Stains in stone are something that should be left to professional. Sure, there are many quick fix websites offering advice but let me tell you, if you don't get it right first time it may be that tile will need replacement and finding a match is nearly impossible.

Nowadays, Stone Seals and sealants are in abundance, but which one is right for you?

Firstly - Never let builder, renovator or floor installer apply seal. The seal is an arduous task that needs careful consideration and correct application. I probably remove over 10,000 sq mtrs of poorly applied Lithofin stain stop a year where application has basically wiped it onto floor leaving it porous and not sealed at all. So householder has not only paid for Lithofin seal but for us to remove it and provide correct sealer for stone.

"The Correct Sealer" I hear you cry. Yes, I am afraid to say that they are many types of sealer for many different stone types and what tasks stone needs to do. Firstly there are water based and solvent based sealers. Other questions to consider are;

Does stone get heavy traffic? How often is stone cleaned? what type of beverages does household use? Any Allergies within residents? Type of finish preferred (matt), (Shine) etc?

DO we use water based?

Framing is structural skeleton of your house. The drawing at top indicates important framing members of any of cottages. The most important elements are sill, header, joists, girders, sole, flooring, studs, plate, and rafters. Let's take a look at these parts.

Except in case of concrete slab construction, sill is first wood member to rest on foundations and will be first wood member you will put down. The sill is usually a 2-by-4-inch piece. In pier construction you will note that I have occasionally used a 2-by-6-inch member. This is because header is made up of two pieces 2 inches thick, instead of one, as shown in illustration.

Sills form a bearing surface for undersides of joists. They should be bolted to slab or wall foundations. If you are using pier foundations, it is important that you first put down sill around building, then spike inner header to sill from underside. After this is done, lay out joists and securely spike inner header to them.

At corners, stagger these two parts. Then spike outer header to inner one, overlapping at staggered corner edge. What you have done is to build a girder with a resting place for joists.

Headers, except as noted above, are usually 2 inches thick and same width as joists. They run around outside perimeter of building and help keep joists in a vertical position. They also help to transmit roof and wall loads to foundation.