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cleaning marble and granite Printed From: Carpet Cleaning Forum Category: Carpet Cleaners Discussion Forum Name: Create and Participate in Polls Forum Description: Have a question you want to get an idea about what others are thinking? This is the place to set up a poll. URL: https://www.kleenkuip.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5103 Printed Date: 25/April/2024 at 9:32am Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.06 - https://www.webwizforums.com Topic: cleaning marble and granite Posted By: joh Subject: cleaning marble and granite Date Posted: 05/June/2008 at 4:49pm guys, do to the fact that you are already in the homes, do you all take advantage and bid on the stone floors and counter tops? The stone guys charge $7 and up per sqf for floors and start at $20 for countertops. and some of them charge as high as $750.00 per seam. ------------- quality natural stone care through a network of qualified natural stone professionals "> Replies: Posted By: Mark McMaster Date Posted: 05/June/2008 at 6:05pm I do. But I also work in a fab shop as well with granite and marble counters. ------------- Don't take your organs to heaven..... Heaven knows we need them here http://www.mcmastertile.com - www.mcmastertile.com Posted By: Mark McMaster Date Posted: 07/June/2008 at 11:43am $750 per seam.........WOW!!! I can't get that money around here. But then it's like with everything, demographics play a factor. Have a good one. Mark ------------- Don't take your organs to heaven..... Heaven knows we need them here http://www.mcmastertile.com - www.mcmastertile.com Posted By: joh Date Posted: 07/June/2008 at 1:39pm Do not say that. A lot of people in my area say that they can not get $750 for a seam also, but it is all up to you and who you market to. Here is a $800 seam, it is not one of my best but it displays what you get for your money and it took less than 2 hours to do. ------------- quality natural stone care through a network of qualified natural stone professionals "> Posted By: Mark McMaster Date Posted: 16/June/2008 at 9:36am Have to go and look at a green marble counter this afternoon. Not looking forward to it as I know green can be a real bear to work with. Why do people put marble on counters always boggles my mind. Any suggestions? ------------- Don't take your organs to heaven..... Heaven knows we need them here http://www.mcmastertile.com - www.mcmastertile.com Posted By: joh Date Posted: 16/June/2008 at 10:45am I love when they do stuff like that, after all that is how we make our money. If you can take pictures of the stone I may be able to help you out. Re-polishing green is not as hard as people make it seem. an average top of 60 sft with normal wear and etch marks can be finish in less than 3 hours. ------------- quality natural stone care through a network of qualified natural stone professionals "> Posted By: Mark McMaster Date Posted: 16/June/2008 at 3:42pm Just got back from looking at the counter. Lots of etching, a few tiny holes, even areas where it looks like it was used as a cutting board. Said she's been using vinegar and water to clean it.  Now if I could only figure out how to post pics, I'd put them up. ------------- Don't take your organs to heaven..... Heaven knows we need them here http://www.mcmastertile.com - www.mcmastertile.com Posted By: joh Date Posted: 16/June/2008 at 6:11pm it is easy to post an image on this forum, here is the code that you will need.  or you can just click on this button in the tool bar and place the image link in the pop up window. ------------- quality natural stone care through a network of qualified natural stone professionals "> Posted By: Mark McMaster Date Posted: 16/June/2008 at 6:53pm Try this ------------- Don't take your organs to heaven..... Heaven knows we need them here http://www.mcmastertile.com - www.mcmastertile.com Posted By: Mark McMaster Date Posted: 16/June/2008 at 7:02pm woohoo! Look at me. LOL Thanks Joh. Sorry they're so big. You can see $hitty even one of the seams are. ------------- Don't take your organs to heaven..... Heaven knows we need them here http://www.mcmastertile.com - www.mcmastertile.com Posted By: joh Date Posted: 16/June/2008 at 10:09pm That top is a mess and not for the reasons you may think. To polish the surface you can start with the 100 grit and finish up at the 800 grit followed up with a little 5x and water. The mess that I see is with the edges. I can see oil and it looks like the edges were never polish. to correct this, mix flour and a degreaser and use as a poultice before you polish the profile. The seam is not as bad as you may