Q 6672: I live in a pethouse and i have a floor that is white marble, both in the exterior and interior, the exterior is a balcony that is uncovered and exposed to the elements, the floor was laid in 1986, the exterior is obviously not as shiny as the inside through the exposure, the floor has appeared to be of very good quality with minimal staining from plants etc, the primary problem is that approximately 18 months ago the was a water leakage from the ceiling of the apartment underneath mine, there were extensive tests done by various experts, checking the drainage, checking the grouting and the laying of the marble, the only issue that was raised was that in a small area on the exteriors of the balcony the angle of the marble allowed a some water to collect in a puddle, tests were done on the marble whereby the floor was flooded and all drainage systems were blocked so no leakage could occur, the end result was after a period of 1.5- 2 hours the water leakage was coming through the ceiling of the apartment underneath, some marble specialist then came in and sealed the marble with a sealant, however the very next rains the water was leaking through the floor/ceiling, again is it possible for the marble to be sealed so that no water leakage can occuror does it need some other treatment or is there something that can be doneto deal with this problem. your valued response will be appreciated, mark, April 29, Reply

R2: Mark, if there are no cracks in the grout or the marble it can be easily sealed. However if rainwater is finding it's way beneath the marble from an opening near a wall or balcony support that's another story. If you apply 2 coats of Stain-Proof to clean, solid, grout and marble then water will not penetrate it.

R1:Dear Leila: Sorry, no such animal. :-( Ciao and good luck, Maurizio, Expert Panelist

I am putting Virginia slate over main floors as one of most tough carefree stones, right? (I read contradicting stories - Sealing every few years is not too much work for me and removing occasional spots is not too much work. - I have seen wood recommended over stone, but wood is quite high maintenance: dogs, kids, high heels, water all easily damage it - it is difficult to repair. I prefer stone over man-made tile.)

I am hoping to use something like a honed Sao Francisco for kitchen countertops. Is there a better stone that will work here? I want a matte green-gray or blue-gray look but would consider other colors or stone varieties. Should I seal it or apply an oil coat/color enhancer? (Yes, Maurizio, I have read you hate honed...but I'm still hoping there's some stone out there that will be functional in this finish!)

I have fallen in love with a translucent white onyx, and am thinking of using it on a small back-lighted bathroom wall, perhaps in the shower. Reasonable? Thanks in advance, Karen in Minnesota. April 29, Reply, April 29, Reply

Q 6669: Your website is fabulous and an excellent source for questions pertaining to various natural stones. I have a recently remodeled bathroom that was installed with crema marfil marble and there is sedements of grout on the marble that is leaving a blotchy rough feel at the touch. I attempted to clean the marble with hot water and a rag but the roughness is still there. Please let me know if there is another method to clean away the grout residue from the marble so that there is no longer a roughness to what should be a smooth surface, April 29, Reply

Q 6668: MY NAME IS SUE AND I NEED HELP ON GIVING MY GRANITE COUNTERTOPS TO SHINE. WE HAVE ONLY HAD THEM FOR 6 MONTHS. AND I CAN'T SEEM TO GET THEM TO SHINE. PLEASE TELL ME OF A PRODUCT THAT I CAN BUY TO GIVE THAT SHINE, April 29, Reply

R2: Dear sir you can use wood colour stone from us it appears same like wood it is availabble in sizes 1x1.and 2x2 ft thickness18 to 20 mm for your kitchen top you can use black Galaxy granite its look is fantastic black base with shinning pearls like galaxy full of stars in no moon night for your bath room you can use redish transparent or green transparent onex from us regards s joshi

Q 6667: We have honed Birzeit Limestone tiles in our shower stall. Sometime after they were installed and sealed, we noticed that dull white spots were appearing on the shower stall floor. We had the shower stall floor sanded and resealed but, after some weeks, the dull white stops reappeared. How can we remove these? Is there an appropriate product to use? April 29, Reply

R2: The white spots may be efflorescence. Salts migrating up with water through your stone. When the salt hits the air it forms calcium carbonate. This can be stopped. Be sure your grout is it good condition then put 2 coats of Dry Treats Stain-Proof on your floor. It will prevent water from being absorbed by your stone and grout. Yet it is "breathable" and will let any moisture under the stone to evaporate through the stone as water vapor. The salt cannot be transported by the vapor it must move in liquid form. Since Stain-Proof will impregnate deeply it will stop the salt solids from getting to the surface. After a week clean off any existing efflorescence on your floor and it won't come back. Bob

R1: Dear Ronald: You do NOT want limestone or slate. And about granite, it all depends on the “granite.” Not all are suitable for your purpose. I seldom make final statements 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 could be good) by the factory, which would make a big difference. Even more important, what’s a good stone in the hands of some “Michelangelo”?! I did write a very comprehensive article on “How to Shop for a
Granite Kitchen Countertop” that will give you all the intelligence you need to venture yourself with confidence in the stone industry jungle! It does carry a small price tag, and you can order it by logging on the Educational Literature Maurizio, Expert Panelist

R1: Dear Linda: Absolutely!! And the sooner the better. Have him impregnate your stone until it won’t absorb anymore. After that, you will implement good routine maintenance procedures that you will not be getting from him, that’s for sure! :-) My maintenance guidelines for residential stone installations are available on pay-per-download format on the EDUCATIONAL LITERATURE. Or you can go directly into the Consumer Products section and order some MB-5 and, optionally, some MB-13. Should you do that, I will send you my maintenance guidelines for free, just for the asking! Ciao and good luck,Maurizio, Expert Panelist

R1: Dear Rose: Greenboard is very absorbent and you don’t want to use in a shower enclosure. There’s always the possibility that some ware could find its way behind the tiles. Cement board is the way to go. Ciao and good luck, Maurizio, Expert Panelist

