stains

Does anyone make a stain to darken granite?

stains in cambrian black granite

We have just moved into our new home which has cambrian black countertops everywhere in the kitchen.  Of course, like idiots, we bought our countertops for how they looked, not even thinking about durability.  We have lived in our home for 1 week and we are afraid to use our sink because of the watermarks left on the granite which I can't remove.  Also, we are afraid to cook bacon because our cooktop is set into the counter.  The granite supplier is supposed to come back to repair some cracks under the shine and also repair a brutal seam.  What should I do?  Is the kitchen a lost cause? 

Sincerely,

Lisa Dolan

Stains on Absolute Black granite

Hi:

I moved into my new home six months ago - we have Absolute Black granite countertops in the kitchen and bathrooms.  The kitchen island is a bit of an issue.  Small stains started to appear right from the beginning - they are lighter (grayish).  One day after coming home from work I also I found to my dismay that some raspberry juice had been spilled and had been sitting on the counter for hours leaving a lighter grayish stain on the kitchen island countertop - of course the most visible of all counters.  Could you please help?  What is poultice and is that something I should try here?

stains on granite stone

My kitchen top is made of granite stone. I thought it should be
resistant to acid and water. However, there are now both acid and
water stains in it. What should I do? How do I prevent further
damage? Is granite stone suitable for such places (where there is
frequent washing and food preparation)?

Stains on unsealed granite

We picked out a granite topstone for a fireplace. Had no marks when we selected it. When installed there was a swirled design as if it had rested on an oily cloth. Doesn't come out with soap or alcohol. Any suggestions?

Stone Maintenance Guidelines

I would appreciate your guidelines on caring for marble and granite counters, as well as marble thresholds and shower sills in my home.

Thanks

 

Raymond M. Kapp

Stains

We just installed a piece of Tropical Green granite on the wall behind the stove.  We used Acrylic Latex Silicone as an adhesive.  A few hours later, large spots appeared on the surface of the stone and remain 36 hours later.  Do you think it is possible to remove these spots & if so, what should we try? 

 

Thanks much.  Sandy

stone maintainance HELP

Dear Maurizio,

I have three problems/questions I am hopeful you can help me with. 1) I have just finisnised installing a tumbled marble floor in our shower.  The shower is not being used yet ( the bathroom is not yet completed) but I am concerned about staining since we are on well water and our water often causes rust stains.  Is there a product I should use to protect the marble from the rusty water before any staining occurs?  or is there a way that you recommend to remove these stains once they do occur?

  2) In my kitchen we installed an unglazed porcelin tile.  Am I supposed to seal this stone?  The place where I bought it said "no" although I could seal the grout if I'm concerned about any staining.  What do you recommend.  We also sealed about 1,000 square feet in our lower level that includes a playroom, a laundry , bedroom and a bath.  Should I also seal that grout?  That"s a whole lot of grout ...is there an expedient way to do this?

3)  Our cooktop in our kitchen is surrounded on three sides by unglazed brick (it's agout 45 years old) .  I cleasned it with TSP and  now it looks pretty good but my question is how do I keep it looking good. Can I seal it with something to prevent cooking stains?  Do you have any suggestions?  The counter edge which surrounds the cooktop is granite so I think my days of cleaning with TSP are over.

Any suggestions you have which might help me will be greatly appreciated. 

sincerely,

 

 

LuAnne Petrie

 

Stone Maintenance

Hi!

I was reading your forum on the Internet and am requesting your "thorough and in-depth maintenance guidelines for residential stone installations" 

We have granite countertops in the kitchen and limestone in the bathroom, and a granite floor in the entry (which still looks really good due to lack of much foot traffic) - all installed about six years ago, professionally.

Thanks much,
Erica

Stone selection advice please...

Hi and thank you for this wonderful forum! Figuring out what to put on my kitchen countertops (we are very hard on our kitchen) has been amazingly complex. While I love marble and soapstone, I am leaning towards granite because it seems to be very tolerant of abuse (we're really good about cutting boards and trivets, but who knows what might get spilled and go unnoticed - little kids zooming around), but I don't like the high shine of the polished granite. I would very much like your advice based upon my preferences:

 

1) color - black - dark gray/green (I like Virginia Mist, Verde San Francisco slabs I've seen online for example)

2) finish - I would like a less shiny surface. For example I love the way oiled soapstone looks, but I worry about chips and scratches. I would like more of a satin finish. Is there such a thing and if so is there a better (I've read all the honed Absolute Black nightmares) color, grade, type of granite for honing or getting to a more satin finish? What type of maintenance would a a satin finish require? 

3) fabricator/distributor - how do you choose a reliable fabricator/distributor? Can you recommend any around Charlotte,NC?

4)stone - Is granite my best choice given the above??

 

Thank you in advance for time and I look forward to your response.

 

Amanda

strip or not

Maurizio,

I tried to read your list of Q & A's but there are just too many and most involved "black" granite.

I have a Shivakashi (beige, gray, burgundy, flecks of black) stone about 3 yrs. old.  I wanted to use a Stain Defense product on

it as oil has managed to stain it in some spots.  But I was told to strip it first to  get off anything the installers put on it.

They left me with a can of spray 3 in 1 Cleaner/Polisher/Protector which I am supposed to apply a couple of times a year.  THis stuff obviously doesn't protect otherwise the oil wouldn't have seeped in.  I am worried about stripping  the granite, don't want to ruin it.  If I must strip it what do I use. Will stripping get the oil out, if not, how do I.  I tried peroxide w/flour and when that didn't work, I tried plaster.  THat help a little but if I don't get it out before sealing, the oil stain will be sealed in forever.

Thanks for your help

Karen

Stone

Hi Maurizio,

Hope all is well.

I need your help in choosing a countertop for my Kitchen.  I have been trying to get granite and it seems a little bit to expensive. What do you recommend I can use granite tile instead of a granite slab?

Sangai

Surface "filling"?

I am a fabricator of granite and man made stone countertops and have been for 9 years.  I recently received a customer complaint, one I have never received before. She claims for the past three years a 2' X 2' area above her dishwasher was slowly pitting out and has progressively gotten worse.  Concerned, I sent an employee to her house, which I trust, and he was unable to see what the problem was.  After she positioned him to get the correct glare from the sun he did notice very small "pits" (probably not the correct term), about 5 - 8 of them.  We do have knowledge in repairing nicks, cracks and scratches but we don't have anything that would adhere to this surface, they were just too small, also we did not want to have new issues with having a film on the surface of the stone.

He explained that he thought that these small nicks and micro fissures are more common in Verde Peacock and that he is unable to do anything to fix it. 

About a month later she called again saying she was not satisfied with these "pits" and she either wanted them filled or replace the whole kitchen with a different rock, and the "pitting" was worse than ever before, even than a month before.  Upon hearing this I decided to check out the situation myself along with another professional whom has been in the granite business for over 40 years and has been with one of the states leading countertop fabricators for over 15 years. We both walked in the kitchen and looked around, we were expecting to see an area that was an eye sore, instead, we could not see any problem with any part of the kitchen whatsoever, if it has gotten worse then I don't know what the original call was for.  The homeowner then began to show us the "pits", using her fingernail she would scratch over the problem area and feel for any "catching", when one was found she would show us and ask us what could be done.  The "pitting" was very minimal (5-8) and extremely small,  I have seen this before in certain types granite, but they were originally in small areas of the slab, not chipping out, just the way that area took on a polish. (Santa Cecilia commonly has the same "pits or micro fractures" that can be felt with a fingernail, to give you a size reference)

I called a professional surface repair company and they sent someone out to the house, that person said he could not do anything to fix it.

Since then, (3-4 weeks) I have periodically been in contact with the customer and she said it's still getting worse and it looks absolutely horrible.

