Jacqueline Tabbah, Author at Written in Stone

Jacqueline Tabbah

Visit the web site of Jacqueline Tabbah or email Jacqueline Tabbah.
Biography: …∞

Posted on May 24, 2016 at 4:07 pm by Jacqueline Tabbah

5 Ways To Keep Stone Countertops Looking Great

Comments Off on 5 Ways To Keep Stone Countertops Looking Great

1. Use Neutral Cleaners

When it comes to natural stone countertops, it’s safer to avoid acidic and ammonia based products. Stick with neutral cleaners such as Lavenet and Lavenet Green. If you enjoy cooking (like I do) and want to disinfect your countertops after preparing a meal, use Sani-Tyze. These cleaners will not harm or etch your marble, limestone and granite countertops.

2. Use Coasters and Trays

Acid, ammonia and alcohol can etch (remove the shine) from marble, limestone, travertine and certain granites. Place a tray under bottles in your bar or under your perfume collection in your bathroom. Coasters and cutting boards are also a great idea.

3. Wipe Up Sitting Water

Sitting water can create calcium build up and over time, may even etch your countertop. Try to wipe up sitting water after washing up. I also recommend cleaning with Crystal Clean. This neutral cleaner helps diminish light calcium deposits and soap scum.

4. Seal Annually

Sealing annually with a penetrating sealer such as Seal & Go® S and Seal & Go® W helps with daily cleaning and maintenance. Please note that sealers do not stop acid etching, but they do help with oil and grease repellency.

5. When Necessary, Restore And Maintain

Because stones such as marble and limestone react to acids, you may need to re-hone or re-polish your countertops to remove etch marks. Etch marks cannot be cleaned off; the surface of the stone needs to be restored. Restoration companies like International Stoneworks can refinish your top on-site to remove etch marks and light scratches with our no-wax system. And while we are there, we can seal your tops too!

* * * * *

Posted on May 17, 2016 at 4:05 pm by Jacqueline Tabbah

Stone Care For Buildings (Special BOMA Edition)

Comments Off on Stone Care For Buildings (Special BOMA Edition)

Many of you know that we restore residential and commercial natural stone. This week, we’ll focus on our commercial restoration and maintenance since we have the BOMA 2016 Show coming up this week.

How is stone care different for commercial buildings?

First off, compared to a residential setting, there is a ton more foot traffic! Also, if you take the time to observe how people walk through lobbies, you will start to notice that people tend to walk in the same paths: they walk close to corners, stop at the security desk, and they shuffle their feet in front of elevator call buttons.

These “traffic areas” typically have more wear and need the most stone maintenance…and yes, even though you may have a tough granite surface, even granite can wear over time.

5 Houston Center 3rd floor — Maintained Lobby Floor

Exterior Stone Plazas, Walls and Breezeways

Not only traffic, but weather can take a toll on the surface of natural stone. Dirt can accumulate and embed in textured stones such as flamed granite. Also, color and shine can diminish due to the elements. International Stoneworks can help restore exterior stone floors and walls. We scrub clean textured stones and can remove many gum stains. We can also re-hone or re-polish as needed. We also recommend a good annual sealing to protect the stone and grout surface.

sign — Maintained Exterior Limestone Sign

Fountains

No way to get around it, fountains just need TLC. The constant exposure to water can wear stone and white calcium deposits can form on the surface of stone and tile. These stone fountains need to be maintained regularly, so the deposits do not build up. International Stoneworks can regularly clean these water deposits off and protect the stone and grout with our penetrating sealers.

Tony's before after1 words — Before and After Granite Fountain Restoration

Bathroom Floors

Whether it’s dirty grout, mop marks on the base or just an overall dirty appearance, International Stoneworks can scrub clean tile and grout. We also offer the Tile Glow® System, a natural, non-wax compound for the polishing and restoration of ceramic, porcelain and quarry tile floors. Bathroom floors will have a natural shine and never have to be stripped again – pretty cool right?

Ceramic b4after copy — Tile Glow® System

If you need advice or have questions, come visit us at the BOMA Expo this Thursday, May 19 in Booth 815.

Posted and tagged BOMA, BOMA 2016, stone maintenance, Tile Cleaning. Use this permalink for a bookmark.

