Page 4 - May Slippery Rock Gazette

In This Issue
DEPARTMENTS: Industry Spotlight and Features
Rockcrete USA–Industry Pros in Building Wet Fabrication Infrastructure, by Peter Marcucci ....................... Begins on 1 2019 Pinnacle Awards of Excellence, Part Two ...................................................................................................... Begins on 11 The Stone that Saved St. Augustine, by Sharon Koehler .................................................................................... Begins on 19 Revisiting Hope, New Jersey — An Early American Moravian Settlement, by Peter Marcucci ............ Begins on 28
Training, Health and Education Sponsored by Braxton-Bragg
The Coronavirus and Your Stone Countertops, Frederick M. Hueston ......................................................... Begins on 4 Efficiency Versus Effectiveness: Which is More Important?, by Ed Hill ................................................................................ 6 Stone Forensics Offers Special Topics in Online Education ..................................................................................................... 9 NSI Offers New Course: Creating a Safety Plan in the Age of COVID-19 .............................................................................. 25
Industry Topics, Tips and Regulars
Majestic Kitchen and Bath Creations Team Unites to Battle COVID-19 Issues ........................................... Begins on 1 How Lean is Your Shop? .................................................................................................................................................................... 8 The Stone Detective, by Frederick M. Hueston ....................................................................................................................... 10 A Card Carrying Conundrum, by Sam Venable ......................................................................................................................... 12 Green Stones, by Karin Kirk ....................................................................................................................................... Begins on 14 Stone Restoration and Maintenance Corner, by Bob Murrell .......................................................................... Begins on 20
Stone and Tile Industry News
Industry Calendar Updates ................................................................................................................................................................. 7 The Small Business Owner’s Guide to the CARES Act ....................................................................................... Begins on 8 Kitchen Tiles & Countertops “Made in Margraf” are Delights in Marble ......................................................................... 15 Braxton-Bragg Beefs Up Texas Presence ................................................................................................................................... 18 Sean Rice Joins Braxton-Bragg Family as Sales Manager ......................................................................................................... 26 2020 Stone of the Year Announced .............................................................................................................................................. 29 Makita Factory Service Centers Remain Ready to Serve with New Repair Options .................................................... 33
Marketplace and Classifieds ........................................................................................................................ 26, 27 SLIPPERY ROCK GAZETTE®
The Beacon of the Stone Industry Expanded Online Edition
Contributors & Staff
Rick Stimac ....................................................................................................................... Publisher Larry M. Hood .......................................................................................Editor and Design Director G. William Brown................................................................................................. Graphic Designer Gina Covell ................................................................. Advertising Sales and Social Media Maven Ed Hill ......................................................................................................... Synchronous Solutions Frederick M. Hueston ............................................................................ Stone Forensics Consultant Karin Kirk ........................................................................................................................ Geologist Sharon Koehler .............................................................................................. Artistic Stone Design Rufus B. Leakin ......................................................................................... Guru of Urban Folklore Peter J. Marcucci................................................................................................ Special Contributor Bob Murrell ................................................................................................. Restoration Consultant Sam Venable .................................................................................................... Department of Irony
For both print and online editions, send advertising inquiries to g.covell@slipperyrockgazette.net, and comments c/o publisher@ slipperyrockgazette.net. Subscription requests, a classified ad submission forms, and archived back issues and articles, are available at www.slipperyrockgazette.net.
4|May 2020
Training & Education
The Coronavirus and Your Stone Countertops
ASI write this, the en- tire world is in a panic over the novel coronavirus, and as a stone expert, my phone is ringing off the hook with ques- tions. Can the coronavirus sur- vive on my stone countertop? If so, for how long? What do I use on my stone to properly kill the
virus?
As we look at this situation in the first week of WFH mandates there are many unknown facts about the coronavirus. However, there are several studies that have looked at these questions in the past. One such study was recently published in The Journal of Hospital Infections entitled Persistence of coronavi- ruses on inanimate surfaces and their inactivation with biocidal agents. Following is a brief sum- mary of this research.
How long can the COVID-19 Coronavirus survive on stone surfaces?
The short answer is, “We don’t know!” However, similar vi- ruses, such as SARS and MERS, can survive for up to 9 days. The common flu virus can last up to 48 hours on a stone surface. Additional studies have shown that the virus can last for over a week, but seems to have a shorter lifespan at temperatures over 86 degrees F. Of course, stone sur- faces would rarely reach those high temperatures in an average kitchen environment.
Can you get the corona- virus by touching a contami- nated stone countertop?
Again, there is not enough information or studies that con- firm that the coronavirus acts similar to other viruses, how- ever, some studies are showing that the virus can be killed with standard household disinfectants. One study showed that disinfec- tants with 62-71 percent ethanol, 0.5 percent hydrogen peroxide or 0.1 percent sodium hypo- chlorite (bleach) can inactivate the coronavirus within a min- ute. Although the study shows
Frederick M. Hueston, PhD
Stone Forensics
that the coronavirus is similar to SARS, it is not yet clear if the coronavirus will act the same as SARS. So, can you get the virus by touching a contami- nated stone surface? According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), touching a surface is not believed to be the main way the virus is transferred. The most likely way it is spread is from person-to-person from coughs and sneezing.
How do you properly disin- fect your stone surface to kill the virus?
Currently, it is believed that most household disinfectants can kill the virus. However, I have discovered that many people do not know how to properly use these sanitizing solutions. Many people will spray and immedi- ately wipe a disinfectant. Best practices methodology shows that this method is insufficient to kill the virus. The disinfectant should be allowed to dwell on the countertop for 3-5 minutes to be effective.
You can make your own disin- fectant by mixing one half rub- bing alcohol with one half water. Spray the disinfectant on the countertop and thoroughly wet the surface. Allow the solution to sit for 3-5 minutes. Rinse with clean water and then dry with a microfiber cloth.
The best advice is to keep your stone countertop clean is by following some simple steps. As this will also keep your granite in tip-top condition, these five sim- ple maintenance procedures are a great way to reassure nervous cli- ents. For best results, they should be followed very closely.
1. Clean the countertop daily with a soft white cloth and a neutral cleaner or stone soap. These products are available at most stone and tile suppliers.
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Slippery rock Gazette
“He that can have Patience can have what he will.”
— Benjamin Franklin