I was wondering if you know of any very thin filling solution that could fill those small "pits" (smaller than the tip of a toothpick). Or if that is opening up a larger can of worms. Trying to polish it would take off stone and would be noticeable.  

Again, this area is above the dishwasher so there is a lot of "traffic" on this particular area of counter.  Its part of an 8' X 3' island with an under mount sink cutout next to the dishwasher.

I do wish to do whatever I can to come up with a solution to help this customer. I have talked to many fabricators on the subject and all say that after 3 years, with this type of issue, none would replace it free of charge.

What would you do, if there is nothing that can be done to the surface of this counter?

Thank you for all the advice and knowledge gained from it.

Ryan

Summer Yellow

Please advise how I can get a question answered on Summer Yellow Granite

I have staining, on working areas of countertops.  No specific spill,
however fabricator has checked
stone with moisture meter, not absorbing any water.

Wants to Poutice entire countertops, Does this sound right?????

surface polishing granite tiles

hello- i am a professional stone/tile installer, and often install 12x12 granite , and polish edges etc etc...however, occasionally, i need to do some surface polishing, for a scratch, or to polish out an epoxy fill to a chip or something, and some granite tiles appear to have been 'coated' with some type of 'resin' or finish of some type, in the manufacturing process, in order to give the piece a better shine and to hide the natural pits (like some uba tuba on this job), in fact if you flip over a piece you can see the resin drips from the surface.  so- my problem is, when i surface polish this type of stone, i can not get it as shinny as the factory resin areas...even if i go to 10000, and even then put on some enhancer. is there anything i can do, short of not working with coated materials?  it also seems the coated granite is a lower grade, more pits, less stable, more prone to chipping during edge bullnose/polishing, more cracks, etc.  also- can you can you confirm this coating process exists, and is it a low grade granite, and should it be avoided, and how does it effect sealing, should a pen.sealer be needed?  also it seems a 12x12 piece of granite may have been top coated in the manufacturing process where its slab counterpart was not.   thanks for your time. jason

tan brown granite

Our tan brown granite kitchen counter tops have just been installed over this past weekend.  The company told me to wait two weeks before putting on a sealant.  I'm concerned because Thanksgiving is next week and I am having a houseful of family.  I have been told by others that the sealant should be put on right away.  What should I do??????

Tan Brown Granite

We just had a tan brown granite countertop installed and we were given the wrong sealer by the installer (who we never want to see again).  We have been rubbing it off with a white terry cloth but I used a green hard pad on a part and now have a dull mark about the size of a quarter on a part of the surface.  We have tried everything to shine this spot up with no success. Do we have to get a professional in or is there something we can do? We do not trust the sales people or the installer after all their mistakes.

 

Thank you,

Barb

 

tan brown question

Recently I have noticed that gray spots are appearing throughout my tan
brown granite.  It almost looks like quartz spots are there that have
never been there.  It seems to be evenly distributed throughout the
entire countertop.  Can the granite color be changing?  It seems
strange since this is happening over the entire piece, not just in an
area frequently used.  Do you have any suggestions on why this could be
occurring?

Thank you

Tan/Brown Granite

Hello.........just installed a tan/brown polished granite countertop in our kitchen.  The installer sealed it, and said we would not have to seal again for @2 years.  He said that the tan/brown granite was denser than other colors, and did not have to be sealed as often.  Is this true?   Terri

ThinSlabz Granite

We are going to remodel our kitchen, and are thinking using ThinSlabz Granite.  This is actual granite that is cut to 1/4" thickness and permanently bonded to a reinforeced backing.  The weight of ThinSlabz is 4-5 pounds per square foot in comparison to 22 pounds per square foot of 3cm granite.  Have you heard of this product, and what do you think of it.  Thanks, Toni

tile countertop

is there a product,that would have agranite look,that can easily be used to cover tile without having to remove sinks etc

Thankyou in advance,

Craig Hoffarth

Tile Backsplash with granite

Hi,

I am having a granite countertop installed.  Originally I was going to have a 5" granite backsplash.  I have decided to have a tile backsplash on the entire space between the top and bottom cabinets, so I don't think I need the granite backsplash at all.  My husband feels we need the granite backsplash and just install the tile above it.  He feels this will protect the wallboard from water better than the seam of granite and tile.  The backsplash is itemized on the estimate for $659.00.  Any suggestions?

Marcie

Tile over granite

 have a polished granite counter top in my bathroom, how can i rough it up
so I can tile over it?  Jerry Telgheder

Tips and Advice?

Hi-
we have purchased a granite countertop for bathroom. We want to tile the entire bathroom ("wet"
room)-have considered marble tiles for walls and ceramic for floors. Nervous about marble
maintenance/staining-particularly around toilet walls and in shower. Suggestions? maintenance
products ?
We are very enamorate of real marble look but more concerned about our own potential neglect of
maintenance. Is our idea too risky?
thanks!


Claudia T. Richards,

to seal or not

Hi,

 We just put in a granite countertop in our kitchen and need info on sealing.

 

It is "sage brush" from Africa and the installer left us some sealer and fine grit steel wool with instructions to use the steel wool to wipe off the residue after it dries.

1)       Should we be sealing this type of granite?

2)       Does this sound like a water based sealer? (I have no label on product)

3)       Is there another sealer we should be using?                                            

Thank you.  Mark

 Any suggestions are welcome. Thanks

Trimming a piece of granite countertop

Hi:

We are looking to replace a refrigerator and in measuring the opening, I
noted that while the cabinets are exactly 36 inches apart, and would thus
accomodate refrigerators 35 inches wide, the granite countertop on one side
overhangs the cabinet by almost an inch, narrowing the opening to 35 inches,
a poor size for selection of a refrigerator.  The piece of granite that
overhangs the cabinet is relatively small; how hard would it be to remove
the top and take it somewhere to be cut, and then reinstall it?  Is that
something I could do myself (at least the removal and the reinstallation)? 
Can you recommend someone in the Boston area who could do the trimming of
the piece of granite? (and or also the removal and the reinstallation)?

Thanks,

Michael Loucks

Travertine vs. honed granite

We really wanted to install honed Travertine on our kitchen countertops, but have been frightened off by everything we've heard / read re maintenance and possible damage.  We want natural stone, so the only acceptable substitute for us would be a light colored, honed granite.  Will we have the same issues with light, honed granite re stains etc, or do you only get those nightmares with dark honed granite?  If it's one or the other and granite is potentially no more maintenance/damage free if honed, would it make sense to just put in the Travertine (if very honed, no shine, to avoid etching showing), since it's really what we prefer?

Travertine in shower

Hi, I have all travertine shower insides and apparently very hard water so now my shower walls look white. What is the best way to clean this off? Also we are planning to install a water softener, is that safe for travertine & granite? Thank you!

Travertine Questions

We have had travertine installed on a bathroom floor, shower walls and shower floor it was bought honed, filled, and polished.  Our contractor said he has never sealed travertine, so I was wondering if it is something that would be beneficial or unnecessary.  If it should be done could you recommend a product for this?

Also we had granite countertops put in our kitchen and understand that they should be periodically sealed, info on this and best product would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Kathy

Trying to update my existing kitchen... Need help

I am looking at replacing my inlaid  tile countertops with granite. My cabinets are painted and have a wooden painted molding   that are painted the same color as the cabinets .I have a  breakfast bar and  a boxed window and  both  have a 4" thick  painted bull nose that are painted the same as the cabinets.  I am having trouble deciding if I should remove the 4" thick bull nose and the molding or leave them as I really like the look of the thick bull nose.    If I get granite I do not think it would be possible to leave the existing bull nose and molding.  I was wondering if there is a product like granite that could be inserted and leave the existing wood trim or would it make the kitchen outdated.   I do want to leave the existing  floor as it runs throughout the dining area and the front hallway of our house.  I am also having a hard time deciding the correct color of granite to go with the floor. Any suggestions would be most helpful.