* * * * *

Posted on May 9, 2016 at 5:25 pm by Jacqueline Tabbah and modified on December 12, 2023 at 7:35 pm.

The Sustainability of Natural Stone

Comments Off on The Sustainability of Natural Stone

When you choose natural stones such as marble and granite in your home or building, you’re not just picking a beautiful floor or top, you’re also using a sustainable material.

So why should you consider “Green Building?” First off, let’s define what that is. According to the Natural Stone Institute (formerly Marble Institute of America):

“A sustainable or green building is the outcome of a design process which focuses on increasing the efficiency of resource use — energy, water, and materials — while reducing a building’s impact on human health and the environment during its life cycle; through better site selection, design, construction, operation, maintenance, and eventual disposal or removal.”

Think about it, the Egyptian pyramids and Chichen Itza, the Mayan Ruins in Mexico are made of natural stone and those structures are still standing today. According to the Natural Stone Institute, “Natural stone stands up to weathering and time better than any other building material, natural or manmade.” Pretty cool, right? Natural stone gives us the ability to research and learn about ancient civilizations.

These magnificent limestone structures still exist today, but the limestone surface no longer has a polished, high gloss finish. Time, traffic and the elements can wear the finish off, that’s where we come in! Natural stone restorers (like us) can come and resurface the stone on-site. Again, this speaks to the sustainability of natural stone. Unlike other man-made materials, stone can be refinished, not just replaced. When your marble island or travertine shower start losing their luster, International Stoneworks can clean and restore the surface of the stone. And for those of you who are environmentally conscious, we have “green” stone restoration and maintenance methods.

Granite-Floor-Cleaning — Restoration of Granite Floor

We have completely neutral stone cleaners such as Lavenet Green and we have a water-based stone sealer, Seal & Go® W.

If the natural stone surface needs to be re-honed or re-polished to remove etch marks and fine scratches, we have diamond abrasive pads that can be used with water. With restoration, your stone surface will last and last. Your great great great grandchildren will walk on the same marble floors that you are walking on today.

Diamond-impregnated-pads — ISI Diamond Impregnated Pads

Marble, granite, travertine, limestone, etc. are truly beautiful and come in so many stunning colors. These natural stones aren’t just beautiful, they also stand the test of time.

Posted and tagged Green Building, marble, Natural Stone, Sustainability, Sustainable, Travertine. Use this permalink for a bookmark.

* * * * *

Posted on May 2, 2016 at 5:56 pm by Jacqueline Tabbah and modified on May 4, 2016 at 6:52 pm.

Almaza Jewelers: A Family-Run Business That Sparkles

Comments Off on Almaza Jewelers: A Family-Run Business That Sparkles

This week we are posting our first guest blog written by Alissa Noshie Moyse. We are thrilled to feature an amazing Houston based family-run business, Almaza Jewelers. With Mother’s Day coming up, it’s the perfect time to highlight this lovely company and family who are in the stone business too. Only difference is their stones just happen to be dazzling diamonds, emeralds and sapphires! End of my short intro; I’ll let Alissa take it from here:

Almaza Jewelers is a family-run fine jewelry store that specializes in hand-made, one-of-a-kind pieces. We also specialize in engagement rings and bridal jewelry. Our father and founder, Ziad H. Noshie, has won over 80 design awards to date at the national and international levels. We offer a range of jewelry services such as repairs, appraisals, jewelry sizing, cleaning and more.

Almaza award piece — AGTA Spectrum Awards 2016 Winner 1st Place- Object of Art Category

Fine jewelry is a precious possession that is meant to be worn, but also must be taken care of to pass down from one generation to the next. As a standard rule, it is recommended that jewelry should have a “check-up” once a year for repairs and twice a year (at a minimum!) to have your jewelry cleaned. Who doesn’t want to sparkle all the time?! Allowing your jeweler to inspect your pieces could prevent loss and sometimes preventative maintenance is much less costly.

Here are some simple guidelines to cleaning and caring for your jewelry:

Store your jewelry in a clean, dry place.

