South Carolina's Natural Stone, Tile & Grout Cleaning and Restoration Company

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions. If you have a question you don't see the answer to, feel free to contact us.

Search category
keyword

Service Questions
Q.     What is this infamous "lemon juice" test I hear of for selecting stone for kitchen countertops.
Ans:  Take a piece of the scrap "granite" you wish to test and spill a few drops of lemon juice onto it. If you see that under the drops of lemon it develops very quickly dark spots, it means that it's a very absorbent stone and I would advise you (and anybody else, for that matter) against it. If it takes, say, a minute or so to be absorbed, then you're dealing with a degree of absorbency that's easily manageable with the application of a good-quality impregnator-type sealer. If it doesn't absorb at all, then you have a winner right there!
Why lemon juice and not simply water?
Because lemon juice is highly acidic, and, if for any chance, the "granite" you're considering is a mixed stone (with some calcite in it), it would etch. That is, it would have a permanent dull spot where the lemon was sitting, after you clean it up. If that's the case, you do NOT want that stone in your kitchen.
Go Back