Natural Stone

Q. I have interior darkly stained flagstone floors throughout the house and very difficult to clean with uneven surfaces. Can I use a steam mop on them without damage or lifting the color? A. Steam mops can damage natural stone, including flagstone,... Read More

Q. I have unsealed travertine outdoor tiles that are badly stained from a large pot. This pottery pot had a large palm in it. It became clogged and, with so much rain over time, started oozing dirty water from the pot. The breakdown of the pottery... Read More

Q. Can an impregnator be used to waterproof stone? A. Not exactly. An impregnator will make the stone water resistant, but it will not make it waterproof. Impregnating sealers are designed to penetrate the surface and fill the microscopic pores... Read More

Q. Is there a way to remove cigarette burns from my marble vanity top? A. Cigarette burns on marble can cause two types of damage: a yellow stain from nicotine and actual surface damage from the heat. The yellowing is a result of the nicotine seeping... Read More

Q. I have honed Crema Marfil flooring. When a plumber relocated my sink, four tiles had to be replaced. The new tiles are much lighter than the existing tiles. Is there a way to darken the new Crema Marfil tiles so they don’t stand out as much?... Read More

Q. Our house was built in 1967 and has black slate flooring inside and on the porch and terrace. We've had some restoration work done, but we're not happy with how it looks. Even after sealing, it doesn't have the polished or wet look... Read More

Q. I have a shower floor that has small stones of different colors and it is yellowing in 3 places. This started right after it was installed. Someone told me it was iron in water. How do I get rid of the yellowing? It‘s in the grout and on the... Read More

Q. I have a Pietra Cardosa countertop. I was using a descaling chemical solution to clean an appliance and accidentally spilled some, leaving a handprint-sized discoloration. The black countertop has turned almost white in that area. If you have any... Read More

Q. 25 years ago, our painter applied a sealant, possibly epoxy, polyurethane, or acrylic, to a new flagstone interior entry. It‘s held up beautifully. We are about to install flagstone in a small breakfast room. We want to retain the color of... Read More

Q. I purchased an oil stain remover poultice and used it on my light, whitish-gray quartzite to remove a very faint oil ring. I only used the product on one section. Now, that area is white, almost bleached. From what I can tell, the stain is gone. I... Read More