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 an (intentionally) distressed marble seat in my shower. After years of use, there is a build up of white on top of it. How do I get rid of it? Thanks. A. What you're describing is likely soap scum, mineral deposits from hard water, or... Read More

Q. Our bathroom countertops are dark grey Limestone. There is a 4 inch round white stain on the countertop beside the sink. I THINK IT IS TOOTHPASTE RESIDUE. We are listing our house for sale this week and the stain needs to disappear ASAP. A.... Read More

Q. A blue candle was left on my stone counter. Heat and humidity caused it to stain the stone blue. How do I remove the stain. If a poultice is recommended, what do I use. Thank you. A. There are two concerns to address here. The wax itself may have... Read More

Q. Started a project of refinishing my kitchen table. I put polyurethane on the table top. I must have spilled some of the poly on my granite. It has hardened. How do I remove from my granite? Thank you! A. If the polyurethane spill is large, thick,... Read More

Q. Water feature has chlorine residue buildup causing a white stain on natural rock waterfall. How can I remove the chlorine residue from the rock? A. What you are seeing is likely mineral deposits. Chlorinated water doesn’t cause the deposits,... Read More

Q. What should I use to get out polyurethane stain on my sandstone step? A. The methods for removing polyurethane from stone will vary, depending on what type of polyurethane caused the stain. Each type behaves differently once it hardens or seeps... Read More

Q. We had a beige sandstone countertop installed for an outdoor kitchen. It is sanded smooth and was sealed with three coats of sealer. I don’t know what kind—just said “sealer” on the can. Some was spilled on our manufactured patio... Read More

Q. A water stain was caused by a plant pot overflowing, and the overflow stood for 24 hours, leaving an outline. I tried to clean the outline with steel wool and made a worse mark. What can I do? I am not sure if the table is stone or slate. A. Just... Read More

Q. My bathroom needs to be stripped and resealed. A contractor sealed brand new travertine with a water-based sealant, and it has turned the beautiful tile into a mess. I have 160 sq. ft. on the floor, 100 sq. ft. on shower walls, and 28 sq. ft. on... Read More