R1: Dear Jill: By the time you read this your stain should be long gone! What you have to do know is apply a couple of times my outlandish MB-4 Impregnator/sealer and get a supply of good routine maintenance products. Take a look at the “Consumer Products” You may want to consider one of our two countertop kits. They are on special right now!! Ciao and good luck, Maurizio, Expert Panelist

R1: What do you expect me to say? You bought a can of K.R. 33. And what on earth is that? If you want to seal again your stone, is that an impregnator/sealer? And if so, is it the same used by your installer? It’s never a good idea mixing different make impregnators. And why would you want to seal all your stone again? As for routine cleaning you’re right about being concerned. My maintenance guidelines for residential stone installations are available for a small fee on the EDUCATIONAL LITERATURE Maurizio, Expert Panelist

R1: Dear Jenny: If the stain is of a lighter color than the slate, then it’s a stain (acid etch that is) and there’s nothing you can do about it. If it’s darker, then you can remove it by poulticing it with the right chemical. 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! Such impressive piece of literature will also tell you how to tell stains apart from stains Ciao and good luck, Maurizio, Expert Panelist

R1: Dear Lucca:Everything looks beautiful in the showroom!! I consider onyx in a shower possible, but kinda borderline. If you’re ready for continuous care (not too difficult, I assure you) and can make sure that’s installed properly, then you may consider it. To understand exactly what I am talking about, you would get my maintenance guidelines (there are useful tips on installation, too!). Ciao and good luck, Maurizio, Expert Panelist

R1: Dear Staley: Without any additional information I can’t answer your question. What kind of “granite” do you have? Had an impregnator/sealer been applied or not to your top? How exactly those dull spots look like? Did you have them right away, or did they started developing afterwards and become increasingly numerous? Maurizio, Expert Panelist

R1: Dear Steve: If the house is 8 years old and the stone floors are in good shape, doesn’t it tell you something about how care-free that kind of setup is going to be for you? Your previous experience with polished marble has nothing to do with saw-cut finished stone. Just seal those floors with a good-quality stone impregnator (like my outlandish MB-4) and use some of my amazing MB-1 for routine cleaning, and … enjoy!! Ciao and good luck, Maurizio, Expert Panelist

R1: Dear Keith: The best thing you can do for your relatives visiting from Italy is to have a batch of lasagna ready for them!! :-) About the grouting of your fossil limestone … well, if you will serve some serious red wine with the lasagna, your relative won’t even notice that the grout is missing!! :-) Ciao and good luck, Maurizio, Expert Panelist

R1: Dear David: There’s no impregnator/sdealer under the sun that could prevent a stain like that form happening. You’re going to have to poultice the soap out. 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! Such impressive piece of literature will also tell you how to tell stains apart from “stains”, and what to do about the latter! It does carry a small price tag, and you can order it through our EDUCATIONAL LITERATURE Ciao and good luck, Maurizio, Expert Panelist

Q 6654: I have read all of the negative comments made by Maurizio and others about honed black granite and can't bring myself to going that route -- even though I think black matte counters would fit perfectly with the look of my 1910 home (which, by the way, has a Maine slate sink in the pantry). Based on your comments, soapstone and slate are problematic because they scratch so easily (and that doesn't appeal to me). I know you prefer natural stone to engineered stone, but I saw a picture of fireslate which looks nice (though it lacks the beautiful veins that honed granite has). I'm stumped -- and am thinking of using mahagony countertops instead of stone (though there is probably a website out there that will tell me all the problems with wood....) Can you advise me, Elizabeth, April 27, Reply

Q 6653: I just had granite counter tops installed and the stone has allot of dull spots on it . I mean allot! I know that granite is not perfect and its going to have imperfections, but this looks really bad. Is there any products or procedures to fix this? The stone looks like it needs to be polished again, or something like that. April 27, Reply

Q 6652: I am requesting your “thorough and in-depth maintenance guidelines for residential stone installations”. We have a house full of travertine, marble, and granite. Thank you very much!! Sue Bell, April 27, Reply

Q 6651: We moved into a new building where they used sandstone (Pietra Serena) as the choice for the countertops. Bad choice. The developer is trying all it can not to replace them. Another bad decision. Their latest solution to prevent staining/etching is to clean them and use a stone sealant called HMK S35. Although I don't believe there is truly a solution to the problems this kind of stone presents, I was wondering if any one out there knows what HMK S35 is and what to expect in the near and long term from the application. Thanks for your input, April 27, Reply

Q 6650: Can you please tell me what granite would look most like a white carrerra marble. I had my heart set on marble countertops but keep getting the idea shot down by the contractors as they feel that they will stain too much. Thanks. Jo, April 27, Reply

Q 6649: My contractor installed my travertine floors without sealing first. The grout doesn't want to totally come off the floor, leaving a haze in some places and a buildup in others (mainly around edges). What can be done? April 27, Reply

Q 6648: I have just had my kitchen remodeled with Madura Gold granite countertops. The plumber made an error and used an oil based putty inside the hole around the sprayer hose. I now have a stain all around the sprayer. It is very noticeable. We removed the sprayer and the stain is soaked into the granite about 1/4" deep. Do I use the acetone and paper towel poultice that was described in one of the answers above. Thank you so much for any advice.Sincerely, Maryann, April 27, Reply

Q 6647: I am considering buying a Nero Zimbabwe Granite kitchen countertop with an 'Antique' finish - ie, it is matt, not polished. Obviously this will not show every fingermark as the polished version does, but will it be particularly susceptible to limescale marks from hard water, or any other marks for that matter, April 20, Reply

Q 6646: I'm moving to Alabama and am looking at a beautiful house that has "Egyptian saw cut limestone" and "saw cut travertine" throughout the first floor. The house is 8 yrs old and the floors look to be in good shape. They have sort of a dull sheen. The kitchen has limestone and most of the first floor has limestone and the dining room and baths have the travertine. I'm worried that this will be a maintenance nightmare. I've had problems with a very small marble floor in one of my current bathrooms (water stains from condensation on toilet). We are an active couple with one son who is 16 months old. I don't want to spend a great deal of time on the floors. Should we even consider a house with these floors. I need to make a decision right away. Your help is greatly appreciated. Thanks. Steve, April 20, Reply