Karl McCoy

Tumbled Marble Backspash

I am considering tumbled marbe for my kitchen backslash.  Countertop is granite.  However, I have heard marble is prone to staining especially if you slash things like tomato sause.  A place that sells both tumble marble and porcelein told me if I cook a lot, use porcelein.  What do you think?

John

Tunas Verde Cracks

We are buying a new construction house and they just installed the granite (Tunas Verde) in our kitchen and we noticed two seperate longs cracks both over 2" long.  One is on the island and one is on the counter.  They said these cracks are natural for this Tunas Verde granite and that it will not crack further.  They first claimed we signed a waiver when we chose the slabs, but we never did.  When we looked at the slab we looked more for the color and pattern rather than any cracks.  If they had told us that this granite was prone to cracks we would not have chosen this.  Now they say that they will give us a warranty for 10 years.  Is it true that cracks are part of the characteristics of Tunas Verde granite?  We are due to close on the house this week and we are wondering whether to insist on having it replaced since we never signed the waiver or just live with it.  Will these long cracks affect the integrity of the granite/countertop?  I am especially concerned since we live in earthquake state of California.

 

 

Thanks for your help and advise!

 

---

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type of stone?

Dear sir,

I am a geologist and I work in laboratory of Croatian conservation institute in Zagreb, Croatia. Recently we started to repair castle Eltz in Vukovar, Croatia, where the stairs are made from this greyish-brown grained limestone. I searched different catalogues and internet and the best similar stone I found was aurisina granitello. When I aquired sample of aurisina granitello called lipica unito in Slovenia it had smaller graines, but on the picture it looks almost the same. Searching the findstone database I found your article, and I scaned the limestone from Vukovar and I am sending you picture in attachement so maybe you could give me your opinion about commercial type of stone.

Thank you.

 

Domagoj Mudronja

type of sealant

 A fabricator/installor told me that they have a super-duper sealor that they
quarantee for life on granite and 5 years on stone floors.  They called it
Millestone infinity application.   I can't find this product on the net
anywhere and I am curious if this is true.

Thanks,

Connie

Uba Tuba

Hi,

You had mentioned that Uba Tuba is not Granite.  ( I have Uba Tuba tile counters) What is it then?  Why doesn' t it need to be sealed?  I have an area under our dish drying rack that had water sitting for awhile and now there are faint watery like lines in the counter top.  Any suggestions on how to get these lines out?

uba tuba

Hi there

We just had uba tuba installed in our kitchen for countertops.  Although the fabricator told us it was sealed, we are already noticing stains on the surface.  This type of granite is new to us and does seem to be porous.  What can we do?  What type of sealer or protective coating should be used to prevent this.  Also it appears some of the sealer they applied in our house stained the joints from the backsplash to the countertop.  Please help. 

Thanks  Guy

uba tuba granite

i have uba tuba granite counter tops the installer gave me 511 impretor, do i need to put this on them to keep the shine? what do you suggest to do so that they shine and no water spots? would you use windex? thanks  M.J.D.

uba tuba granite

We had uba tuba installed on our kitchen island and countertops.  We also did matching granite tile for the backsplash.  It was installed in July 2005.  Is it necessary to seal it every 6 months to a year?  Also, what is the best way to clean it?  We have been using countertop spray cleaner by SCI?  How do you keep it from getting a filmy coating on top?

 

Thank you,

 

Stacey

Uba Tuba Too Shiny

Hi there, I just had Uba Tuba installed and it looks way too shiny with too much glare.  I have a bright kitchen with lots of windows and at night with the lights on, the glare takes away from the granite.   I was NOT told there were other finishes to consider, so they just made them high gloss.  Is there any way to get them toned down?   I do know a reputable stone contractor that did some marble in my bathrooms and the look great, for 3 years now.

 

Any advice.  I don't like the glare/shine/reflection or whatever you want to call it.  I like matte or at least semi-gloss.

Thank you

uba tuba

We had UBA TUBA installed in our kitchen @ 1yr ago.  We have only used SCI (Stone Care International) products, cleaner, sealer & polish.  The cleaner seems to make the stone look dull, the polish, I have to hand buff several times to get all the strikes off.  Is this the best product to use on our granite?

Thanks for your help!

Donna

 

Ubatuba kitchen counter

Hello:


  I'm currently remodeling my kitchen and am leaning towards using Ubatuba
for the countertop.  From reading your other email messages where you
indicate that the quality of the granite should be of a high grade vs. a low
grade, and that a lot will depend on using a good fabricator, I have the
following questions.   How can I tell if a fabricator is good and what does
a high grade slab of ubatuba look like.  Thanks for you help and for all the
great advice!!

Linda

ubatuba granite

I have had my granite counter tops for a bout 3 weeks.  i have noticed in some parts there is a film.  There is a sealer on it and i have used windex once or twice and know now not to use it again.  How can I remove the filming, or dullness that I see in some places?

Ubatuba granite advice

Dear Donna,

As far as the "Lemon Test" goes, once the granite has been sealed that does prevent a lot of problems.

I always suggest to people that want natural stone in their house that a little extra care may be needed and therefore when in the middle of food preparation be mindful of that.

Granite and UbaTuba especially, have been used in many homes and commercial establishments alike, with no problems.

UbaTuba is a product of Brazil.

As far as streaking - it is not likely to streak any more than any other granite.

 Sincerely,

Gale

Under mount installation granite countertop

I had granite counter tops and a under mount granite sink installed by a
"professional" granite company in Kalamazoo Michigan. Everything was ordered
from them, granite, sink, fixtures. We wanted the sink edge to be completely
under the countertop. It was installed by one man using a 2x4 held in place
with one old bungee cord he found in our garage. The cord broke after about
one hour. He applied a bead of silicon around the top of the sink before
attaching the old bungee cord. There are no other supports used to hold the
sink in place. I am not sure that it will hold when the sink's weight and a
sink full of water is added together. In addition, some of the sink's top or
edge is completely under the counter, some flush with the opening and some
sticking out from the opening by 1/4 - 1/2 inches. The holes drilled in the
granite for the faucet/soap/sprayer do not match the pre-drilled holes in
the sink by 1/2 to 1 inch which they corrected by routing away part of the
sink itself.
In your professional opinion is this an acceptable industry standard for
workmenship. I can't get the contractor to even discuss the problems. His
only comment has been "he cut according to sink manufacturer's template". It
just seems the actual installation process was bad even if he did cut to
specs (which was not what we wanted).
Thank you in advance for your response,
Bob Risenhoover

under mount sink

i have a cranite contertop and under mounte sink . we would like the replace the sink . what is the best way way of taking the sink out without breakng the granite.

uninstall granite countertops

Please tell me the easiest and safest way to uninstall a granite countertop.  I want to avoid damaging the top if at all possible.  John

undermount sink

Dear Sir,

I want to know more on installation of undermount sink with Granite / Marble counter top.

 

Ramesh Nathani

Uneven slab height at seam.

 

We recently had granite counters installed in our kitchen. They are absolutely beautiful and we are very happy except for one small detail. At the seam where the two slabs meet, one is slightly higher than the other. It probably isn't any more than the thichness of a piece of paper in difference but if a wine glass or cup it slid over the seam you get a clunk.  Part of the seam near the back of the counter is even and has a very smooth feel.  The larger portion of it though is uneven and you can feel it with your hand. Originally it was a lot worse but they came in with a grinding and polishing tool and took it down some. Should I expect the granite slabs to be absolutely even in height at the seam or should I expect some variation? I know they have the tools to do it. I'm just wondering it it is expecting a lot to ask to have them come back and re do it?  The man doing the work made it sound as if I was lucky to even get that much done.  He said that many company's don't bother to try and even the seams out.  Thanks.

