Stone & Tile Restoration

First, has the tile been sealed? There are several urethane coatings on the market that are used to coat Mexican tile. These urethanes are sensitive to ultraviolet (UV) light and will turn yellow. Strip the floor and apply a Mexican tile sealer.... Read More

This cloudy-white condition is common on tiles that have been coated with an acrylic wax. Consider having the floor stripped and re-coated with a good-quality Mexican tile sealer. TIP Mexican tile is a clay product and is extremely soft and very... Read More

Pickled Mexican clay tiles are pickled at the factory. It is difficult to re-pickle the tile after it has been installed. This is a job for a professional, and it will be very expensive, since all the grout will have to masked to keep the pickling... Read More

Let your customer know that urine contains acid which will etch the marble surface. As for the odor, pet shops and supermarkets carry several products which use enzymes to destroy the odor of urine. Follow the manufacturer’s directions... Read More

This has always presented a problem. If the marble adjacent to the fixtures is severely pitted, I would recommend hiring a plumber to remove the fixtures and then hire you to refinish the vanity. Once the marble has been refinished, let them know to... Read More

The hard white deposit is a build-up of salts. These salts—known in the tile industry as “lime putty”—are coming up from the setting bed, and can be very difficult to remove. To remove lime putty, scrape away as much of it as possible... Read More

Most of the marble and stone polishes on the market contain the same type of wax found in everyday car wax. However, I would be cautious about applying car wax to a stone counter top; the newer car waxes contain colorants which could stain the stone.... Read More

Tell them simply this: “No, I would not recommend using window cleaner on a marble shower wall. Some window cleaners contain chemicals which could damage the marble.” Also, let them know to keep their marble shower walls in optimal condition the... Read More

The yellowing is the result of moisture becoming trapped under the carpet. The carpet’s jute backing or dyes from its rubber backing have bled into the stone. To remove this yellowing, try the following steps: Clean the area with a solution of... Read More

Old marble sculptures can be made out of marbles that contain iron. Over time, the iron becomes oxidized and turns yellow. If the yellowing you are observing is the result of iron staining, it cannot be removed. If the yellow is only surface dirt,... Read More