Q 6645: I have installed blue fossil limestone in 55 sq meters on top of underfloor heating. The adhesive has made the tiles wet and they are drying very slowly. I cannot grout/seal until they dry. I have in-laws coming from Italy in 7 days. What should I do? Rgds, Keith, April 20, Reply

Q 6644: I have a granite countertop that is two years old in my kitchen. I'm told it is sealed by the retailer. It is something called Caledonia. I went out of town for a few weeks and in the time I was gone, a bottle of liquid soap went awry and leaked onto the counter. There is a dark spot that I thought would come out or dry up, but has not. Suggestions? Thanks, David Hudson, New Orleans, April 20, Reply

Q 6643: I have been reading your site for a few weeks as I'm in the process of remodeling my kitchen, new 'granite' countertops included. I have already put a deposit on my Vyara Gold and have obtained a piece for the lemon test. The stone is fairly absorbent, so I would like to seal with your MB-4. Here are my questions: 1) I will have approximately 85-90 square feet of countertop to seal. How
much MB-4 will I need to cover this area three times? I know this is a speculative question as who knows how much the stone will actually absorb, but can you give me a ballpark estimate? Will I need 1 quart or 5? 2) Which of the other products would you recommend for cleaning? I'm assuming the MB-5 would be a good choice, but what is the difference between that and MB-15? Just the "disinfectant" part? And what exactly is the disinfectant? An antibacterial agent? April 20, Reply

Q 6642: We are considering installing either Juperana Columbo or Juperana Fantastico as kitchen counters. Another option is Vyara. (As you can see, we like the look of “movement”). Any comment on absorption or other problems these stones may have? Would you recommend one over the other? We have two vendors. One wants to impregnate the stone, the other wants to put a sealer on top. Opinions? Does this stone need a sealer? I live in Virginia, where we have average humidity, if it matters. Thank you, Betsy Keogan, April 20, Reply

Q 6641: I recently bought a house which was built about 1965. It has a bathroom with the most unique curving marble sink top. The top is 48" long, and appears to be marble, although it could possibly be something fake. It is white with black streaking that appears to go all of the way through. Problem is, on the right-hand half of it, the streaks are worn off, or covered over with soap or something. How do I determine if it is truly marble? Can I do anything to get the streaking back (or visible) on the right-hand side? If not, what would bond to it to cover the top in a different color? Can it be "dyed" evenly? Possibly glazed with a modern looking finish? ANY ideas would be welcomed so that I won't have to part with it in order to modernize an outdated bathroom which will be coral rose, white, and golds in color. Thanks, Joyce, April 20, Reply

Q 6640: I had a friend over and she used vinigar and I now have big round white spots on my bathroom coutnertop, can this be remedied and how? I f indeed professional care is needed please advise i live in westchester ny.....thank you sue, April 20, Reply

Q 6639: Wondering if you could help me. I noticed today that my brand new marble top (Rosa Zarci) bathroom counters has cloudy blotches over certain areas. Until last week, it still shined like new. I’ve come to realize that my cleaning lady has been using a spray bottle of water and vinegar mixture to clean my countertops for the last 8 months. Although I’ve noticed a decline in the shine over the last few months, I thought it was from normal wear. However, this bathroom is the main-floor powder room that is rarely used. It looks like she may have left her damp cleaning cloth on the countertop for a while or did not wipe it completely dry in some areas. So now portions of the countertop look like new and the remainder has looks cloudy and dirty. Is there any way I save it very rich look marble? I’ve tried the baking soda diluted in water, but it did not work. I also noticed my hardwood floors are looking dull. Guess what she has been using on my new hardwood floors (not the pre-finished kind)? April 20, Reply

Q 6638: we have a newly installed "salt & pepper" granite slab flooring made in china in our living room. the installation was ok but when the installers applied "johnson & johnson's" colorless wax, it shined all right but it leaves a blurry effect after it was polished. what should we do, what should we apply? April 20, Reply

Q 6637: I just had a counter installed yesterday Colombo gold, the installer sealed it and mention spots going away but I didn't see any and wasn't sure what he meant or I didn't pay much attention because I didn't see any spots at the time but later that day I started seeing spots, and notice about 12 big darker spots and they have faded a little by morning but still noticeable is this common and will they go away I will call the installer but also wanted to get another opinion. Thanks Mary, April 20, Reply

Q 6636: What shall I clean my countertop with and how should it be supported under the 12" overhang (3/4") Donna Lewis, April 20, Reply

Q 6635:In addition to my last question on native stone, we also just installed Crema Marfil (sp) on the bathroom floor. Our contractor said that it must be sealed, but from reading some of the Q&A on your website I am questioning this. Does Crema Marfil need to be sealed or is it like other marbles and not need sealing? Thank you so much for your help. Marie, April 20, Reply

Q 6634: I am finding little fine, crooked cracks and a few pits in the Blue Pearl granite counter top I had installed. Is this normal? Does this make it more porous? Is this really Granite? Does this type Granite need to be sealed? What substances are used for sealing and how often should it be applied? What is the composition of Blue Pearl? Thank you for any suggestions or help you might render me.A grandmother, 80 years old and still learning! April 20, Reply

Q 6633: After reading through some of the Findstone site, I get the impression that black "granites" are generally low-absorption and should not be sealed. Can someone please confirm or deny this admittedly blanket statement? Second, what degree of confidence can one (i.e. I) have in the granite countertops sold at places like Home Depot or Expo Design? I note that they are not guaranteed and that the installation contract specifies that sealant will be used. This makes me deeply uneasy, given what I've seen you this site thus far. April 20, Reply