 

Doug

 

unpolished granite

I came across a kitchen island countertop that was granite, but it was
completely unpolished. It wasn't honed, which I'm familiar with, but it
had texture to it -- a rough surface with long grains running through.
What is that commonly called and what is the best way to purchase it?

Brent

Unsealing Stone

What is the most effective and safe for the grout, etc to unseal tumbled marble?

 

What is the most effective and safe for the grout, etc to unseal granite that is textured, not polished?

 

 

Thank you for your help.

Venezian granite

Less than a year ago we had Venezian Burano installed.  I'm not sure the difference between this and honed granite, but I was told it was low maintenance and would not stain.  Right away, black spots began to show where food preparation occurred and became very sticky, especially around the cooktop.  The installed cleaned and resealed, but to no avail.  The area around the cooktop is becoming blacker and blacker.  I got advice from another distributor to use a combination of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to clean the stickiness, which worked well, but the discoloration is really bothering me. 

 

I have noticed on the website that my installer is no longer using this product, due to other complaints. I'm tempted to have to have it replaced with another product since they promised my satisfaction, or perhaps you can recommend a way to removed the blackness and perhaps seal it properly.  I love the look and feel of it, but over time, I'm afraid it will look terrible.

 

Thank you for your attention.

 

Brenda Meeboer

venetian gold or butterfly granite

Hello,

My husband and I are trying to decide on a granite for our kitchen.  The cabinets are maple toffee by merillat.  I have enjoyed reading your responses.  We want our kitchen to feel warm, but we also want the granite-like stone to be a good choice.  What are the pros and cons of these two choices.  Which would be the better choice for the kitchen?  Is Verde Butterfly a good choice or can you recommend a better one?

We can pay for your information.  I am just not quite sure how to go about it. 

Thank you,

Wendy

Venezian Lido granite

Hi.  I have seen a "new" way to finish a slab of granite, which is called a "Venezian finish".  These slabs are produced by one company in Italy and, according to this company's literature, the textured finish of the material can be a striking substitute for honed finishes.  According to the fabricator that carries these slabs, unlike granite that has been honed, the Venezian surfaces do not stain. They are quite beautiful but I am concerned about their long term durability.  Does anyone have any experience with this type of finish, specifically the Venezian Lido, which is a black granite.  Thanks, Marilyn

US vs import granite - light vs dark stone

We are planning to remodel a decent sized kitchen in a Westchester, NY 100 yr old home.  Are there any technical reasons to avoid using a relatively affordable granite like Milford Pink instead of using a Brazilian like Giallo Antico?  Also are there any special maintenance concerns in using one of these lighter stones, instead of a charcoal grey granite???  My wife and I think the aesthetic look of the lighter stones is big for our house.  Our kids are grown, so little fingers are not a problem for us - but, sooner or latter we will probably sell and retire - and a family is the most likely kind of buyer - we certainly care about the property value after we are done.  Thanks!  You guys run a great board. - Greg

 

Gregory J. Schimoler

 

 

Verde butterfly

We have just purchased a "granite" called Verde Butterfly.  It will be installed on our island   64" long and on three counter tops.

 

Just discovered your wonderful web site and am hoping to stop any problems before they occur.  I have heard all kinds of horror stories about Granite now that I have purchased it.  I know it is going to take more care than what Iwe  have now, which is tile.   Is it true that you cannot put hot pots on granite? 

I have heard that Granite Gold is one of the best cleaners to use, is it the best?

Our fabricator will be cutting the holes after the granite is delivered.  They tell us they will seal the granite, which I know has to be done, should we be looking for a certain sealer? 

  Will I run into problems since I plan on having stainless steel sinks and cooktop?  I know I cannot use soft scrub on the granite like I do on the Stainless.

 

Any help you can give me to prevent problems would be very very much appreciated.

 

Thank you so much for your wonderful site and all the information!!

 

Norma Peters

 

sealers

Anybody ever hear of Adsil. I own a pressure washing company and I've been approached by several different guys who want to sell me expensive sealers. The latest guy seals roofs,ac units, driveways, you name it. He claims it will stop mold and algae for ten years. The stuff costs $160 gallon. I think it's gotta be bs but i'm trying to search around and find out. Anyone???

 

thx in advance,

Kevin

Effect of heat on granite?

    I have had two granite faces surrounding my zero-clearence fire place crack. It is my assertion that the installers applied adhesive to both the concrete board and the steel firebox insert. The different expansion rates caused the steel box to apply pressure to the granite. Both surrounds cracked the very first time we lit a fire.

The granite installer claims the firebox installation is defective with no specific claim. The face of the granite gets very warm when the fireplace is used. But that is why you use granite and you don't use wood in this application.

I observed the second installation and witnessed the adhesive on the metal firebox. The fireplace insert installation instructions clearly state that the metal firebox must float behind the facing material. Only a flexible heat resistant caulk seal should be used around the opening.

So I feel the installer was in error by adhearing the metal firebox to the granite. The installer refuses to take care of this problem and I need to file a claim against them.

Any info on the expansion properties of granite under heat would be a great help. I intend to take a thermal reading of the granite face with a roaring fire to present in my case.   

verde jade granite from brazil

We have purchased verde jade granite from brazil for our kitchen countertops.  Is this a good choice and will it stain easily.  I have searched to stones on www.findstone.com and cannot find it under that name.

Thanks

cfb

To seal or not to seal?

I came across this statement (below)at a related web site. Does this mean that my impala black should not be sealed. It was sealed initially but that was a year and a half ago. So what is the real truth about sealing our granite counter tops.


A word about Black Granite
Most black granites are very dense and uniform in appearance and in general are the least porous with the least water absorption values. They should not be sealed as they are usually moisture resistant. Your fabricator will advise you.

Don    

Crack vs Fissure

    We recently discovered what we and the builder thinks is a small crack forming in our impala black counter top. It imminates from an inside radius where the counter top turns at 45 degrees and extends into the counter top about 4 inches. Viewed from the edge it is obvious that it goes through the thickness of the granite slab. It can be felt with the fingernail at the edge and at least part of the way   The crack is hairliine but we are certain it was not there previously. There were no noticeable defects in this granite and were were quite pleased previously.

Although our builder agreed with us that it was a crack forming, the cabinet shop rep came out today and said that it may be a fissure that is now showing because the sealant is wearing off, and that is not covered by warranty. I do NOT believe this. She (cabinet company rep) has called someone from the Granite Company (I don't know if that's the real company name) to take a look at it Monday and repair if necessary. However, I believe that sales rep is trying to dodge the issue. So the questions:

1. What is the technical difference between fissure and crack?

2. What test can the lay person use to tell the difference?

3. What test criteria does the professional use to tell the difference.

4. What credentials will a qualified stone repair person have. Or what criteria can I use to judge whether this person is qualified to make the diagnosis and to repair the crack if that's what he determines it is.

5. If I'm not comfortable that this person is qualified to diagnose and repair, what recourse do I have? We live in a part of Virginia that has a very marginal pool of qualified trades people in many areas.

Thanks you for your professional opinions or personal experiences with this type of issue.

Don

Volga blue granite

Having purchased  volga blue granite for our kitchen, we are disappointed to find some of the slabs are quite pitted. If these are slightly rubbed with a finger nail, the surface of the granite appears to come off leaving a small unpolished indentation, is it  normal for this to happen or does it mean it is an inferior granite. It does look as if one of the indentations has been filled with some kind of substance which came out on scratching.  We are frightened that this may not wear like it should, and would like to know if we are in our rights to ask for a replacement.

 

With thanks

 

Maureen

Verde Labrador

Hi could you please tell me if Verde Labrador is a good choice of granite? 
Also could you please tell me how to care for it.

