite.
a microwave is ok. but not a hot plate or a stove. if you use a stove see the heat radiates upwards and not onto the granite top.otherwise if you do your homework well and choose a good sturdy granite...you can fix and forget it. Capt dilip
 
Q 5838: I have a marble bathroom countertop. that has a burn mark (stain) on it. can I take and sand this out and then buff it and apply a clear coat. what do you suggest. the color is white. Boom, Nov 20, Reply
R1: Dear Boom: To start with, are you sure that you have real marble and not cultured marble? The reason why I ask that is because it is not easy to make a burn mark on real marble, while it is quite easy to do it on cultured (which is plastic). What also makes me doubt that you have true marble is your mention of the application of a clear coat over it. You don't do that on marble! If you have real marble, only a stone restoration contractor could help you out. If you have cultured marble, I don't know. Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
Q 5837:We installed an Absolute Black Granite island for a customer. The dimentions are 4 ft by 8 ft x 2 cm. The customer has advised us that the granite is cracking. There are no holes in the granite top. However, there is a microwave mounted in the island cabinet below. Do you know of any complications that might be caused by the heat from a microwave? We are trying to find the cause of the crack. Any information you can give us is greatly appreciated. Thanks, Staci, Nov 20, Reply
R1: Unless there is an existing crack the heat from the microwave will not affect the counter top. especially since it is black.just check if there had been a inherent crack which has been sealed by the seller, Capt. M. Dilip
R1: Dear Staci: The little heat coming out of a microwave oven has not one single chance in the world to crack black granite (or any other granite, for that matter). There must be some stress points on the top of the cabinetry that were not attended when the countertop was installed. That's the only reason why it could crack. I'm sorry, it's your responsibility. Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
Q 5836: We are restoring our home that was built in 1863. The fireplace has not been used in a very long time. I am worried about the tiles on it. They are blue and make a pattern. It looks like hollyhocks. Each picking up where the last one left off. The pattern is also raised. None are broken but have shifted. How do I find out about these tiles? Have searched the internet with no results. Also how do I find someone that can make this fireplace workable again? We live in a small town. Any ideas would be totally appreciated. Bell, Nov 20, Reply
R1: Bell. Can't tell you a thing about your tiles, but do know from watching the "Antique Roadshow " that they could be valuable.On the other hand, putting the fireplace back in working order is going to require the services of a master mason. Not just a competent brick or rock layer, but someone who is knowlegable about fireplace construction and the inner workings of the fireplace. Having been buillt in 1863, your fireplace will not look familiar to a mason only versed in modern construction, and you may find that it was origionally built for coal rather than cord wood. You do not mention where in the world you are located, but you can get in touch with me through this website, and I will do what I can to answer specific questions you might have, Good luck, JVC, Expert Panelist
Q 5835: I am remodeling my bathroom and want a tiled steam shower. What material would you recommend for me to use in the steam shower, the bathroom floors, and the vanity in the new York area? I am open to using complementary materials. I want something that will look elegant but easy to maintain. I saw a steam shower using slate. Is this advisable? Will it be hard to clean because it is not smooth? What about mildew? Nov 20, Reply

R1: Only domestic slate (from New England) could be suitable in a steam shower. Every other slate would be a monumental NO-NO! Besides New England slate or granite, no natural stone would be advisable in a steam shower stall. About proper maintenance procedures, you're right to be concerned. But good help is NOT so hard to get these days! Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
Q 5834: Can you educate me on the black galaxy granite. I'm having my kitchen redone and am thinking of doing my counters with it. My friend tells me it is high maintenance - you can see marks and rings if you don't clean right away. The vendor told me to have it sealed before it was installed -however on your website I read it is not a good idea. Please clarify, I love the stone but do not want to be sorry later as I have three children, youngest being 6. Please reply ASAP as I have already placed the order, incase I need to change to another color. My cabinets are maple with chocolate glaze - do you have other stone colors to suggest? Thank you. Pam.Nov 20, Reply
 