Q 6632: We would also like to sell, compare and perhaps trade stones. We would like to have information from proffessional stone masons and builders. We would like to gain insight on how to test our stone for hardness, workability, color, ETC... Consumers commercial & private buyers, machines, tools and all other information pertaining to limestone quarry owners will be gratefully recieved. April 20, Reply

R1: Dear Renee: You don’t expect me to give you complete list of all the possible stones that – no matter what they are – are traded as granite, right? Suffice it to know that most commercial granites are good candidates for a kitchen countertop, but a few are not. That said, I seldom make final statements 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 could be good) by the factory, which would make a big difference. Even more important, what’s a good stone in the hands of some “Michelangelo”?! I did write a very comprehensive article on “How to Shop for a Granite Kitchen Countertop” that will give you all the intelligence you need to venture yourself with confidence in the stone industry jungle! Ciao and good luck, Maurizio, Expert Panelist

R1: Dear Lisa: “Water stains?” Hmmm… I really don’t like that. You won’t be solving your problem by applying an impregnator/sealer to it, I can promise you that!! What kind of granite do you have? You’re in direct contact with me now. Ciao and good luck, Maurizio, Expert panelist

R1: Dear Greg: The best way to go is to use matching epoxy compound. However, the application of the filler must be followed by the re-grinding of the stone surface, honing and polishing. You need a professional stone refinisher to do all that. Ciao and good luck, Maurizio, Expert Panelist

R1: Dear Rhonda: Lemon oil to treat “granite” once in a while, huh!! … The first thing you do is tell your fabricator wannabe that it was very nice meeting them, and then you leave that place as quick as you can without ever looking back!! J About your choice of Tropic Brown, it’s usually a good choice, but I seldom make final statements 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 could be good) by the factory, which would make a big difference. Even more important, what’s a good stone in the hands of some “Michelangelo”?! I did write a very comprehensive article on “How to Shop for a Granite Kitchen Countertop” that will give you all the intelligence you need to venture yourself with confidence in the stone industry jungle! Ciao and good luck, Maurizio, Expert Panelist

Q 6627: I have a emerald pearl granite dining table. it is only 3 years old, but it appears dull in color. what would you recommend to add luster. your prompt reply is appreciated. April 19, Reply

R2: During the fabrication process both the peices have to change the colour if one is dark and the other is light then the slabs are from 2 different blocks there is no point in wating . I advice to change the slab.GOLDEN

R4: I am not long in this industry but I can think of two things. He did not use a big slab to cut your kitchen; this would be the result of the problem. The way he cut the kitchen wasn’t the right way. Elaborating my first point, in America people bring in prefabricated material and they come from different blocks and that will never match with the other piece of granite which they have. I can understand or explain more if you could email me a photograph and fax me a drawing of the kitchen. Thanks, Husein

R6: I strongly suspect you where sold good material that came from different location in the Quarry and or Block, since Granite is a natural Product, there will be variation in some Stone and colors.
It does not take month for the moisture to escape, it may take hours or a few days, depending on the stone. If the Counter top was produced from the Same Slab of Granite, it should have been matched at the Plant. As a sheet of ¾” Granite it is possible that a slab breaks and one piece was cut from another sheet, that is basically the same Material and color, but has that slight variation.
The second sheet could have been cut from anther Block of Granite, from the same quarry, but a different location. The possibilities are several. There is and ASTM standard for stone that determines the moister/absorption rate and %, which is very low. I have been a Quarry Master for 20+ years and seen different colors and absorption in Granite; generally after it gets wet it will dry in a matter of days or Hours, depending on temperature. Granite is not a Sponge. Minnesota has some of the biggest Quarries and Producers of Blocks for Monument and Construction. Surely you have considered this Avenue for Information.Hope this is of help, Curd, Carlton GA

Specifically, since I, myself, have no expertise in these matters, how can I validate the quality of samples which are sent to me and judge whether or not the price given is a fair one and appropriate, given the quality? This may seem foolish, but it may well be necessary at the end of the day to have everything handled for me by those already in the business here but it would be important and interesting, first of all, to see how different will be the price quoted to me by suppliers abroad. April 19, Reply

R1: I think you will have difficulty getting quotes until you can define exactly what you want. A sourcer is going to need specifications on the cuts you will need along with the type of stone. You will also have difficulty sourcing from multiple countries. I source out of Brazil and can probably supply what you are looking for, but would not attempt to do so without having good specifications. As far as countertops other than granite, you can use marble or travertine. I would suggest, however, that there are a huge variety of granites. If you are looking for a unique, beautiful look, then maybe you should look at some of the available colors and patterns in granite. Brazil has over 800 distinct colors and patterns in granite. Jonathan

Q 6625: I love natural stone, I'm a real rock lover. We've had two thousand square feet of marble (hulien and another dk. green) around for years waiting to be installed. Changed houses. Now I am wanting to put it into a formal living rm/library, and/or dining room and entry way. I'm just losing my nerve, with everyone's comments. "Its not "in""!! etc. they say.
Since the application is so final, and involved - (epoxying/gluing it down) everyone is discouraging me and I'm afraid of the look I'll get now. The walls have a venetian painted finish, green, that is beautiful, the crown moldings are cherry, stained
dark, and the fireplace will have a mahogany carved mantel.
Do you think its a good idea? Also, is it a good overall design idea to do only one room that way? (dk green marble) when the rest of the floors are wood--? I know these questions are subjective but I'd like to hear from you - I've read a lot of your advice and answers on the site.
I also I want it put down with a "butt/up application" very close together - or with 1/32" spacers...what are your expert opinions? Thank you so much. Terri, April 19, Reply