think. You have two ways of doing this. the first is to cut away the seam and anything that may stop you from pushing the slab closer before re-seaming the top. or you can just remove the seam and layer your colors as you are playing connect the dots. Once you have you colors, simply polish with your 500, 800, and 1000 grit. I hope you get paid what this job is worth. If you give me the sizes, I can show you how I broke it down, not saying that it will work for you, but it can give you an idea what other people do. ------------- quality natural stone care through a network of qualified natural stone professionals "> Posted By: joh Date Posted: 17/June/2008 at 10:25am Here is a green marble that I did a few years back. This job took me five hours to do. I did the whole kitchen and charge a little over four thousand. Please notice the window framing and the fact that we left no waves on the surface. This is why we get pay what we ask.  Polishing a full slab is not the same as polishing a seam or profile. It does take a little skill. ------------- quality natural stone care through a network of qualified natural stone professionals "> Posted By: Mark McMaster Date Posted: 17/June/2008 at 12:57pm Nice work Joh. Beautiful work Joh actually!!! The one I looked is 2ft X 14ft. She only wants the one done. ------------- Don't take your organs to heaven..... Heaven knows we need them here http://www.mcmastertile.com - www.mcmastertile.com Posted By: Mark McMaster Date Posted: 17/June/2008 at 1:35pm BTW JOH I just checked your profile and you are "THE MAN" when it comes to this stuff. I've see much of your work on the net over the past year or so. I'm hoping to get down there for one of those courses as well. ------------- Don't take your organs to heaven..... Heaven knows we need them here http://www.mcmastertile.com - www.mcmastertile.com Posted By: joh Date Posted: 17/June/2008 at 1:43pm Grinding: Is the second stage in securing a flawless surface. This stage will remove all scratches from any delipped surface. 28x13= $364 Honing:  Is the third and sometimes the last stage. At the honed stage, the surface is 65% scratch free. The surface will have a slight reflection and appear clean and aged. 28x10=$280 Polishing:  Is the final stage which leaves the surface with reflective characteristics. 28x8 = $224 Impregnators:  Commonly known as sealers. This is the first stage in preserving your investment (should occur every six to eight months). 28x5 = $140 Decorative seam: a clever way to disguise a crack, chip, hole or seam. 1x470 = $470 Total: $1478 Time: One man day. ------------- quality natural stone care through a network of qualified natural stone professionals "> Posted By: Mark McMaster Date Posted: 17/June/2008 at 1:57pm Thankyou Jos. That's right around the ballpark I was thinking as well. There are actually 2 seams in this mess. Both are right where the sink is. Thus one seam has a bad lippage almost the hieght of a quarter. If it was on the floor I'd call it trippage Now I know the person who installed it and I can't believe he did it this way.  (I've never helped him install marble tho, only granite)  Do you think I could get away with using a DS-301 on this counter? I just love this thing and figure I could just feather in the edges as I go up in grits.  Thanks for all your help Jo as I really appreciate it coming from you.  Have a good one. Mark P.S. I'm still hoping to be able to make it down there to take one of your courses. ------------- Don't take your organs to heaven..... Heaven knows we need them here http://www.mcmastertile.com - www.mcmastertile.com Posted By: joh Date Posted: 17/June/2008 at 3:02pm This toy is a joke. It will hurt you when it comes time to work close to the back splash and around the faucets, the amount of over spay will cause you to tape up most of the work area,  3 pads per step, and when it comes time for polishing you will use more compound than you need. For the cost of this one tool, you could have taken a class plus get all the tools that you need to do this type of job. ------------- quality natural stone care through a network of qualified natural stone professionals "> Posted By: Mark McMaster Date Posted: 17/June/2008 at 3:27pm I've used the DS on a couple of floors and it worked out great for that. Honed a slab for a buddy with it also and it worked for that as well. I bought mine as a guy was selling it and he only used it once plus got all the pads with it. $1,200.  