May 2012

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Cleaning dirty grout in bathroom marble tiles

May 31, 2012

One of the advantages of using natural stone tiles is their resistance to stains and moisture, but that doesn’t happen automatically. And even the most durable tiles depend on the grout that holds them together, so the best way to keep your bathroom looking great is with a little care and maintenance.

First, it’s important to have a good sealer. Any stone is somewhat porous, which can allow a variety of liquids to work their way in and leave unsightly stains. That can be fixed by applying a coat of protective sealer that fills in the pores and leaves your natural stone tiles ready for whatever you throw at them.

Once the stone is properly sealed, caring for it will be easy. Just make sure you have the right product for the type of stone you’re using and the cleaning you need to do.

In general, a specialized cleaner should be free of bleach, ammonia, or other ingredients that could break down your sealer and damage the stone. But the variety of colors and patterns that can help natural stone tiles fit in so many different aesthetics means that not all stones are created equal, so keep the nature of your own tiles in mind. Some products, like the Restore™ acidic cleaner, can easily remove hard water deposits or soap scum to give your tiles a pristine look, but shouldn’t be used on dyed granite or concrete or other acid-sensitive stones.

You can find some guidelines about the best cleaners to use, along with a list of products, on the Marble and Granite website. And once you have the right cleaners, all you need is a little patience. To clean out mold or mildew, for instance, apply the mold and mildew cleaner to the tiles, then let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing off the area. If the mildew isn’t gone, just repeat the process.

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Decorating your bathroom with natural stone tiles can help to set a great aesthetic for your home, combining an elegant design with durable materials. Getting that results, and helping your stone tiles looking pristine, just calls for a little attention to detail.

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The Top 5 Natural Stone Tile Patterns

May 30, 2012
Whether you are looking to honor a classic tradition or tap into your creative side, natural stone tile lends itself to countless design options. To make it easier for his clients to determine their tile style, interior designer Mark Hermogeno narrows down the most popular tile patterns into five main categories. 
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Buy granite remnant fairly cheap and basically put it on the floor

May 29, 2012

If you’re looking for a great source of natural stone, it can pay to recycle. From a new vanity top to materials for tile flooring, using a whole new slab can be costly and unnecessary. A lot of the time, remnants can give you the same excellent materials, at a cost that’s hard to beat.

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Natural Stone countertops cost comparison

May 25, 2012

All home renovation projects, regardless of size, have one thing in common – a budget.
Probably the biggest factor in decision making, the budget will determine more about the final product than personal preference. Fortunately, if you have your heart set on a new stone, marble or granite countertop – your budget needn’t have the final say.
Marble and Granite, Inc. is the place to find an incredible assortment of top quality stone products in a wide range of prices – so your design preferences and your budget can work together to give you the kitchen you want at a price you can afford.

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Tips on How to Choose the Natural Stone Tile That's Right for You

May 24, 2012
While there are various tile materials to choose from, "when it comes to durability, natural stone is the crème de la crème," as Houzz staff writer Vanessa Brunner puts it. But choosing to go with natural stone tile is the easy part. It's the next series of decisions that can be a bit harder due to the infinite possible combinations of stone types, colors, edge profiles, finishes and patterns. But before you can think about the design details, you must first decide whether you will use marble, granite or slate as well as which finish - honed, polished, brushed, natural cleft, etc. - that you want this stone to be fabricated with. In order to find the right natural stone tile and finish that is right for you, Brunner suggests asking yourself three questions.  
  1. Where will this tile be installed? Will it be installed as flooring, walls or a backsplash? 
  2. How will this tile be used? Will it be exposed to high-traffic or will it serve as a low-traffic decorative accent? 
  3. What is your tile surface budget? Don't forget to consider cost of installation. 
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Baking in the kitchen with white marble countertops

May 22, 2012
You have finally found it!  The perfect natural stone countertop for the baking center of your kitchen. The natural stone countertop has an amazing feel and it is visually striking.  It reminds you of the stone countertops in a classic European kitchen, which is what you have always desired for your home. You are just about to make your purchase when a concern crosses your mind - is it really practical and wise to install a white marble countertop in the baking center of your home?  

The short answer is YES!  And you're right, Europeans have enjoyed white marble countertops as baking surfaces for centuries.  However, when choosing white marble countertops for your baking surfaces, there are a few things to consider in preserving its natural beauty and complementing its natural aging process.

Preservation

It is important to remember that, while marble is very hard, it is naturally porous and therefore sensitive to the absorbtion of oils and acidic liquids such as wine and coffee.  While polished marble is quite beautiful and shiny, it tends to lose its shine after some use and does not enhance the natural aging process of the stone.  Therefore, to maintain the look of a white marble countertop, as seen in many European kitchens, it is best to avoid polished marble for baking surfaces and instead choose white marble that has been honed and sealed by a professional.  In addition, you should clean your white marble baking surface soon after use to avoid undue staining.  

