Q. I have laid 10 mm bluestone tiles in a bathroom. I sealed the backs before laying them and used a water-based adhesive. The floor beneath was fully waterproofed. White stains and what appear to be oil-like marks are now showing across the floor.... 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

The condition you are describing is called compression cracking. It is caused by movement of the substrate to which the granite is attached. If the granite tile is set over a plywood floor supported by joists, movement in the floor may be responsible... Read More

It sounds like moisture is trying to escape from the marble. This is a problem if a non breathable coating is placed on the marble. You will need to strip the coating off the floor and allow it to dry for several days. I would suggest polishing the... Read More

Q. Help!!! I have honed crema marfil marble. I had a plumber relocate my sink, which required the destruction at least 4 tiles. I purchased tiles to replace the four, however, they are much lighter than what has been already installed. Is there any... Read More

Q. Can cement tiles or ceramic tiles be installed on top of Corian or Avonite? I am restoring a kitchen on a tight budget, and I prefer to cover the existing countertops vs rip out and replace.   A. Yes, you can install them directly over the Corian... Read More

Q: Hello, I have a problem with a few cracked ceramic tiles in an entryway. The tiles have cracked due to cracks (mostly hairline) in the concrete foundation. I have heard of some kind of membrane material that can be used when such cracked tiles are... Read More

To repair chips in marble tiles, use a polyester resin and color match to the existing material. If the chip is shallow, the polyester may not stick. It may be necessary to make the chip bigger. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Fred Hueston is the author of  Stone... Read More

Q: We are building a new house in South Louisiana. We have a concrete slab with concrete piers on top. My tile installer used a polyethylene membrane with thinset directly over the plywood subfloor. We installed a honed limestone tile. Now that... 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