R1: Dear Pam: I have Black Galaxy for over 8 years now in my (extremely busy) "Italian" kitchen and it's still brand new! Sure, you have to keep it clean … So what? Would you leave it dirty if it were another material? :) The beauty of it is that it will "tell" you right away if it's cleaned or not. With our previous countertop (Formica) we could never tell! One of the primary reasons why our Black Galaxy is so low maintenance is because I never applied an impregnator/sealer to it (not even my own MB-4). If you have it sealed, then you may have all sorts of maintenance related problems (the marks and rings that your friend is making reference to). Be adamant about it: tell your fabricator in no-uncertain terms to go seal his sister's countertop, not yours! Now, remember, it's never too early to think about the proper maintenance of your stone. Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
Q 5833:We had our limestone flooring installed 18moths throughout much of our 1st level of our new home. Soon we will have it re-sealed. How often should this be done and what else if anything do we need to do to it? How about high traffic areas? Nov 20, Reply
R1: "How often should this be done" It depends from the manufacturer's recommendation. Poor quality impregnator/sealers need to be applied every year or so. Good-quality ones (like my MB-4) every 10 years or better. "What else if anything do we need to do to it? " You betcha that there's "what else"! Maintenance of natural stone is a subject that's all too often neglected and, as you can tell by reading many of this site postings, you're not likely to get good information about it from your dealer or installer (when end-users tell me that they were advised to use water and dish soap, or regular glass-cleaner, my Italian blood reaches the boiling point at the speed of light!). Don't become another statistic! Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
Q 5832: I need to know what a 8x8x16 block of limestone weighs. That way I can calculate how many tons I need.Thanks, Aida, Nov 20, Reply
R1: Aida. a block of limestone this size can weigh anywhere between 75 to 90 lbs depending on the density of the stone. Limestone is typically between 130 and 150 lbs per cubic foot. JVC, Expert Panelist
Q 5831:We own our home and are remodeling our kitchen. We bought travertine tile, without really knowing it and trusted the source we bought from. It's beautiful, but an installer told us it is limestone and quoted us $3,000 to install it - it's a 300 sq. ft. kitchen. Said it will scratch easily, suggested we use it for our bathrooms instead. I called the lady we bought it from and she told us it's travertine tile and would not have sold it to us if she thought it would not hold up in our kitchen, a high traffic area. Should we be that concerned and nervous about scatching? Is this that difficult to install over ceramic tile that the cost of installation would be as high as $3000? April, Nov 20, Reply
R1: Said it will scratch easily". Not that easily. My real concern is the finish of those travertine tiles. If it's a hone finish, then it's okay to have them in a kitchen. If they are polished, you do NOT want them in there! "Is this that difficult to install over ceramic tile that the cost of installation would be as high as $3000?" Yes. Now, remember, it's never too early to think about the proper maintenance of your stone. Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA
Q 5830: I stumbled onto our site today while researching honed granite tile. Boy, am I glad I found it. It's clear that there are many downsides to honed black granite tile (which I was hoping to use on our kitchen countertops). You mentioned that a color enhancer is available. Do you sell that? I reallylike the unshiny appearance of the honed granite but don't want to mess with the stain problems. We haven't bought the honed tile yet -- do you suggest I buy the honed tile and use the color enhancer, or would we be better off starting over and looking for something else? Appreciate any information you have. Nov 20, Reply
R1: My "best-in-the-entire-planet" MB-6 - Stone Color Enhancer is available through the link: Maurizio's Products that you can find in the side bar menu of this very page. About your final question, what do you expect me to say? If I tell you to get something else I'd be losing a sale! :-) No, joke aside, if black honed granite is color enhanced is not going to be too bad to maintain (with my MB-5, of course!). Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
Q 5829: We are building a new house & have chosen a black granite for the kitchen benches - I do not know if this is honed or polished ( whichever is the cheaper I imagine). Can you let me know how this will stand up to kitchen wear and tear - is there anything I can do to protect it? We are also having marble placed in the hallway - the tiler isn't sealing them but I have read about a Marble & stone sealer you can get applied - you can do it yourself or get someone in to do it. Which would you recommend - is it easy to apply? Also, it says a few hours between coats - but I have read you should wait at least 24 hours. Eagerly awaiting your advice, Alison, Nov 20, Reply

