Q. I have a 2nd floor shower with moisture resistant sheetrock. I want to put 18" travertine tile on the walls above the pan. Using modified mortar, can these tiles be put on the wall with mortar blobs leaving an air space behind tile or do the tiles... 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. Can cement tiles or ceramic tiles be installed on top of Corian or Avonite? I am restoring a kitchen on a tight budget, and I prefer to cover the existing countertops vs rip out and replace.   A. Yes, you can install them directly over the Corian... 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

Yes, cracks can be repaired. Depending on the width of the crack, it can be filled with a polyester resin. If the crack is small, clean it thoroughly with acetone, making sure to remove all dirt; a dental pick may prove useful here. After the crack... Read More

Your installer is correct. Most travertine contains many holes that are filled with a cement filler. The cement filler does not take a shine when polished—hence the dull spots. The floor you observed at the hotel has probably been coated with a... Read More

Terrazzo is in fact a marble floor. Terrazzo is comprised of marble chips mixed with Portland cement and polishes just like a marble floor. Many terrazzo contractors hone the terrazzo to about a 80 or 120 grit and apply a wax coating. If you continue... Read More

Diamonds are the most popular abrasive for honing marble but are not the only abrasive. Alternative abrasives are as follows:SCREENS screens are silicon carbide mesh that can be used dry or wet. The disadvantage with screens are that they wear very... Read More

Q. We are building a new house in South Louisiana. We have a 4-inch concrete slab on the ground. Because we are in a flood zone, we had to build up. So, we have concrete piers and wooden beams that our house actually sits on. We then have 1 1/4"... Read More

Q. How do we clean white spots from bird droppings on colored concrete? We have a church under construction with tiles on the floor. Windows hadn't been put in yet, and birds came in. The tiles are left stained white from the droppings.Â... Read More