Q. I recently installed new tile and mosaic glass tile around my bathtub encloser. should this new installation be sealed. A. Typically glass does not need to be sealed since it is not porous. However if you used cementious grout you may want to... Read More

Q. I have just had a large granite countertop installation done, including two large pieces of verde fuoco, which are riddled with fissures as well as several cracks, some but not all of which appear to have started out as fissures. I want to replace... Read More

Q. Refacing a fireplace with 30cm slate tiles. What is the best adhesive to use (only about 25 pieces of tile involved so don't want to have to purchase a 50lb. bag of anything)? Would a premix mastic work? Will I need to provide support for the... Read More

Q. I found a pile of travertine tile in my newly purchased house. It's not used anywhere in the house but would like to use it for a bathroom floor. Problem is, many of the tiles have holes that go through, some as big as a dime. Is there... 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

The yellowing and graying of certain Italian and Greek white marbles is a common problem that I see all over the country. There are several possible causes for this condition: Maintenance technique-Take a close look at your maintenance program. Are... Read More

At this time there is no process that can fully restore the glaze to a ceramic tile floor. The glaze on ceramic tile is achieved by baking the tile at very high temperatures which cannot be achieved after installation. There are, however, a number of... Read More

Curling in green marble can be a serious problem when the marble is set in a wet mud or thin-set. The Marble Institute of America recommends that green marble be set with an epoxy-based compound. Check with the installer and see what has been used to... Read More

First, you need to determine whether or not the white specks you describe are on the surface of the marble. If you can’t clean them off, chances are they lie below the surface of the marble. If this is the case, it is possible that there are... Read More

You should have a professional installer check the installation for soundness. It may have not been installed properly. The hollow sounding tiles is an indication that areas under the tile are not in contact with the setting bed. These hollow areas... Read More