Thank you

Katie

verde mare

I was out shopping for granite to be used  for my kitchen counter tops when
i saw a kitchen display with exactly what color i wanted...when i
inquired..i was told it was hawaian green...when i went to look at other
local stone sellers hawaian green they looked nothing like it.I went back to
the place where i 1st  saw it and was told by another salesman it is verde
mare granite. when i went to other local stone sellers shops i was told
verde mare is MARBLE? Needless to say, im now thinking all stone dealers are
clueless and just want your money, bye telling you what you want to hear.
Now that i ve vented my frustration , can anyone tell me if verde mare is a
good choice for kitchen countertops?

verde maritaka

Hi,

I recently had a verde maritaka island installed. It has some pink blush coming across the sides and a few larger black spots more on one end of the slab. Overall it is a nice teal color with swirls of crystal grey and black and some crystal specks. (I'm getting used to some of the random black patches-not stains but actual black stone spots and lighter more on one end than the other as how the pattern runs). Anyway my questions are:

Is this a real granite? I also have a lot of pits and and few fissures that look like 1-2 inch surface cracks. One in particular encircles a crystal and has a fissure above and below it. The fabricator came and looked at it (only visible under certain light) and said that is the way the stone is-nothing he can done and nothing to worry about. Is this characteristic of verde maritaka or did I get struck with a commercial grade stone? Also is this type of stone ever resined? Why does commercial grade stone exist? Where is it used and other than appearance is it more prone to problems (things happening that you don't see upon inspection)?
Thanks

 

VOlga Blue Granite

I found 2 beautiful slabs ov Volga Blue.  I'm told that thge slabs were really inique because they are more black and loaded with lrge chips of "Mica" and blue reflections.: they also don't have musch of the green in them.  My installer started the install and I found a black line from the front left to the back right in one of the pieces. When asked about it he said that it was a "vein" and typical in Granite.  When I did my pre-cut inspection I looked very carefully over the pieces and ran my hand over every in and I found no "veins." 

Are veins "typical" adn would they be a dark black line that goes all they way throught the slab in Volg Blue?

Charles

Volga Blue Granite

I am interested in installing Volga Blue granite countertops in my kitchen.  Is this a good candidate for kitchen countertops? Does this particular granite need to be sealed.  If so, where can I buy your sealer. 

Thank you for your help.

Lynn Robison

 

Volga Blue

Hello,

I just had my Volga Blue counters installed.  Should these have been sealed?  The company I'm dealing with tells me yes.  They also tell me it's ok to use soap and water to clean them.  However, everything I've read on the Website, suggests that soap is not recommended.  I want to protect and preserve my investment in my counters.  If they should not have been sealed, do I need to have them stripped?   There is also a "film" on the counter.  These were just installed on Monday - I expected a shiny, glossy surface - initially, there was quite a bit of residue left on the surface - probably the sealer.  The installers came back to add a piece of backsplash and to remove the residue which in turn has created this unsightly film on the counter.  I expressed my disappointment with the granite company and they are sending someone back out to "polish and clean the counter".  I liken it to buying a new car:  you wouldn't purchase a brand new car with a lousy paint job - right?

Thank you for your advice.


Patti Senft

Want to ask a question.

Hi,
I am planning to replaced out counter tops. I have selected to two granite Blue Pearl and Emerald Green. Need your advice on both. Are they good choice for countertops?

Thank you very much for your time
Nadima

Verde Peacock

I installed a porcelain tile floor and we are getting a Verde Peacock 
"granite" charnockite kitchen counter top in a week or so...

Based on reading your answers to other people's questions:

1.  I will tell the installer not to seal the granite (correct?)

2.  Please recommend which of your products I need for the floor and 
for the "granite" and how to take care of this very beautiful 
charnocite!


thank you

Tim

Black honed granite tile counter top in my kitchen

Hi there;
I'm desperately trying to find out what to do with my brand new Absolute 
It's less than 2 weeks
old, and already looks awful!  The installer told me to "clean it with
vinegar" when I asked him what he recommended......I did not follow his
advice, as I gather from all the info out there that vinegar could harm the
surface.  It's got scratches, abrasions, stains and streaks.  I don't think
our installer sealed it (although he says he did) or sealed it correctly.
What would you suggest we do, to take matters into our own hands now, to
repair it and make it look like the tile we picked out at the showroom?
I've thought of some kind of stripper, or maybe buffing it with an electric
buffer, or sanding it back???  The only product I've used on it didn't
work....I first cleaned it with AquaMix cleaner with Ultra Seal (bought at
Lowes) and then used the AquaMix Color Enhancing Sealer afterward.  It did
absolutely nothing.
Any help you can offer would be so greatly appreciated!
Melissa


findstone2006-11-23 14:04:06

Want to buy MB

 

I would like to purchse MB-3 and MB-5. A couple of clients I clean for have marble and polished granite in the master bath, also, polished granite for a kitchen counter top.

How do I go about purchasing these two products?

Thank you,

Chrystal Goodrich

Want to buy MB

 

want info on any MB product. i want to protect my kitchen granite counter tops and tile shower stalls. where can i purchase the products and is this the best product around for what i want to do?

thanks,

david young

Want to buy MB

I have just purchased Uba Tuba granite countertops from China.  Can you tell me if they need to be sealed?  I read that Uba Tuba does not need to be sealed.  Can you tell me what to clean them with?  I bought a "granite cleaner" from Lowes .

Thank you for your help,

Susan tyrlick

Want to buy MB

Hi, I have been reading your wonderful advice regarding granite.  I have recently added a double bathroom counter top, as well as a vanity table top, to my exisiting bathroom/dressing area.  I noticed you advised people to clean it with a solution consisiting  of MB-5 marble, granite spray cleaners.  Do you sell this product or could advise me, where I may purchase it?                                                                                                                              The stone maker advised my contractor to use soap and water for daily cleaning, but I feel it does not disinfect the granite - which I would prefer to do.  Help . . . and advice would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks so much!   Maureen

Want to buy MB

will MB - 3 and MB-9 work on hard water film on granite (rosa perino)
within tub enclosure that has accumulated for 9 years?  What is the
strongest cleaner I could get to remove the hard water stains and then
reseal.  Also, what kind of grout should I use between the granite and tub?
Should I remove grout, clean granite, apply new grout AND THEN reseal?

Thanks.

Want to buy MB

 

Please forward more information about mb3.  I have a granite vanity countertop that has water stains.  i need to remove them and then seal the granite so the stains won't reappear.

 

thanks,

 

Angela 

Want to buy MB

Hello,  I am trying to find the best product to maintain my granite counter top.  What is MB 4 and MB 5?  Where can one purchase these items?  Please advise.

 

Thank you

 

Melisa

Want to buy MB

 

Can you please send information on all your granite counter cleaning and maintance products, as well as travertine bathroom floor and shower?

Want to buy MB

 

I have a light colored granite, sealed and polished.

 

Is there anyway I can bleach it safely to keep it light-without hurting the sealer or polish?

 

Saundra Snyder 

Want to buy MB

Hi, I just bought a house with granite countertops in the kitchen.  You recommend MB-4 sealant for protection.  Should this be done annually? 

 

Ashlee

Want to buy MB

I am in Northeast Texas.  Where can I buy MB3 and MB5 for cleaning the soap buildup from  Autumn Haze granite shower walls and floor?  Thanks.

Want to buy MB

please send info on your products for granite kitchen countertops.  I do have grease stains and the sealer put on by the dealer does not seem to be very long lasting.  The granite is light grey with small red "dots" , darker grey and irridescent markings.

