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Q 5021: As part of a
large home expansion, we had a fireplace (gas) built. We selected
honed black absolute as the hearthstone. The work was sub-contacted
by our general contractor. The hearthstone has a number of irregular
round spots. The subcontractor first tried to remove them with a poultice
and then an "expert" was brought in to re-hone the stone.
He said this would do no good, as the marks are not merely on the
surface but rather go through the stone. He referred to them as "birthmarks".
Are we being snowed? Were we given an inferior quality stone or are
these marks usual and expected in black absolute? Could you also please
advise us as to what if any sealer should be applied to the stone
and how it should be maintained. Thank you for your opinion. Toni,
April 28, Reply
|
R1:
Honed black absolute will have these characteristics. They sometimes
can be removed with an acetone poultice, other times they can not.
Most black absolute is solid in its polished state and the spots may
be there but not noticed as much. Since this is a gas fireplace you
can try a color enhancing impregnating sealer. Plan on cleaning the
fireplace thoroughly, turn off all flames until the work is inert.
and apply a coat a day until it repels oil and water. Good luck, Steven
|
R2:
FROM YOUR DESCRIPTION LOOKS LIKE, THAT
YOUR FIREPLACE WAS FABRICATED |
FROM NERO ZIMBABWE(ZIMBABWE BLACK) IN WHICH THE DARKER BLACK ROUND SPOTS ARE INHERENT. SOME MANUFACTURERS WILL USE CHEMICAL DIES TO ELIMINATE THEM AND OTHERS WILL LEAVE THEM ALONE. SINCE "THE SPOTS" ARE IN THE STONE THE HONING WILL NOT DO YOU ANY GOOD. EVERY STONE HAVE ITS OWN PERSONALITIES, DIFFERENCES, HUES, VEINS AND COLOR VARIATIONS. THEY ARE ALL A PRODUCT OF NATURE AND THEREFORE THEY CANNOT BE INFERIOR. THEY JUST HAVE DIFFERENT QUALITIES AND CAN BE USE FOR DIFFERENT PURPOSES. ITS COLOR IS ONLY QUESTION OF PERSONS PREFERENCES. THE QUESTION WILL BE: WHO SELECTED THE MATERIAL TO SATISFY YOUR NEEDS. SINCERELY, NEKLAN VON, May 12 R3:
OH... LIGHTER .....I SEE... ONCE AGAIN, JUST
LIKE A DIAMOND, EVERY STONE HAS ITS OWN PERSONALITIES, DIFFERENCES,
HUES, VEINS AND COLOR |
VARIATIONS, EVEN ABSOLUTE BLACK. THEY ARE ALL A PRODUCT OF NATURE AND THEREFORE THEY CANNOT BE INFERIOR. THEY JUST HAVE DIFFERENT QUALITIES AND CAN BE USED FOR DIFFERENT PURPOSES. ITS COLOR IS ONLY QUESTION OF PERSONS PREFERENCES. YOUR FABRICATOR IS NOT FEEDING YOU A LINE, JUST TRYING TO GET ALONG WITH WHAT YOU CHOSE, AND WHAT GOD, AND THE QUARRY GAVE HIM, WHAT MOST OF US CALL NATURAL INCLUSIONS. INCLUSIONS CAN SOMETIMES BE AVOIDED, DEPENDING ON WHERE, AND HOW MANY INCLUSIONS THERE ARE, WEATHER YOU CAN SEE THEM, AT THE TIME OF FABRICATION, AND HOW MUCH MONEY YOU HAVE TO SPEND ON LABOR AND STONE THROWN INTO THE TRASH HEAP. IN SHORT, "IT IS WHAT IT IS" IF YOUR NOT HAPPY WITH IT, IN ITS FINISHED NATURAL STATE THEN YOUR CHOICES ARE SIMPLE, LEARN TO LOVE IT, FIX IT IF PRACTICABLE, OR SPEND THE MONEY, AND REPLACE IT. AND IF YOU WANT SOMETHING HOMOGINOUSLY SEMI PERFECT, (WITHOUT INCLUSIONS OR CHARACTER) I WOULD SUGGEST A MANUFACTURED STONE, THOUGH THAT BRINGS UP A WHOLE NEW CAN OF WORMS. (YOU WONT FIND IT IN MY HOME) JOE Q 5020: I am trying
to identify and locate a granite, locally called "artic
rainbow" but not the real name I think. I believe it
is called so because it resembles the colors on a rainbow trout.I
was told it was from Brazil, then I was told it was from Siberia.Also
I'm looking for the real name of a granite called Bianco antico (white,
brown, black, garnets). Any help is appreciated. Thanks Campbell,
April 21, Reply
|
R1:
Hi Campbell There is a Granite called Rainbow
form Brazil. It has a fine grain as opposed to the larger crystal
like appearances as is the Bianco Antico you mentioned. If you can
email me a digital picture I can tell you exactly what name and perhaps
even where you can locate it. As for you Bianco Antico, same is applied
but try asking for Bethel White. Stone |
Q 5019:
I've read the honed black granite debate
with great interest in your thread. I've come to the conclusion, based
on comments from Maurizio, that if I order honed absolute black granite
countertops and then have them color enhanced I'll get what I really
want - black stone with a matt finish. This seems like a rather simple
solution. Am I missing something? What are the pitfalls I'm overlooking
regarding durability? I would really appreciate some guidance. Thanks
so much. Alice , April 21, Reply |
R1:
The problem with honed black granite, are actually
two problems: 1. The factory hone-finish sucks! (All swirly.) 2. Surface
staining. To solve the first problem you should hire a professional
stone refinisher to re-hone your stone with a good-quality honing
powder. In that way you will have the swirls eliminated and a nice,
consistent finish. The second problem will be minimized (never completely
eliminated) with the application of a good-quality color enhancer
for stone. , Maurizio, Expert Panelist |
R2:
Alice, ALICE, Imagine Dr Phil saying "ALICE what in God's name
were you thinking" smiling.....Seriously, a honed black marble
has got to be the worst as far as maintenance I have found. But I
do understand about looks and decor, so what I say to you is going
to make a lot of sense, you like it, try it then buy it. Ask you local
supply store who will do the job for you to supply a 12 x 12 sample,
which you may have to pay (100$ or less). Something you can bring
home and try for the next month. You will see the finish they will
supply, you will be able to look at it in your home lighting, which
will differ from a magazine or even from the store. And you can use
it and abuse it the same way, you will be doing on the actual counter.