R1: Good black granite does not need any colour enhanser or selant.
it is sturdy, robust and long lasting and does not fade.go ahead and use black granite but be careful to choose a good quality one from a good quality supplier. you will never regret your choice. Capt. M. Dilip
R2: Dear Alison: Well, you can tell if your black granite is shiny of dull, can't you? Price has nothing to do with the type of surface finish you have. If it's honed (dull), you want to consider applying a good quality stone color enhancer (like my MB-6) to minimize the horrible maintenance issue attached to honed black granite. If it is polished (shiny) then don't do a thing. Above all, do NOT apply an impregnator/sealer, not even my MB-4! Finally, do not bother applying an impregnator/sealer in your marble tiles. Marble is not very absorbent and woin't take much of the stuff in to begin with, Most importantly, an impregnator/sealer will do absolutely nothing to protect marble from the most common "stains" occurring to it (chemical etching, that is). Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
Q 5828:Yesterday my husband and I had emerald pearl granite counters installed in our kitchen -- but over the course of teh last 24 hours we have discovered a problem. We have a U-shaped kitchen. When you stand in the center of the kitchen some of the granite tops absolutely dance with those beautiful reflective flecks and some appear very dark with only the occasional fleck. All of the granite came from the same lot but here's the problem: We ducked our heads under some of the cabinets with a bright light and looked at the dark countertops from the other direction and they instantly dazzled us with sparkly reflective flecks just like the sparkly parts of the kitchen. It appears to us that some of the counters were cut going in one direction where the reflective beauty of the emerald pearl is visible and the rest were cut in the opposite direction so that the most beautiful angle of the granite faces the wall and will never be seen. It makes it appear to be very unmatched as you glance around the kitchen. It never occurred to us to tell the fabricator to cut it all going in the same direction (and we'd certainly prefer it all to be cut so that teh beautiful sparkly side shows) -- we assumed that would be done but it wasn't -- so here we are $8000 later and we are both very unhappy with it. My question is: Is there a standard procedure that fabricators should follow to cut granites in the same direction so that whatever visual effects the granite creates are the same when viewed from the center of the room? We realize that granite is a product of nature and no two areas will be identical by any means but our fabricator installed sparkly bright pieces butted up against dark, dull pieces (that would've sparkled had they been cut in the reverse direction) and it looks very unmatched. What should we do now? Thanks, A. Webb USA, Nov 20, Reply
R1: Dear A. Webb: "Is there a standard procedure that fabricators should follow to cut granites in the same direction?" No, unfortunately there isn't. "What should we do now? " My first reaction would be to tell you to … suck it up, but when I read postings like yours I'm not in the mood to be funny. I'm truly sorry to hear what happened. The only piece of advice I can give you is to be very diplomatic about it and try to "nicely" work things out with your fabricator. Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
R2: It is normal procedure to cut a granite block all in the same direction.(for you info it is not easy to cut a block weighing upwards of 40 tons in different direction.) in fact they are just sliced like you slice bread. while fixing the fabricator has to take care to fix slabs from same block, same slab. these are then fixed facing the same direction. may be one of the slabs have been inadvertantly fixed in different directions. colour and streak matching has to be done while fixing.
but the nature of emerald pearl stone is that different specks sparkle in different directions. if you walk in front of a slab of emerald pearl (a fairly big slab) you will understand my point well. as you walk across it you will notice each speckle sparkling and fading as you move. its the nature of that granite and that is why it made you $8000 poorer. so rather than complain enjoy the beauty. all the best, Capt. M. Dilip
Q 5827:We have just put in a paver patio, we have grease spots from our grill, and a spot from candle wax. How can we get these spots removed? PLEASE HELP. Tracy, Nov 20, Reply
R1: Dear Tracy: When it comes to stain removal, either you buy one of those expensive "Professional kits" (that no true professional ever uses!) at a stone retailer near you, or you can spend less money and get my comprehensive guidelines on how to remove stains by using inexpensive and far more effective means that you may already have in your household! Such impressive piece of literature will also tell you how to tell stains apart from "stains", and what to do about the latter! Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
Q 5826: I was recently cleaning a wall with TSP (Trisodium Phosphate ?) and got numerous drops on the granite floor which I didn't find for several hours.I cannot remove the spots. Please help.Syliva, Nov 20, Reply
R1: Dear Sylvia: And I could I possibly help you? Unfortunately you need the services of a proven stone restoration professional (Yellow Pages: Marble & Terrazzo Cleaning). Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
Q 5825:We have kitchen counter tops with a pink and black granite, or something we think to be granite. We often put the newspapers there before thrwoing them out, as well as other written materials. Guess what? We can now do some reading, direct from the counter top. It looks like blue ink writing has been absorbed into the rock, like a tatoo. Any ideas about how to remove it? Once removed, if possible, what's the best product for caring for or protecting the surface? Nov 20, Reply
R1: I would try to put a Playboy centerfold on it!! :-) Joke aside, when it comes to stain removal, either you buy one of those expensive "Professional kits" (that no true professional ever uses!) at a stone retailer near you, or you can spend less money and get my comprehensive guidelines on how to remove stains by using inexpensive and far more effective means that you may already have in your household! Such impressive piece of literature will also tell you how to tell stains apart from "stains", and what to do about the latter! Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
Q 5824: I have heard of many different ways to lay travertine floors. Can I lay travertine the way I would lay regular tile, without spaces between each piece? If I use regular filled/honed travertine, is it advisable to use in hallways, bathrooms, and living areas? Thanks Trib, Nov 20, Reply
R1: Dear Trib: "Can I lay travertine the way I would lay regular tile?" No, you can't. "without spaces between each piece?" No, it would be a big mistake! Now, remember, it's never too early to think about the proper maintenance of your stone. It's a subject that's all too often neglected and, as you can tell by reading many of this site's postings, you're not likely to get good information about it from your dealer. Don't become another statistic! Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
Q 5823: I live in an apartment where the bathroom floor is Giallo Supreme (Light). Due to a leak in the toilet cistern, the granite floor is soaked with the flush water. The flush water is filtered sea water. After the fixing the leak, the floor was left to dry. White crystals (probably from the salt in the sea water) are forming on the surface which are almost impossible to remove. The surface is no longer smooth. The crystals seems to be cracking the surface of the stone as well. The stone is still dark from the flush water. I'm using a dehumidifier and a sun lamp in the bathroom to try to get
the water to evaporate faster. How can I get the stone to dry and remove the white crystals? Thanks. B Ling, Nov 19, Reply
R1: Dear B Ling: it's quite an unusual situation and I wouldn't know what to tell you without actually seeing the stone. I would urge you to get hold of a bona fide stone restoration company and consult with them. Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
Q 5822:I have flagstone paths in my very shady yard. Algea has grown on the stones, turning them green in some areas. Is it okay to use a bleach solution for this? All I know about the type of stone is that it's called "Oklahoma flagstone". Thanks, Dale, Nov 19, Reply
R1: Dear Dale: You shouldn't have any problem, but it's always best to try in a small area first. Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
Q 5820: I would very much like to use Travertine Chiaro 4x4's for my kitchen backsplash. I do not want to fill the holes, crevices, and voids. I am told this would not be a good thing. That grease and food around the stove would get into the stone. Rendering a breeding ground for bacteria, causing odor. Is this true? If so is there a substitute stone that has similar color tone of Light Travertine? Thanks for your kind assistance in advance, Don, Nov 19, Reply
R1: Dear Don: Yes it's true. Unfilled travertine in a backsplash is not advisable. There are a few tumbled marble with more or less the same color. Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
Q 5819: I clean houses on the side, and just got an opportunity to clean for a new home with 12 bathrooms and all limestone flooring on the 1st level.
However, after the floor was sealed, I cleaned the floor and it still looks like grout or grime all over the stone. To me, it doesn't look clean at all. Any solutions on what I could suggest? Thanks Dorothy N.J. Nov 19, Reply
R1: Dear Dorothy: Without seeing it I can't venture any guess. Limestone can be so different! The good new is that you live and operate in NJ! We could get together and I could take a look at that stone for you. Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
 