R2: I think the reason it is not “in” is that is generally much more expensive. I personally think it could be very beautiful and unique. My only question would be how are your hardwood floors? Hardwood floors can be just as beautiful. I would hate to think of covering a beautiful hardwood floor. As far as your fireplace, if you have not done so already, placing a mahogany carved mantel, I would encourage you to choose a different wood. Mahogany is endangered in much of the world. It is illegal to import into the US from many countries. If you are interested in marble or granite for your fireplace, I have contacts in Brazil that can custom build them. Jonathan Folland

Q 6624: Can anyone reccommend a tool or technique to carve a 3 1/2 inch circle only about an eigth of an inch deep in slate? Lynn, April 19, Reply

R1: Dear Seth: Usually (which does NOT mean all the time) Tropical Brown does not have fissures. Usually again (which, again, does NOT mean all the time) a fissure can’t be felt. That said, how can you possibly expect me (or anybody else for that matter) to tell you if what you have is a natural fissure or a crack without actually seeing it? Ciao and good luck, Maurizio, Expert Panelist

R1: What do you mean you can’t even tell if your travertine is polished or hone-finished?? Can’t you tell if it’s shiny or dull?? Isn’t the fabricator able to tell you?? Let me know. Without that information I can’t tell you anything intelligent. You’re in direct contact with me now (just hit the reply button in your e-mail system).Ciao and good luck, Maurizio, Expert Panelist

R1: Dear Carlos: I don’t think that my dear personal friend Norman will say anything different. No matter how hard engineered stone can be it will never be as hard as most commercial granites. That takes care of the “eventual wear and tear from prolonged mechanical friction.” Second, to the best of my knowledge there’s only one company left in all of the USA that still makes silicon-based impregnator/sealers. All the rest have switched to fluorocarbon compounds (my MB-4 – which comes with a 10 year warranty – is based on fluorocarbon alphatic resin). And that takes care of your comment on the penetrating sealers available in America. And finally, yes, engineered stone is relatively new, it is not as hard as most commercial granites, under certain conditions it still could stain and … it does look like manmade! The real advantage that you have with engineered stone is that their fabricators have to go through a training and certification program, while when it comes to natural stone every overnight “Michelangelo” can hang a shingle out of their door with “Marble & Granite” written on it. But there are good stone fabricators out there, too. The trick is to be able to tell the men from the boys! I did write a very comprehensive article on “How to Shop for a Granite Kitchen Countertop” that will give you all the intelligence you need to venture yourself with confidence in the stone industry jungle! It does carry a small price tag, and you can order it by logging on the Educational Literature , Maurizio, Expert Panelist

R1: Dear Michele: 1600 square feet, huh … My first reaction would be to encourage you to hire a proven professional; but then again, you’ve got a point with your closing comment! There are lots of “Michelangelos” on the loose out there!! I you wish, you could log on the “Educational Literature” Maurizio, Expert Panelist

Q 6620: I finally had my hallway done in granite, black galaxy. Does this tile need to be sealed. I ran a mop over it and it left some film on it. What can I do to get rid of the film? April 19, Reply

Q 6619: We recently had black granite countertops install in our newly constructed home. For the most part, the granite is fine and easy to care for. However, around the sink area and specifically by the faucets, it appears that calcium type deposits are forming and clouding the granite. Is there any sort of cleaner that can be used to cut through these clouding deposits? April 15, Reply

Q 6618: We have a marble tile entry way and 1 tile has cracked in several places I had it replaced once and it just cracked again. I think it is just shoddy installation (not creating a flat enough bed for the tile) but instead of having it replaced once again I thought we could just fill the cracks with some kind of marble filler. I have seen cracks in other tiles filled with something but I cannot find this product. What is this product called and where can I get it? April 15, Reply

Q 6617: I am looking at Verde Butterfly for my kitchen countertops. I read somewhere that it is prone to cracking when used with an undermount sink on a standard 24-25" cabinet. Do you have any information on this? Thanks, April 15, Reply

Q 6616: I have had granite installed as kitchen counters. Poor salesmanship left me with poor knowledge about care. My stone has darkened over the last 2 years. It was one of the lighter stones and has darkened and yellowed over this time..Anyway to get back to the orginal color? Thanks. Teri, April 15, Reply

Q 6616: To seal or not to seal, that is the question. My floor is tumbled tavertine over a stab. I live near the beach and the water table is high. I am concerned that if I put an impregnator on the stone, My kids and I will end up walking on and inhalling toxins from the sealant. Especially as the sealant starts to wear away over time. What do you think? Shirley, April 15, Reply

Q 6615: We are thinking of using honed jerusalem marble for our masterbath countertop. Is there any reason we should not consider this option? How does the jerusalem honed marble compare with shiny granite? April 15, Reply

Q 6614: I have put 16 x 16 tiles of fossiled Jerusalem limestone on my master bath, dressing closet and master bedroom. It has a dull sheen. It is a little softer than I was lead to believe and has a few scratches after 3 years. Should I seal it or what? April 15, Reply

Q 6613: We have just refurbished our bathroom and added a beautiful marble window sill. While we were tiling the walls, we did our best to keep it covered up, but at some point a hot tea cup must have been placed on the window sill and it has left a prominent circle.I have tried everything I can think of to remove it, I have washed it, used an oil based product called WD 40 on it, I have tried another product called 'Cif' which is a cream based scourer, but nothing has shifted it, surely there must be something! I know that marble topped tables are made, so there must be something to remove these infuriating rings!! We purchased the marble slab from a fireplace company, if there are different kinds of marble, then I cannot say which type this is. I hope you can help, it is spoiling the look of my completely new bathroom! I thank you in anticipation of your reply, Margaret, April 15, Reply