 

thanks

water leaving marks

Hi there

 

I have been reading your website - wish I'd seen it before I bought my granite!  I have brand new Indian Jet Black granite which was sealed with an "industry grade" sealant whatever that is!.  My benches have been marking with water, heat and possibly some softdrinks (what is in coke anyway?!).  I am absolutely definite about the water marking even though my granite supplier tried to tell me I must be wrong.  As I have just moved into the house, I have had no oil/vinegar/juice/wine etc anywhere near the bench.  Basically cups leave rings if left there for any length of time.  Lemon juice tested on a cut out piece did nothing to the surface (in fact it looked cleaner and better!)  Eventually the company who installed the granite sent someone to fix the problem. He told me that 1 in 20 pieces of Indian Jet Black granite is prone to marks forming, and that you can't tell which ones will do it from those that won't - IS THIS TRUE?  He said it had nothing to do with what sealant was used, and he said in fact he wouldn't seal black granite.  He said it was a kind of chemical reaction rather than a problem with the sealant.  He applied some sort of white liquid (not sure what it was called) that he said enters the stone and dampens down the reaction causing the marks to form.  Basically he applied it then buffed the surface, kind of like polishing a car.  This seems to have fixed the problem for the time being.  My questions are:  How come if 1 in 20 pieces of that stone mark no one seems to know about it except the guy who came to fix it (everyone I spoke to was dumbfounded when i told them my granite was marking with water)?  Is what he said true?  Will I need to apply this 'treatment" again later? Should I be getting rid of the sealant?

 

Regards

Frances

Water ring marks in my granite

Hi there, we have just put in granite worktops in our kitchen about 4
days ago. We left two upturned glasses, just washed with water, on top
of the counter tops and overnight it left two ring marks. We called out
the granite company and they came along and said this should not have
happened and would then re-seal the counter tops for us. This was done
and we thought this was the end to it. Next few days it happened again.
We have a 'granite' called Aegean Pearl from Brazil, my question is, is
it real granite or not? It looks like real granite, but can you ever
tell? We are now talking to the granite people again about this and
they are coming out again to polish the marks off and re-seal once
again. BUT I don't want them coming out every day to do this, by the
end of it all, we will be inviting them to our daughters wedding!!!!
Great web-site and it frightened the life out of me, wished I's looked
at it before! I would have gone for something else! It's only money!  

water rings and spots

I have an absolute black tiled counter top that gets water rings and spots very quickly.  The tile has a good amount of silver flake in it.  I don't know if this helps identify it or not (since there is no such thing as black granite).  The contractor put an impregnator on it after installation and I have had nothing but trouble since.  Is there a fix for the spots and rings or am I just going to have to stop using my counters?  Thanks Reed

water spots

I read through your website looking for solutions for getting rid of water spots on dark granite.  Mine is sort of like Ubatuba but has large green oval shaped "agates" in it.  Anyway, water spots have built up around the sink area.  Could you directly address how to get rid of water spots without using an acid-containing cleaner like Lime-Away.

Thanks.  Scott.  Wilmington DE

water rings on new

Can you help?  We just installed antique brown granite and was told it
was sealed.  However, within what seems like minutes, if a glass of
water is left on the counter, we have a water ring mark (a shade lighter
than the dark brown).  It's so frustrating after such an expense.  The
installer is no help. It seems that he did seal it because the water
beads on the surface when I test it. Why are the stains happening and
what can we do?  If you can help I would be so grateful. Nancy

Water Stains on Absolute Black Granite

Hi, I had my granite installed in July of this year and since then all around my sink I have white stains.  It looks terrible and the only way to take it off is with a scouring pad...Not only does it have to be done daily I am worried that I may be ruining the stone.  Do you have any products taht can take off these stains.  Per my township I have hard water and that could be part of the problem.

 

Thanks

Water Stains on "Black Galaxy" countertop

 have Black Galaxy granite countertopsI that have  what appears to be water stains around my sink area.  I looks like a white milky film.  How to I remove it?  My contractor left me cleaner, impregnator and stone polish..what to use?  Also, is 409 bad for this type of surface.

Nola

waterspots on soapstone

Have enjoyed reading Q & A on your site, but didn't see any to answer mine.
We recently installed soapstone in our 85 year old home kitchen. We love the look and think it "fits" better than granite. We spent quite a bit of time researching it and talking with people about it. No one mentioned, however, that around the sink area where there is a lot of "water activity", the stone goes back to its natural gray color after a day or two of regular kitchen use. I don't know if after oiling it a million times it finally will stop, or is this going to be an ongoing "problem"? I could see it if you let water sit for a long time, but this is not the case. I've read of using a stone sealer on it, although they also say a sealer will not seal soapstone as there is nothing to seal, but will it give it a protection for longer than a day or two? Noone ever mentions the water problem, which makes me wonder.....
Thanks
Marsha

What type of sealer to use

We recently had granite countertops installed in our kitchen area.  We selected Golden Viara slabs for the installation.  What type of sealer, cleaner, and polish should we use to maintain the granite?  Thank you in advance for your advice

 Stephen Biddy

white powdery stain

 

I have a granite table top that is a charcoal black with darker black spots in it. While cooking for the holidays something sticky got onto the table. When we found it a few days later and wiped the sticky off, the stain was there. It appears to be "in" the granite. The table was given to me and it does appear to have some type of sealer on it because you can see 4 inch wide wipe marks that go length wise and across. What do you suggest? Thanks for any help you can provide.

Deborah

NO,La

wax stains on granite

i just installed granite squares on my fireplace hearth my wife put a candle on it in a glass container of course it melted and broke the glass it has left a dark stain when i installed it i did apply a sealer that i bought at the tile store,  how can i remove the stain any help would be greatly appreciated thank you

What is Santa Rita?

I have enjoyed reading about all of the different types of stone and granite.  When someone asks a question about something in particular, I look it up to see what it looks like--interesting since some of the names don't compute.  Anyway, what is Santa Rita granite?  Is there such a thing?  Heidi in NC

Which is the "best" counter top material?

Hello again, and thanks for your advice !!
Following my floor tiling in my front foyer, (in which I have also asked
a question), I will be remodeling my kitchen. I want to install a new
kitchen counter top. I have heard that granite is porous, and not the
best material. Can you help me choose the best material? I know there are
several kinds to choose from.

Your Kitchen Countertop book...

Maurizio,

I have enjoyed reading your informative posts regarding "granite" countertops.  I recently had Barracuda Blue (Brazil) installed in my kitchen and it has at least five different cracks in it after five month.  The fabricator has informed me that a complete redo is in order, so before I go down this road again I think perhaps I should read your book and pick a different stone.

How do I purchase your book?

Thanks,

 Kristen Thornbrugh

 

Wine marks on granite

Hi Maurizio

 

 

I have read some of your articles on various websites, and must say "you Make Sense" Well Done.

 

 

I live in Cape Town ,South Africa and have recently had Granite "Misty Black" which is imported from India installed as kitchen tops.

 

 

The first two ring marks appeared from 2 glasses of water,however the builders had been drilling in the ceilings and Creastone & paint particles where all over the counter tops. Would this have caused the staining.

 

Next, since then have spilt wine on 2 other areas and these areas are now lighter and have no shine.

 

The company that installed the granite have come and tried to buff out and reseal these marks ,but it has just made it worse.

 

Can you suggest anything to sort these marks out.

 

 Next. What products would you recommend that I use. I cannot order from USA however you may know of products in South Africa, that you can recommend..

 

Your reply is awaited,.

 

 

Sonia Kirkpatrick

 

 

 

White slab with many black inclusions

My wife and I saw white slabs with many black sliver type inclusions, half-inch wide and an inch ot two long, scattered randomly over the surface.  Also may cystal inclusions that glistened at different angles.  Looking at the edge of the slab, the inclusions were not deep, but almost like pieces of mica.  Are these types of "granite", as called by the dealer, reliable cadidates for a kitchen countertop?  Thanks.  TPP

Would appreciate any advice you can offer

We had a contractor place a travertine floor (18" by 18" tiles).  It didn't appear to have been properly floated and there was a great deal of lippage to consider upon completion.  He spent several days grinding the edges of the individual tiles until the pores in the tiles became noticeably open and in some places gouged. At this point the floor doesn't appear level, but he's assured us that after honing it will be perfectly level and we won't have any problems with the floor.  Does this seem reasonable?