Keep your jewelry in a fabric-lined jewelry case, or in a box with compartments and dividers. If you prefer to use ordinary boxes, wrap each piece individually in soft tissue paper.
Don’t jumble your jewelry pieces in a drawer or jewelry case. Pieces can scratch each other and chains can get tangled.
Be careful when removing your jewelry to wash your hands. Do not leave your jewelry on the rim of a sink where it can easily slip down the drain.
There are many types of small machines on the market that will clean jewelry in a matter of minutes using high-frequency sound. These machines are called ultrasonic cleaners and are available in many different models and prices. Your local jeweler can tell you if an ultrasonic cleaning machine is right for your jewelry wardrobe and, if it is, recommend an appropriate model. DO NOT put certain soft stones in an ultrasonic such as emerald, opal, pearl, coral, tanzanite, or amber.
Pearls are more delicate than you might think: Contact with metal and gemstones, another pearl, or even rough textiles can scratch them. Exposure to chemicals, including everyday cosmetics, can mar or pit pearls. If allowed to dry out, they may discolor or even crack. Always avoid perfume, hairspray, and makeup coming in contact with pearls.

Thank you to Alissa and Almaza Jewelers for the jewelry cleaning tips! I will end on this adorable picture of Alissa’s daughter helping out at the store.

Posted and tagged Almaza, Almaza Jewelers, Diamonds, Emeralds, Jewelry cleaning, Jewelry maintenance, Pearls. Use this permalink for a bookmark.

* * * * *

Posted on April 25, 2016 at 4:12 pm by Jacqueline Tabbah

The Getty Villa: A Marble Marvel in Malibu, Part II

Comments Off on The Getty Villa: A Marble Marvel in Malibu, Part II

Last week I gave you a brief history of the Getty Villa, please click here if you would like to learn more about J. Paul Getty and his amazing Malibu compound.

For those of you who are up to speed, let’s dive right into the most notable marble statue at the Getty Villa:

The Lansdowne Herakles

This Roman art statue is situated in its own temple, the Temple of Herakles. J. Paul Getty considered this piece his most prized possession and it inspired him to build the Getty Villa Museum. The statue was discovered in 1790 near the villa of the Roman emperor, Hadrian. The statue was restored in the 18^th century and again in the 20^th century. Restoration included reworking broken surfaces and replacing missing pieces.

The elaborate floor of the Temple of Herakles is a work of art on its own. It is a replica of a floor from the Villa dei Papiri, composed of alternating triangles of Numidian yellow and Africano/ or dark gray Lucullan marble. The stones are formed into a complex geometric pattern, favored by the ancient Romans. The floor is composed of approximately four thousand pieces of stone, specifically: Giallo Antico, Africano, Red Porphyry, Rosso Antico, Travertine and Verdi Antico.

The Hall of Colored Marbles

This room emulates the kind of luxurious rooms that served as a status symbol during the Roman Imperial period. Ancient Romans used a variety of marbles to cover floors and walls as well as to line fountains and pools. The stones were imported from distant lands. Different stones not only provided colorful decoration, but also demonstrated the wealth, power and vast conquests of Rome.

The design of this Getty Villa room was inspired by buildings in Pompeii and Herculaneum. Parts of the walls in this particular room were modeled after the House of the Vettii in Pompeii. The floor was cut entirely from salvaged ancient fragments and resembles the floor from the House of the Relief of Telephos in Herculaneum. Specifically, the marbles of this floor are: Cipollino, Fior di Pesco, Giallo Antico, Green Porphyry, Marathon Gray, Pavonazzetto di Frigia, Pentellic, Red Porphyry, Rosso Antico, Verde Antico and White Carrara.

Pompeii Fountain

In the East Garden of the Getty Villa, we stumbled upon a beautiful fountain. This colorful, mosaic fountain is composed of shells and theater masks. It is a replica of an ancient fountain in the House of the Large Fountain in Pompeii.

The Getty Villa is truly a remarkable site with so many treasures, from the ancient artwork to the lush gardens. I hope to go back one day to see this stunning museum set in the hills of Malibu, California. In conclusion, I will leave you with a quotation from J. Paul Getty:

“The beauty one can find in art is one of the pitifully few real and lasting products of human endeavor.”

