Comments for Tom Cordova - The Rock Blog http://tomcordova.com The Rock Blog Mon, 13 May 2013 19:55:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 Comment on Granite Color Choice (Another Big Post!) by Granite Venetician Gold http://tomcordova.com/169/granite-color-choice-another-big-post/comment-page-6/#comment-215222 Granite Venetician Gold Mon, 13 May 2013 19:55:44 +0000 http://tomcordova.com/169/granite-color-choice-another-big-post/#comment-215222 I have very light honey Maple cabinets, a light floor and want to put in stainless steel appliances I now have white. I have picked a medium to light granite countertop with a biscotti undermount sink. All my door handles are brass and my faucet is chrome. I want to go with a Rubbed Oil bronze faucet and also the same on the door handles do u think this will look good or should I use stainless steel. My walls are a flat yellow called sulfur by Benjamen Moore. Judy I have very light honey Maple cabinets, a light floor and want to put in stainless steel appliances I now have white. I have picked a medium to light granite countertop with a biscotti undermount sink. All my door handles are brass and my faucet is chrome. I want to go with a Rubbed Oil bronze faucet and also the same on the door handles do u think this will look good or should I use stainless steel. My walls are a flat yellow called sulfur by Benjamen Moore.

Judy

]]> Comment on Ask A Question by Teal http://tomcordova.com/ask-a-question/comment-page-17/#comment-213961 Teal Wed, 08 May 2013 01:47:38 +0000 http://tomcordova.com/?page_id=4#comment-213961 Hi Tom, I've read all your posts about the issues with honed granite. However they all seem to be about AB. I am in love with honed black pearl, but in the yard it definitely showed fingerprints. Of course, it was unsealed... My questions are: once sealed, will it be high maintenance still? I don't want to have to worry about bacon splatter ruining my counters if its not wiped up immediately, let alone fingerprints... I also particularly like how gray the stone is. Are there good sealers that won't "enhance" the color and make it darker? I'm between the honed BP and some sort of medium to dark gray quartz. But I've heard also that the edges chip. Any thoughts on that? Thanks so much!! ------- Reply from Tom Black Pearl is very hard so I would not worry about chipping is long as you have a convex shape at the edge. Seal it with The sailor I mentioned in my blog from Dupont and you should be fine with staining. However, bacon splatter is pretty intense so just try to avoid that are clean up quickly. Best, Tom Hi Tom, I’ve read all your posts about the issues with honed granite. However they all seem to be about AB. I am in love with honed black pearl, but in the yard it definitely showed fingerprints. Of course, it was unsealed… My questions are: once sealed, will it be high maintenance still? I don’t want to have to worry about bacon splatter ruining my counters if its not wiped up immediately, let alone fingerprints… I also particularly like how gray the stone is. Are there good sealers that won’t “enhance” the color and make it darker?
I’m between the honed BP and some sort of medium to dark gray quartz. But I’ve heard also that the edges chip. Any thoughts on that?
Thanks so much!!

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Reply from Tom
Black Pearl is very hard so I would not worry about chipping is long as you have a convex shape at the edge. Seal it with The sailor I mentioned in my blog from Dupont and you should be fine with staining. However, bacon splatter is pretty intense so just try to avoid that are clean up quickly.
Best, Tom

]]> Comment on The Possible Nightmare: Honed Granite by phoebe http://tomcordova.com/152/the-possible-nightmare-honed-granite/comment-page-3/#comment-213924 phoebe Tue, 07 May 2013 22:25:38 +0000 http://tomcordova.com/152/the-possible-nightmare-honed-granite/#comment-213924 What is a comparable look to black honed granite that doesn't come with the maintenance issues please? Thank you! ------ Reply from Tom The only maintenance issue you can avoid is the fingerprints and stains from oils. There are engineered black quartzites From Caesarstone and zodiac and Silestone that hold up very well. Those are are the best alternatives, although not very natural and lack a deep luster. Best, Tom What is a comparable look to black honed granite that doesn’t come with the maintenance issues please? Thank you!
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Reply from Tom

The only maintenance issue you can avoid is the fingerprints and stains from oils. There are engineered black quartzites From Caesarstone and zodiac and Silestone that hold up very well. Those are are the best alternatives, although not very natural and lack a deep luster.

