Q. I cleaned soot off my fireplace stone, but it won't come out where it has seeped into the stone. A. Smoke and soot are made up of very fine carbon and oily particles that can become absorbed into the surface of porous stone. Once that happens... Read More

Q. How and with what do I address a crack in a travertine table top? A. Many problems with natural stone can be resolved by homeowners. Other problems require the services of a stone restoration professional. Before you move forward with DIY repair... Read More

Q. How do I remove cactus liquid from flagstone? The cactus was trimmed and the liquid splattered on the flagstone. It was not rinsed off right away and left several stains. A. You’re not alone. Cactus sap can surprise people with how quickly... Read More

Q. My countertops were just installed and the tile guy left an ink pen on the island counter. It leaked and I now have a blue stain on my Calacatta marble slab. Any advice on how to remove it. I used acetone and alcohol. It did lighten up, but I can... 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

Q. I purchased prefab granite counters after being told it was every bit as good as regular granite slabs. They were installed in January and in March I started noticing the granite was cracking and small pieces popping up. A piece got caught in my... Read More

Q. After we applied a color enhancer to our Eromosa stone (from Owen Sound, Ontario), we noticed some efflorescence. Not sure if it was there before the enhancer was applied. Is there any way to get rid of it? A. What you’re seeing is very... Read More

Q. Someone spilled white wine on my onyx table last night. I wiped it up, but this morning I see that it looks like it penetrated the table and left a dull finish about 15 inches wide. Any suggestions on what to do? I have a feeling time is of the... Read More