He also placed granite counter tops from slabs he selected on our behalf.  We're aware that an entire granite counter differs from the much smaller sample, but the counters have what I believe are called "color patches" which are rather unsightly and close together, and which didn't appear in the sample.  Are these typical and can anything be done to make them less obvious?  The granite also feels rough in spots and has some gouges and pits.  We paid a significant amount of money for both the tile and granite, so would appreciate your opinion and any advice you might offer.  Thanks.

Jupurana Columbo, Rosewood,Giallo Veneziano,& Bord

Hi and thanks for taking the time to answer my question....I'm about to purchase countertops for my kitchen...Granite I hope. From reading all your comments, I wonder if a dark color has more opportunity to show water marks then a lighter color? The people in my family are prone not to be as careful as I am. I was looking at Jupurana Columbo, Rosewood,Giallo Veneziano,& Bordeaux. As you stated some of these or all of them probably aren't true granite. Do you have some advice for me.I need to make some decisions quickly. Thank you ,Barb

Bordeaux....very pretty

 have seen a granite they call Bordeaux....very pretty . But, I did not run across it in your list. Are you familiar with this one? Is it a good choice for kitchen counters?

Thank you

Barbara Laskin

Kitchen Countertop Help!

Please help. We are about to do all of our kitchen and bar counter tops.
However, we have a Tahoe-type "rustic" theme and love the look of these
trivet things we have that are, I believe, a dark green marble (with a
swirly pattern of white and black); it goes beautifully with our natural
Pecan cabinets. From what I have read, it looks like you discourage
marble for kitchen counter tops. Is there a similar color/pattern of
granite that would be as striking, but still cost conscious? Thanks so
much for your help! Kelly Neary.

black honed granite

I am thinking of installing absolute black velvet, or absolute black 
honed granite as a new counter top..Does a matte finish stain more 
readily than a glossy one? Is a honed  surface durable enough for a 
very busy kitchen?

Thank you,

Bernice.

Spot on Granite.jpg

PLEASE HELP!!!!

 

In a panic, I sat an overheated pot on my black granite countertop.  The pot was stainless steel and probably had oil stains on the bottom.  When I removed the pot the white spot was left.  I have soaked it with acetone for 2 days.  The white mark was gone when I removed the acetone but gradually reappeared.   The granite is actually blacker than the picture shows.  Can you help me. 

 

Cracks in new install-What to do?

We had granite installed this week and the installers worked late. In the morning I noticed a hairline crack in my granite composite sink. Worse I noticed two cracks from both back edges of granite to backsplash--all the way through and can be seen underneath. I have several questions.
Should I insist on new granite installation because this granite can fail at a later date--they offered to repair cracks.
or If I opt to repair instead of installing new slabs, what would be a fair discount for accepting cracks?
Thanks much!

Granite tile

I just installed Absolute black granite tile and apparently made the mistake of using a green pad to clean. The surface is dull in some places and the tile has a haze on it.

 

Is there any remedy? I read your articles about using furniture cleaner and a color enhancer. Will that work in in this circumstance.

 

Please let me know if there is a charge for this response and I will gladly pay it.

 

 

Mark Chuchic.

Granite / Marble Advice

I have two different Granites and one Marble in my house and all three have something that I could use your help with.  If the advice requires a fee let me know and I will definitely follow the correct protocol. 

First the Granites. In my kitchen I have "Emerald Pearl" countertops with lots of Mica which are for the most part beautiful.  In the Master Bath I have a dark brownish/black vanity top which was cut from a remnant bought from Adamo Marble & Granite here in Boston.  It was invoiced as "Brown Pearl" but is very different from any online pictures I've seen listed as "Brown Pearl". 

Both have been accidentally stained or etched by a commercial cleaner designed to remove rust from cloth and porcelain sinks and toilets.  The cleaner (Brand name 'WHINK') contains Hydrofluoric Acid.  It has left a white hazy etched spot on both surfaces.  The first was a small nuisance about the size of a quarter.  Last night a rag soaked with WHINK was left on the bathroom counter top.  There is now a 4" area on the vanity top.  Can either be restored to their original shiny finish?  Any suggestions would be appreciated.

The Marble in question is a light green Marble Tile with lots of tan / white but with a green "Olive Green overall feel" that was used on the floor in the bathroom as well as in the shower surround.  They are 18" tiles from Home Depot "EXPO".  The invoice shows it as : "MATOLGRT 18  18X18 OLIVE GREEN HONED MARBLE". 

I thought the Marble tiles in the shower had accumulated soap scum but after a few cleaning attempts I've concluded that the whitish haze over much of the lower 1/3 of the shower may actually again be from etching caused by commercial cleaning agents that I have used to clean the shower.  The shower was installed about 2 years ago.  Is there a way to clean and re-polish the marble tiles and then perhaps seal them well so as to prevent the need to repeat this?  I don't know if perhaps this type of cleaning / re-sealing should be expected every couple of years in a shower.   

Any advice on cleaning / restoring these problems and on regular maintenance cleaning going forward would be appreciated.  Let me know if you need any further information from me.

Best Regards,

Mike Meyer

travertine cleaning

Hello, we have a home the floors of which are almost entirely travertine.  On the travertine covered steps from the garage are very dark dirt (scuff) stains.  What is the best way to clean them, since they do not come clean through normal twice weekly mopping with mild soapy solution (neutral ph)?

 

The travertine has been polished to a very low luster.

 

After cleaning, should the travertine be sealed somehow?  If so, with what product?

seal or not seal?

We have a granite countertop called Black Impala.  I was not aware that black "granite" might not be actual granite at all.  The installer sold me a sealer called Stonetech Professional and recommended that it be applied every 6-12 months.  Is this a stone that should be sealed or not?  Also, several months after the countertops were installed, we noticed rings that were left from a bottle of Sangria.  Any recommendations as to how to remove these?  Thank you!  Patty

Sell Vanity tops with Undermount sinks

Feature:

 

Bathroom vanities: 

 

Granite vanity tops, marble vanity tops, Kitchen Countertops, Granite Island tops, Bar tops, Granite worktops, with U.S standard undermount sinks.

 

31"x22"x3/4" ,   47"x22" x 3/4" 

 

View our website to choose color http://www.stone-export.com

Contact: Ms Erica Lee   

Email: america@stone-export.com 

Sell Granite (Marble) Tile, Slab, Countertop, Sink

Our Products:

Granite Tiles, Granite Slabs, Marble Tiles, Marble Slabs, Granite Countertops, Vanity tops, Stone Sinks.

 

Slate Tile, Mosaic Slate, Meshed Slate, Culture Slate etc.

 

Please view our website http://www.stone-export.com

 

contact: Ms Erica Email: america@stone-export.com

Tel: +86-595-22198926  Fax: +86-595-22166926

how do you clean slate floors

i have just moved into a home with slate floors in the kitchen, guest bath and in front of the fireplace.  my question is what is the best way to clean it and can it ever have a shine to it?

small etched spots on tropical brown granite count

Hi,

18 months ago, we had a Tropical Brown granite kitchen counter top installed and sealed.  It has been cleaned 2-3 times a day with water and a small amount of Palmolive dish detergent, then squeegeed dry.  Recently, in a high use area, several small areas(.1 to .3 inches across) of etched surface have appeared.  They correspond to areas above clear, white-ish crystals in the stone.   When viewed at an angle, these areas stand out sharply compared to the polish of the rest of the surface.

