A Resource of Stone and Tile Restoration

Did a stone-safe oil stain remover bleach my quartzite?

Jan 7, 2023 oil stain remover, quartzite, poultice 0 0 498 0/5 (0 Vote)

Q. I used an oil stain remover made for natural stone on my light whitish-gray quartzite to remove a very faint oil ring. I did only one section and the area turned white, almost bleached. From what I could tell, the stain was gone. I contacted... Read More

How to Remove Dull Spots on Marble

Mar 12, 2020 dull spots, marble, etch removal 0 0 495 0/5 (0 Vote)

Q. I would like information on how to remove water etches (?) spots that are not smooth when I run my finger over the spot. It is a honed finish and the spots are more like water spots. There is no colored stain, it is more like dull spots scattered... Read More

How do I clean zero grout lines on travertine tile floor?

Jun 7, 2010 dirty grout, how to clean grout on travertine tile floor 0 0 504 0/5 (0 Vote)

Q. I have a large space covered in dull travertine tile which i am planning to polish and seal. There is a zero grout which has become very dark. how can i clean the grout without damaging tile? A. There are several alkaline grout cleaners that... Read More

Why are there stains on new limestone floor?

Mar 31, 2007 limestone, stains, new construction, remodel 0 0 538 0/5 (0 Vote)

Q. I bought lagos azul limestone back in December and it is getting installed in sections. I would greatly appreciate it if you could help me. I am hoping you might know a solution or can refer me to someone. My kitchen contractor installed the tile... Read More

We have an old terrazzo floor that has been covered for years with wall-to-wall carpet. We want to remove the carpet, but it is held down by tack strips which have been nailed into the terrazzo. When I tried pulling up one strip, large chunks of the

Jan 21, 2022 0 0 725 0/5 (0 Vote)

The tack strips can be removed by cutting the nails flush with the terrazzo. A hack saw blade can be wedged under the wooden strip and the nail can be cut. A faster method would be to use a diamond saw blade mounted on a rightangle grinder. The shaft... Read More

The Mexican tile on our back porch is displaying a green growth at the corners of the porch. The porch is outdoors, but is covered. What is this growth and how do I clean it off?

Jan 21, 2022 0 0 769 0/5 (0 Vote)

The green growth you see is probably algae. Algae usually grows were there is abundant moisture. My guess would be that the tile stays wet after a rainstorm, allowing the algae to grow. To clean it, prepare a solution of bleach and water; about one... Read More

I just completed polishing a marble floor and the grout is covered with streaks and spots. I am sure it is not polishing powder. How can I repair the grout?

Jan 20, 2022 0 0 835 0/5 (0 Vote)

Short of removing it and installing new grout I would try cleaning it with stone soap or neutral cleaner. Be sure to use a soft brush and scrub the grout lines throughly. If this does not throughly clean the grout you may need to replace it. TIP The... Read More

I was called to remove a heavy wax coating on a granite floor. I’ve discovered that the janitorial company has been stripping and waxing this floor for several years. The problem is the granite is developing small pits and appears to be falling

Jan 20, 2022 0 0 701 0/5 (0 Vote)

The problem may be with the strippers that have been used. Many strippers have an alkaline pH and this can lead to the deposit of alkaline salts in the pores of the granite. If the stripper is not rinsed throughly and any stripper residue is left... Read More

Water-Based Impregnators: How to Remove Rainbow-Colored Film

Mar 9, 2023 rainbow film, thin-film interference, water-based impregnators 0 0 571 0/5 (0 Vote)

Why Water-Based Impregnators Leave a Remove Rainbow-Colored Film If your idea of fun as a kid was going outside with a bottle of bubble solution and a wand, it probably wasn’t long before you noticed a weird phenomenon where a swirling rainbow... Read More

A Silicon-Based Impregnator on a Historic Limestone Building May Be Unnecessary

Mar 8, 2023 silicon-based impregnator, historic limestone 0 0 617 0/5 (0 Vote)

Think Twice Before Using a Silicon-Based Impregnator on a Historic Limestone Building Limestone, a calcium-based sedimentary stone, is a building material that has been utilized for centuries. The Pentagon, the Lincoln Memorial, The Empire State... Read More