Q 6613: I have a friend who recently installed honed White Carrera marble on her kitchen countertop. The marble was sealed with Vic Int'l Stone Impregnator Sealer by the installers. She noticed a dark stain the shape of a pan and thought it might be grease from the bottom of a pan. She mixed baking soda with vinegar to make a paste and covered the spot with it then covered the paste with plastic wrap overnight. (She heard this was a remedy.) She now has a dark stain the shape of the plastic wrap. What can she do to remove this stain and to prevent future stains? Thanks so much! Marisa, April 15, Reply

Q 6612: What is the best cleaner to use on Absolute Black granite counter tops? I have been using Windex to clean my absolute granite counter tops since installation six months ago. It seems as though the counter tops are looking slightly dull. Is this a result from the use of Windex? How can I cure my dull counter tops? You advice would be greatly appreciated. Sincerely, Nancy, April 15, Reply

Q 6611: I purchased a model home which has filled travertine tile in the entire bathroom. Some of the shower floor tiles have lost their filling and the holes are quite deep. I have no idea whether the installer sealed the back of the tiles before installing; am I in trouble here? With what can I fill the holes? A tile restorer came out recently and filled some holes that had been there originally, and used "traverfill". I hate to pay for a service call for three little holes...what do I do now? Also, how do I clean/maintain this shower? I live in Texas where humidity is high. Thanks, Linda, April 15, Reply

Q 6610: Please can you advise how to manufacture a FLOOR POLISH all ingrdients please, April 15, Reply

Q 6609: We recently moved into a new home with slate flooring in the kitchen and one bathroom. The floor is terribly dirty and our cleaning ladies told us that it is not sealed and needs to be done soon or the slate will begin to show water/grease spots. Do we need to seal the floor? If so, how do we do it and what are the best products to use? April 15, Reply

Q 6610: We have a hairline crack in our black galaxy countertop. Also at a splice location, the substance that was originally placed to fill the void of the splice is disappearing. What can be used to repair the granite at these two locations. Thanks, Bert, April 15, Reply

Q 6609: Is that true that Black Galaxy Stone causes internal headache? Nick S. April 15, Reply

Q 6608: Weve had black galaxy granite countertops installed for the last 6 months. Although they looked beautiful initially, I soon stained them with lemon juice/olives. The stonemason came over and I showed him the stains. He whipped out a piece of equipment, and before I knew it, he had tried to “ polish” the stains out, with a kind of small sander, and just made the problem worse. There is now a large flat cloudy patch, instead of a small one. Can anything be done to rectify this? I believe the granite was not sealed. Was that correct? Also, and more worryingly, I have just noticed in the last week, that some erosion is occurring. This is happening uniformly all over the countertop, and occurring within the “ flecks” . I scratched one, and there are definite indentations forming, to the extent that it has tiny “ pockmarks” I am horrified. The stonemason told me ( I didn’t buy the stone from him) that I might have “ cheap Chinese granite” ( his words). I thought galaxy granite was galaxy granite. Is there anything I can do? I have no idea what caused the erosion. I am very careful about what I put on the surface, and I noticed this first occurring on the ledge over the low wall on top of my counter, which does not even get used as a food preparation area. Any info or help you could give me I would be totally grateful, Khatrina, April 15, Reply

Q 6608: Hi, I've been reading the forum in findstone.com for a couple of days now,but for the life of me cannot find where I'm supposed to post a question.Good thing I stumbled onto your email add. We've decided to update our kitchen and thinking about going with New Venetian Gold countertop. But I have read too any conflicting "views" about it that I'm more confused now than when I first started. So, I decided to ask the master for advice : ) is true granite?
Is that a good choice for countertop?
- how porous is it?
- how tough
- if its not a good choice, do you recommend anything around that shade of coloration? - and lastly, I read that you're from NJ too(I live in Union,NJ) is there anybody that you would recommend for the job in my area. I really don't want to end up dealing with a "Michelangelo". Our last resort would be going to Home Depot/Expo if we don't find anybody, I figure it might offer some level of "protection" for the job, is that advisable? April 15, Reply

Q 6607: Help!!!!! I have managed to stain my new granite counter top with strawberry juice. How do I get it out? April 14, Reply

Q 6606: We are considering installing either Juperana Columbo or Juperana Fantastico as kitchen counters. Another option is Vyara. (As you can see, we like the look of “movement”). Any comment on absorption or other problems these stones may have? Would you recommend one over the other? We have two vendors. One wants to impregnate the stone, the other wants to put a sealer on top. Opinions? Does this stone need a sealer? I live in Virginia, where we have average humidity, if it matters. Thank you, Betsy Keogan, April 14, Reply

Q 6605: We are pricing Avanza and Silestone for our kitchen counters and island. How is it best for me to clean them? I have been using white vinegar and water on my black ceramic floor in the powder room. What’s your wisdom? And thanks for sharing your knowledge on the internet. Gail, April 14, Reply

Q 6604: We are buying a new house in Seattle area. I would like to know which granite countertop will be good for the kitchen with light colored hardwood flooring and little dark alderwood cabinets. We have chosen temporarily green ubatuba granite, what will be a good choice. Howmuch does it cost normally to put granite counter tops for a L shaped room and island in 13x11 size kitchen. What is good, slab granite, 12x12 granite ? Is it good to go with the reputed builder option of upgrading, April 14, Reply

Q 6603: We have several items in our product line with marble tops and often are asked what type of top-coat can be applied on marble to prevent damage from spills or household products. We had a local refinishing guy apply a polyurethane and it will not adherer to the marble without coming off easily. Any suggestions will be helpful, April 10, Reply

Q 6601: I found your site while looking for best daily cleaning products for our newly installed granite. I read your comment that "Uba Tuba" is NOT "real" granite!?!? Please expand on this, as we have just paid top dollar for our installation! And what about cleaning daily and otherwise? Sealing? THANK YOU so much. Jane, April 10, Reply

Q 6600: We recently had absolute black granite countertops installed. We need them cleaned, buffed and sealed. Can you recommend someone for the job? thank you, April 10, Reply

