Home Construction and Maintenance
 

Keywords :   


Construction and Maintenance

Granite : Why are my Black Galaxy tiles being discoloured?

2024-12-11 07:01:28| Natural Stones | Stone Portal | Granite Tile | Granite | Marble | Granite Marble | Marble Granite | Marble and Granite | Granite and Marble | Stone Industry | RSS Feeds | www.findstone.com

Author: GeorgeGSubject: Why are my Black Galaxy tiles being discoloured?Posted: 21 Jan 2010 at 9:31amHi all, I hope someone can help me. I purchased 43m2 of Black Galaxy tiles and did the oil test to work out if I should pre seal them. I left olive oil on for 24 hrs and it just wiped off with no stain so I was happy that I didnt need to seal them. However, I also did the lemon juice test and found that it greyed the granite after only 10 mins. The granite didnt seem to significantly grey any further with lemon juice applied for 30mins, 60mins and 12 hours (refer LemonTen30Sixty12hrs.jpg showing 10, 30, 60mins and 12hrs from left to right). I asked the supplier why this is happened because granite should not be affected at all by any acid other than hydrofluoric acid. His reply is as follows: Spoke to the manufacturer and there is no coating of any kind whatsoever on your granite tiles, they are pure granite, they have not even been sealed, only polished. The tiles have come from the most highly regarded manufacturer and none of their products have any coatings on them.They have done an investigation on your tile and have said:Your particular granite tiles are not 100% non porous, they are the tiniest amount porous (0.03 to 1 porous) and will therefore need to seal your tiles.The reason you got the mark is because the acid is eating away at the 'oxide' in the granite, it has nothing to do with having a coating of any sort on the tile.I did a similar test on a sample of Black Galaxy from a different supplier and found there was no mark after 30mins for lemon juice or white vinegar. However, there was a slight mark left after I let some lemon juice and white vinegar total dry after 24 hrs over a very hot day (refer DryLemonVinegarOtherSup.jpg).I have heard that wetting the back of the tile reveals the true colour. I submerged the tile in water for six hours face down in a paint tray and put another tile face up next to it (refer BackFrontColorDiff.jpg). There is a significant difference. However, the sample from the different supplier seamed to be even lighter when submerged and placed on top of the tile (refer OtherSupBackColorDiff.jpg).There doesnt seem to been any substance on the side of the tiles to indicate any doctoring (refer SideColor.jpg).I put hydrochloric acid on half of one tile and let it stand for 24 hrs to see how bad acid could discolour the tile as a worst case scenario. The standing hydrochloric acid turned yellow (refer Hydrochloric acid on tile.jpg). I wiped it off (being careful not to get any acid on the other half of the tile) with a white rag and it turned it yellow (refer Stained rag.jpg). I put the rag on the clothes line to dry and when it did the yellow almost totally disappeared (refer Dried rag.jpg). I then hosed down the tile with water (again being careful not to get any acid on the other half of the tile). The tile was very grey where the acid was but also went significant grey where there was no acid presumably just from the acid fumes (refer Tested and untested tile.jpg). I did not dilute the acid which was the strongest type from the hardware store (i.e. probably 30%).The acid may have etched the tile as its reflective ability seems slightly diminished (refer Reflection.jpg). The surface feels noticeably rougher than the untested section when running a rag across it with your finger.I put hydrochloric acid on another sample of Black Galaxy from a different supplier and let it dry for 72 hours over very hot weather (refer DryHCLOtherSup.jpg). I wiped off the substance with a white cloth (refer Dry HCLWipedOff.jpg). This sample was significantly greyed.Could there just be a colour enhancer or resin coming off the tiles? There does not appear to be any case for resining the tiles (other than to change the colour) as the tiles seam to be solid and free of imperfections. I did the olive oil test over night on the HCL tested tile and HCL tested piece from another supplier. It darkened the greyed area almost instantaneously (refer Oil test after1min.jpg). I left it overnight (refer Oil test after 12hrs.jpg). I vigorously cleaned both pieces with a soft sponge and dish washing detergent and couldnt get the stain out (refer Oil stained tile.jpg and Oil stained Other Sup.jpg). I would imaging the MC will do the same thing as the HCL and make the stone more pervious. At the moment I do not have to seal the tiles, I like the colour, but will have to be careful with acids. If I strip the tiles I will have to seal them and do not like the colour.


Category: Construction and Maintenance
 

Water Stains : absolute black and water stains

2024-12-11 07:01:28| Natural Stones | Stone Portal | Granite Tile | Granite | Marble | Granite Marble | Marble Granite | Marble and Granite | Granite and Marble | Stone Industry | RSS Feeds | www.findstone.com

Author: tim707@verizon.Subject: absolute black and water stainsPosted: 20 Jan 2010 at 7:07pmDavid, What makes you think Lime juice will work? And how do you apply it?


Category: Construction and Maintenance
 

Water Stains : absolute black and water stains

2024-12-11 07:01:28| Natural Stones | Stone Portal | Granite Tile | Granite | Marble | Granite Marble | Marble Granite | Marble and Granite | Granite and Marble | Stone Industry | RSS Feeds | www.findstone.com

Author: floormanSubject: absolute black and water stainsPosted: 20 Jan 2010 at 5:52pm     When I restore granite counter tops there are areas that you can't get the tools on mainly up against the faucets. These areas at times have water spots and residue of hard water build up. A new straight razor always cleans these areas up nice. Then I follow it up with a stone wax that you gently buff off with steel wool 0 grit.


Category: Construction and Maintenance
 

Granite : To Seal or not to Seal?

