Hello Tom,

I have been most interested in the questions you’ve been receiving regarding problems with green granites. Could you please tell me if Canadian granite, “Adobe” color is a green granite (my monitor does not show me if it is really green and tan) and whether it, and “Tunas Sea Green” from Brazil will have any “staining” problems? Also, I have read somewhere that some companies cut their stone with kerosene instead of water and that the residual kerosene perks to the surface, staining the stone. How can you be sure that your green granite selection has been water cut?

My thanks for your expertise,
Merr

Hello Merry

I do not believe that anyone in the USA uses Kerosene for cutting. It is just too much of a health hazards and very few even know that it reduces the wear on diamond tools. Would the fabrication plant in Canada use it? Yes, perhaps but I don’t think so. Large slabs are cut with what is known as a Gang Saw, along with corundum shot and a large volume of water. Cutting with Kerosene would be more common in very shorter slabs which are cut with a diamond wheel saw.

Anyway, the Adobe granite is very good stone and I recommend you see local samples to understand the true color. Best wishes!

Hello,
I am a Contractor and installed a flamed absolute black granite tile floor in one of my customer’s hallway and bathroom.
Before I had the chance to seal the floors, my client stated that while taking the garbage out, something dripped on the floor and stained it.
Also, there are urine stains on the bathroom floor. I already used two types of granite products for stain removal that I purchased from my granite supplier and they did not work. Can you advise me on what to do next or what other products I can use to remove these stains.

Thank you, Joe

Hello Joe,

Flamed black granite is difficult to clean because the color is so homogeneous. For the hallway, let’s assume that it was food based liquids like tomato juice or something like that. For that you want to soak and scrub with Ivory soap. This is really all that should be needed. Scrub the whole floor and do it as soon as possible.

For Urine, it is a little trickier and before I tell you what to try, I am going to say, “Test it in a small area first”. The reason for testing, is that sometimes cleaning can affect the stone in a way that is even more noticeable than the stain in the first place. As I said above, Black Absolute is so homogeneous in color that you have to clean the whole floor sometimes to get an even look. With that said, mix 1 part vinegar, 1 part 35″ Hydrogen Peroxide, and 6 parts water. Let the solution soak into the stain for about 5 minutes, then use a wet vacuum to pick up the water. Plot up the rest with a dry cloth or rag. Let me know how it turns out!

Best wishes,
Tom Cordova

We recently install Volga Blue in our kitchen. Lately I have noticed it turning brown. Are these rust stains? I’ve been using Stone Care International products to clean it. Help!
Thanks – Rose

Hello Rose,

Volga Blue from the Ukraine, is not really granite. It is natural stone called gabbro-anorthosite and is affected by sunlight. If you have much sunlight coming into the room, it is possible that this could be fading or ‘browning’ the color. It will not deteriorate it just change it a little.

There is also one possibility that that the adhesive they used is bleeding up from the bottom of the stone, but I doubt that.

Best wishes, Tom Cordova

I have Uba Tuba with my faucet, sprayer, and hot water dispenser all sitting directly on/through the granite. As you can imagine, the hard water spots are terrible around the faucets. I know that I am not supposed to use vinegar but what will remove the hard water? Our water is VERY hard. Thanks. — Jill

Hello Jill. Vinegar will not harm your granite but it will remove the sealer that protects it. You can use it, but just remember to re-seal the granite afterward. I would first try TSP (tri-sodium phosphate) from the hardware store.

Can you recommend a home remedy to make for cleaning an off white marble fireplace platform that has rust from water that came in through the chimney? – Susan

Hello Susan,

Yes, use a product called “Iron-out” from your local home improvement store. Test it first in a small area to see the final results.

You may need to apply it several times.

Hi Tom,

What causes rust stains on a supposedly sealed granite shower base and sides or did the installer not impregnate seal it properly im guessing the later and you ?

Thanks, Rick

Hello Rick,

Lighter colored granite needs a heavy coat of sealant to prevent the water from absorbing into the stone but also consider the following. Often times after granite is properly sealed, users use harsh cleaning chemicals. Most of these cleaners will not harm the granite at all, but they will gradually dissolve the sealer and expose the granite to staining.

It sounds like you have another problem as well. Some granite colors contain mica which will rust. You can sometimes see this as a silver fleck in the granite. Even sealer will not prevent the eventual rust marks, usually in a circular pattern around the mica or iron mineral. The rust mark is deep but you could try ‘Iron Out’ found at your local home improvement store. Note, ‘Iron Out’ can etch granite a little so be sure to test it first. After you are done, apply a heavy coat of sealer.