Posted and tagged Carrara, Getty Villa, Lansdowne Herakles, Malibu, marble, Paul Getty, Pompeii. Use this permalink for a bookmark.

* * * * *

Posted on April 18, 2016 at 8:54 pm by Jacqueline Tabbah

The Getty Villa: A Marble Marvel in Malibu

Comments Off on The Getty Villa: A Marble Marvel in Malibu

I’ve heard of the Getty Center in Los Angeles, but I recently learned about and explored the Getty Villa in Malibu, and here begins my latest adventure in stone! As I stepped onto this remarkable compound, it was as though I was stepping back in time into a gorgeous villa in Herculaneum. This is the exact feeling that J. Paul Getty wanted to provoke.

The Getty Villa in Malibu is the original location of the J. Paul Getty Museum. He purchased the sixty-four acre piece of land in 1945 and in 1954, he finally opened the first J. Paul Getty Museum in his home to exhibit his collection of Greek and Roman antiquities.

In 1968, Getty decided to recreate a first century Roman country house, the Villa dei Papiri, on the property to display his growing art collection. He opened this new museum in 1974 to the public, becoming one of Southern California’s cultural landmarks. Years later in 1997, the Malibu site closed for renovations and in 2006 the newly renovated Getty Villa opened and is dedicated to the study of the arts and cultures of ancient Greece, Rome and Etruria (the central part of the Italian peninsula).

Ext hallway — Exterior Hallway of Getty Villa

So what exactly is the Villa dei Papiri? And why would Getty want to re-imagine this location? The Villa dei Papiri was a Roman country house in Herculaneum buried by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 A.D. Today, most of the actual Villa dei Pairi remains unexcavated, so most of the Getty Villa’s architectural details are based on elements drawn from other ancient Roman homes in the towns of Pompeii, Herculaneum and Stabiae.

Cubed floor — Entry floor to the Getty Villa

The Getty Villa houses over 1,200 works of art, many of these pieces depict ancient gods and goddesses. The Villa also incorporates gorgeous gardens with herbs and plants typically found in the Mediterranean region. During our visit we also viewed a special exhibit on the second floor, “Roman Mosaics Across the Empire.”

Oh! And did I mention that the Villa also has a full size exterior amphitheater with a stunning black marble floor?! The theater holds various performances, lectures and symposia throughout the year.

Today, the Villa hosts the UCLA/ Getty Master’s Program, the only graduate level program in the U.S. that focuses on archeological and ethnographic materials.

Please stay tuned for next week because this blog is going to be a two-parter. I will be writing about specific Getty Villa marble statues and floors that are absolutely breathtaking!

Posted and tagged California, Getty, Getty Villa, Greek Art, Malibu, Marble Floor, Roman Art, Villa dei Papiri. Use this permalink for a bookmark.

* * * * *

Posted on April 12, 2016 at 10:03 pm by Jacqueline Tabbah

The Duomo of San Miniato

Comments Off on The Duomo of San Miniato

What would a Tabbah trip to Italy be without a blog appreciating gorgeous Italian architecture? My parents, Rawi and Jane recently visited San Miniato, a city nestled in the Tuscan landscape between Florence and Pisa. This town possesses architectural and artistic treasures, not to mention delicious wine and white truffle mushrooms- yum!

The highlight of their day trip to San Miniato was visiting the cathedral, the Duomo in San Miniato, built and dedicated to Sant’Assunta and Santo Genesio of Rome. The structure became a cathedral in 1622. Originally, the Duomo was constructed in the Romanesque style, but as the city of San Minato has grown around it, so has the church. It has been remodeled a few times and now has Gothic and Renaissance architectural elements. The exterior of the cathedral displays majolica bowls (colorful Italian tin-glazed pottery dating from the Renaissance period), The Campanile (or bell tower) is called the Matilde Tower, which was added on at a later date and features an asymmetrical clock. After heavy bombing during WWII, the San Minato tower was rebuilt and symbolized a rebirth of the town.

Now let’s get to the good stuff: the marble interior of the cathedral!

