How to Restore a Stone Floor

Restore stone floorStone floors are beautiful, durable and excellent flooring choices for all kinds of internal and external areas. The problem is that they can easily become stained, marked and scratched over time. Most of these problems are resolvable.

Usually, it is best to ask a professional stone floor cleaning company to assist you with the cleaning and restoration, but there are ways to deal with such problems by yourself as well. Here are some ideas and tips which can help you restore your stone floor:

Identify the stone type

First, make sure that you properly identify the type of stone you are dealing with, as well as the types of stains which need to be removed. Knowing the difference between the 2 main types of natural stone is crucial in order to identify the proper cleaning and restoration method.

Siliceous stone

Siliceous stone (granite, sandstone, slate, brownstone bluestone and quartzite) is durable and easy to clean with a proper mild acidic cleaning solution.

Calcareous stone

Calcareous stone (marble, limestone, onyx, and travertine) is sensitive and can be damaged by acidic cleaning solutions. If you are not sure of the exact type of stone you are dealing with you can perform a simple test with an eyedropper and vinegar. Drop a few drops in a hidden small spot on the floor. Make sure you chip off any sealant or polish on the spot before dropping the vinegar. If there is vigorous sizzling, the stone is likely calcareous. If there is no or a very slight reaction, you are probably dealing with siliceous stone.

Identify the condition of the floor

Identify the condition of the floor and the stains. If the tiles are uneven, this may mean that the floor needs honing and polishing. Cracked tiles will need to be filled or replaced. The different types of stains need to be treated accordingly.

Generally, when cleaning stone floors stick to the use of mild dish washing soap and water and always rinse it off with clean water. Abstain from using acidic solutions and vinegar on limestone, marble, onyx or travertine floors. Also, stay away from any abrasive cleaning products. Plus, never mix chemicals and cleaning solutions unless the instructions point to doing so.

Clean, strip and grind the stone floor with the appropriate solutions and instruments area by area. Some soiled areas could require more than one treatment.

Thoroughly rinse and dry the stone floor before applying the appropriate sealant. Sealants need to be applied to dry and clean stone surfaces, so as to be effective.

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