Step-by-Step Guidance to Achieve a Wet or Polished Look on Slate: 1. Understand the Surface Finish You Have If the slate has a cleft (rough or layered) finish, polishing in the traditional sense is not practical. If the slate has been ground flat... Read More

Q.Four years ago I had a saltillo floor installed in my kitchen. The tiles were not presealed. The kitchen design company and I sought advice from the tile company that supplied them as to how to install and seal them. Both are highly regarded... Read More

Q. I left a DRY cotton cloth (it was attached to a floor mop like a swifter) on the tile floor overnight. I was planning to mop floor but never got around to it. However, when I removed the mop, the tile in that area was faded white. I have tried to... Read More

Q: I just purchased an extremely light colored travertine slate for my front room, but would like a richer, darker color for the slate. Since it has not yet been sealed, can the slate be "colored" or "stained" before it is installed? A: Are you... 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

Q. Does travertine pool coping need to be sealed? Can it be dyed? We are not really loving our new travertine pool coping. We love the material but not the color. The stone has a honed finish. We were thinking about putting some kind of dye intoÂ... Read More

Q. Should grout be scraped before a grout color sealer application? I want to put color sealer on top of grout that has already been sealed. Is it necessary to first scrape the clear sealer off of the grout?  A. There is a quick test you can do... Read More

Q. Does grout turn darker when wet and lighter when dry even with color seal? A. Unsealed grout has tiny pores that absorb moisture, which can give unsealed grout lines a darker appearance. Once the moisture evaporates (assuming the moisture is... Read More

Someone recently commented on SurpHaces social media, asserting that Grout Color Sealer cannot be considered a permanent solution. Here is their comment and our response. Comment: Grout Color Sealer is Topical. Will peel or uplift sooner than later.... Read More

Q. My grandson spilled juice on my travertine floor. I used an acid-based cleaner in an attempt to remove the discoloration, causing the floor to etch. There is an area about six square feet around that is very dull compared to the surrounding area.... Read More