Q 6599: Building a custom home and thinking about installing, 'Caesarstone', a quartz product in the kitchen. What do you think about this in comparison to granite. We have granite now and it's been fine, just never really looks clean. However, in our new home we're going for a contemporary 'zen' look and haven't found a granite we like, all very busy, other then black, which we didn't want. The only negative we've heard about these 'quartz' products so far is a potential of fading if exposed to direct sun, which ours will not be Thank you for any info, and your personal input would be appreciated. doherty, April 10, Reply

Q 6597: I bought Travertine tiles to install in my home and I’m wondering if I can use the same test to determine if those tiles have to be sealed or not. Awaiting your reaction, Kim. April 10, Reply

Q 6596: How I wish I had read it before doing the kitchen countertop. We have just installed a Ghibli kitchen countertop, not the best choice for porousness/absorbency. The fabricator had put a coat of sealant on it. I am not sure what kind of sealant he used. If I want to use MB-4 on my kitchen counter, can I just apply it over the existing sealant? Or do I need to use Acetone before applying MB-4? Thank you. Yen, April 10, Reply

Q 6595: I have Impregnator Pro (only one time) being applied by my installer on my newly installed kitchen countertop (ghibli) and bathroom vanities (shivashaki). After reading findstone website, I want to apply MB-4 over my existing kitchen and bathroom countertops for maximum protection against stains and spills. I would like to find out whether there would be any interaction between the 2 sealants. Are there any application instructions with the sealant? Yen, April 10, Reply

Q 6594: I ran across your web-site, and feel it's extremely useful. I'm impressed that you are extremely knowledgeable in any area of Marble/Granite.So, my question to you is simply this: I'm very concerned about my Dad's headstone. The Only thing that I do know, is that it's black granite. Of course, his name is engraved along the top of the headstone. My mom placed a pic of her and my dad in the center, here's our delimena (sorry about my spelling), the rest of the writing on his headstone you can barely see, it has become "washed out" so to speak, and it hasn't been there very long. We want to darken the rest of the wording - also, the other problem we seem to be having is the caulking around the picture was done in "white" of all colors, we want it done it black or dark grey, so that it isn't the only thing that "sticks out" (like a sore thumb). We want it to look presentable and readable. Any suggestions? Would greatly appreciate anything you have to offer. Please don't tell us to contact the cemetery, as we have done this in the past, and they claim that if they do this work, it would be approximately 6-8 weeks before we actually get his headstone placed back where it belongs. We do visit him quite frequently. And don't want them to take it anywhere. Thanks so much, Cathy, April 10, Reply

Q 6592: We are buying a new house that will have Santa Cecilia kitchen countertops and a full backsplash in the kitchen.
In addition there will be a bar top, a fireplace surround and a kitchen island top. The company installing the granite says it will be about 3.5 slabs total. How much MB4 will I need and what other products do you recommend for the maintenance.
Any other tips will be appreciated. Regards, Dave, April 10, Reply

Q 6590: I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS RE: MY NEW KITCHEN COUNTERTOP NEW VENETIAN GOLD:
#1 HOW POROUS IS IT?
#2 HOW MANY TIMES WOULD I HAVE TO INITIALLY, AND ROUTINELY, SEAL IT?
#3 THE SEAL PLACED BY THE INSTALLERS SOUNDED/SMELLED LIKE IT WAS HYDROCARBON BASED; CAN I USE MAURIZIO'S MB-4 PRODUCT FOR IT NOW? April 10, Reply

Q 6589: I would like to receive information about maintainence of stone floors & counter tops. I could probably recommend your site to customers if I feel it is good info. April 10, Reply

Q 6587: We inherited a marble bust that is at least 60years old, and it needs a good cleaning . It is now a lillte discolored ( brownish) around the edges. I need your advice desperately in cleaning it safely. I have a candle stick mable top table and some water had spilled on it. Agter it was dried, the the shine and color became dull. Is there anything I can use to bring back the glossyness? Thanks, Zan, April 10, Reply

Q 6586: I have clients who really want to have a slate floor in their kitchen and throughout their house, but they're worried that their dogs will scratch and ruin it. They've had hardwood floors in the past but were torn up by the dogs. They want the natural look of slate and the porcelain and slate look-alike tiles just don't have the same look. Is their any way to make slate extremely durable and not show scratch marks from the dogs? Is a low-hone finish a possiblity? Or a specific kind of sealer? Susan, April 05, Reply

R1: Dear Paul: My maintenance guidelines for residential stone installations are available for a small fee (which could be refundable) on the EDUCATIONAL LITERATURE Or you can order some MB-5 and, optionally, some MB-13. Should you do that, I will send you my maintenance guidelines for free, just for the asking! Ciao and good luck, Maurizio, expert Panelist

R1: In this endeavor we would like to educate our visitors on the importance that building in stone had to the advancement and progress of the Pacific Coast states - usually this importance was emphasized strongly to citizens when a wood- framed town burned to the ground, as Seattle did in 1889.
Most importantly in my research, I am trying to locate tables and graphs (hopefully with pictures) regarding anything to do with quarrying, and building stone names, similar properties and differences, and small sample blocks to use in a "Visitor's Quiz". Any assistance you might be able to give in this regard would be most appreciated. Kate

R3: Hi Kate: My name is Mohamed Rahman from Cairo,Egypt , I am a professional
geologist,who did lots of work in stones,I would suggest that you add a little card besides each of the stones you are willing to exhibit, the card is to explain the genesis of that stone(how it formed in nature),also it's mineral and chemical composition,do not you think that knowing the chemical composition of the stone will help the users avoid some sources damages and stains?. One more thing Kate, if you know the geological age of each of the stone specimen,and write it on the card too,I believe that may add an educational touch to your exihibit,good luck.Mohamed

R1: Pamela, I am a Chinese expert on granite. I don't believe the lighter can become darker through revitalizer. Its color is decided by naturally chosen rather than manly processing. Even two batches from same quarry may have different ingredients in quartz, calcium, and other aspects in which there is different reflecting under light. Why don't take it as naturally given? Sincerely Piness

R3: Pamela. I serve on the board of China Granite International and have extensive
experience in many large stone projects. We do not sell to consumer groups in the US. But we do extract a Green stone from one of our Quarries in China. Some of this stone is resold via several resellers and does end up in the states.

