Q. What is the best way to fill holes in travertine tiles?A. One quick and effective way of filling holes in honed travertine is to squeeze some almond-colored caulking material in the holes. Fill in excess, push the filler in as deep as possible... 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. I recently installed new tile and mosaic glass tile around my bathtub encloser. should this new installation be sealed. A. Typically glass does not need to be sealed since it is not porous. However if you used cementious grout you may want to... Read More

Q. I have granite tiles around the hot tub and pool and there are calcium deposits forming on the grout areas and the tile is dull. Can I clean and restore it myself and then seal it?   A. It may be possible to clean and restore it yourself... Read More

This has always presented a problem. If the marble adjacent to the fixtures is severely pitted, I would recommend hiring a plumber to remove the fixtures and then hire you to refinish the vanity. Once the marble has been refinished, let them know to... Read More

Sometimes, when a poultice is removed there is a ring or halo around the previously stained area. The halo or ring is usually caused by remaining residue of poultice. This problem can be prevented by placing a clean white paper towel on top of the... 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. What is causing the yellow staining around the faucet on my bathroom vanity? How can I prevent this from happening? How do I remove the yellow stains? Any assistance you can offer would be greatly appreciated. I’m trying to sell the house... Read More

Q. We had mosaic marble tiles installed in our bathroom about a month ago and recently noticed the tiles about 12 inches around the toilet were a darker gray color than the rest of the floor due to a leak in the wax seal when the toilet was replaced.... Read More

The picture framing you describe is nothing more than moisture. As the tile dries the moisture is wicked to the edges of the tile. The picture framing will disappear as the tiles dry. TIP Sometimes this picture framing will deposit salts and cause a... Read More