Best, Tom

]]> Comment on Black Galaxy or Emerald Pearl Granite? by adrianna http://tomcordova.com/257/black-galaxy-or-emerald-pearl-granite/comment-page-1/#comment-210754 adrianna Wed, 01 May 2013 07:37:11 +0000 http://tomcordova.com/257/black-galaxy-or-emerald-pearl-granite/#comment-210754 Hello I have emerald pearl granite but i desperatley need help with painting my walls to match the colors of the granite, can someone give me an idea??? From Tom: Bright white goes very well with emerald Pearl, but if that is too cold for you try a bright yellow. Keep it bright. Best, Tom Hello I have emerald pearl granite but i desperatley need help with painting my walls to match the colors of the granite, can someone give me an idea???

From Tom:

Bright white goes very well with emerald Pearl, but if that is too cold for you try a bright yellow. Keep it bright.

Best, Tom

]]> Comment on Color differences with an Ogee edge? by Save Mungo http://tomcordova.com/163/color-differences-with-an-ogee-edge/comment-page-1/#comment-210347 Save Mungo Tue, 30 Apr 2013 21:04:51 +0000 http://tomcordova.com/163/color-differences-with-an-ogee-edge/#comment-210347 Howdy Tom! 1. Is it true that tropical green granite is UV sensitive in the sense that it changes colors? NOT inside a home, but rather outside, i.e. a monument. 2. What color of cabinet finish would you recommend with that color? Thank you! S.M. From Tom: All natural Green granites are UV sensitive and will yellow or oxidize over time. Unatuba or Labrador Green is the most sensitive. Emerald green, if from India, has far more quartzite and is less sensitive. However that particular stone is brittle, and has other problems. Keep all green granites out of direct sun and you will be okay. Use stainless fixtures for a beautiful combination. All natural woods and even light paint colors go well with these green granites. You cannot go wrong. Best, Tom Howdy Tom!

1. Is it true that tropical green granite is UV sensitive in the sense that it changes colors? NOT inside a home, but rather outside, i.e. a monument.
2. What color of cabinet finish would you recommend with that color?

Thank you!
S.M.

From Tom:

All natural Green granites are UV sensitive and will yellow or oxidize over time. Unatuba or Labrador Green is the most sensitive. Emerald green, if from India, has far more quartzite and is less sensitive. However that particular stone is brittle, and has other problems.

Keep all green granites out of direct sun and you will be okay. Use stainless fixtures for a beautiful combination. All natural woods and even light paint colors go well with these green granites. You cannot go wrong.

Best, Tom

]]> Comment on Granite Color Choice (Another Big Post!) by Suzanne http://tomcordova.com/169/granite-color-choice-another-big-post/comment-page-6/#comment-210339 Suzanne Tue, 30 Apr 2013 19:58:03 +0000 http://tomcordova.com/169/granite-color-choice-another-big-post/#comment-210339 I have a tudor style home built in 1979. The kitchen floor is authentic mexican tile ( dark orange color - octagonal shaped with a slight hump. The cabinets are a rustic dark hickory with lots of holes and swirls. I am looking to update the kitchen but not do a total make over since I will be selling the home in the next 5 years or so. I thought if I put in granite countertops that would be sufficent. Some granites are way too busy for the cabinets and some that would look good have way too much orange, making the room look a bit Halloweenish. What would you recommend since I have been looking for some time now? I would also need some idea as to the backsplash. I have a tudor style home built in 1979. The kitchen floor is authentic mexican tile ( dark orange color – octagonal shaped with a slight hump. The cabinets are a rustic dark hickory with lots of holes and swirls. I am looking to update the kitchen but not do a total make over since I will be selling the home in the next 5 years or so. I thought if I put in granite countertops that would be sufficent. Some granites are way too busy for the cabinets and some that would look good have way too much orange, making the room look a bit Halloweenish. What would you recommend since I have been looking for some time now? I would also need some idea as to the backsplash.

