Stone & Tile Restoration

No, you didn’t do anything wrong. When granite is sandblasted the force of the abrasive destroys the crystal structure of the granite. This is why you are seeing a blotchy appearance. Unfortunately the damage has been done and there is very... Read More

It is possible, but very time consuming. In question #120 we figure it would take about 15 minutes per square feet to restore an average granite floor. In the case of flamed granite it may take this long just to grind the tile flat. If the flamed... Read More

I don’t know if I’d call it a secret formula but the following granite polish formula should prove effective on most granite. To one pound of tin oxide powder add 5 teaspoons of black oxide powder, 4 teaspoons of sulfur dioxide and 3... Read More

Yes, you can darken the granite by applying a special darkening sealer. These are known as color enhances and can be purchased at stone equipment and maintenance suppliers. You can also use the mixture of boiled linseed oil and mineral spirits. Start... Read More

The best cleaner to use for removing grout residue from a granite floor is sulfamic acid. Sulfamic acid is sold as a grout cleaner and works well on granite surfaces. Do not use on marble or limestone since the acid will etch these surfaces. Sulfamic... Read More

Recrystallization has been used to maintain granite and can prove very successful. However, when recrystallizing granite you are not reacting the recrystallization with the granite. The reaction taking place is simply placing a thin wax like coating... Read More

Diamonds and bricks both work well on granite but the final results will depend on the skill of the operator. Generally bricks require the use of an Italian grinding machine and a much higher degree of skill than diamonds. Diamonds are much easier to... Read More

Do not skip any grits when honing granite. This is extremely important since the honing and polishing of granite relies on smoothing the stone. Each and every step is important and should not be skipped. If you do skip a step you may not achieve an... Read More

Unfortunately granite doesn’t react like marble. It will be necessary to proceed all the way to the last grit before polishing.Marble can be polished from the 400 grit due to the fact that it reacts with oxalic acid. Granite does not react with... Read More

Pine-type cleaners are not recommended for polished stone surfaces . They contain harsh chemicals that can etch the stone. However, they work well, and are safe to use, on ceramic tile. TIP Let your customers know that few grocery stores carry... Read More