Best wishes,
Tom Cordova

Tom,

I recently had New Venetian Gold installed. The very first thing I noticed was what appeared to be “dust” on the countertop. Upon cleaning with soap and water repeatedly it is still there. It is very noticeable when standing at an angle in the daytime. I called the company that installed and they came out. They said it was from a “new” kind of glue they used to seal the seams and done “something” that supposedly fixed it. Although it did seem to help some, the dust look is still there. My idea of granite is a high gloss stone look, and this is not it. It looks dirty. It either looks like water spots or “dust”. What can I do to make it look right?? Or am I being too picky??

Kelli

Hello Kelli,

I have heard this problem come up several times. Basically, it is my opinion that the granite slabs are sometimes not cleaned thoroughly at the overseas factory before they are impregnated with resin and then polished. When this happens, very small particles are loosely trapped between the rock and the resin. In time, they come lose.

I have heard of success with cleaning the surface thoroughly with Cleans All from Proctor Gamble. This loosens the resin grip on the particles and then you can wipe them off. You will need to buff the surface dry and apply a penetrating sealer after this process is done. I have heard that this works well and if you try this, please let me know your results.

Best wishes!

Tom,

I recently had a stone “granite” installed known as Shanxi Black, which is actually a type of basalt. This stone is very dense and doesn’t seem to accept any type of sealer I put on it.

The other day I had set a plastic cup with water in it on the countertop near the sink. I left the cup overnight, and in the morning, I noticed that the condensation ring had left a white ring in the stone and it looks like it actually etched the surface of the stone.

I have tried acetone, sealer, color enhancer, etc to remove the white ring. I had the installer come back out and try to remove the ring and he was unable to.

Do you have any ideas how water can damage the color and surface of such a “bullet proof” material?

Froggy

Hello Froggy,

I know the Shanxi Black very well. In my opinion it is the best black stone in the world when it is selected without the metal spots. If the finish surface is polished, then I am baffled by water leaving a mark like this. That just does not happen. If the surface is honed, then yes, water can leave a mark and could take a long time to evaporate. My other guess is that the stone is not actually Shanxi Black. I believe that Shanxi black is an Anorthosite, not a basalt. I am aware of other black stone from China that are very porous and could leave a watermark as you mentioned.

Shanxi Black is relatively expensive and the other softer blacks are cheap. Perhaps a local expert should help you further.

Best wishes,
Tom Cordova

Tom,

We have installed a light to medium granite counter top in our kitchen with Ogee edging. The Ogee edging is much lighter in contrast than the flat surface and outlines the countertop. Is this a sealing/finishing error or are Ogee edges always lighter than the flat surfaces. If it is a sealing error, Can it be corrected?

Brian

Hello Brian,

The most common reason this occurs is that the granite you chose had a penetrating resin applied at the overseas factory. This is not uncommon and is a technique used to fill the microscopic pits and holes that occur in some granite colors. Once the edging is routed at the local fabrication shop, the resin is obviously removed from edge of the granite. Even though the granite edge has been re-polished it will not match the shade of the face of the countertop which still has the resin applied. The resin on the flat surface tends to darken the stone a bit and since the edge no longer has the resin, it is lighter.

There is a product called AGER stone enhancer that works quite well for this issue. I have used it myself and it will darken the edge. I believe it is the best approach. Check with your local marble and tile store to find where it is located near you. An experience fabricator might also know where to find it. Be sure that you do a small area first and are satisfied with the results before applying everywhere.

Best wishes,
Tom Cordova

I just had 3cm New Venetian Gold granite put in my kitchen, the installers used acetone to remove glue and then sealed it. I am still trying to remove glue and see greasy looking smudges on it in certain lights! Help what do I do to clean and protect it!

Marcia

Hello Marcia,

Acetone should have done the job. However, I recommend the following: First, use a razor blade to scrape off the glue. Acetone will not remove heavy glue deposits. Then, either use acetone again or use Windex. If the Windex does not work, use a strong solution of liquid dish washing soap and warm water. Use a green scrub pad and go over the whole top. It is important to really get all the soap off when you are done scrubbing because you are going to need to reseal the granite.

After it is all dry and clean, you should not see any film or smudges. Now, reseal according to the advice in my Article, Sealing and Cleaning Your Granite.

Best wishes,
Tom Cordova