September 15, 2023

Most anyone with a tile or stone installation has experienced at least one of these mishaps: water rings, dingy grout, grout haze, oil stains, and more. We’re calling this a “Designer Tool Kit,” but it’s really for anyone who needs a quick fix to their tile or stone. Real estate agents or homeowners preparing a house to sell —this is for you, too!

Water Ring and Etches

Polished marble countertops are stunning, to say the least, but what do you do when someone (we’re not finger-pointing!) has set down a glass, and now you have an unsightly ring that will not clean off, no matter how hard you have scrubbed. The ring has appeared because the water or liquid has etched the polish off the stone. Often, the stone is not discolored, but you can see it when the light hits it just right. The good news is you don't have to live with it. Enter this quick fix:

Miracle Sealants' Water Ring & Etch Remover 

This water and ring and etch remover is a unique fast-acting polishing powder formulated to remove water rings, light scratches, and etch marks. It works wonders on polished marble, but this miracle fix is also excellent for limestone, travertine, terrazzo, and more. Bonus: it’s easy to use, cost-effective, and fast!

Dingy or Stained Grout

Hamptons Ceramic wall tile

Is your once-pristine white grout looking dingy or stained? To the rescue is the

Miracle Sealants' Miracle Grout Pen

These grout pen markers are a safe and easy way to maintain your beautiful tile installation by covering up stubborn grout stains. Odorless, non-toxic, and easy to use, these grout pen markers dry rapidly and leave a clean, uniform grout line without harsh chemicals and no fumes! The pens also come in a buff color.

Changing Grout Color

Freehand Wall Tile

You installed crisp white tile and went for a clean, modern look by also using white grout. But the problem is the whites don’t match, making either the grout or the tile look dingy. What do you do? Changing the grout color to a light gray will usually solve this problem, but how do you accomplish a grout color change? The fix is easy with

Custom Building Products' Polyblend® Grout Renew

Polyblend® Grout Renew is a waterborne acrylic stain and sealer for renewing or changing the color of cement grout joints. Grout Renew also seals the grout against stains while it colors. It’s also fade-resistant and will make grout joints look like new. Available in 40 colors, grout Renew is a great way to change or renew your existing grout color.

Grout Haze

Grout haze is that pesky film left behind on the tile after grouting. It can be challenging to remove and always seems to inger longer than you think it should. It’s also somewhat hard to see when it's wet, so you might think it’s gone while you are cleaning it — but it comes back to haunt you as streaks once the tile surface is dry. But don’t despair if you have grout haze because you’ll soon be hazeless and streak-free with

Custom Building Products' Aqua Mix® Grout Haze Clean-Up

Grout Haze Clean-Up is a safe and effective concentrated cleaner that's added to the grout clean-up water to remove cement grout haze and latex additive film from the tile during the clean-up process. But if grout haze clean-up wasn’t used at the time of initial cleaning, never fear because you can also use it full strength to remove it within the first ten days after grouting. The formula is non-acidic and is safe for tile.

Oil & Grease Stains on Natural Stone

You love the beauty of your natural stone countetops— until you find an oil stain, and it’s a deep-set one. But you don't have to live with it, thanks to

Custom Building Products' Aqua Mix® Poultice Stain Remover

This non-acidic stain remover is an absorptive clay that removes deep-set oil and grease stains. The fine abrasive cleaning powder also removes stubborn surface stains and light grout haze.

Forgot the Tile Edge Treatment?

Palms Glass Tile

It happens. Sometimes, the tile edges are not considered at the time of installation, especially on backsplashes that don't die into a wall but end where the countertop ends. But there’s no need to panic after the fact because there’s an edge treatment that you can apply after the installation:

Questech Quarter Round - The 12" Jolly

This Quarter Riound is an innovative finishing piece is for various tile installations, including porcelain, stone, metal, and glass. This versatile quarter-round edge treatment can be used as a low-profile cap, trim liner, or decorative accent, providing the perfect edge or transition to your wall tile. It comes in a fair selection of colors and has a sleek profile that doesn't call too much attention to itself.

Bonus Tip (Schluter Systems

Another one of our awesome suppliers, Schluter Systems, provides a range of innovative and practical solutions for tile installation challenges. Schluter also manufactures functional edgings and corners as well as decorative borders, railings, and more to add panache and signature style to your tile designs.

Download the Designer Tool Kit Cheat Sheet!

We've created a handy Designer Tool Kit Quick-Fix cheat sheet so you can find these quick fixes at a glance. Click here to download the cheat sheet.

Crossville Studios distributes of all these quick-fix products. The tile pros at our  27 dedicated showrooms are ready to answer your questions. Reach out to the showroom nearest you, or contact us today!