Screen Shot 2016-04-12 at 4.26.05 PM — San Miniato Duomo Columns

The interior of the Duomo has a Latin Cross layout (a central point with two side aisles). The interior Baroque décor reflects the 19^th century works by Pietro Bernardini. The original octagonal pillars were adorned with new decorations and the arches rest on two rows of polychrome marble columns. The gilded ceiling of the Cathedral features detailed frescoes.

In the middle of the nave, to the the right, is the marble pulpit of Amalia Dupré. Another marble centerpiece of the cathedral is the marble baptismal font at the front of the nave. It is shaped like a vase and was sculpted by Giovan Battista Sandrini in 1639.

The presbytery in the middle of the vault, is surrounded by a balustrade made of multicolored marble and under the arch of the apse, lies the main baroque altar. There is also a remarkable 18th century wooden crucifix crafted by artists from Pisa, located behind the Episcopal throne.

Duomo in San Miniato - province of Pisa3 — Marble Altar

San Miniato may be a small town, but it is full of beautiful architecture, history and of course delicious food. Hopefully, I can make it there on my next big trip, but until then I will just admire these stunning photographs of this special Duomo.

Posted and tagged Church Architecture, Italian Marble, Italy, San Miniato. Use this permalink for a bookmark.

* * * * *

Posted on April 1, 2016 at 5:14 pm by Jacqueline Tabbah and modified on April 7, 2016 at 5:24 pm.

Which Stone Should You Choose For Your Countertops?

1 Comment on Which Stone Should You Choose For Your Countertops?

Marble Countertops

marble vanity2 — Carrara Marble Bathroom Vanity

Pros

Visually stunning
Easy to clean (with neutral cleaners)
Adds elegance to your kitchen and bathrooms
Comes in a variety of colors
You can decide if you like a polished finish or prefer a honed, matte finish – the level of shine can be changed on-site as well
Acid etch marks and fine scratches can be removed through restoration

Cons

Prone to acid etching – may require a maintenance program
Need to be sealed (annually recommended)

Granite Countertops

Pros

Most granites are resistant to acid etching
Comes in a variety of colors and patterns
Easy to clean (still recommend neutral cleaners)
Durable

Cons

Need to be sealed (annually recommended)
Some stones are sold as Granite, but are not true granites – these stones may etch

Limestone Countertops

Pros

An alternative look to marble
Warms up the space (most limestones have lovely Earth tones)
Easy to clean (with neutral cleaners)
You can decide if you like a polished finish or prefer a honed, matte finish – the level of shine can be changed on-site as well
Acid etch marks and fine scratches can be removed through restoration

Cons

Prone to acid etching– may require a maintenance program
Need to be sealed (annually recommended)

Quartzite Countertops

Pros

Most quartzites are resistant to acid etching
Comes in a variety of colors
Easy to clean (still recommend neutral cleaners)
Durable

Cons

Need to be sealed (annually recommended)
I’ve recently learned that Quartzite is not the easiest stone to fabricate, so make sure you purchase your slab from a reputable company

Hopefully this quick guide will help you with your stone countertop choice. For more stone care information, check out our website for service and product recommendations.

Posted and tagged Countertops, granite countertops, marble countertops, quartzite. Use this permalink for a bookmark.

* * * * *

Posted on March 15, 2016 at 7:08 pm by Jacqueline Tabbah

Stone Care And Maintenance (And Why It Is So Important)

Comments Off on Stone Care And Maintenance (And Why It Is So Important)

First, let’s distinguish the difference between stone restoration and stone maintenance.

The Marble Institute of America (now the Natural Stone Institute) defines maintenance as “Cleaning done on a scheduled basis: daily, weekly, etc. in order to remove dirt, dust and other contaminants that degrade the stone surface and reduce the stone’s polish. Scheduled maintenance is an essential part of stone care.”

It defines restoration: “Remedial action taken to restore a structure or area of stone to its original or acceptable “near original” condition. Generally applies to historic structures, but the word restoration is also used to re-surface damaged stone surfaces with grinding and other abrasive methods.”

Ok, now that we have that out of the way, I want to discuss easy ways for you to care for and maintain your stone.