Then decide! Stone |
R3:
The only thing missing
is the use of an impregnating sealer. The frequency of reapplication
depends on the type of impregnating sealer and how you clean your
counters. More caustic cleaners breakdown impregnating sealers. You
can use color enhancing impregnating sealers as well. Good luck, Steven
|
R4:
DEAR SIR/MADAM, IT IS NOT ADVISABLE TO USE HONED
SLABS OR TILES FOR COUNTER TOPS, BECAUSE, YOU CAN NOT KEEP IT CLEAN
SINCE THE SURFACE IS NOT GLOSY. IT WILL STAIN EASILY. FOR EXAMPLE
ANY OIL OR COFFEE, ETC IS DROPED ON THE HONED SURFACE AND IT IS NOT
CLEANED IMMEDIATELY, THEN THE STAIN WILL BE A PERMANENT PATCH. EVEN
IF YOU CLEAN IMMEDIATELY, THERE WILL BE A PERMANENT STAIN. IN REGULAR
USE THE HONED SURFACE WILL BE USED FOR THE FLOOR WHERE ROUGH SURFACE
IS REQUIRED. THIS ALSO WILL BE USED FOR WALL WITH ALTENATIVE POLISH
AND HONED TILES TO GIVE CONTRAST LOOK. FOR COUNTER TOPS BLACK OR ANY
GOOD MATERIAL WITH EPOXY FILLED OR WITH SEALER. M.MAHENDRAN.
|
R5:
if you really want black counter top with matt
finish i suggest you ask for absolute black granite slabs with flame
finish. this gives a uniform matt finish. |
secondly, honing gives you the swirls however well it is done. thirdly, there is no color enhancer for black granite. dont be carried away if any one suggest that. what ever colour enhance ment you do will not last even a few weeks. ask for a sample of flame finish granite and decide for yourself. M. Dilip Q 5018: Thank
you for you educational website.
I am considering Ghibli for my kitchen countertops. I use my kitchen
often and have small children. Is this a suitable granite? Will a
honed versus polished finish change the suitability? Bette
April 21, Reply
|
R1:
I seldom comment about any one particular stone. There may be differences
within the same stone (and I’m not talking about looks, here!)
from one bundle of slabs and the next. The slabs may have also been
either “doctored” (which is bad), or “resined”
(which is good) by the factory, which would make a big difference.
Maurizio, Expert Panelist |
R2:
Hi Bette, Unless you have someone next to you, who knows what he is
choosing and most importantly for me Guaranteeing the product, ask
for a workable sample. Try it, live it, buy it! Its worth the money
and you can always use a decent size piece as a cutting board. Stone
|
R3:
Ghibli in its polished state will require the use of impregnating
sealers. They are applied every 24 hours on a thoroughly clean counter.
It is easy to do. Honed ghibli may be too much trouble due to the
fact that you will contend with an absolute absorption by weight issue
as well as surface staining. Good luck, Steven |
R4:
ghibli is not a granite suitable for kitchen
tops. it absorbs water and also oil stains and the oil stains especially
are difficult to do away with. i suggest you go for good black or
a good red or any other close grained granite of a little darker variety,
for your kitchen. these are not porous and do not absorb oil or water.
Capt. M. Dilip |
Q 5016: My entry way
is supported by 2x8 at 12" center for 13 ft 6in span. Can I install
marble in this area? I plan to have a "mud job" installation
per the marble installers suggestion to ensure a level finished job.
The plywood subfloor will be screwed to the joists . If the answer
is no, what could I do, if anything, to make that area marble ready?
Would polished porcelain be better for that area? What is the deflection
limit for polished porcelain? The installation will be a " mud
job" to insure a level floor. Previous installation on "wonder
board" did not provide a level floor. Would marble be ok for
2x8 at 16" on center for 11 ft span? Acptax, April
21, Reply |
R1:
All things considered (including the mud job),
you should be a happy camper! Maurizio, Expert Panelist |
Q 5015: I am now totally
lost in my decision regarding granite for my kitchen countertops.
I have selected Emerald Pearl as my first choice, but read with interest
that it is not even granite. My builder tells me it is an "upgrade"
from the normal upgrade to granite (meaning even more $$$). How do
I determine if this particular stone is a good candidate for my kitchen,
and also worth the additional money over the builder's alternate,
Verde Ubatuba. |
Also, how do I define the specifications for the slab when I order it? For this kind of money, I want to spell out requirements for polish, shade, grain, colour patches, cracks, holes, seaming, and any other quality you may suggest. I'm a little annoyed with being told "that is just how granite is" since I have learned from your site that many of these specifications are controllable. Thank you for whatever direction you may be able to provide. Suellen April 21, Reply R1:
Dear Suellen:There’s a higher demand (or
perhaps a lower supply; same difference!) for Emerald Pearl, therefore
it costs more; but it is not any better (from a mechanic point of
view) than Ubatuba. They both are not true geological granites, but
– for the intents and purposes of a kitchen countertop –
they are both better than true granite. However, I seldom comment
about any one particular stone. There may be differences within the
same stone (and I’m not talking about looks, here!) from one
bundle of slabs and the next. The slabs may have also been either
“doctored” (which is bad), or “resined” (which
is good) by the factory, which would make a big difference. Maurizio,
Expert Panelist |
Q 5014: I'm
a new explorer. Where and/or how can I learn more about the origins
of Juparana Florence (I believe also called J. Nepal) -- what countries,
quarries, something about the geology? Thanks for any guidance. David,
April 21, Reply |
R1:
Many companies change the names of the stones.
