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A Wise Investment |
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by Penny Sures |
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In today’s economic conditions everyone is especially concerned with getting the most value for the dollar. When making improvements to our existing homes or building a new residence, the goal should be the anticipation of years enjoying the beauty and service that natural stone and marble floors can offer. |
Even though these products exist in nature and seem to be able to withstand all the torture the elements can dish out, the processes that enhance their beauty for use in the home can have a large bearing on their suitability for all applications. |
| No matter what product is selected – it is going to require a major investment. To compromise this venture in “saving money” by using inexperienced tile setters or poorly fabricated product to complete the job can result in an installation failure. All of the elements involved in decorating one’s home with natural stone material should be carefully considered prior to embarking on this journey. |
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There may be conditions such as hollow sounds, cracking tiles and/or grout and surface variations in gloss or texture that are noticed months or even years after the tile is in service. Is an uneven tile surface beyond tolerance? Issues resulting in variations of tile size and thickness as well as other conditions related to fabrication of the material can also be of concern. New techniques in mining and preparation of stone for installation are now on the market to make these beautiful products more available and affordable to the general public. These matters plus many other concerns can be explained with suggestions for possible resolution and repair by a qualified inspector. |
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Our firm was called to inspect what was initially seen as a cleaning issue on a honed travertine floor. The tile had a “smudged” appearance which was attributed to grout haze remaining after installation. Upon closer examination we were able to see swirl marks from the equipment used to put the honed finish on the surface. These marks are not acceptable by industry standards and the supplier arranged for proper restoration of the flooring surface. |
| However – these situations can occur even when the utmost care is taken in the beginning to try to achieve the best possible result. The good news is that unlike carpet or sheet vinyl, the installation can often be saved without replacing the entire job. A certified marble and stone inspector can be instrumental in helping to identify solutions to what can often be seen as a decorating disaster. |
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