Care and Maintenance

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

Q. A cork backed trivet stained the marble. Can it be removed by one of your recommended products or methods?     A. Yes, you will most likely need to use a poultice that you can make, or you can use a stain sponge. Either way, it may take several... Read More

Q. i have a customer with a scratched travertine entry floor. She sanded out the scratch marks but now has honed/dull lines. She would like to do the repairs herself. Any suggestions. Can she work her way up using higher and higher grit sandpaper?  ... Read More

Q. We had a new lueders limestone fireplace surround installed. There are darker stripes on each side of all grout lines. Installer said grout was not acrylic, but grout did have some colorant. Stone has dried now three weeks and stains still present... Read More

Q. I have a client that has crema marfil tile throughout the bottom floor of their house. When purchasing the floor they were never made aware that you could get either polished or honed. I believe they got honed. Is there a process or way to achieve... Read More