Efflorescence - Removal and Prevention   By Frederick M. Hueston www.stoneforensics.com The crystallization of soluble salts in Historic masonry causes severe deterioration of the substrate. This crystallization is called... Read More

Q. Five years ago we built a home with a stone veneer front. We had water problems the first 4 years where water was leaking into several rooms and the basement coming from the front of the house. The stone was removed and replaced a couple of times ... Read More

Q. Our installer grinded off the top layer of our limestone floor and since then we have repeated powdery residue on limestone despite numerous washings and sealings/impregnatings. Why is this and can this be fixed as I don't want to have white... Read More

Q. My new marble floor has a white powder on it. It cleans up with water, but keeps coming back. Is there anything I can use to clean it off permanently? A. This is a common condition, especially if the floor is new. When the marble is installed, it... Read More

Q. I have an (intentionally) distressed marble seat in my shower. After years of use, there is a build up of white on top of it. How do I get ride of it? Thanks.   A. White residue on the top of stone can be attributed to several things. Ask... Read More

Recommended Coating for Slate Floors Coatings on slate floors can enhance the appearance of the slate, inhibit staining on the surface of the stone, and lighten the load a little when it comes to maintenance. However, the wrong type of coating on... Read More

This is a condition known as efflorescence. There are soluble salts in the grout coming to the surface. The large amount of water you used dissolved the salts and they are depositing on the surface. Efflorescence will eventually disappear when the... Read More

Stone Myths By Frederick M. Hueston www.stoneforensics.com Over the past 20years I have heard many stories about the reasons stone will fail, turn color, fade or what ever. Many of these stories are funny and almost all of them are just plain... Read More

This a common condition, especially if the floor is new. When the marble is installed, it is set in a mortar base that is wet; as the moisture leaves the mortar, it carries with it dissolved salts which are deposited on the surface of the stone. This... Read More

The use of a pressure washer on marble should be avoided. Pressure washing forces water into the pores of the stone and can cause the development of efflorescence. If you must use a pressure washer make sure that the operator is skilled. Do not use a... Read More