Can I use kadappa black, kotah or shahabad yellow stone as an interior flooring?
Q: Are kadappa black, kotah and shahabad yellow stone good dense stones? can they be used in interior flooring? In India one of the top companies is indicted on doctoredstone.org so it is very difficult to trust any vendor. In such a scenario, would it be foolishness to choose natural stone?A: T ...
- Granite edges do not match countertops
[Fabrication Company] installed Kashmir Gold granite kitchen countertops in our home and the surface tops are yellowed and the bullnose edges are without yellow. We complained immediately during installation and they promised that their polish would make the edges change to the color of the surf ...
- Have you ever heard of Doctored Travertine?
Q: In India, I have heard that Travertine stone is doctored by adding a substrate to the base of another hard cheaper stone. How can I know whether it is so without breaking it?A: Many of the black granites from India are darkened with dyes, but to my knowledge travertine is not doctored. There ...
- Membrane for cracked tile replacement?
Q: Hello, I have a problem with a few cracked ceramic tiles in an entryway. The tiles have cracked due to cracks (mostly hairline) in the concrete foundation. I have heard of some kind of membrane material that can be used when such cracked tiles are replaced; the membrane is supposed to isolate ...
- My travertine stone tile shower surround is too small for my new glass shower door.
Q: I bought a glass shower door. The opening is approx. 1/8" to small. I am checking on having the glass door reduced by that amount. Or is there a way I can sand the travertine tile so the door will close.A: No, you do not want to sand the tile. If you do, you will change the finish of the ston ...
- remove travertine tiles
Q. I have to do a repair around a jetted tub set in 12" travertine tile landing. All the tiles are set in grout. Is there a way to dissolve the grout & save the tiles? Thanks, Tom--A. Hi Tom, There is a risk factor involved with this task. Of course, acid will "dissolve or deteriorate" grout/thi ...
- Should I polish and seal my new marble flooring?
Q: Just had a new marble flooring installed (approximately 2500 sq. ft). Contractor did not mention polishing or sealing--job is now over..just told me to use water to clean the floor. I have since tried to find some info----do you recommend polishing/cleaning of new marble floor followed by a s ...
- Slate installation
Q: Refacing a fireplace with 30cm slate tiles. What is the best adhesive to use (only about 25 pieces of tile involved so don't want to have to purchase a 50lb. bag of anything)? Would a premix mastic work? Will I need to provide support for the tiles over the opening or will the adhesive suppor ...
- Tiles popping
Q: I'm laying "penny" mosaic tile on top of a heating system. I had to use a light amount of thinset in some spots due to leveling issues. As a result I have some tiles that are coming up (I have not yet grouted). I am going to use spectralock epoxy grout (which I have used before) and know it ...
- Travertine Filling and Installation
Q: I found a pile of travertine tile in my newly purchased house. It's not used anywhere in the house but would like to use it for a bathroom floor. Problem is, many of the tile have holes that go through, some as big as a dime. Is there anything to do to make this tile usable?A: What you have i ...
- travertine tile bathroom
Q: I have a 2nd floor shower with moisture resistant sheetrock. I want to put 18" travertine tile on the walls above the pan. Using modified mortar, can these tiles be put on the wall with mortar blobs leaving an air space behind tile or do the tiles need to be buttered completely and stuck on w ...
- Verde Fuoco Installation
Q. I have just had a large granite countertop installation done, including two large pieces of verde fuoco, which are riddled with fissures as well as several cracks, some but not all of which appear to have started out as fissures. I want to replace these two pieces--one is an 84 x 38 peninsula ...
- What do I use to reattach glass mosaic tiles?
Q. I have installed a stained glass wall and pond. The mosaic sits on a mortar base, redguard sealer, then more mortar to level the surface. The glass mosaic is put up with latacrete. All of this is put on to a 8 x 16 block wall. One side is peeling off the wall and the glass is cracking. What d ...
- What is the proper grout for exterior limestone walkway?
Q. What is the proper grout for an exterior limestone walkway? Is there a dry grout that can be swept between the stone? Where would I look for stonedust? A. The proper grout will depend on how the stone is set. Will it be set in mortar or placed on a dry sand bed? Also where are you located? ...
- What should I ask a prospective tile setter?
Q. I am going to be hiring a tile setter. What kinds of questions should I ask them? By the way, I am in California.A. We asked our Installation Technical Director, Giovanni Lagana of Lagana Tile (www.laganatile.com), what a consumer should ask a prospective tile setter. This is what he said.1. ...