To be sure, email me a picture at , Stone |
Q 5013: My
question is regarding travertine flooring. Specifically, I was hoping
for some advice regarding the use of a felt slip sheet underlay for
a travertine floor over a concrete slab. I live in Southern California
and have been told by the local experts that it is a good idea. My
follow up question is would you recommend installing the travertine
over the existing linoleum flooring in the kitchen and bathroom areas
(again over a concrete slab)? thanks in advance, Satcula, April 21,
Reply
|
R1:
Dear Satcula: If the concrete slab is sitting
directly on the ground, then YES, the local experts are absolutely
right. Use the same membrane over the linoleum and you should be all
right. Maurizio, Expert Panelist |
R2:
Hi Stacula, (interesting name) Floor membranes
have come a long way, I was actually installing one this morning on
a site that had a problem floor. The theory is that if the sub floor
moves, or cracks, it will separate underneath membranes or felt and
not affect the stone on top. I think this stuff is great, but what
really sold me was the guarantee I got. I am using the membrane and
the glue the membrane company recommends and they then guarantee the
application and my work. I in turn can guarantee my work to the customer.
It is a little more costly, but for myself there is no price for peace
of mind. Stone |
Q 5012: I am purchasing
a house that has the following stones: Granite: Mystic Mauve Marble:
Crème de Marfil (or Crème Marfil) Both of the stones
are light colored. I don't have any spare pieces to try the Lemon
Juice Test. Do I need to seal the stones or not? Thanks for the advice,
Patrick Lin April 21, Reply
|
R1:
Dear Patrick: Crema Marfil doesn’t need
to be sealed (besides, the lemon juice test is meant for granite,
not marble). Mystic Mauve, I don’t remember. Try to spill some
water on it and see how fast it gets absorbed, if any. Expert Panelist |
R2:
Hi Patrick Sealing is meant to be done for two
reasons-1-type of stone which you have stated, and 2- what is the
stone being used and in what room. The lemon test is used to see if
stones etch ot not-nothing to do with staining. Your Marfil will be
affected by the lemon test, your granite should not. Contact me directly
if you wish, I will ask you a series of questions, to better guide
you in what you need to protect these surfaces. Stone
|
R3:
With out a doubt you
ned to seal as soon as possible. I would recomend either impregnator
pro or penetrating sealer. Bill |
Q 5011: I watered a
plant sitting on a terrazo floor. Now there are white water spots
on the floor. How can I clean it? April 21, Reply |
R1:
White water spots? They are not stains. Stains are always darker than
the material they are in. You will need the services of a reputable
stone restoration professional to re-grind and re-finish your floor.
Maurizio, Expert Panelist |
R2:
If your terrazzo is worn a little or has not been polished in a while,
you can probably bring it back well enough yourself, using professional
polishing compounds. If the surrounding finish is immaculate, only
a professional will be able to bring it back. As a guideline for acceptable
results, the cost should not exceed $250 by a professional, unless
of course you will redo the entire surface. Stone |
Q 5010: Hi!
I love reading your thoughtful and informed advice! After injesting
dozens of your responses to the perennial "Should I use Travertine
in the Bathroom/shower" questions, it sounds to me like, 1. You
think it is a good stone for this use 2. It should be honed and filled
(not polished) for best long-term results and 3. No sealer is needed.
Am I understanding your thinking? Also, you add that 'proper care'
is required to keep it looking good. What constitutes proper care?
Do you make a cleaning solution that is good for it? Thanks for your
help - Naomi, April 21, Reply |
R1:
Dear Naomi:Yes, yes, yes, and yes. (With the
exception of the sealing inside the shower enclosure. It’s still
optional, but a good bet.) Maurizio, Expert Panelist |
Q 5009: I
have a light colored granite countertop with several dark streaks
that I would like to lighten to better match the rest of the stone.
Is there a safe way of lightening the streaks in the granite? Bleach?
April 21, Reply
|
R1:
There are only two chances to that: NO WAY and
NO HOW! Ciao and good luck, Maurizio,
Expert Panelist |
Q 5008: I am planning
to have crema marfil marble, which you have describe as fairly tough,
installed in my master bath. I will be using it on floors, vanitytop
and walls. I was asked to look at a product which has hardy backer
already attached to the marble 12X12 tile. I have never seen this
before. Is it worthwhile to pursue this? Does it eliminate the need
for hardy backer during the installation? Thank you, Adrianne, April
21, Reply |
R1:
Dear Adrienne: Yes, Crema Marfil is a good choice,
for as long as you know how to take care of it. About those particular
type of tiles, I never heard of it; therefore I can’t comment
as to whether or not it will eliminate the need for a hardy backer.
As a first reaction, I doubt it though. Maurizio, Expert Panelist |
|
Q 5006: I have bianco
catalina floor tiles installed on my counters and love them
but have a couple of oil stains and am unclear how to seal them or
what to do for ease of maintenance. Any advice would be appreciated!
