New Manual Tackles Fire and Water Damage to Stone, Tile, and Terrazzo
Stone and tile expert Frederick M. Hueston has released a new professional manual, When Disaster Strikes Stone: A Practical Guide to Inspecting, Cleaning, and Restoring Marble, Natural Stone, Tile, and Terrazzo After Fire and Water Damage.
Fire and water losses create problems that are often missed during ordinary disaster cleanup. Marble, granite, limestone, terrazzo, ceramic tile, and other hard surfaces can absorb smoke, soot, contaminated water, cleaning chemicals, and dissolved minerals. Damage may appear immediately, or it may develop days or weeks after the property seems dry.
When Disaster Strikes Stone was written to help restoration contractors, stone professionals, insurance adjusters, inspectors, property managers, and building owners better understand these materials before deciding whether they should be cleaned, restored, repaired, or replaced.
“Stone and tile surfaces are frequently treated as though they’re all alike, but they aren’t,” Hueston said. “A cleaning method that works well on porcelain tile could permanently damage marble or limestone. This manual gives people a practical way to identify the material, evaluate the damage, and choose the proper course of action.”
The manual addresses the challenges associated with fire residue, smoke contamination, water intrusion, staining, mineral deposits, moisture-related discoloration, chemical damage, and physical deterioration. It also explains why some damage can be corrected through professional restoration while other conditions may require repair or replacement.
Hueston draws from more than 45 years of experience in the stone and tile industry. As the founder of Stone Forensics, he has investigated failures involving natural stone, tile, terrazzo, concrete, and related installation systems throughout the United States. He has written more than 40 books and hundreds of technical articles and has trained contractors, inspectors, architects, restoration professionals, and other industry specialists.
“This isn’t meant to be another general cleaning book,” Hueston said. “It deals with what happens to stone and tile when buildings experience real disasters. The wrong decision after a fire or flood can turn recoverable damage into permanent damage and add thousands of dollars to the loss.”
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When Disaster Strikes Stone is designed as both a field reference and a training resource. Its practical approach can help professionals document conditions, avoid damaging cleaning methods, communicate more clearly with property owners and insurers, and make better decisions about restoration and replacement.
The manual is available at www.stoneandtilebooks.com
.About the Author
Frederick M. Hueston is an internationally recognized stone and tile consultant, inspector, educator, author, and expert witness. He is the founder of Stone Forensics and has spent more than four decades investigating stone and tile failures, developing restoration procedures, and teaching professionals how to diagnose problems correctly. His books and technical articles cover natural stone, tile, terrazzo, inspections, restoration, maintenance, safety, and failure analysis.
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