Video still2 copy — Cleaning Marble Countertop

Here are some quick tips for my homeowner friends:

No matter what stone you have. Clean with neutral stone cleaners and avoid acid-based products. I recommend Lavenet or Lavenet Green for stone and tile floors.
I recommend Akemi Crystal Clean for non-floors such as showers and countertops. This particular cleaner helps reduce calcium deposits when used regularly.
I also recommend NABC (Non-Acid Bowl Cleaner) to clean and disinfect toilet bowls that are surrounded by marble, travertine, limestone and terrazzo floors.

Marble, limestone, travertine and terrazzo react (etch) when they come in contact with acid. (Think tomato sauce, orange juice and vinegar.) I know we all love our marble kitchens, but it’s almost inevitable to completely avoid acid etch marks on these surfaces. That’s when restoration comes in. We can re-polish or re-hone your marble tops and floors and remove etch marks and fine scratches. Depending on how much you cook or your level of OCD, homeowners typically call us every couple of years to restore high traffic areas such as kitchen and bathroom stone surfaces.

marble island after — White Marble Kitchen Island

Tips for Property Managers:

I highly recommend damp mopping the stone floors nightly with Lavenet neutral cleaner. You can also use Lavenet Green if your building is VOC compliant.

If your building has been recently restored or is new, I recommend having us come in and maintain (polish or hone) your traffic areas. In my experience, commercial high traffic areas are:

Elevator cab floors
Thresholds into the elevators
The stone floor between turnstiles
Eating areas
Wall corners (people tend to cut corners when they walk)

International Stoneworks can come in on a routine basis and address these high traffic areas, thus postponing the need to have a full stone floor restoration. Not to mention, your floors look good all the time!

5 Houston Center — Maintained Elevator Threshold

Do you have any other stone care and maintenance questions? Don’t hesitate to contact us and we will do our best to answer your specific questions.

Posted and tagged care & maintenance, care and maintenance, Marble cleaning, Stone Care, stone cleaning, stone maintenance. Use this permalink for a bookmark.

* * * * *

Posted on March 8, 2016 at 4:19 pm by Jacqueline Tabbah and modified on March 9, 2016 at 7:10 pm.

Polishing Stone Adds Shine…And Color!

Comments Off on Polishing Stone Adds Shine…And Color!

There is an additional benefit to polishing natural stone. We all know that when natural stone is polished, you see more shine (duh). Polishing also removes light scratches as well as acid etch marks. However, did you know that polishing stone also brings out the natural color of the stone? The colors become enhanced and the color appears more pronounced. Reds become deeper, fuller reds; grays become darker and bolder, and so on.

The Marble Institute of America (now the Natural Stone Institute) defines Polishing as “a process using specially formulated polishing powders, other abrasives (such as diamonds), or crystallization in order to restore any stone floor to its original shine and luster.”

They also go on to define a “Polished Finish” as “A glossy surface finish that brings out the full color and character of the stone.”

One small exception is the stones that do not have a pronounced color, for example Carrara white marble. When natural stones do not have an obvious color, the color does not enhance when it is polished. This is one of the reasons why many customers choose a honed finish over a polished finish when it comes to lighter colored stones. Whether Carrara marble is honed or polished, you can still enjoy the bright, clean color of the white marble.

Going back to our stone surfaces with bold colors: as a natural stone floor wears, the shine and the color diminish. It is our job, as a stone restoration company, to polish these worn areas to restore the stone to its original shiny and colorful appearance. If you have a colorful stone countertop, such as a black or dark gray marble, you may also notice that acid etch marks not only remove the shine, but also dull the color. Again, this is when the stone would need to be re-polished in order to re-instate the color and shine.

Screen Shot 2016-03-04 at 3.39.44 PM — Etched Black Stone Bar Top

For my readers that have a textured stone floor such as flamed granite, slate or flagstone, you also have a way to enhance the color, but the process is very different. Check out our blog, “Don’t Just Seal It, Enhance It.”

If you have a dulled stone surface that is in need of restoration, please give International Stoneworks a call or e-mail us. We would be happy to come to your home or building and restore your natural stone to a gorgeous finish.

Travertine polished honed — Polished and Honed Travertine

Posted and tagged Carrara, Color Enhancement, Marble Polishing, Polish, Polishing Stone, Stone Polish. Use this permalink for a bookmark.

* * * * *

Written in Stone

News and Tips from International Stoneworks