April 21, Reply
|
R1:
You can get my
maintenance guidelines for residential stone installations by giving
me a holler at: info@findstone.com. They do carry a small price tag,
but are worth every single penny and then some! It’s a one-of-a-kind
document that you won’t find anywhere else, I promise! What’s
more, I will also tell you a way to get your money back! , Maurizio,
Expert Panelist |
Q 5005: My question is
about the backsplash. My husband like the look of the tumbled Marble
but I would like the granite for it ease of cleaning. If we go with
the tumbled Marble does anyone know how practicle it is for two great
cooks but bad cleaners? I'm concerned about the requirement of sealing
and trying to keep the grout looking clean. Need help fast, contractors
due. Thanks, Maryanne, Pa. April
21, Reply |
R1:
What an interesting concept i install tumbled
marble back splashes every day the key to keeping them looking great
is first a good cleaning with a sulfamic acid crystals solution then
just apllying a sealer preferably by aqua mix since they have the
best sealing products and about once a year you can do this to keep
it looking great. By the way your husband is right it does look great
with granite counter tops. Bill |
R2:
Dear Maryanne: Two great
cooks? … The tumble marble wouldn’t be the problem. The
grout would. Sealed or not sealed, it will always be a BIG problem
cleaning it! (Especially by bad cleaners! – Hey, you said that!!)
Go with polished granite. Maurizio, Expert Panelist |
Q 5004: We
had granite counter tops installed in our home 2 years ago and I can't
seem to get the grainy feeling off them. I can clean them a million
times (with granite cleaners or just plain water or even dust them)
and they are always grainy to the touch. I am afraid to put food on
them for fear that we will be eating stone particles. The granite
was sealed - or at least that is what the company said. What do I
do now? My husband thinks it is my imagination. April 21, Reply |
R1:
Well. If it ain’t your imagination, what
else can it be?! :-) What kind of “granite” is it that
keeps loosing grits? Maurizio, Expert Panelist |
Q 5003: My mother has
a house in Helen, Georgia with quite a lot of stonework around the
house. From the parking area, there are several steps made of medium
to large stones and then a "patio" made of the same stones.
Over the years, all of this rock work has turned dark - some of it
even black. I |
got the bright idea to use chlorox and bleach the stones and concrete surrounding each stone so it all would look brand new again. I used the chlorox full strength. After several minutes, I used a garden hose and rinsed everything. Well, the combination of the chlorox and strong stream of water literally washed most of the dirt from between the edge of the stones and the concrete - and now there are cracks surrounding most of the stones where dirt used to be. (I hope this makes sense). I'm afraid in time some of these stones could become loose. Can the cracks be filled in with sand? I suppose concrete could be used but might look terrible. My mother said she is going to call the man that did all this work and see what he suggests. However, in the meantime, I would like very much to get your professional opinion. It looks great from a distance - - but up close the cracks are quite obvious. Help!!! Thanks!! Kacy April 21, Reply R1:
Kacy. Just how wide are these cracks you are referring to? It is not
uncommon to see a bit of shrinkage between the stone and the mortar
joints, particularly if the mortar mix was placed real wet, or the
stone is real absorptive, or a combination of both. It can lead to
problems if water gets under the stone, and then freezes, causing
the stone to heave. However, unless you used a high pressure washer,
these cracks have probably been there for most of the patio's life,
only hidden by the accumulated collection of dirt etc that you cleaned
off. If they are real wide (1/16 inch or more) you can try filling
with a cementious material. smaller than that, you won't really be
able to get enough material into the crack to hold, and calk may be
a better solution. Or best fix might be to have a mason repoint the
entire patio by first removing the old mortar and placing in new.
Or, if your area doesn't experience hard freezes very often, and none
of the stones are loose or showing movement, just let it be, and by
next spring, nature will have filled the cracks again, and they will
not show until the next time you clean it off. Good luck, JVC, Expert
Panelist |
R2:
Dear Kacy: To
be honest with I’m not so sure that I understood all the details
of your story, but one thing is for certain: the bleach didn’t
cause those cracks! They were there already and filled with soil that
the bleach and the following hosing took off. There’s nothing
wrong by using bleach to clean outdoor stones. Maurizio, Expert Panelist |
Q 5002: I
have a brick fireplace surround and I want to cover it with marble
tiles(12X12). I want to extend the marble 2" inches past the
brick base in order to add a fireplace door that needs the extra dimensions.
Will the marble being exposed to the heat crack or discolor? Are there
any other issues I should be concerned with? Paul, April 21, Reply |
R1:
Dear Paul: No it should not. It may stain (soot),
but it can be cleaned easily.Ciao and good luck, Maurizio, Expert
Panelist |
Q 4998: Will 'Lemon
Pledge' wood polish used on kitchen cabinets etch granite if over
sprayed or accidentally sprayed onto the countertop? Thank you Louise,
April 21, Reply |
R1:
Some chemicals can stain granite or leave an
oil residue as long as you seal your countertops with a high quality
sealer you wont have to worry. Bill |
R2:
Dear Louise: Probably not. But if it’s a “granite”
that didn’t need to be sealed and was sealed anyway with a sealer
sensitive to acids … then you may have problems. Maurizio, Expert
Panelist |
Q 4997: We recently
installed granite countertops in our kitchen. There is now what appears
to be a burn mark (about 3" long, shaped like a fat candy cane.)
We have no idea where it came from, but want to get rid of it. I found
your site, and your invitation to "give you a holler." Well,
here I am, hollering! Can you help us? Ken, April 21, Reply |
R1:
If your counter tops were not sealed it could
be oil or some petroleum based product. Using eather or some quick
drying solution may bring out the oil but to protect your counter
top from future stains you should seal your counter top with a penatrating
sealer. Bill |
R2:
Dear Ken:Thanks for the holler, but I’m
afraid not! I really don’t know what to tell you. What appears
like a burn mark that you have no idea where it came from? …
Too little information, sorry. Did you show the “thing”
to your fabricator? Maurizio, Expert Panelist |
|
Q 4995: We've just moved
into a new house and have a gorgeous kitchen with Nero Absoluto granite
countertops. How do you recommend I clean them on a regular basis?
