Care and Maintenance

Q. We have a terrible problem with hard-water deposits in our ceramic tile shower. We were told that installing a water softener would solve this problem. What is your recommendation?   A. I definitely agree, that a water softener will resolve the... Read More

This will depend in which climate your building is located. If located in the northern hemisphere never schedule cleaning during the winter months since freezing temperature can cause the stone to spall. The best times are in late spring or early... Read More

There are several options for making the steps less slippery.  Option 1. The steps can be honed and the polish removed. The high-gloss shine will be gone, but the steps will be less slippery. This can be done by a qualified stone restoration... Read More

  Q. Should we use marble or granite for the floor and vanity top in our master bath? A. First you need to determine how often and how heavily the bath will be used. Black marbles are typically soft, easily scratched and sensitive to acids. However,... Read More

Q. The shine on our travertine marble has not looked even since it was installed. The installer told us that this was characteristic of the stone. Is this true? A. Your installer is correct. Most travertine contains many holes that are filled with a... Read More

Q. The grout on my ceramic tile floor is discolored.  I tried cleaning it, but the colors are now different.  Is there a way to color the grout? A. Grout color sealing is a perfect solution for you. Most tile and grout cleaning companies offer this... Read More

Q. Is it safe to use a steam cleaner on marble shower walls/floors and granite countertops?   A. Under normal circumstances typical heavy duty steam cleaners are too high temp and are not recommended. Why? Because of thermal expansion and... Read More

Q. A plate from the microwave was placed on a polished brownish/black marble table top and left a whitish ring, its smooth to the touch...can it be repaired to remove the ring? A. It is possible to repair, but the question is whether you can do it... Read More

Q. A tile merchant told me that you re-seal polished marble yearly and after 2 to 3 years you have to have it acid washed. Considering marble for bathtub surround walls and floor. Is travertine any less care? Live in hard water area.     A. The... Read More

Q. Can I use a [Shark Steam Mop] to safely clean my new granite & marble floors?   A. Yes, you should not have any problem with the Shark Steam Mop. Just make sure there is no metal or plastic touching the stone since it could scratch.   Fred... Read More