Fabrication and Installation

By: Mike Marsoun NuLife Stone Care (www.nulifestonecare.com.au) I have noticed an alarming trade practice here in Australia which desperately needs to be addressed. The root of this problem is the same as in the US where you will find ceramic... Read More

Q. Does travertine pool coping need to be sealed? Can it be dyed? We are not really loving our new travertine pool coping. We love the material but not the color. The stone has a honed finish. We were thinking about putting some kind of dye intoÂ... Read More

Q. Hello. I just received a new quartzite install, and there is a crack at the sink extending to the hole for the soap dispenser. The fabricator claims it does not affect integrity of the stone, since apparently it's not a full-depth crack. The... Read More

Q. Hi, the very first time I set a cutting board on the 6" hang over on my new sun gold quartzite island top, I noticed a crack 3 hours later. The crack extends 10" into the island top and also straight through the separate 2 1/2" beveled edge. This... Read More

Q. I was looking online for articles about quartzite countertops. We recently had one installed, and we're having issues with a crack that appeared. I need some information. Should my problematic new countertops be repaired or replaced? The... Read More

Q. I am purchasing natural stone countertops, and I am concerned that I might not recognize the difference between naturally-occurring imperfections and unnatural damage. Can you provide some resources to help me make a good decision on my purchase?... Read More

Q. I have to do a repair around a jetted tub set in 12" travertine tile landing. All the tiles are set in grout. Is there a way to dissolve the grout & save the tiles? Thanks, Tom--A. Hi Tom, There is a risk factor involved with this task. Of... Read More

Q. Natural stone tile installation has water marks that aren’t fading after 2 weeks of installation. Should I apply a poultice to remove the moisture? MSI sells the stone. It's called white oak. It's honed marble, 24 inch tiles, and... Read More

Q. How do I know if my 2nd floor bathroom floor is strong enough to handle the weight of tile? There is vinyl on the floor now, obviously tile will add a lot of weight and I don’t know how to check this out.   A. Thank you for sharing your... Read More

Q. We live in San Francisco and are refurbishing our town house. We would like to use marble on our kitchen floor, but are concerned it may crack during an earthquake. Is there any way to install it that would minimize the cracking?   A. There are... Read More