Re-writing Standards for Restoration
The commercial and historical committee of the Marble Institute of America’s (MIA) Restoration Committee (2013) is to rewrite the standards for restoration and refinishing in the natural stone industry. Our work on the draft is completed and sent to the MIA. But, I have been singularly impressed with Dr. Fred Hueston’s ” Bible ” in the Industry (available […]
Continue readingRecycled Granite – The new trend
What do you do with that “old”, beautiful granite counter top you’ve just replaced? Recycle it, of course! Natural stone, like granite, is both beautiful and durable thus, making it easy and cost effective to recycle. Not to mention it’s an Eco-friendly choice. Recycling granite is the process of breaking down the material by hand […]
Continue readingHeat, Humidity & Natural Stone Restoration
Customers ask, “Is it ” ok ” to clean, polish and seal my dining room floor and then clean and seal my Indiana Limestone porch when it’s 95f and 70% + humidity?”. Well, it depends. Inside , the AC and the airflow are correct and good – why not? Unless there are pocketswhere the airflow […]
Continue readingNatural Stone- Adaptable With Your Changing Tastes and Trends
Many consumers are unaware that their highly polished marble, granite, travertine, or limestone surfaces can be refinished to a different luster. If you are changing your home, that high gloss white marble floor can be honed to a flat finish to better represent your new style. From countertops to floors, honing your material can change […]
Continue readingHow to Care for your Natural Stone
Keeping your Marble (or other natural stone) looking beautiful doesn’t always cost an arm and a leg. By following a simple set of “care tips”, put together by The Marble Institute of America, you will keep your durable stone looking beautiful and radiant. Do your natural stone a favor, follow the “care tips on this […]
Continue readingNatural Stone Selection Now on IPad
You don’t need to travel to Europe to find natural stones. With the tap of your finger you can see beautiful stones of North America. Dozens of marbles, granites and other natural stone samples. The Marble Institute of America has created an app for the I Pad. The only app for finding locally sourced stone, […]
Continue readingLOBBIES – not the Legislative kind, believe me.
The Building or Hotel Lobby is usually the very 1st impression that a visitor has at a property. Often the impression is not even thought about or talked about – rather it is an unconscious impression and memory that remains with the visitor for ______ days, weeks, months ? And all too often – also […]
Continue readingWHEN IS GRANITE NOT GRANITE??
Usually when it’s black. As some Geologists simply state: ” there is no black Granite stone”. And, our experience is that the Black Absolutes and the other popular black Granites are subject to acid etching and staining much like the calcium carbonate based stones – marble, limestone, onyx and the like. They can lose their […]
Continue readingNatural Stone Memorials
Memorial Day reminds me – among other things – of the very profound and beautiful memorials we have constructed in the USA….most of all , made of Marble or Granite… Of course, the Lincoln Memorial comes to mind: its massive, sitting Lincoln carved professionally looking out at his responsibilities to our country…while sitting clean, authoritative […]
Continue readingPorcelain, Pre-cast Limestone and Epoxy Terrazzo
There are many different kinds of surfaces in the world – to walk on, to hold things up ( walls ) and to beautify a bldg. ( facades ). ” Curve balls ” in our industry can fool even the most experienced professional … Porcelain originally was clay heated to a certain temp, mixed with Granite […]
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