]]> Comment on Ask A Question by Matt http://tomcordova.com/ask-a-question/comment-page-17/#comment-210288 Matt Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:07:08 +0000 http://tomcordova.com/?page_id=4#comment-210288 Hi Tom. We are remodeling our kitchen and keeping our golden oak cabinets. We liked the look of the New Venetian Gold granite but are concerned it may be too light for the cabinets that have somewhat of an orange tint. Would tropical brown or one of the darker brown colors work better? We also plan to get new flooring - probably vinyl tiles with grout lines, but not sure what color yet as well as a light tile backsplash. Thanks! Hi Tom. We are remodeling our kitchen and keeping our golden oak cabinets. We liked the look of the New Venetian Gold granite but are concerned it may be too light for the cabinets that have somewhat of an orange tint. Would tropical brown or one of the darker brown colors work better? We also plan to get new flooring – probably vinyl tiles with grout lines, but not sure what color yet as well as a light tile backsplash. Thanks!

]]> Comment on Ask A Question by Nelda Ray http://tomcordova.com/ask-a-question/comment-page-17/#comment-208753 Nelda Ray Sun, 28 Apr 2013 05:45:31 +0000 http://tomcordova.com/?page_id=4#comment-208753 I am so excited to see your page and have the opportunity to ask you a question. I am very frustrated because I cannot make a decision! I have autumn brown granite in my kitchen and antique white cabinets. I am having a lot of trouble deciding on the backsplash color. Since my kitchen is fairly small I was wondering if it would be better to just go with a white backsplash in a very simple blocked pattern or if I need to do something else - ie color, design, etc. My floor tile is a very neutral brown shade. I am trying to stay with neutral/earthtone colors and put my colors in wall paint, curtains, rugs, etc. Can you help me please!!!!!! Thank you so much! I am so excited to see your page and have the opportunity to ask you a question. I am very frustrated because I cannot make a decision! I have autumn brown granite in my kitchen and antique white cabinets. I am having a lot of trouble deciding on the backsplash color. Since my kitchen is fairly small I was wondering if it would be better to just go with a white backsplash in a very simple blocked pattern or if I need to do something else – ie color, design, etc. My floor tile is a very neutral brown shade. I am trying to stay with neutral/earthtone colors and put my colors in wall paint, curtains, rugs, etc. Can you help me please!!!!!! Thank you so much!

]]> Comment on Granite Color Choice: Kashmir White by Janelle http://tomcordova.com/227/granite-color-choice-kashmir-white/comment-page-1/#comment-208518 Janelle Fri, 26 Apr 2013 18:58:57 +0000 http://tomcordova.com/227/granite-color-choice-kashmir-white/#comment-208518 Hi Tom, I'm really intersted in the Kashmir White granite as well as Bianco Romano. I would prefer the Kashmir White only because it seems less busy to me than the bianco romano I've been seeing. That being said, I have heard quite a bit that Kashmir White stains very easliy and is a high maintence granite. Is this true? If I were to spill oil on it, would it leave a permament dark spot? Is there a way to make it completley stain and etch proof? Hi Tom,
I’m really intersted in the Kashmir White granite as well as Bianco Romano. I would prefer the Kashmir White only because it seems less busy to me than the bianco romano I’ve been seeing. That being said, I have heard quite a bit that Kashmir White stains very easliy and is a high maintence granite. Is this true? If I were to spill oil on it, would it leave a permament dark spot? Is there a way to make it completley stain and etch proof?

]]> Comment on Troubleshooting Travertine Tile Installation Problem by Sherry Harrington http://tomcordova.com/84/troubleshooting-travertine-tile-installation-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-208476 Sherry Harrington Fri, 26 Apr 2013 16:29:44 +0000 http://tomcordova.com/84/troubleshooting-travertine-tile-installation-problem/#comment-208476 I recently installed a 12 x 12 travertine floor tile in a customers home, 5 rooms different layouts same tile, same subfloor, same grout sealer and thinset that was fortified witha laytex additive. The customers says the kitchen has 6 tiles that have holes in the tile, pits that a quarter size and larger that just suddenly appear?!? any ideas what could be causing this? I recently installed a 12 x 12 travertine floor tile in a customers home, 5 rooms different layouts same tile, same subfloor, same grout sealer and thinset that was fortified witha laytex additive. The customers says the kitchen has 6 tiles that have holes in the tile, pits that a quarter size and larger that just suddenly appear?!? any ideas what could be causing this?

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