2024-12-11 07:01:28| Natural Stones | Stone Portal | Granite Tile | Granite | Marble | Granite Marble | Marble Granite | Marble and Granite | Granite and Marble | Stone Industry | RSS Feeds | www.findstone.com

Author: floormanSubject: To Seal or not to Seal?Posted: 20 Jan 2010 at 7:57am sound like the water test result came back as not needing sealed. you can have the granite re-polished The stuff you are using to clean with is good about the scratches, when you hire the professional to polish your granite they should be about to remove the scratches


Category: Construction and Maintenance
 

General questions on all kinds of stones : Quartz Countertop Scaling Question

2024-12-11 07:01:28| Natural Stones | Stone Portal | Granite Tile | Granite | Marble | Granite Marble | Marble Granite | Marble and Granite | Granite and Marble | Stone Industry | RSS Feeds | www.findstone.com

Author: LarryLSubject: Quartz Countertop Scaling QuestionPosted: 20 Jan 2010 at 1:35amWhen the plumbers installed my sink faucets - they used regular plumbers putty to seal the hot and cold water faucets.  It reacted with the surface and left a ring of white, scaling around each faucet. (I read that there is a non- reactive putty available - but my plumbers did not use it!). How can I restore the counter surface in these small areas that ring the faucet stems?  


Category: Construction and Maintenance
 

General questions on all kinds of stones : Adhesives and cultured stone

2024-12-11 07:01:28| Natural Stones | Stone Portal | Granite Tile | Granite | Marble | Granite Marble | Marble Granite | Marble and Granite | Granite and Marble | Stone Industry | RSS Feeds | www.findstone.com

Author: marlindanielSubject: Adhesives and cultured stonePosted: 19 Jan 2010 at 4:59pmYeah...I also recommend silicon adhesives.Dow Corning industrial adhesives and sealants are formulated with a varietyof product technologies to meet your specific application


Category: Construction and Maintenance
 

Travertine : travertine best stone for pool deck?

2024-12-11 07:01:28| Natural Stones | Stone Portal | Granite Tile | Granite | Marble | Granite Marble | Marble Granite | Marble and Granite | Granite and Marble | Stone Industry | RSS Feeds | www.findstone.com

Author: landscapeexpertSubject: travertine best stone for pool deck?Posted: 19 Jan 2010 at 1:10amBest value/quality travertine is from Turkey. Italian travertine is similar quality to Turkish travertine but it is way more expensive. Peruvian travertine looks great but it is still early on its evolution process and not extremely durable and also it is more expensive than Turkish travertine. Travertine is porous by nature. You have to finish the stone after you cut to size. For outdoors, you will either tumbled the stone or hone it. If you have it the travertine will be slippery because honing is a mild polish application. Whereas tumbling allows to pores to open more thus allowing the water to be absorbed. So yes tumbled travertine should be used for pool decks. One other application is brushing the honed tile. You need to use honed pavers for a driveway to prevent oil spills to be absorbed. Since honing is a mild polish you are limiting the number of pores available on the surface of the pavers. You want the tires of the car to grab on the chiseled edges because the surface is honed. If the tires can not grab on to something solid the tires would spin. Why do you think the edges are chiseled, just for aesthetics?


Category: Construction and Maintenance
 

Travertine : Travertine set in concrete for pool deck

2024-12-11 07:01:28| Natural Stones | Stone Portal | Granite Tile | Granite | Marble | Granite Marble | Marble Granite | Marble and Granite | Granite and Marble | Stone Industry | RSS Feeds | www.findstone.com

Author: Jessica SSubject: Travertine set in concrete for pool deckPosted: 18 Jan 2010 at 3:57pm Originally posted by MitchellI would appreciate some advice on the best way to set travertine in a concrete pool deck. The current advice is to poor the concrete slab with forms for the travertine and then wet set the travertine into the formed areas. The travertine would be sealed after it is set. I have read about issues with the porous nature of travertine and I am not sure if this is the best way. Should drains be placed under the travertine leading to the gravel under the concrete slab? Thanks.Hi , I am a new member of forum. Would a newcomer be warmly welcome here? Good day you guys!!!Edited by findstone - 20 Jan 2010 at 1:52pm


Category: Construction and Maintenance
 

Granite : BRAND NEW GRANITE BENCHTOP LEMON STAIN

2024-12-11 07:01:28| Natural Stones | Stone Portal | Granite Tile | Granite | Marble | Granite Marble | Marble Granite | Marble and Granite | Granite and Marble | Stone Industry | RSS Feeds | www.findstone.com

Author: AusGraniteSubject: BRAND NEW GRANITE BENCHTOP LEMON STAINPosted: 18 Jan 2010 at 2:50pm    hi guys for weeks now i have been trying to find a solution to this problem. i hope u can help me out. i just had a brand new kitchen top installed no one told me about the dangers of lemon/lime needless to say i have about 10 rings all over my new bench top i have come to the conclusion that it is not a stain more an etch out of the polish i was told this does not need to be sealed because of its small pores i think it has been factory polished ? can any body help me with how i can get it back to looking the way it should thx dave


Category: Construction and Maintenance
 

Marble : Marble & Food Safety

2024-12-11 07:01:28| Natural Stones | Stone Portal | Granite Tile | Granite | Marble | Granite Marble | Marble Granite | Marble and Granite | Granite and Marble | Stone Industry | RSS Feeds | www.findstone.com

Author: James FergusonSubject: Marble & Food SafetyPosted: 18 Jan 2010 at 11:06amHello,Yes you can use detergent for natural stone but I think you should seal your marble. This is a better option    Edited by findstone - 20 Jan 2010 at 1:44pm


Category: Construction and Maintenance
 

Sites : [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] next »