I do have to pick up other grinders tho. I have access to tons of 3" pads. I'll have to check your site and see when you are offering top polishing classes. Something near the end of summer. Thanks again Jos. ------------- Don't take your organs to heaven..... Heaven knows we need them here http://www.mcmastertile.com - www.mcmastertile.com Posted By: joh Date Posted: 17/June/2008 at 3:45pm $1,200 for the tool plus pads is not a bad deal. as far as the stone class you can view the information http://nsraweb.com/index.php/Story/August_22nd-24th_2008_Stone_Repair_Class.html - here I hope I do not get ban for that link. ------------- quality natural stone care through a network of qualified natural stone professionals "> Posted By: Mark McMaster Date Posted: 17/June/2008 at 4:35pm Are there tools included in your price of the course as well? ------------- Don't take your organs to heaven..... Heaven knows we need them here http://www.mcmastertile.com - www.mcmastertile.com Posted By: joh Date Posted: 17/June/2008 at 7:16pm yep, every thing that you use in the class is yours to take home in you neat little tool kit. All the colors, glues, pads, backers, machines, razors, sealers, and books. When you done with this class you no reason to buy any more tools for like a year. ------------- quality natural stone care through a network of qualified natural stone professionals "> Posted By: joh Date Posted: 17/June/2008 at 8:54pm Mark, if you want to come to the class, you may be able to win the free pass. This is a simple contest that is going to last two week starting on the 6/24/08 all you have to do is post your best before and after images with a short promo. The winner of this contest will have his/her work displayed on the front page of this site with full credit. You can also take full advantage of this by adding you url to your profile. If you do not have a website or you are not too happy with the one you have now, we will also be more than happy to make or re-do a site for you. Other prizes 1 Free pass to the upcoming hands on restoration class in CT. 1 Lustro Italiano countertop clean and polish kit Tenax UNIBLACK 1/2 Bonstone Last patch All prizes will be delivered at the class. ------------- quality natural stone care through a network of qualified natural stone professionals "> Posted By: Mark McMaster Date Posted: 18/June/2008 at 9:42am Nice!!!! Sorry I just realized I hacked your thread on the polls. Guess I better get at that green counter then for some pics. That's a great oppurtunity. Have a good one. Mark ------------- Don't take your organs to heaven..... Heaven knows we need them here http://www.mcmastertile.com - www.mcmastertile.com Posted By: joh Date Posted: 18/June/2008 at 10:45am Mark, it looks like only you and I are on this forum. as for the poll, I do not think anyone care to take the poll. I enjoyed our little conversation. If you have any questions please fell free to post them right here on this poll. this way I do not have to go looking for it. lol ------------- quality natural stone care through a network of qualified natural stone professionals "> Posted By: Mark McMaster Date Posted: 18/June/2008 at 11:59am Cool. There's not many peeps in my area or in Ontario Canada for that matter who actually do restoration of natural stone. Sure there's plenty of fabricators out there but when it comes to when a custy calls looking for someone to come in the home and do a "proper" restoration, they are few and far between.  Like I stated in a earlier post, I help a buddy in his fab shop quite a bit but I really want to be able to "hone" (no pun inteneded LOL) my polishing skills and my seams. I know the installs that we've done, the seams look horrible.  My main business is tile and grout cleaning/restoration, regrouts ect. but while in the homes, there is usually marble, granite, travertine, etc. and I feel that I'm leaving money on the table/floor.  Sure I could practice in the fab shop with polishing but my buddy is so old school that there's not a whole lot that I can learn/benefit from it. He's a great fab guy but when it comes to polishing, he's not up on the latest products nor procedures out there. This is where I feel a course such as your would benefit me, and the custy, the most. After all, I don't want to go in to a custy's home and end up buying thier $6,000 counter/floor. LOL Have a good one. Mark ------------- Don't take your organs to heaven..... Heaven knows we need them here http://www.mcmastertile.com - www.mcmastertile.com Posted By: joh Date Posted: 18/June/2008 at 2:51pm If you are in that house you better get that money. ------------- quality natural stone care through a network of qualified natural stone professionals "> Posted By: Mark McMaster Date Posted: 22/June/2008 at 12:34pm Well, I'm gonna call the custy in the morning and let her know it's gonna ba a $1,400 touch. I sure hope I can get those knife marks out without compramising the flatness of the counter ------------- Don't take your organs to heaven..... Heaven knows we need them here http://www.mcmastertile.com - www.mcmastertile.com Posted By: Mark McMaster Date Posted: 23/June/2008 at 9:08am Custy phoned last night inquiring about the job. Told her the quote and she phoned this morning (6:00a.m.) and booked it. She also wants a quote on the entrance. It's dark green marble tiles and they don't look scratched but just dull where the mat is. Could use re-grouting as well. I'll have to go back and measure that as well.  