How do I fix chips in granite?

by | Nov 14, 2011

Granite is a fantastic material for the kitchen, and that’s why it’s found in so many homes.  While granite is highly acid-resistant and durable, it’s also hard.  And with the hardness comes a brittleness that will sometimes cause it to chip.  There are various ways...

How do I fix the Rust Stains at the Base of my Toilet?

by | Nov 14, 2011

We Americans like to keep things clean, especially in the bathroom.  With tile and grout, or marble, limestone or travertine, there can be rust stains in the grout lines at the base of the toilet.  Even with repeated scrubbing, these rust stains persist. Don’t let it...

How do I fix my Marble Shower?

by | Nov 14, 2011

How do I fix my Marble Shower? Nothing stays beautiful without help.  Just ask Kim Kardashian.  Marble makes a beautiful material for a shower enclosure, but it also requires maintenance.  Marble, unlike ceramic tile, absorbs water and needs to be cleaned and sealed...

Five Things You Should Know About Travertine

by | Oct 11, 2011

Travertine is a beautiful flooring material. I’ve been in a thousand homes and seen travertine in some of the finest homes in California.  Tumbled travertine is a rustic version of the same material, but elicits an “Old World” feel, and because of its rustic look—(it...

How Do I Fix Stainless Steel?

by | Jun 8, 2011

Put the words “stainless” and “steel” together, and you have two very powerful words that evoke a certain reaction from most people.  Kitchens that are high quality are often described as having “granite and stainless steel”, two of...

What to do with Slippery Limestone and Travertine around a Pool

by | Apr 20, 2011

   Recently, we worked at a very nice home in Discovery Bay on the California Delta.  The owner had a problem.  He has a beautiful backyard with pillow-cut limestone (stones that are rounded on the edges) surrounding his infinity pool and hot tub, over-looking his...

Stone and Tile Repair in Atherton

by | Mar 24, 2011

  The boys did a fun job in Atherton last week.  Appleby cleaned, honed, polished and sealed the light-colored limestone and replaced five tiles in this whimsical home decorated by JR. McDonald.  The colors, fabrics and artwork are amazing, all working together to...

How to get Safe and Qualified Workmen into My Home

by | Mar 4, 2011

Part of owning a home is trying to maintain it, and that means there will be workers. tradesmen and estimators coming through the door. Some people have a very relaxed attitude about people working in their home.  I was surprised when I first started working as a...

We are NOT the Best Carpet Cleaning Company!

by | Feb 24, 2011

That’s right. We are not the best carpet cleaning company. We are not the best rug cleaning company either. We may not even be the best marble polishing company. How do I know this? Recently Appleby Cleaning and Restoration decided to see if we could become a Diamond...

Appleby Seals Limestone in Diablo Cover House

by | Feb 17, 2011

The Appleby Hard Surface Division is known for working on fine homes throughout the Bay Area.  Recently, a spectacular home in the Berkeley Hills was featured in Diablo Magazine’s February edition. Appleby cleaned, honed and sealed the limestone for this architectural...