Q 5817: We just had a kitchen counter installed with Giallo Venecia (not Giallo Veneciano). It looks good, but it has pockmarks and a small sample stained when I left olive oil on it. Any suggestions? Gerry, Nov 19, Reply
R1: Dear Gerry: No suggestions about the "pockmarks". (What on earth are those, anyway?). About preventing staining, your stone has to be sealed with my "best-of-then-all" MB-4, Impregnator/sealer! Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
 
Q 5815: I love your website. I am hoping you can help me out with my black granite floor. We moved to our condo recently and I don't know what kind of granite I have. I absolutely cannot find a solution to clean the floor without spotting. I have tried a steamer, mop with warm water (all kinds of mops). I have resolved to cleaning the floor by hand - tile by tile (very large space). There has got to be an easy way to clean the footprints, dirt, etc and not leave water spots. I hope you have any solution! I will do/pay anything not to have to clean by hand. lynn, Nov 19, Reply
R1: Dear Lynn: Well, you don't have to pay "anything"! Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
 
Q 5813: I recently took a trip to Italy and Picked up some rough cut marble pieces in Carrara, Italy. I got them as display pieces and I would like to know how, if it is possible, to polish them smooth and to get a nice shine by hand, and where could I get the tools to do so. Any assistance you could provide would be appreciated. Nov 19, Reply
R1: Dear Are you ready to spend approximately $450.00 to purchase what you need? If so, let me know. Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
Q 5812: I am having a problem with a large quantity of limestone which has already been installed but not sealed. Most of the tiles are displying yellowing around the eadges, some are yellowing over the entire suface. We have also wittnessed yellowing of tiles that have not been installed but have been exposed to moisture. Do you know of a way to remove the yellowing from the installed stone? John, Nov 19, Reply
R1: Dear john: This is but one reason why I always tell people to stay away from limestone: like Forrest Gump's mom used to say: "It's like a box of chocolate … you never know what you're gonna get!" That particular stone must be rich in iron minerals and it's just rusting away! I have no solution to that problem, but I'm sure that the knowledgeable merchants who sold it to you and got your money will know what to do! (oh, you'll need plenty of that!!) Maurizio, Expert panelist, USA.
 
Q 5810: We want to put travertine floors in ou