Booked for July 12th. Better go and order my 5X ------------- Don't take your organs to heaven..... Heaven knows we need them here http://www.mcmastertile.com - www.mcmastertile.com Posted By: Mark McMaster Date Posted: 23/June/2008 at 9:23am AW $HIT!!!! I just looked at the dates for that contest you have with the b4 and after pics and this job isn't booked until the 12th. Past the due date Figures ------------- Don't take your organs to heaven..... Heaven knows we need them here http://www.mcmastertile.com - www.mcmastertile.com Posted By: joh Date Posted: 23/June/2008 at 10:01am Do you not have pass work that you can submit? A lot of the guys just go out back and work on some sample granite and take some nice images and call it a day. ------------- quality natural stone care through a network of qualified natural stone professionals "> Posted By: Mark McMaster Date Posted: 23/June/2008 at 12:07pm Ya I could do that one day this week. Thanks Joh. I didn't know if that would qualify or if it had to be actual jobs. Have a good one. Mark ------------- Don't take your organs to heaven..... Heaven knows we need them here http://www.mcmastertile.com - www.mcmastertile.com Posted By: joh Date Posted: 23/June/2008 at 12:19pm It just has to display your ability to make a repair. ------------- quality natural stone care through a network of qualified natural stone professionals "> Posted By: Mark McMaster Date Posted: 23/June/2008 at 1:25pm Problem is Jos, if I do too good of a job, then I really don't need the course. right??? ------------- Don't take your organs to heaven..... Heaven knows we need them here http://www.mcmastertile.com - www.mcmastertile.com Posted By: joh Date Posted: 23/June/2008 at 1:55pm nope, we pick the best to take the free pass. We know for a fact no matter how good you are, we can improve your skill. As far as I know, we are the only group that has the conference to offer a free pass to people that is already in the trade. It is very easy to impress a new comer, but when you get another pro to improve his/her skills. That is the mark of a real instructor. ------------- quality natural stone care through a network of qualified natural stone professionals "> Posted By: Mark McMaster Date Posted: 24/June/2008 at 1:09pm This course sounds like the cat's A$$! Like I mentioned before, I help a buddy in a fab shop and now I'm getting more & more calls for polishing. Counters and floors.  The thing is, my main thing has been mostly cutting slabs and installs. Not much polishing and seam work. In the pics of the green counter posted in an earlier post, I knew right away it was one of my buddy's installs because of the way the seam was done. He always just mix the epoxy and adds the colour to it. No polishing or anything afterwards so they all look like this. Wide and dull.  I like how you mentioned Joh of layering the colours. That is a great idea!!!!!! Apply the different colours in the seam the same as the marble/granite. Let set up and polish. This will help the seam to blend in more. I guess for that counter I could mix some light and dark greens and layer them or apply light in the light areas and dark in the darer areas.  How long before polishing the seam?  I'm gonna practise this technique in the shop this week. (Can't tomorrow. My Granddaughter is being born)  It will most likely be with granite as we don't do hardly any marble any more as granite is the main choice. ------------- Don't take your organs to heaven..... Heaven knows we need them here http://www.mcmastertile.com - www.mcmastertile.com Posted By: joh Date Posted: 24/June/2008 at 1:33pm I like to play collect the dots, place the light in the light areas and the dark in the dark areas. for the top that you posted, I would mix around six shades of green and a shadow grey for the last step. It takes me 1 hour to set and polish a seam, but I can do it with out diamonds. If you wish I can make a short video that shows you how to do this in very little time. Congrats on the new born. ------------- quality natural stone care through a network