Our bathroom has a travertine marble countertop, tub surround and
12' square tiles used in the walk in shower - could you suggest a
cleaner for this please?Thanks, Darlene, April 21, Reply |
R1:
First off aqua mix or stone tech have the best
sealers i recommend them right away actually before disaster strikes
also stone tech makes an all natural cleaner for stone and marble,
granite tile or slabs i use it quite often it also is safe and not
toxic they are wipes that come in like a baby wipe canister, they
should be available at your local tile store. And to boot they leave
a nice citrus scent behind. Bill |
R2:
Dear Darlene:Of course I could! You can get
my maintenance guidelines for residential stone installations by giving
me a holler at: info@findstone.com. They do carry a small price tag,
but are worth every single penny and then some! It’s a one-of-a-kind
document that you won’t find anywhere else, I promise! What’s
more, I will also tell you a way to get your money back! ,Maurizio,
Expert Panelist |
|
Q 4993: We
just arrived home after a wonderful trip to China. One of the items
we purchased, a Jade Dragon, has the tail piece broken off the main
body. Is there any glue, or whatever that I can use to attach the
pieces together. Thanks! Nelson, April 21, Reply
|
R1:
Dear George, I could make a better judgement
if I had pictures of the break but assuming you have only two pieces
that fit together well you can use a clear epoky, but chances of succsess
will be improved dramatically if you can improvise a clamping system
that will hold the two peices in place for several days while the
epoxy cures totally, apply the epoxy to both sides of the break,sparingly
. any overglue that shows on the tail after the clamp is removed can
be removed with a razor blade. If you are unable to clamp the tail
you might be better off with superglue which sets almost immediatly,
Richard |
R2:
Dear George, Good luck, I am sure they will
do a fine job, jade is wonderfull material, I deal only in raw Jade
so I don`t handle many finished pieces, occasionally I polish up a
scrap for a client who wants to see what the finished material will
look like. This has given me quite an appreciation for the people
who carve it, and the products they produce. It is always a pleasure
to talk to ther people who appreciate Jade. If the peice does turn
out to need refinishing please let me know. Typically final polish
is done with fine diamond powder, 8 thousand micron or smaller on
fairly dry leather. This invariably produces heat contributers to
the polish, jade tolerates heat fairly well, however heat may damage
the repair depending on how it is executed. I recomend any unavoidable
refinishing or polishing be done in advance of the physical repair.
Best Wishes Richard |
|
Q 4991: I have been
told that certain countrys quality of travertine varies. I am laying
1700 square feet of travertine and was wondering if anyone has dealt
with Chinese Ivory Travertine. I have been told that Mexican Travertine
can at times be brittle and did not know if anyone has had any experiences
with this particular kind. It is honed and filled April 21, Reply
|
R1:
I have found that turkish travertine is the best
and quite honestly have not used any ohter becasue of the horror stories.
Bill |
Q 4990: We
have a similar challenge with a retaining wall made with Crab Orchard
fieldstone (and other stone) that includes an integrated waterfall.
The upper concrete pool spills over the face of the wall into a lower
concrete pool and we’ve noticed a loss of water volume. Expecting
water leaks between stones and in mortar joints, is there any product
that can be applied to the face of the stone that’s constantly
exposed to water that will reduce water loss due to absorption and/or
through (imperceptible) cracks? Would an underwater epoxy work? If
not, what do you recommend? Bill Perkins, April
21, Reply
|
R1:
Bill. Was a water proof membrane placed behind
the stone in the water feature area of the wall to contain any water
penetration through the stone and direct it back into the pool? The
most important thing in water feature construction, and most often
overlooked is the water containment system. Trying to stop water loss
after the fact is not going to be easy, particularily with a stone
like crab orchard which will absorb a lot of water into the stone
itself. You can try multiple coats of a penetrating sealer, making
sure the feature has completely dried out first. However, be aware
that this will change the dynamics of the water movement as it will
greatly reduce the surface tension between the stone and water, and
you will need to reaply periodically. Good luck, JVC, Expert Panelist |
Q 4989:
I am using 12 x 12 granite tiles for the counter in the kitchen. A
friend of mine has the tiles and actually had the edges bullnosed
so that they were rounded on the edge. What kind of tools do I need
to make a rounded bullnose edge on granite tiles? Thanks. Karen, April
21, Reply
|
R1:
Well youll need about 600.00 and a lot of experience
i do granite tile counters all the time but we just add a wood trip
i sent a picture to show you that the trim is much cheaper and looks
great, Click here to see images.
Bill |
Q 4988: I recently purchased
a set of salvaged granite kitchen countertops at a yard sale in Dallas,
TX. for $35 dollars. The name of the granite is Luna Pearl. Some of
the pieces are broken from the removal process. Can these ever be
fixed somehow? The set of granite countertops I purchased is far larger
than my kitchen countertops. Could I hire someone to cut, repair,
and install the salvaged granite for a reasonable price? Or would
it be less expensive just to buy new granite countertops? Any information
would be helpful. Thank You JD, April 21, Reply |
R1:
Dear JD: Without actually
seeing the whole picture, I won’t even venture a guess. Get
hold of a reputable fabricator and ask for advice. , Maurizio, Expert
Panelist |
Q 4987:
I have a question. We have black granite
countertops. We are thinking about purchasing a new cooktop. The opening
on our countertop does not fit the new one. What is your advise on
cutting the granite. Is this risky? Could it develop a crack? Any
advise would be appreciated. thanks! Grace, April 21, Reply |
R1:
This fairly easy for a trained professional they use a special saw
to cut a new hole you can expcect to pay about 150.00 or so for the
task but well worth it for having a crack is far more dissasterous.
