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Tips and Articles
Here are some easy to follow precautionary tips from the PROS for preventing damage to your natural stone floors and countertops during holiday festivities. ….More
We usually think of etching as a problem unique to marble, but it isn’t all that uncommon to see etching occur on granite as well. ….More
Tips for Selecting and Buying Stone and Tile
The selection of tile and stone can be difficult, confusing even overwhelming. There are hundreds and hundreds of choices to make and if you have done any shopping I’m sure you have received an endless flow of advice, maybe even conflicting advice. …More
Cleaning Your Travertine Shower
Because travertine is a porous natural stone, it does require regular maintenance to keep it looking clean and preventing mildew from forming. ….More
Grout is a major focal point of any tiled surface, so it’s no wonder colored grout is becoming a design element all by itself. ….More
Repairing Limestone Etching and Scratching
Straight from the pros, here’s how to fix etching and scratches in your beautiful limestone surfaces. ….More
Why Does White Marble Turn Yellow?
Has your marble begun to turn yellow? Here are reasons why and what to do about it. ….More
Will the Sun Fade My Stone Countertops?
Taking simple precautions will go a long way in minimizing sunlight damage to your countertops. Here are tips for preventing damage and options if damage has occurred. ….More
Here’s the safe way to clean your granite and other natural stones. ….More
Here are some DIY solutions that work well to clean your dirty and discolored grout. ….More
If the sight of your travertine floors or shower walls is giving you the blues, professional restoration services can brighten your day. Travertine can be cleaned, repaired and restored to like new, for much less than the cost of replacement. ….More
Have your countertops lost their luster? Here are the three most common reasons your countertops may have lost their shine — and what can be done to bring them back to life. ….More
Home improvement. Sounds expensive, doesn’t it? Well, home improvement doesn’t have to be. Here are some tips and resources to help you get started. ….More
Thanksgiving Tips for Natural Stone Care
Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Are you entertaining guests? Follow these tips and your marble, granite, and other natural stone will be thankful. ….More
So You’ve Got a Stain… or Do You?
Before you invest your valuable time and energy in a DIY attempt to remove discoloration from natural stone, here’s some basic information help you determine whether the discoloration is a stain. ….More
The great thing about terrazzo is even if it’s been buried under carpet or other flooring for years, or looks yellowed and ugly due to buildup and aging of topical coatings, its fundamental beauty is still there and can be restored by an experienced professional. ….More
Stone Restoration Can Save You Money… But It Can’t be Cheap
One of the most costly decisions you can make is choosing a contractor based on price only. A contractor who has not had the proper training or who has little or no experience with your specific type of natural stone may offer the cheapest price, but the cost in the long run may end up being far greater. Here are some tips for selecting your stone restoration contractor. ….More
How to Get a Poultice to Stick to a Wall
A Stone Advisory Magazine reader asks, “How can I get it to stick to the wall?” We can almost see the cartoonish frustration of one attempting to make liquid defy gravity. Great question. ….More
Sometimes the Jones’ have to keep up too…
One fastidious customer shares her motivation for getting her grout cleaned then color sealed, and how it was ‘life changing’ and reputation salvaging for her. ….More
Hollow tiles or cracking tiles and grout? Read this before ripping it all out.
When you walk across your tile and grout floor, does it sound more like cheap laminate? Or when you drop a spoon, does it sound like it’s landing on an empty container? Is your grout cracking? If so, some of your tiles may be in the process of separating from the underlayment. Before you rip it all out, read these simple and inexpensive possible solutions. ….More
Why Use a pH Neutral Cleaner for Granite Countertops
Perhaps you have been told that your granite countertops can be cleaned with glass cleaner or a solution of dish soap and water. According to Maurizio Bertoli, the “Godfather” of natural stone, using a pH Neutral cleaner is the only way to properly clean your granite countertops. ….More
What You Need to Know About Caring for Soapstone
Do you have or are you considering soapstone? Here are some tips for caring for soapstone and keeping it beautiful. For New Installations If your soapstone has just been installed, perform weekly oiling with a food grade mineral oil or enhancer made for soapstone for the first month, and then twice a month for the next three months. After the fourth month, you should only need to oil once a month or less. As the oil evaporates, the stone will lighten, telling you that it i ….More
Testing Stone For Kitchen Countertop Usability -The Lemon Juice and Oil Test
It is time to select your granite for your kitchen countertops. What should you look for? Two things: Absorbency and acid sensitivity. You do NOT want a stone that is too absorbent, and you do NOT want a stone that is mixed with calcite (the main component of marble and limestone). The Lemon Juice and Oil Test will help you determine the suitability of any stone you are considering. Collect a sample of any stone you are considering. Line them up on a table or countertop, dust them thorough ….More
DO’S AND DON’TS FOR ROUTINE CARE OF YOUR KITCHEN COUNTERS AND VANITY TOPS
First rule for proper care of your countertops, table tops, vanities, etc.: make sure they are properly sealed. To check, spill a little bit of water onto them and give it a few minutes, then wipe up the water. If there is a darker area where the water was, this is an indication that the water absorbed into the stone and it’s time for a re-seal. Be sure to check in the most used areas. Now, for routine cleaning and maintenance… this firm rule applies to all stone surfaces—counter tops, ….More
Why does white marble turn yellow?
Causes and cures (and why we recommend white or very light marble never be used in a shower)
Sitting in my office one morning I received a call from a very upset homebuilder. He told me he was building a two million-dollar home and had installed nearly 3500 square feet of a white statuary marble tile. Over the weekend one of the water pipes broke in a bathroom and completely flooded the home. They managed to vacuum all the water and started to assess the damages. Beside warped woo ….More
Everything (and then some) You Ever Wanted to Know About Sealing Your Natural Stone
Are you a little confused about whether or not to seal your natural stone? You’ve done your homework and researched the topic on the web only to fin ….More
We get many calls from homeowners asking for Marble Cleaning services. While we do offer marble cleaning, we rarely find that what the customer is actually looking for is in fact ‘cleaning’ of their marble. More often than not, what customers are looking for is that beautiful shine their marble floors had when they were new. Marble is a relatively soft stone. When it becomes dull and scratched, it loses its shine and luster. Many people see this and think their stone is dirty and needs pro ….More