of qualified natural stone professionals "> Posted By: Mark McMaster Date Posted: 24/June/2008 at 1:38pm Now that would be awesome Jos for a vid. What's the limit for pics to send in? 1? Thanks Bro. Mark ------------- Don't take your organs to heaven..... Heaven knows we need them here http://www.mcmastertile.com - www.mcmastertile.com Posted By: joh Date Posted: 24/June/2008 at 1:58pm 3 for the same project, before, mid, end. If I can fine some green marble i will shoot this one for you. I think the other guys may enjoy it as well. ------------- quality natural stone care through a network of qualified natural stone professionals "> Posted By: Mark McMaster Date Posted: 24/June/2008 at 2:01pm Right on I have pure tin oxide. Would this be okay to use on that counter?? Thanks for taking the time for all these PITA questions but I just don't want to end up buying this counter. ------------- Don't take your organs to heaven..... Heaven knows we need them here http://www.mcmastertile.com - www.mcmastertile.com Posted By: joh Date Posted: 24/June/2008 at 2:48pm no need for the tin oxide, if needed just go up in the diamonds to get a better polish. This is a very easy job. the only way you can mess this up, is if you are careless and leave waves in the stone. ------------- quality natural stone care through a network of qualified natural stone professionals "> Posted By: Mark McMaster Date Posted: 24/June/2008 at 2:59pm I was hoping to stay away from the powders if possible. I figure I'd start with 100 and go up to 3000. Should I try to get all the scratch (knife cuts) out with the 100 before proceeding with the next grit? ------------- Don't take your organs to heaven..... Heaven knows we need them here http://www.mcmastertile.com - www.mcmastertile.com Posted By: joh Date Posted: 24/June/2008 at 3:45pm You must remove all the knife marks before you start to hone are polish. I would start off at the 50 just to speed it up. ------------- quality natural stone care through a network of qualified natural stone professionals "> Posted By: Mark McMaster Date Posted: 25/June/2008 at 9:00pm I should have taken pics of the sink as well. It's a top mount. I should probably duct tape off the sink edges just to be safe in case I hit with the diamonds.  It's a tight area between the taps and faucet to the blacksplash and sink. ------------- Don't take your organs to heaven..... Heaven knows we need them here http://www.mcmastertile.com - www.mcmastertile.com Posted By: joh Date Posted: 25/June/2008 at 9:37pm Have them remove the tap and faucets. Do you polish the sink as well? I find that polishing the sink makes your job look a whole lot better. ------------- quality natural stone care through a network of qualified natural stone professionals "> Posted By: Mark McMaster Date Posted: 26/June/2008 at 11:51pm Thanks Jos. I'll stop by in the next week and mention about them removing the taps or I have to charge extra, I think it's usually 31/2" or 4" from the sink to the back splash. I usually try to make it 4" On another note. Installed a white Persian Granite today. Disaster from the "get go" Chipped both pieces of granite on the install. I ended up faking it in by using the technique that you suggested JOS and they could not even tell the dif.  My buddy (the owner) could not believe it.  Where was the cam then. LOL ------------- Don't take your organs to heaven..... Heaven knows we need them here http://www.mcmastertile.com - www.mcmastertile.com Posted By: joh Date Posted: 27/June/2008 at 5:50am This is the type of stuff I like to hear. sorry you did not have the camera, but now you know how simple it is to make a repair look like a natural part of stone. ------------- quality natural stone care through a network of qualified natural stone professionals "> Posted By: Mark McMaster Date Posted: 07/July/2008 at 5:09pm Crap!!! Forgot to send in some pics!! So much for that. The guy in the shop told me today I'll never be able to get those scratches out of that counter. He says that the scratches will be stained and the marks will still be there. I told him I'll get them out.  I'll start with the 50 and start feathering the other grits. I guess I should start where the scratches are and then work my way down the counter but I should not have to go all the way down tho just so long as not to make any dips where I start grinding. Buddy's kinda got me thinking now if I should tackle this  Did you make that short vid yet Joh? Have a good one. Mark ------------- Don't take your organs to heaven..... Heaven knows we need them here http://www.mcmastertile.com - www.mcmastertile.com

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