CHANGE YOUR CLOCKS, CLEAN YOUR STONE FLOORS

Since it's automatic to change all of your clocks and the batteries in your smoke alarms every year at this time also check out your stone and tile.  If you have marble, limestone or travertine floors it is time to have them professionally cleaned and re-sealed.  I'm reminded of story several years ago when a bank manager called from Chicago about the dark, ugly stains on his limestone floor.  Bank customers came in from the snowy outdoors with salt on their shoes and there was a huge stain spreading under the free standing counter where they stopped to fill out their paperwork.  For some reason the bank manager didn't think stone floors needed to be regularly cleaned and re-sealed and the floor had been down for four years!  A stone cleaning professional was called in and he removed the stain, cleaned and re-sealed the limestone and gave the regular cleaning crew valuable tips on how to maintain the floors.  Needless to say, the bank now has a yearly appointment with professionals for cleaning and resealing.

When cleaning your stone floors, vacuum first and then mop with a mild stone soap.  I like to use steamers, they use less water, clean very well and dry faster.  

There are several ways to check your counters and grout.  With a slightly damp sponge, squeeze out some water drops on your stone counters or floors.  If the water beads up, your seal is holding, if the water is absorbed into your stone it's time to re-seal.  In the shower or tile counters if the water darkens the grout, it's time to re-seal.  

STONE TILE FINISHES - PART 1

POLISHED - The most common factory finish for marble and granite, some limestone, travertine and quartzite. The marble and granite are buffed to a high gloss finish. Travertine is softer and very few will hold a high gloss finish and will show traffic patterns over time. Quartzite has a few colors that can be polished and some come in solid surface slabs in addition to the tiles. It takes twice as many buffing machines to polish granite as opposed to marble. (Photo is polished silver shine quartzite.)

HIGH HONE - Finish between polished and honed.  Found on travertine, limestone and quartzite.  Not a high reflective polish but more reflective than honed.

HONED - Smooth dull finish available on tiles and some slabs. Some clients don't like the shine of granite and honing the stone may make the counter top surface more acceptable.  Honed black granite is a softer look than the polished and is perfect for arts and crafts decor.  Polished would be perfect for traditional or modern.   Honed granite can sometimes appear dusty, always have a small piece honed before you make a final decision. Limestone and travertine are most commonly produced honed.  Brazillian slate comes in both tiles and slabs in a smooth honed finish.

SAWN - Diamond saws are used to cut the stone, in a sawn finish the raw saw teeth marks are left in the stone. The best examples of sawn finishes are found on the back side of slabs.  If the stone went through the next step with polishing heads the stone would be honed.

NATURAL CLEFT - Slate and quartzite come in natural cleft.  Both should be sealed before grouting, it will save hours of cleanup time.  Natural cleft if great for outdoor patios and pool areas.  Quartzite does not hold heat the same way that slate does so pool areas stay cooler underfoot.  Slate is not recommended for outdoors in snow or freezing temperatures it has a tendency to flake off the surface.  Natural cleft slate comes in lots of thicknesses from 1/4" to 1".  Gauged slate is where the back is ground down and ranges in thickness from 3/8" to 5/8".  You pay more for the Gauged, but it is much easier and cheaper to install than the natural.  Flagstone can also be included under natural cleft, the difference is the irregular shape of the pieces as opposed to the tiles.  Flagstone comes in crates that cover 200 to 240 square feet. 

BRUSHED - Factory finish where course wire rotary brushes are used on stone to slightly dig out some areas.  This is also know as an antique finish as it resembles the wear patten on old reclaimed stone.  The limestone shown on right is Jerusalem Gold.   

ACID WASH - Muriatic acid is used in different strengths to wash the stone.  The acid dissolves crystal veins and soft spots on the face of the stone creating an antique finish very similar to the brushed. I've found this process to be most effective with Crema Marfil, Emperador Light and Dark and Rojo Alicante.

BUSH-HAMMERED - A mechanical hammer hits the stone's face to create a dimpled surface.  Textures will vary from very subtle to rough.  Bush-hammered surfaces are used as building cladding, outdoor floors for non-slip finishes and interior textured walls.Combining finishes in the same stone or similar ones will build textures into your designs; honed floors, bush-hammered steps and split faced walls will change the direction of your room's design from ordinary to spectacular.  Slab edge finishes can also be three dimentional, chiseled edges on honed solid surfaces can maintain a rustic look for a commercial lobby or residential outdoor kitchen.

SANDBLASTED - There are several grades of sandblasting available from light to heavy.  Sandblasted granite can make a beautiful fountain with water rippling down the rough surface.  If granite was used outside or in a lobby area with pedestrian traffic where slipping was an issue, sandblasting the stone could fix the problem.  Re-seal with an enhancing sealer and the color should come back up in the stone.  I've seen sandblasted counters on outdoor and indoor kitchens to remove the gloss of polished granite.  I always recommend that you have sample pieces done to make sure you are happy with your fininsh choice.  Work with your fabricator and/or designer to get samples of different finishes.

FLAMED - The most interesting flamed stone is Jerusalem Gold, which when flamed turns pink with gold undertones.  This is another finish for granite that creates a rough texture that makes granite slip resistant.  If slabs are badly scratched, flaming will make them usable for outdoor applications or cladding.  Flaming may not work on standard 3/8th" tiles, they have a tendency to crack under the heat, it is best to use this on slabs.  This is also known as a thermal finish. To have this finish on tiles they should be purchased that way from the supplier, factory or quarry.

THE BEGINNING

The other day I went to see "Julie and Julia" which inspired me to begin this blog. Since there is no way that I could negotiate my way through 524 recipes (even though I have the book), I don't have a passion for cooking. However the fact that Julie is now publishing her second book and also signed a movie deal after her first year was rather intriguing.....


I love tiles, the texture, the whimsy and the overall look, that is my passion. Now, I work mainly with designers, they have a color vision which I translate into the best stone, glass tile or porcelain that meets their needs. I'm the first to admit the I wouldn't have a clue if a chenille or twill would work on a couch but I can tell you if limestone or travertine should go on your floor.


Whenever you find this blog and choose to join in, Welcome. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to express them. This is a forum for everyone and we can all have fun making our homes unique.


For now I'll leave you with one of my favorite art tiles by Sandy Culp. This is Pear Pair which is a perfect touch of whimsy for any rustic kitchen.