Can anyone please recommend a plan to:
   1.  prevent further development of the existing etched spots
   2.  prevent development of new etched spots.
   3.  restore etched spots...maybe seal/epoxy/repolish?

thanks,

fitzman

cobble sink

Cobble sink---

We offer 100%natural cobble sink - cobble vessel- cobble bowl - cobble basin- cobblestone sink- cobblestone vessel - cobblestone bowl-cobblestone basin .

 

art stone sink---

Supply bathroom art stone sink--art granite sink--art marble sink.Best bathroom art stone sink supplier in china.

stone undermount sink | granite undermount sink

Sunshine stone offer various stone undermount sink for vanity top

 

stone pedestal sink--

Professional stone pedestal sink manufacturer and exporter in china.We offer stone pedestal sink with cheapest price and best quality.

 

Bathroom iron pedestal sink--iron base with stone sink

 

Stone farm sink--

Professional stone farm sink manufacturer and exporter in china.We offer stone farm sink-stone kitchen sink-stone farmhouse sink. 

 

Stone Bathroom accessory --stone soap dish | tissue holder 

 

Handcarved solid natural stone bathtub---

Sunshine stone manufacture and export all kinds of Natural Stone Bathtub, onyx bathtub , marble bathtub ,travertine bathtub .Bath Tub Importers, Wholesalers, Distributors at sunshine stone, the world's largest online base of suppliers. 

 

100% natural stone toilet Granite toilet exporter and manufacturer.

Products include granite toilet marble toilet,travertine toilet,onyx toilet,limestone toilet.Also we manufacture granite urinal and marble urinal.

 

Handcarved solid natural stone bathtub--- Sunshine stone manufacture and export all kinds of Natural Stone Bathtub, onyx bathtub , marble bathtub ,travertine bathtub .Bath Tub Importers.

 

Sunshine Stone Inc stock hundred tons queen onyx blocks every month.

We can supply you cheap but good quality queen onyx products, such as sunshine queen onyx marble vessel sink.

 

Stone farm sink--Professional stone farm sink manufacturer and exporter in china.We offer stone farm sink-stone kitchen sink-stone farmhouse sink.

 

Sunshine stone manufacture stone bathroom sanitary ware items and office gift items. These stone bathroom sanitary ware items are Hand-Crafted using the 100% natural onyx and marble. Sunshine stone is stone bathroom sanitary ware manufacturer , exporter ,disbutor .We own a good design team to design new bahtroom sanitary item.

 

Sunshine Stone Inc import carrara directly from Italy every month.

we can supply you with cheap but good quality carrara products . such as sunshine carrara marble vessel sink,carrara vanity top,carrara tiles,carrara countertop, carrara farm & farmhouse sink ,carrara bathtub,carrara column,carrara step and riser tile etc

 

white onyx ---sink vanity top countertop tile column light lampprofessional white onyx sink manufacturer exporter white onyx

 

We can supply you cheap but good quality green onyx products, such as sunshine green onyx marble vessel sink, green onyx vanity top, green onyx tiles, green onyx countertop, green onyx farm & farmhouse sink , green onyx bathtub, green onyx column,green onyx step and riser tile etc.

 

Limestone sink--- we offer limestone sink with cheapest priest and good quality.

 

Sunshine stone is sandstone Wholesalers, Distributors at fujian china, the world's online base of suppliers and importers.

We can supply you cheap but good quality sandstone products, such as sunshine sandstone marble vessel sink, sandstone vanity top, sandstone tiles, sandstone countertop, sandstone farm & farmhouse sink , sandstone bathtub, sandstone column, sandstone step and riser tile etc ,sandstone toilet.

 

sunshine stone can supply you good quality of petrified wood sink with low price.

 

We can supply you cheap but good quality blue onyx products, such as sunshine blue onyx marble vessel sink, blue onyx vanity top, blue onyx tiles, blue onyx countertop, blue onyx farm & farmhouse sink , blue onyx bathtub, blue onyx column , blue onyx step and riser tile etc.

 

 

Sunshine stone travertine products include travertine vanity top, countertop, stone vessel sink,travertine vessel sink , travertine farm sink farmhouse sink.

Color avaliable : yellow travertine , red travertine, cream travrtine , brown travertine , walnut travertine ,

 

We can supply you cheap but good quality pink onyx products, such as sunshine pink onyx marble vessel sink, pink onyx vanity top, pink onyx tiles, pink onyx countertop, pink onyx farm & farmhouse sink , pink onyx bathtub, pink onyx column , pink onyx step and riser tile etc.

 

we offer absolute black granite sink

 

We can supply you cheap and good quality honey onyx products , such as sunshine honey onyx vessel sink , honey onyx vanity top , honey onyx tiles , honey onyx countertop , honey onyx farm & farmhouse sink , honey onyx bathtub , honey onyx column , honey onyx step and riser tile etc.

 

Sunshine stone manufacture stone desk top items and office gift items. These Table-Top Gift Items and Accessories are Hand-Crafted using the 100% natural onyx and marble.  These onyx desk top items are also a welcome presence in an office environment. Onyx desktop items require little maintenance and provide some peace to even the most stressful working day.

 

Sunshine stone manufacture onyx flower pot and flower vase items . These onyx flower pot and flower vase Items are Hand-Crafted using the 100% natural onyx and marble. These onyxonyx flower pot and flower vase items are also a welcome presence in an office environment. onyx flower pot and flower vase items require little maintenance and provide some peace to even the most stressful working day.

 

Our stone vessel sink products include granite sink (such as absolute black round vessel sink,rustic round vessel sink),marble vessel sink(such as carrara white round vessel sink,crema marfil round vessel sink,beige vessel sink),onyx vessel sink(such as green onyx vessel sink,white onyx vessel sink,orange onyx vessel sink,honey onyx vessel sink),travertine vessel sink(such as beige travertine vessel sink, brown travertine sink,red travertine sink),cobble vessel sink, sandstone vessel sink, farm sink & farmhouse sink, pedestal sink, stone bathtub, granite bathtub, marble bathtub etc.

 We are specializing in marble sink, travertine sink, onyx sink, soapstone sink.we can also make you a custom marble sink!You design the sink shape and size,we have it made for you.

 

Sunshine Stone manufacture all kinds of onyx sink . ,such as yellow onyx sink, green onyx sink, white onyx sink,blue onyx vessel sink ,pink onyx sink,red onyx sink orange onyx bowl,,we also manufacture onyx tile ,onyx vanity top,onyx countertop .

 

Granite sinks---

Sunshine Stone wholesale natural granite sinks worldwide. All our granite sinks are hand crafted from one piece of solid natural stone.

 

Cobble sink---We offer 100%natural cobble sink - cobble vessel- cobble bowl - cobble basin- cobblestone sink- cobblestone vessel - cobblestone bowl-cobblestone basin .

 

art stone sink---

Supply bathroom art stone sink--art granite sink--art marble sink.Best bathroom art stone sink supplier in china. 

 

stone undermount sink | granite undermount sink

Sunshine stone offer various stone undermount sink for vanity top

 

stone pedestal sink--

Professional stone pedestal sink manufacturer and exporter in china.We offer stone pedestal sink with cheapest price and best quality.

 

 

Bathroom iron pedestal sink--iron base with stone sink

 

Stone farm sink--

Professional stone farm sink manufacturer and exporter in china.We offer stone farm sink-stone kitchen sink-stone farmhouse sink. 

 

Stone Bathroom accessory --stone soap dish | tissue holder 

 

Handcarved solid natural stone bathtub---

Sunshine stone manufacture and export all kinds of Natural Stone Bathtub, onyx bathtub , marble bathtub ,travertine bathtub .Bath Tub Importers, Wholesalers, Distributors at sunshine stone, the world's largest online base of suppliers. 

 

100% natural stone toilet Granite toilet exporter and manufacturer.

Products include granite toilet marble toilet,travertine toilet,onyx toilet,limestone toilet.Also we manufacture granite urinal and marble urinal.

 

findstone2006-11-08 01:59:52