FAQ

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions we are asked and their answers. If you don't find the answer you're looking for here, by all means just Ask Tom.

Also, be sure to to visit the MIA's (Marble Institute of America) web page on Natural Stone Care and Cleaning (click) where you also find a great video. It is a great resource for any owner of natural stone and it will answer a lot of questions without trying to push any unnecessary products or brands.  Feel free to ask Tom what products he uses at home or with his customers.

Q.  Should I seal my counter top?

A.  This is a tricky question. Why? Because not all stone was created equal.  Add to that the fact that many stones that previously needed to be sealed have now been treated in the processing of the stone and no longer require it.  The best way to answer that is to do the lemon and oil test before you purchase your counter. If it is already installed, no worries! If it is not showing any signs of darkening when wet, it does not need to be sealed. I have Butterfly Blue in my bathroom and we slop toothpaste, makeup and whatever at it. It has never shown any signs of staining. 

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Q. I am looking for a better way to clean my shower grout. I've tried many commercial cleaners and they do not seem to work very well.

A.  Most of the shower and grout cleaners on the market are designed for the consumer to need more of their product. They remove not only the grime, but the top layer of the grout as well leaving bigger holes for hard water, soap scum and bacteria to hold on to. The shower cleaners recommended by our staff are for a reason. Not to make us money (1 or 2 bottles a day will not make us rich), but to help our customers. The products from our supplier friends are the very ones we use in our day to day work and in our own homes. The products we recommend will not harm your stone or grout

Q.  My marble coffee table has white stains that I cannot get rid of. Is there a cleaner to remove them?

A. No. They are not stains. They are acid etches. The stone has been chemically etched by the neutralization process that happens between calcium (the main ingredient in marble) and the acid applied or spilled on your table top. You need to call a professional restoration contractor to refinish your stone. Understand this it is not cleaning—it is polishing the stone much like jewelers rouge.

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Q. My cleaning woman has been washing our cream coloured marble with vinegar. She said she does this for other clients. Is this what she should be using for marble? Our floor is only one year old and behind some furniture it still looks brand new. Could this be what is making the center dull?

A.  Yes!  Vinegar is to marble what Kryptonite is to Superman. Only with marble, it is not science fiction. When you get an upset stomach (acid indigestion), you are encouraged to take Rolaids® (calcium) to neutralize the acid. Vinegar is an acid and marble is made up of predominantly calcium carbonate. The marble neutralizes the vinegar and is dissolved in the process (much like the Rolaids® dissolve in your stomach). When diluted with water, it only slows down the process. Tell your cleaning person to save the vinegar for the french fries.

Q.  I have 2 companies bidding on my marble polishing. One is almost half the price of the other. How do I know if the higher priced contractor is ripping me off or if the lower priced one knows what he is doing?

A.  Ask the higher priced contractor why he is higher. If he can explain why in a logical way (other than saying the lower priced one is a jerk), he may be able to give you a good feeling and help you understand the processes needed to do it right. Then ask the lower priced contractor why he is so low.  If he says he can do a better job for less or that he works on volume, chances are he is inexperienced. Quality restoration firms do not work on volume.  We cannot afford to rush Mother Nature and still have a good reputation.