Bill |
R2:
Dear Grace: For as long a professional is going to do the job, it
should be all right. I did that more than once in the past. Maurizio,
Expert Panelist |
Q 4986: I
have recently had a 18x18 travertine floor installed over a concrete
slab about 6 months ago. Now it seems that the fill is collapasing
under the dinning room table, ( Roller chairs! ). I was told that
this is because the product was not back buttered during the initial
installation. The tile was set with white thinset. Can this be repaired?
And what is the process like. Larry,
April 21, Reply |
R1:
The back buttering has nothing to do with it. It can be repaired,
but it will take a proven stone restoration professional. Now, you’d
better watch out! Stone restoration is the very pinnacle of all the
activities related to stone, from a professional point of view. Unfortunately,
there are a lot of quacks on the loose out there! How could you tell
a champ from a chomp? Could you trust the recommendation of your local
stone distributor, or contractor, or your interior decorator? Hardly!
I did write a very comprehensive article on how to select a bona fide
stone restoration contractor, which will give you all the intelligence
you need to make a competent choice. It does carry a small price tag,
but for the sake of your stone, you don’t want to take chances
without it! Gimme a holler at: info@findstone.com. You’ll be
glad you did! What’s more, I will even show you a way to get
all of your money back! Maurizio, Expert Panelist |
|
Q 4984: I live in Sierra
Madre, Calif. I'm building a house for my family in a canyon area.
We hav run into very large, no huge, granite stones. (I think they
are called "blue granite?). Anyway, what is the best way to split/break
them so they can be moved manageably with a backhole? Greg,
April 21, Reply |
R1:Blue
granites are valuable. Investigate more.. isaac |
Q 4983: I
am a floorcovering inspector in Sacramento, CA. and have been asked
to examine a granite counter top, the consumer has reported that the
top(s) are not glass smooth and have slight veins in the surface that
are though to be causing a granual substance to be felt/seen, are
there any tests that you know to check for this type of condition
or is the stone just that a stone, any info you could provide would
be greatful T Chavey, April 21, Reply
|
R1:
Stone countertops vary on the type of looks after
finish and before finish. Different marbles have different smoothness.
Best is to ask an expert who knows abou that specific material. Izzet |
R2:
Dear Chavey:
Besides the fact that I didn’t understand the first thing about
what you’re saying :-), you must understand that under the classification
of “mercantile granite” there are stones that are miles
part from true geological granite and from one another. Maurizio,
Expert Panelist |
|
Q 4981: A
bottle of wesson oil leaked on my granite counter top and was not
noticed till the next morning. We put peroxide on it, what else can
we do??? Thank you Miller, April 21, Reply |
R1:
Peroxide will not remove an oil stain. When it
comes to stain removal, either you buy one of those expensive “Professional
kits” (that no true professional ever uses!) at a stone retailer
near you, or you can spend less money and get my comprehensive guidelines
on how to remove stains by using inexpensive and far more effective
means that you may already have in your household! Maurizio, Expert
Panelist |
Q 4980:
I installed absolute black granite tiles
as a countertops. Days after, I stained them with lemon, not knowing
that they needed to be sealed. I tried many cleaners, and ended up
using lime-away. I'm sure you know the result. One tile that has less
sheen than the rest. What can i do. Chad, April 21, Reply |
R1:
Dear Chad: There are three chances to what happened
to you: 1. the black absolute granite was “doctored”.
2. It was sealed by the dealer (black granite should not be sealed).
3. It’s one of those as-rare-as-a-white-fly black granites that
contain some percentage of calcite. Go back to your dealer and ask
them to solve the problem for you. After all, they sold the stuff
to you and made good money, right? If for any chance they will turn
out not to able to solve the problem, you can opt to get in touch
with me. Maurizio, Expert Panelist |
|
Q 4978:
We purchased a model home a year ago
which has tropic brown granite countertops in the kitchen. The dishwasher
had not yet been anchored to the countertop so the builder had the
granite people come in to anchor it with screws. Within a few days
a crack appeared across the narrowest part of the countertop (behind
the sink) extending through the full thickness of the granite. We
are sure this is due to stress from the pressure of the dishwasher
when the racks are pulled out. The crack itself is not terribly noticeable
at this point, but does this mean the granite is not properly supported?
What should we do? We had the granite person come back but he refused
to speculate on the cause of the crack and only filled it with some
kind of filler--he said the important thing is to keep the moisture
out of the crack to avoid deterioration of the granite. Would it be
advisable to anchor the dishwasher to our oak floors rather than the
countertop, to avoid future problems? Pat, April 21, Reply
|
R1:
R1: Dear Pat: Every situation is different. One thing is for sure:
a crack is not acceptable by any standard, end of story. I would not
accept it in my own kitchen, no matter what kind of story and a song
a fabricator would try to deliver to me. Maurizio, Expert Panelist |
|
Q 4976: I'm looking
to buy a sculpture, and I was wondering which stone was more valuable,
marble or alabaster? What are the differences. Jason, April 21, Reply |
R1:
Dear Jason. The intrinsic value of a piece of sculpture is the work
itself, and not the stone it was carved from. The difference between
the two stones---Marble is a calcite based stone, Alabaster is a gypsum
based stone. The marble is a harder stone, while the alabaster is
a bit softer. Both are soft enough to scratch by miss handling. Both
come in a broad range of colors. Sculpture supply houses sell carving
stock of both these stones for about the same price per pound. The
price reflects the scarcity or availability of the stone, and the
quality of the piece. Some alabasters are more expensive than some
marbles, and vise versa. JVC |
R2:
Dear Jason: A sculpture
is valued according with its artistry, not the material it’s
made of. They are certain sculptures in humble clay that are worth
millions! ,Maurizio, Expert Panelist |
Q 4972: We
have a marble vanity top with a small chip on an edge. Can we use
an emery board to file this? Thank you in advance for your reply,
Donna, April 21, Reply |
R1:
Dear Donna: You’re better off using metal-grade
sandpaper. Start with a coarse grit to level the chip, and then followed
with finer grits to make it smooth and almost shiny. Being an edge,
you won’t be able to tell the difference, once you’re
done. Maurizio, Expert Panelist |
Q 4971: We just moved
into a new house and have a black granite kitchen countertop (maybe
it's not a true granite as you say on the site, I don't know). It
has flecks of grey and silver in it and it has a high gloss finish
so it appears shiny would be the best way I would describe it. When
we did our inspection we didn't notice that there are several spots
in the granite that appear darker than the rest of the countertop.
