All acids should be used with caution on any stone surfaces. Granite is one stone type where most acids will not harm it. However, stay away from hydrochloric acid (HCL). HCL can deposit salts in the granites pores if not rinsed throughly. I would... Read More

No. Most marble, with the exception of certain limestones, cannot be flamed. The mineral make up of marble will not allow the surface to become flamed. Trying to do so will only burn the surface. FYI If you come across an unknown stone surface and it... Read More

The situation you describe is becoming increasingly popular. It seems designers and architects are mixing different finishes together making it very difficult to restore the polished portion. The only way to restore the polished granite without... Read More

Flamed granite has a rough texture which will tend to hold dust and dirt. Prepare a solution of stone soap or neutral cleaner and warm water. Flood the floor with this solution and either agitate with a scrub brush or machine-scrub. Pick up the... Read More

The best way to clean a flamed granite floor is to use a brush known as a nylo-grit brush. These brushes are designed to reach into the low areas of uneven surfaces such as flamed granite. Nylogrit brushes are available at most janitorial supply... Read More

It is possible, but very time consuming. In question #120 we figure it would take about 15 minutes per square feet to restore an average granite floor. In the case of flamed granite it may take this long just to grind the tile flat. If the flamed... 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

You can remove chewing gum by freezing it. Place ice cubes, or, if available, dry ice on top of the gum. The gum will freeze hard, and can easily be popped off the granite. You can also buy a product at your local janitorial supply called “gum... Read More

The picture framing you describe is nothing more than moisture. As the tile dries the moisture is wicked to the edges of the tile. The picture framing will disappear as the tiles dry. TIP Sometimes this picture framing will deposit salts and cause a... Read More

Q. How do I preserve my stone floor’s finish?   A. The number one thing you can do to preserve the finish of your natural stone is to keep dust, dirt, and grit from accumulating on your floor. These abrasive substances create small scratches... Read More