Q. I just bought a house that has very dated floral designs baked into various kitchen tiles on the counters and backsplash. Is it possible to remove the design and repaint the tile? I would be ok with a different color tile as long as I could remove... Read More

Q. We have 4 chocolate stains on our natural stone hearth. The stains have been there just a few days. We got off the actual chocolate and tried to clean the stain with a window surface cleaner. It helped but the stains remain. How should we proceed?... Read More

Q. How would I remove a WD40 stain from an unsealed limestone hearth? A. Limestone is a very porous natural stone that tends to absorb oils and liquids quickly. Removing stains like WD40 from limestone requires both patience and the right method to... Read More

Q. My Pietra Cardosa countertops are darkening around the sink and other areas that are not covered for example around the toaster oven. I tried a paste that removes oil stains but it didn’t work. What do you suggest? A. There are several... Read More

Q. I just finished putting in a new black marble shower wall... literally giving it its first cleaning. I had no idea that some bathroom cleaners would immediately etch into it. Please, for the love of God, tell me there’s something I can do...... Read More

Q. I used vinegar to clean my mosaic shower tile, black and white pebbles of tumbled marble. I didn’t know I shouldn’t use vinegar. Now they are discolored. Do I just need to re-seal it? A. We understand your concern about the... Read More

Q. I spilled a little bit of floor wax on the stone that sits in front of my fireplace. Can you tell me how to get that stain off? It’s been on there for a couple of years, I’m afraid. Thank you. A. Removing floor wax from your stone... Read More

Q. I just received a new quartzite install, and there is a crack at the sink extending to the hole for the soap dispenser. The fabricator claims it does not affect the integrity of the stone, since apparently it's not a full-depth crack, and... Read More

Q. We recently placed travertine on our fireplace surround and applied a sealer. We are not happy with the color. It is dull. Can we use a color enhancer sealer and get results? How long do we need to wait? A. It’s understandably disappointing... Read More

Q. Grey grout stain has penetrated the surface of some of the ceramic wall tiles in our bathroom. It’s been a few weeks now, and I’ve tried scrubbing with water and a mild cleaner, but the stain is still there. Is it possible to remove... Read More