After installing the granite tile on the countertop with a 1/16" spacing and using a white fortified premium mortar for marble and granite from Custom Building Products the granite tile has darkened and changed color. It has been two days since the installation and the darkening has not changed. I do not remember the name of the color of the granite when we bought it - it was 5 years ago. Will the darkening go away?

 

Dear Tim:

Since you used white thin set, yes, it will go away and with no consequence. But it may take up to a few weeks!

So, be patient… You can grout now and my advice about that is to use color-matching latex-based caulking instead of grout: it's a much better choice for that kind of environment, for it is liquid-proof and stain-less. What more do you want from grout?!

Now, don't you go sealing them tiles on me until they are completely dry, you hear me?!... J

Now remember, it's never too early to think about the proper maintenance of your stone. The issue of what you'll be doing day in and day out to your stone is – as it should be intuitive – vastly more important than its sealing (if and when possible and/or advisable) and it's all too often neglected. As you can tell by reading many of this site's postings, you're not likely to get good information about routine care from your dealer or installer. Don't become another statistic! By logging into the Helpful Hints section of our website at: http://www.marblecleaning.org/helpful-hints.htm , you will be able to get the short version of our maintenance guidelines at no charge. The full version of it – a 7-page document considered by many as an industry benchmark – is available in pay-per-download format in our Educational Literature section at: http://www.marblecleaning.org/literature.htm .  

And remember, every single penny of the cost of the literature will be used to support this site and its cause: your cause.

While you are in the “Helpful Hints” section, do spend some time reading all of the interesting FREE articles you'll find in there!

Finally, keep in mind that we need your support to help us helping you!

Will you please read and e-sign our Statement of Purpose at: http://www.marblecleaning.org/purpose.htm?    

By spreading the word about this valuable site among your friend & family and the stone trades' people you've been dealing with, you will be rendering everybody a valuable service!

Thank you  

Ciao and good luck,

Mauri z io Bertoli

 

www.marblecleaning.org – The only Consumers' Portal to the Stone Industry Establishment!