Natural Aging Process

For centuries Europeans have come to love white marble countertops for kitchen baking surfaces understanding that these countertops naturally age.  In fact, Europeans take much pride in the look and feel of their aged marble countertops.  Indeed, a well-aged white marble countertop is like a well-aged wine - both are quite rare and valuable.  A beautifully aged white marble countertop is the envy of style-conscious individuals.  Therefore, when choosing white marble for your kitchen, you should embrace this process not forgetting the preservation steps mentioned above.  Although Europeans embrace the "aging" of their white marble countertops, they also take great steps to foster the process by taking good care of the surfaces.  

There is no doubt that white marble countertops are a truly a beautiful and stylish natural stone countertop.  Once you embrace the true beauty of this natural stone countertop, you will expect nothing less for your home. You can see all your options for marbles at marbleandgranite.com and, please don't hesitate to give us a call to answer your questions or give you one of our favorite bread recipes.Dalia Kitchen   


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The Benefits Slate Tile Flooring for Kitchens and Baths

May 18, 2012

Slate tile has "an air of prestige and a reputation of longevity," as HGTV describes. Formed from miniscule fragments of silt and clay compacted by high temperature and pressure, slate makes for a refined and versatile tile surface that is dependable and low maintenance.

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Marble and Granite and Wood: 2 beautiful products from nature combined

May 17, 2012
Your home is probably the largest investment you'll ever make, so properly maintaining the residence is essential in sustaining the current value of the home. Of course, there are many methods of upgrading the home, many of which have a direct impact on the value of the house, which is helpful, should you ever decide to sell the home and receive a large return on your investment. Some of the very best material used inside the house for improving value are natural products, such as wood and stone. Natural stone tiles not only age beautifully, but are more desirable than laminate and other imitation materials. If you are looking to upgrade the current fireplace or walkway in your home and have a wood floor surrounding the fireplace, your only main material option for the fireplace is some sort of stone. Brick is used often in this practice, but if you want a more organic feel to the fireplace, there is nothing better than natural stone tiles. 

Natural stone tiles come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, stone type and color. So, no matter how kind of design you are going for, it is possible with these stones. The best part about buying natural stone tiles for your fireplace, entryway, or just about any other location in your home, is you don't need one large piece. This helps it look right at home with wood paneling in the floor. Wood is already desirable inside the house, as it looks cleaner than what carpet does. Additionally, wood paneling comes in different sizes and colors (and kinds of wood) also, so you can select the perfect stain of wood and perfect size of panels to match the size and style of your natural stone tiles at home. 

Natural products blend wonderfully together, as stone tiles along side wood floor paneling gives a very nice aesthetic. You have probably been inside a house where carpet or wood flooring meet in-between rooms and gives off a rather odd look. This is usually because the designer or home owners (or both) weren't sure of how to best stop one material and start another. With wood flooring and stone tile, this isn't the case. The two items, which often are found along side one another in nature, look perfect next to each other in your home, which greatly improves not only the look, but overall home value. 
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Danby Marble: Our Domestic Material for Marble Countertops

May 16, 2012

Marble and Granite, Inc. is proud to be a stocking distributor of Danby marble.

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Slate tile in the pool house or cabana

May 15, 2012
Your pool house or cabana area can become the heart of the home during warm weather months with the right amount of attention to style and comfort.  It is the hub of parties, BBQ's, and late night gatherings with friends.  It's important that your poolside design maintains your personal style, while also meshing with the outdoor ambiance that makes it such a unique and desirable living area. 

The right tile flooring is key to creating a high-end aesthetic, while preserving a natural outdoor aesthetic.

Slate Tile Flooring is a Natural Way to Create High-end Appeal

Slate is a natural occurring stone formed from layers of volcanic lava and ash.  After being compressed over long periods of time, these layers can be cut into slate tiles.  Slate usually comes in various shades of grey, although it can also include a variety of colors such as earthy greens, rusty reds, purples, and blues.

When you visit our show room, you will be able to choose from an array of shale textures and colors to ensure that your slate tile selections are consistent with your decorating motifs. You can also browse our selections online.

Slate Tile Flooring Is Not Slippery When Wet

One major benefit to selecting natural slate tiles for your pool house and/or cabana area is that they are nearly 100% slip proof when they become wet.  Because slate is a natural stone that forms over a long period of time, it is porous with a slightly rough texture.  This allows water to be absorbed into, or run off the slate.  It is smooth enough to form a comfortable walking surface but maintains a slip-proof surface when wet, which is optimal for your pool side surroundings.

Slate Tile Flooring is a Perfect Poolside Choice

Because of the naturally occurring colors and patterns, slate is even more attractive when it becomes wet.  The earth tones will become darker and more vivid when they are splashed with water, but maintain their color after they dry.  While other flooring choices will fade over time with constant exposure to sunlight and water, your slate tiles will look as as good as the day they were installed for many years to come.

Slate is easily incorporated into your landscaping designs to create a fluid aesthetic from your pool, to your cabana, to attractive garden pathways. Regardless of what colors you choose, your slate tiles will always blend in with the natural world around them.
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