In particular we have one large blotch that is really noticeable.
The builder is useless and says "that's just the way granite
is - it's not perfect". This may be true but this one blotch
in particular is in the center of the counter and really noticeable.
So, what do you think it is? And how do we fix it? Or can't we? Please
help!! - Laura, April 21, Reply |
R1:
Dear Laura: They way you describe it to us, it
sounds like Black Impala (not a true granite, but a very, very, VERY
good stone! Better than granite, IMO). About the darker areas, without
seeing them, I have not a clue. Quite unusual, though, on Impala.
But then again, maybe it is not Impala … Maurizio, Expert Panelist |
Q 4970: Without realizing
it, we left the hot water on in our shiny variegated black cultured
marble sink, and it discolored it to a light grey color. Can this
be fixed? Joan, April 21, Reply |
R1:
Dear Joan: What do I know about plastic?! …
Ask the “Cultured Marble” people! Maurizio, Expert Panelist |
Q 4968: I
have marble installed in my shower, The shower is about 2 months old,
I am now noticing that some of the stone is changing color (getting
darker) around the edges. What is causing this and how can I repair.
Should I also seal this tile. Thank You. nn, April 21, Reply |
R1:
Dear Ann:Check your grout lines and you will see that some of the
grout is missing. Were those tiles set “butt-joint” for
any reason? Maurizio, Expert Panelist |
Q 4967: We
are about to install fabricated granite tiles in our new home. Friends
tell us that they have read an article that granite causes health
problems. Is it true, and what are the problems that are caused? Andreas,
April 21, Reply |
R1:
Dear Andreas: Oh, yes! All the people who bought
granite and had it installed in their home are either sick, or dead
altogether! Even a dear friend of mine – who had a granite countertop
installed back on 1987 – died a couple of months ago at age
93. It was the granite, no doubt! The Surgeon General is about to
issue an executive order (which will have to be approved by the house
of representative and the senate, and then signed by the President
of the USA) that will force granite manufacturers to etch the surface
of the stone with some sort of warning (they’re still debating
the sentences to use) much like the warning on every pack of cigarette.
One’s very definitely better off with solid plastic (oops, sorry,
I meant solid surface – whatever that means!). It is sooooo
very good for you and the environment!! Maurizio, Expert Panelist |
Q 4966: Our company
imported some travertine from turkey to resale. some of the installations
we have seen have problems with the fill collapsing is this common
and what is the correct method for repairing the holes. the travertine
we have is beige in color and filled and honed at the factory.Doug,
April 21, Reply |
R1:
Dear Doug:I do believe I have the solution to
your problem. Gimme a holler at: info@findstone.com and get in touch
with me. There’s a little fee involved (as you will be told),
but I’ll be glad to help. Maurizio, Expert Panelist
|
Q 4965: I
have a Florida home built in 1959 with beautiful terrazzo floors throughout.
Previous owners laid linoleum floors over some of the terrazzo. It
is time to remove the linoleum but the glue used has stained the underlying
terrazzo. Is there any hope for getting rid of the awful dark stains
that cover the terrazzo? Holly, April 21, Reply |
R1:
Dear Holly: There’s hope (only hope, though!).
Try to seriously (I do mean SERIOUSLY!) sand one spot with a very
coarse metal-grade sandpaper, and see what happens. If the glue stained
only the surface, then it’s feasible. If it was absorbed deep
by the terrazzo, then it would be hopeless. If it turns out that’s
a surface stain, you will have to consider the services of a bona
fide professional stone refinisher to re-grind and re-finish your
terrazzo. Maurizio , Expert Panelist |
Q 4964:
I would like to know if the "salt and pepper" colored granite,
quarried from Spain contains alkaline (calcium magnesium oxide). We
would like to use 1/8" lead in the joints instead of grout. The
idea is that the lead will last thousands instead of hundreds of years.
I have heard that this technique was common in Europe but cannot find
any info here in the States. Alkaline, however, will corrode lead.Our
construction project has come to a halt until we can answer this question.
Thank you in advance for any help. Greg, April 21, Reply |
R1:
Dear Greg: To the best
of my knowledge the Spanish Porrino (a true geological granite) does
not contain calcium magnesium oxide. The main scope of my answer,
however, resides in a question that I have for you: “Why on
earth would you want to do that?” Lead’s been banned in
Europe for several years already because of its toxicity, and, I believe,
in the US, too. And if it wasn’t, it should, in my opinion!
Besides, what kind of project are you talking about that prompts you
to want it to last thousands of years? Do you think that if it will
last ONLY a few hundreds of years instead somebody’s gonna sue
you?! :-), Maurizio, Expert Panelist |
Q 4962: We picked out
a slab of the black galaxy/bronzino an called back to the job because
the smaller bronze flecks were flaking off. We again went to pick
out another slab from a granite yard and still liked the large bronze
flecked black galaxy. We are concerned with what our fabricator said.