Regardless of who sold the stone, or the source, I know the most likely answer to your question.

It is untrue the color will ever become the same over time, and not product you can add will change the effect. It will always be different. Adding any modification layers or glazes will change both stones and you may like the glazed looks but the underlying effect is in the nature of the underlying crystals in the stone.

It is very unlikely, if you were working with a reputable granite supplier, the stone came from different quarries.

It very likely the stone came from different layers or blocks within one quarry. The key clue your have it that the color looks the same in daylight. What has happened is probably the angle the material was crosscut at different angles in the two batches from the same quarry.
That has created the different variations in different light. It is not the spectrum of the light, but the single angle of night time lighting that causes the material to look different.

Granite is highly sensitive to lighting angles, in daylight, when light is bouncing all around from many angles, you are getting a variation of angles resulting in a composite color of all the angles appears the same to your eye.

At night, when you use only a single light source it comes back to your eye at only a limited set of reflective angles and thus the stones reflected color is highly sensitive to the angles the stone was cut at.

If you have any remaining tiles. Place two of them on top of the counter and then lift up edges of them 10 or 20%. you will eventually find an angle where the two stones appear the same color again, that will tell you the angle of variation in the cut.

The Granite industry tries to train our suppliers to understand this principle and to lay out the tiles for several days so without bonding them so clients can see them in all types of light. That does not always happen.

Hopefully you will remain a happy granite customer and will better understand the product in the future, but I wanted to save you the grief of trying to change the optics of the crystals inside of the stone with a finish or glaze. That won't work.
Best. Stephen

R5: I believe the Royal Green is ChengDe Green which is from HeBi Province in China.Piness

R7: Dear Sir/Madam It looks your Granite tiles processed from Baulders stones. They might vary in color slightly. By applying REVITALISER we can improve the colour of the granite tiles, but not for long. You should re-apply the same thing when ever you see the difference of color

Q 6582: I have Cambrian black counters in my kitchen. I have a crack in the granite between my undermount sink and the outside edge of the counter. This strip is about 5"x 30" and is not supported. Is this considered acceptable business practise to not re-enforce this area? Can you put granite down directly ontop of the kitchen cabinetery or should there be a sheet of plywood put down first? April 02, Reply

R2: Dear Robert, Black Granite is one of the stronger granites available and we do not always rod the sink bands. This depends on the size of the piece and the size of the sink. During instllation the granite should be secured to the cabinet with a setting compound space out that will make a solid bond in gaps between the cabinets and granite. Unless your cabinets are exceptionally flat; which is rare, there will be gaps providing the installer leveled your tops and made them flat. Sincerely Clay Clemmer a professional installer.

R1: Dear Glenda: I’m not really sure I understand what you want to know. What kind of water stains are you talking about? What do they look like? Dikd you try to clean them off with a damp cloth? You’re in direct contact with me now. Ciao and good luck, Maurizio, Expert Panelist

R1: Dear Wade: It depends. If it’s the light color Blue Pearl, then you may want to consider applying my MB-4. If it is the Blue Pearl GT (the darker kind), then you wouldn’t.As for your report of what happened to your friend, no, it shouldn’t have cracked. Ciao and good luck, Maurizio, Expert Panelist

But that isn't the problem. The problem is this. The dominant color is peach/orange/brownish. But counters also always had a fair bit of black in them. It seems (especially according to my wife) that the counters are developing more black -- that the black somehow seems to be seeping up, especially in parts of stone that looked sort of crystalline. Does this make any sense? What might it be? Thanks much. April 02, Reply

Q 6578: I have a marble floor in my livingroom that was installed a year ago. I have a couple of questions. The squares are 12 x 12 a toothpick was used between each square when setting it.Does the grout need to be sealed? And if so, how do I do this? My son spilled a glass of water on it and there is now a mark left, how do I get the mark out of the marble, it is in the center of the floor naturally. Thank you, Lisa, April 02, Reply

Q 6577: I have just had a granite shower (Juparana India granite) installed in my home. The contractor applied a petroleum distillate sealer (Limestone & Marble Protector, made by Prosoco) which has proven to be very ineffective on the shower floor and shower door sill. The floor area where one stands stays dark as does the sill. It took 3 weeks for it to dry out before a further coating of the sealer was applied, and it turned dark after one shower. Can the product you describe as MB-4 be applied over the existing sealant? What procedure do you suggest? Where can the product you describe be purchased? I live in Orinda, California, near San Francisco. Thank you. R. Kent, April 02, Reply

Q 6576: I have just ordered this white granite with aqua, green, brown and black flecks in it. I had planned to use it as kitchen counter and peninsula tops and backsplashes in my kitchen as I thought it was the most durable material available. After reading your site I am wondering if I made a mistake. This area is the most used in the house for crafting as well as food prep and serve, plus we live on coffee and tea (stains)! Help!!!! Linda, April 02, Reply

I did write a very comprehensive article on “How to Shop for a Granite Kitchen Countertop” that will give you all the intelligence you need to venture yourself with confidence in the stone industry jungle! It does carry a small price tag, and you can order it by logging on the Educational Literature. It's available in pay-per- download format. What's more, should you in the future decide to give our fine products a try by placing an order of at least $49.00 before S.& H. charges, you will be entitled to a full refund of the price paid just for the asking! Should you have any other question, ask away: you're in direct contact with me now. Ciao and good luck, Maurizio, Expert Panelist