There are several reasons you may be getting stray scratching check the following: Do the grout joints contain sanded grout? If the grout joint is wider than 1/4 inch, the chances are you have sanded grout. If you do, then the grout is becoming... Read More

By: Mike Marsoun NuLife Stone Care (www.nulifestonecare.com.au) I have noticed an alarming trade practice here in Australia which desperately needs to be addressed. The root of this problem is the same as in the US where you will find ceramic... Read More

Suppose you have an interior granite wall that had some silicon caulking used in the grout joints. The silicon then caused staining along the grout edges. A poultice successfully removed the staining, but then later, the stains reappeared. What... Read More

Q. We have mold buildup in grout joints and surface has film on it. What is best to clean mold and remove film from surface?   A. There are several cleaners that will remove the mold but you must be careful to choose one that will not damage the... Read More

The white deposits are salts, which are bleeding through from the grout joints or from the mortar. An acid wash will be required to remove the salts. If the deposits are heavy, try scraping them off before washing the slate with acid. Several acid... Read More

Several excellent grout cleaners are available from your stone care supplier that will not dull polished marble. Try a mild solution of bleach ; use a soft tooth brush to apply the solution to the grout joints and scrub lightly. TIP If the grout is... 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

The marble tile was most likely improperly installed. Before you grind a floor you should sound the floor by tapping on each tile with a broom handle. If you hear a hollow thud sound then there is a strong chance that the tile has no setting material... Read More

Some grout colors can be bleached by the oxalic acid in polishing powders. You are always urged to perform a small test to determine if this might happen. It is possible to recolor the grout. There are several companies that sell grout colors which... Read More

Q. The unsanded grout used for our shower states it’s not necessary to seal grout. However, I decided to but notice the grout does not bead off the grout joints as I feel it should, even after 2 coats.   A. You may be using a poor quality... Read More