Frequently Asked Questions
1. What type of stains cause etchings on my marble stone leaving a dull spot?
Food and chemicals that cause etching are lemon, tomato, tomato sauce, vinegar, fruits, fruit juices, wine, coffee, urine, vomit, tile cleaners like X-14 and Tile-X, various mildew removers, acidic toilet bowl cleaners, cleansers containing lemon, or driveway cleaners.
2. The slate on our deck has developed a hard white deposit coming out of the grout lines. How can we clean it?
The white deposits are salts which are bleeding from the grout joints or from the mortar. An acid wash will be required to remove the salts. Once the salts are cleaned, a good quality sealer needs to be applied.
3. My granite vanity counter top has gold/brass fixtures. What can I use to clean the granite without damaging the fixtures?
Using a good stone soap is recommended for daily light cleaning but be careful when using acidic cleaners. Acids will tarnish the fixtures.
4. I have Jerusalem Gold tiles on my bathroom floor and have a problem keeping the floor clean at the base of the urinal. What can I use to clean it?
Unfortunately, urine is an acid and there are no products on the market that will repel acid. Keeping the area clean every day with a stone cleaner may help. Applying a good quality oil-repellent impregnator may also help. If the stains show severe etching, we recommend having the floor refinished and then apply a good sealer.
5. Can stone soap be used on granite surfaces and marble surfaces?
Yes, both granite and marble surfaces can be cleaning with neutral pH cleaners and stone soap. Use tepid water or cold water. Hot water may streak the stone.
6. What is the difference between honing and grinding?
Grinding refers to the removal of large amounts of material from the surface of the stone. The grinding method would be used to remove lippage (uneven surface) thereby smoothing out the surface of the area making it uniform. Honing is the smoothing of the stone, not as aggressive as grinding and removes very little material from the stone, giving a matt (not shinny) look to the surface.
7. I had my bathroom shower walls and floor tiled. When can I use my shower?
It is our policy to use a high quality sealer after completing any tile or stone project. Once the sealer is applied, we recommend waiting 24 hours before using the shower.
8. Water leaked from the planter onto the hearth of my limestone fireplace. What can I do to remove the stain?
Limestone is porous by nature. It will absorb stains from many things. Due to the high porosity, limestone is much more susceptible to absorption of oils, dirt and grime than other natural stone. Once a stain has penetrated the stone, it will need some type of poultice with whiting. The best protection against staining is to wipe up after water leakage.
9. We have hard-water spots forming on our ceramic tile shower walls. Is there any way to clean this?
Try using a vinegar and water mixture for removing the spots.
10. What type of dust mop can I use on my marble floor?
Because most treated dust mops are treated with an oil-based chemical. Certain stones can absorb oil, which can cause staining. Purchase only dust mops that are untreated.
11. Do I need to seal my stone surfaces and how often is this done?
All stone surfaces need to be sealed. The shower area should be resealed at least every other year. Kitchen counter tops, vanities, and other similar stone surfaces should be resealed at least every three years. It is very important to use a quality product.
12. Is granite acid resistant?
Granite contains no acid-sensitive minerals and acids generally will not affect it. But, there is one acid that will severely etch, pit and dull a polished granite surface. This acid is known as Hydrofluoric acid (HF) and is found in many rust removers.