A Resource of Stone and Tile Restoration

I have a customer with a marble tile kitchen floor that has several chipped tiles. Replacement tiles are no longer available. What is the best way to repair?

Jan 20, 2022 0 0 749 0/5 (0 Vote)

To repair chips in marble tiles use a polyester resin and color match to the existing material. If the chip is shallow the polyester may not stick. It may be necessary to make the chip bigger. Read More

I just cleaned a black marble floor with a wax stripper. As it dried, it turned white. I have tried rinsing it and nothing seems to work. Is it ruined, or can it be fixed?

Jan 20, 2022 0 0 726 0/5 (0 Vote)

It is probably not ruined, but removing this whitish haze can prove difficult. If the black marble is an agglomerate, chances are the alkaline stripper has attacked the polyester resin that binds it together. If so, the surface will have to be honed... Read More

Can a polyester patching material be used to repair stone on an exterior?

Jan 20, 2022 0 0 836 0/5 (0 Vote)

Polyester resins breakdown in the presence of ultra violet(UV) light. For this reason polyesters should never be used outdoors. For outside repairs it is advisable to use an epoxy resin. Epoxy resins are generally more resistant to UV light. Check... Read More

Can cracks in terrazzo be repaired? How?

Jan 21, 2022 0 0 867 0/5 (0 Vote)

Yes, cracks can be repaired. Depending on the width of the crack, it can be filled with a polyester resin. If the crack is small, clean it thoroughly with acetone, making sure to remove all dirt; a dental pick may prove useful here. After the crack... Read More

I have to restore an outdoor sign that is made of a black agglomerate marble, the sign is faded and is very gray. I performed a small test patch and I was successful at restoring the sign. The question I have is, what caused the agglomerate to fade a

Jan 20, 2022 0 0 709 0/5 (0 Vote)

Agglomerate marbles are made of a combination of marble chips and a polyester resin. Polyester resins are very sensitive to ultraviolet light(UV) and therefore should not be used outdoors. To answer your question, yes, the marble will fade in a very... Read More

I am having trouble coloring a polyester with black color. It seems that if I add too much color the polyester gets gummy and difficult to mix. I am trying to mix a deep black to match a repair in a black absolute granite, any suggestions?

Jan 20, 2022 0 0 704 0/5 (0 Vote)

If you mix too much color with polyesters they will get gummy. I would suggest purchasing a black polyester. These are available from your stone chemical supplier. You may also want to try using an artists oil color called “Lamp Black”. This is... Read More

I just honed a travertine floor and it has all these very tiny pin holes. Knife grade and the flowing grade polyesters will not fill in the holes. Do you know something that will?

Jan 20, 2022 0 0 704 0/5 (0 Vote)

These tiny holes are a common problem with not only travertine but can also occur on agglomerates. The best way to fill these is with what is known as a penetrating glue. This is water thin polyester that will flow into these holes. TIP Filling tiny... Read More

What’s the difference between a knife grade and a flowing grade polyester?

Jan 20, 2022 0 0 837 0/5 (0 Vote)

The knife grade has a thicker consistency, similar to peanut butter. Flowing is more liquid and flows easily. The knife grade is good for filling holes over 1/8 of an inch. For smaller holes the flowing grade will penetrate better. TIP Most... Read More

The white veins in the black marble floor in my customer’s bathroom appear to be crumbling and disintegrating. What’s causing this, and can it be repaired?

Jan 20, 2022 0 0 746 0/5 (0 Vote)

Black marble, especially Negro marquina, is very susceptible to spalling. Spalling is a condition in which the stone flakes off and falls apart. Several factors can cause spalling: excess moisture, choice of setting material and method, the polishing... Read More

Why am I getting small holes opening up in red granite that I have honed and polished? The granite has a nice deep shine but has very small holes that give the surface an uneven appearance.

Jan 20, 2022 0 0 728 0/5 (0 Vote)

When certain granites are honed, there is always a chance of removing some of the mica within the granite. Mica is a mineral found in some granites. The mica is composed of small flakes which easily flake out when honed. Unfortunately there is no... Read More