Stain chart

[Huligar]

SWIRLS
Type:
Circular pattern swirls.
Problem:
Swirls marks appear as circular patterns on the surface of the stone.Usually caused by a floor machine using abrasive pads like steel wool or pads that have trapped sand and grit under them.
Solution:
1.Light swirls can be removed by re-polishing.heavy swirls will require re-honing and re-polishing.
Caution: When using any type of rotating machine(floor buffer, automatic scrubber and hand machine) never hold the machine still while running , keep it moving.Keeping machine still may cause severe swirling.

[Huligar]

LEATHER
Type:
Shoe and clothing leather.
Problem;
Leather contains oils and dyes which can penetrate into stone and cause staining.
Solution:
1.Clean the area thoroughly with acetone and a clean white cloth.
2. If stain is deep poultice with a solvent(toluene) and poultice powder.

[Huligar]

CARPET PADDING
Type:
Carpet padding made of jute.
Problem:
Carpet that have jute backing can leave a difficult to remove brown to yellow stain on stone surfaces.The jute is made of a burlap type material.
Solution:
1.Scrap any excess carpet padding from the surface.
2.Clean area thoroughly with a good detergent(Ivory or stone soap) and clean cold water.
3.Poultice with 20-50% hydrogen peroxide and poultice powder.
Jute backing can cause some very deep stains that can penetrate throughout the stone.

[Huligar]

PAPER
Type:
Brown paper bags and construction paper.
Problem:
It is very common for contractors to cover a new stone floor with brown construction paper. If this paper gets wet or slightly wet it will bleed into to stone leaving an ugly brown stain.
Solution:
1.Clean area with acetone and a clean white cloth.
2.Poultice area with a solvent(Mineral Spirits or toluene) and poultice powder.

[Huligar]

SILICON
Type:
Silicon caulking used for grouting and anchoring stone.
Problem:
This can be a series problem when caulking is used to help hold anchors in place on stone wall panels.The silicone will start to bleed through the stone in the area were the anchors are.It may take several months before the silicon becomes viable.
Solution:
The only known technique that will remove this silicon staining is the following:
Prepare a poultice with methylene chloride(Commercial paint remover) and a powdered poultice.May requirea dozen applications.
If the silicon has not completely cured the staining may return again.

[Huligar]

SOAPFILM
Type:
Soap film on shower walls and vanity tops.
Problem:
Soap from showers can build up on shower walls leaving a film that will not wash off with regular cleaning.
Solution:
1.If soap film is thick,scrap with a razor blade.Wet the surface to avoid scratching the surface.
2.Once all heavy build-up is removed clean with acetone and a green scrub pad.
3. There are also commercial soap film removers on the market which work well, but be careful that they do not contain acids which can etch polished marble.
Several poultices may need to be applied to completely remove all staining.

[Huligar]

APPLYING THE POULTICE



Once the stain is identified, the following steps can be followed:
1. Identify the stain.
2. Clean the stained area to remove excess from the surface.
3. Wet the stained area with distilled water. Pre-wetting fills the pores of the stone with water -isolating the stain and accelerating the removal by the chemical.
4. Prepare the poultice. If a powder is to be used, pre-mix the powder and the chemical of choice into a thick paste, the consistency of peanut butter. In other words, wet it enough so that it does not run. If a paper poultice is to be used -soak the paper in the chemical. Lift the paper out of the chemical until it stops dripping.
5. Apply the poultice to the stain being careful not to spill any on the non-stained areas. Apply approximately one-quarter-inch thick overlapping the stain area by about one inch.
6. Cover the poultice with plastic (food wrap works great). Tape the plastic down to seal the edges. Allow the poultice to dry thoroughly. This is a very important step. The drying of the poultice is what pulls the stain from the stone into the poultice material. If the poultice is not allowed to dry, the stain may not be removed. Drying usually takes from 24 to 48 hours.
7. After 24 to 48 hours, remove the plastic.
8. Remove the poultice from the stain. Rinse with distilled water and buff dry with a soft cloth. If the stain is not removed, apply the poultice again. It may take up to five applications for difficult stains.
9. Some chemicals may etch the marble surface. If this occurs, then apply polishing powder and buff with a piece of burlap to restore the shine.
For further information on stain removal see our book :Stain Removal for Stone and Other Porous Surfaces.

[Huligar]

WHAT IS A POULTICE?
A poultice is an absorbent material applied to a surface to draw out a stain. It can be a powder, paper or a gel. The most common poultices in use today are powders. A number of powders are very absorbent and are ideal for stain removal. Some typical powders used in poultices are the following:
clays and fullers earth
talc
chalk( whiting)
sepiolite( hydrous magnesium silicate)
diatomaceous earth
methyl cellulose
flour
Clays and diatomaceous earth are usually the best. Do not use whiting or clays containing iron. When using acidic chemicals, the acids will react with the iron and may cause yellowing of certain stone surfaces. It is best to purchase poultice powder materials from a reputable suppliers of products for this purpose. Some typical paper poultices are:
cotton balls
paper towels
gauze pads
Paper poultices can be quite effective on mild stains. They are easier to apply than powder poultices and are also easier to remove. Gel poultices are usually thick chemical gels that are designed to be applied to a stain with the use of powders or papers. They work effectively with certain stains. When purchasing poultice materials ask if they contain stain removing chemicals or if they need chemicals added. Some powder and gel poultices contain chemicals, and all you need to do is add water. Never mix additional chemicals with a poultice that contains its own chemical formulation.}

[Huligar]

WARPING OF GREEN MARBLE

Several type of thin stone tiles are very susceptible to warping. Many of the green marbles and a few agglomerate marbles are notorious for this warping condition. Many of an installer have had the surprise to find that there tile installation has become warped overnight. Why does this a happen and can it be prevented. Warping is caused by water. Green marble set with any water based material will have a tendency to warp. The mechanism of why the tile warps is somewhat a mystery. Some believe that the water fills the pores of the stone and when the water evaporates the orientation of the stones crystal change and cause it to warp. Whatever the reason, one thing is for sure, green marble can warp when set with water based materials.
Cure: Once a green marble tile warps it is difficult to repair. Attempts have been made to grind the tile flat , but this usually fails since additional water is introduced during the grinding process. The green simply warps again.
Prevention; The only way to prevent warping is to install it properly with a non-water based material such as epoxy. Some installers have also been successful in sealing the back of the tile with epoxy and installing it in a water based system(see July Stone & tile Report). Do not attempt to seal the back of the tile with a silicone sealer. The silicone acts as a water repellant and will cause the setting material to fail resulting in a bond loss.