The granite salespeople said they never ever heard of black galaxy
(large flecked) doing this in their 15 years of being in the business.
We are concerned about it pitting and flaking. Our other choice is
amazon star/amazon blue. In your experience with black galaxy (large
flecked) is it the nature of the stone to have this defect? Who should
we believe? Denise, April 4, Reply
|
R1:
What your fabricator has mentioned is not untrue, especially with
large flecks in galaxy. But this is def. not in every slab or bundles.
It could randomly in slabs. This is due to excessive stress in these
spots and many of them are waiting to just pop out. Normally these
defects are reflected at the production centres immediately aftr polishing.
Due to high speeds of the polishing heads and heat generated , these
flecks pop out. The factory would know this if the material is defective
or not. Serious suppliers should not be shipping these slabs as first
choice. In certain instances, these do not pop out till thefabricator
either re- polishes or buffs. This problem is quite common with very
large flecks in galaxy. This should be avaoided. The best bet is to
use slabs which have medium flecks. You will not have any problem
at all.We have had a classic situation here in Australia just yesterday
wherein the the slabs were perfect when sold to the fabricator but
on installion , these flecks had popped out. We are not sure why this
has happened but we attribute this to work been done on the sheets
or while installtion.Once installed, you normally should not have
any problems. We sell container loads of this material and we do not
have many problems at all. For records sake it is very consistent
and less difficult to work with.Please choose another batch for your
slab and i am sure it will be fine. Regards Chandy |
R2:
I've never heard of the
bronze specks flaking off in a Galaxy Black tile or slab......I guess
its somthing else. Since I haven't seen it, I can't comment much.
Thanks. Homey |
R3:
There is no possibility
of Black Galaxy flakes flaking off once the slab are polished to the
stage of mirror polish (ready for sale). Some times where ever the
blocks are produced from areas near the natural joints in Quarries
such problems may arise but it avoidable by doing polishing with lesser
pressure and more water supply. Please be assured that under no circumstances
a finished product flecks will come out during fabrication or fixing.
Best Regards - Anshuman |
R4:
Usually,blackgalaxy slabs
tiles not known for defects but lower or higher grade. By the time
the block is processed into slabs or tiles any defects are eliminated
and materials are classified as select or standard(commercial).Sales
people asked gave you a fair answer. Talk with your fabricator. EvanD.
|
Q 4961: Hi...thank you
SO much for having this site available to ask questions. I tried to
read all of the questions, but I couldn't find one that mentions sealants
for marble headstones. My late husband's and my solid black marble
(w/gold inset lettering) obelisk-shaped monument gets all kinds of
nasty water stains all over it and you can't even tell that it's black
marble, so I tried to have a guy from a monument co. come and clean
it and it cost $250, and it still doesn't look as great as it should.
However, is there anything on the market that would work to seal the
monument so that all I would have to do is to wipe off the dust and
dirt, but it would repel the hard water stains..and not yellow in
the process? That stone means a lot to me..my name will be on it someday
also, and it is so beautiful w/the black marble that I don't want
it to get so bad someday that no one can ever tell how gorgeous it
is, OR not be able to see my husband's name on it. Do you have any
help for me? I would be so very grateful. THANKS SO MUCH again. Becki
April 4, Reply |
R1:
Dear DCVK: Let’s just say that your Giallo Veneziano behaves
quite unusually! Typically it is an absorbent stone. Therefore I have
to conclude that either your slab had been “resined” by
the factory, or that it had been sealed quite properly by your fabricator
after installation. About the Madura Gold is less porous, but usually
it does require the application of an impregnator sealer. The report
of your testing is contradictory: how could water be absorbed while
just wiping it with a damp cloth and not get stained by lemon juice,
oil and red wine let sit on it for a couple of hours? It makes no
sense to me. Test it again! Maurizio, Expert Panelist |
R2:
I have Giallo Venisiano
in my house and prior to sealing it noticed that it did not change
or darken when I cleaned it. I think it is just because of the variation
in color and is less conspicuous. The darkening is only because it
has not been sealed yet and it is allowing moisture to get into it.
It's very much like your hair in this manner, it darkens when it's
wet but dries back out normally and has no bearing on it's other properties.
Simply make sure you keep up the sealer to prevent staining.
Heiner |
R3:
If there is a sprinkler
head wetting the stone you need to have it redirected away, stopping
the source of the problem. Gold lettering can be painted back in.
Stains on stone mostly are extracted out with poultices meaning a
powder and proper liquid this may take several times (diatomaceous
earth-as the powder used / and a liquid chemical like: peroxide or
solvent or waterbased cleaner ) stains in stone needs pulled out and
poultices do this,and maybe some light honing and polishing for etch
type problems. Repellants such as a solvent based impregnating sealer
should do the job for repelling the rain water. I would call a stone
restoration person this would possible be the wisest and quickest
solution. Good Luck |
R4:
We have a marble sealer
called Stone Sealer Concentrate which will seal your black monument
and should prevent the water staining. I recommend that you use two
coats and the sealer must be applied on a completely dry day and of
course the monument must also be completely dry. Mike Parry |
R5:
DEAR MADAM, TO MAINTAIN
THE MARBLE HEAD STONE IS A BIG PROBLEM. I DO NOT KNOW, HOW THE OTHER
PEROSN RE-POLISHED OR REFINISHED OR CLEANED. I FEEL THAT THERE IS
NO SEALENT FOR MARBLE USED OUT DOOR. |
MY SUGGESTION IS, HONE THE MONUMENT WITH HAND MACHINE. APPLY RESIN AND AOOLW IT TO GET SOAKED. THEN RE-POLISH WITH OUT APPLYING WAX. THIS MAY SOLVE YOUR PROBLEM BEST REGARDS, M.MAHENDRAN |
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