Care and Maintenance

Q. Travertine floor was cleaned and holes filled w/ dia-glo traverfill. I used razor blade but what is the best way to remove the excess that got on tile? Just buff out then hone and seal? Thanks!A. If the travertine is polished you can polish with a... Read More

Q. Our installer grinded off the top layer of our limestone floor and since then we have repeated powdery residue on limestone despite numerous washings and sealings/impregnatings. Why is this and can this be fixed as I don't want to have white... Read More

  Efflorescence - Removal and Prevention   By Frederick M. Hueston www.stoneforensics.com The crystallization of soluble salts in Historic masonry causes severe deterioration of the substrate. This crystallization is called subflorescence. These... Read More

Q. Your website and articles are extremely helpful. I now know that you don't have to seal travertine. Here is my problem; my employee applied sealer to filled travertine and didn't wipe off the excess. I spoke to a rep at the sealer... Read More

Q. We had travertine tile installed 1 1/2 years ago and I had a hole open up and it is gradually getting bigger and now a 2nd hole has opened up too. Don't know what has caused it? Need to know how to fix it? We had it sealed when it was done...... Read More

Q. What is the average price for stone restoration? A. There are so many variables that will factor into the equation that it would be impossible to answer with any blanket statement. Does the surface need to be ground? Honed? Polished? Is it one... Read More

Q. I have a marble countertop in my bathroom. In a panic I put comet on a stain and took the finish off. How can I get the finish back? Also, I have a few ring marks. How get I get rid of them. Thank you EvelynA. If the damage to the surface is not... Read More

Q. The floor of my shower stall is covered with grouted sliced stones on mesh. The contractor sealed the floor with a "wet-enhancing" sealer about 3 years ago. I've noticed that the lighter stones have become rust-colored. (We have hard water... Read More

Q. We have two marble bathroom bowls that have soap scum on them. The bowls also have some chips on the surface. A. A good quality soap scum remover should be able to solve the problem (assuming the problem is, in fact, soap scum), but the chips... Read More

Q. I have already installed and grouted 12x12 granite for my kitchen counter top, BUT how do I polish the edge like the top (or at least close to). It seems to be a secret, I cannot find how to from the net. Please help! Thank you so much!A. This is... Read More