Limestone Stripping & Sealing Albany

Limestone is a sedimentary rock, traditionally found throughout the Mediterranean and Europe, formed at the bottom of the ocean, and made up wholly or mainly of calcium carbonate. In its purest form limestone is white, but it can also be colored using other materials. The calcite itself is sourced from the shells and bones of marine organisms. The sediment that builds up over many years preserves these materials into fossils. Millions of years of pressure and heat cause a chemical reaction, turning this into limestone.

Limestone is a great choice in warmer climates due to its tendency to remain quite cool, however limestone is quite a delicate variety of stone that is porous and quite susceptible to scratches, stains and fracturing, meaning limestone can damage easily when handled incorrectly.

Two main sealing options exist for Limestone tiles

• Deep Penetrating Impregnating Sealer
  (Transparent Finish/Colour Enhancing Finish)
  


• Topical Sealer
  (Gloss/Satin/Matte Finish)

A deep penetrating impregnating sealer protects limestone and grout from water and oil based stains by chemically reacting with the surface pores using nano-technology to create a breathable protective barrier. An impregnating sealer protects the limestone surface and grout from absorbing stains while also resulting in cleaning and maintenance becoming much easier. Australia's Deepshield® range of impregnating water based sealer's, offer long term benefits lasting for up to 10 years while Deepshield Gold®, based on the latest fluoro-bond technology lasts for up to 15 years. A penetrating impregnating transparent sealer enters the pores of your stone and, once cured will not change the look of the tile or stone. A penetrating colour enhancing sealer is designed to enhance and enrich the natural look of stone surfaces.

Tile Cleaners® are the experts at applying all types of sealer and will ensure your limestone looks its absolute best. Tile Cleaners® experienced technicians can apply a topical sealer when especially required to create a high gloss, satin sheen or matte finish to your surfaces. Topical sealer is also helpful in situations where the old solvent based sealer can not be completely removed or when required to hide certain types of damage. Topical sealer's have a life expectancy of around 3 years.

You can easily test how porous your natural limestone is by applying a drop of water to the surface and watching how the water is absorbed by the limestone. You can then see how any type of water based stain can be absorbed by the limestone tile surface and grout.

We provide specialised stripping & sealing as well as all restoration solutions for Limestone tiles.

Save yourself time, effort and money and let our team of professionals bring your Limestone back to its best possible condition.

To schedule your appointment or to obtain a free estimate, please Call 1300 771 201 or use our online enquiry form.

We cover all Albany suburbs

Water based sealer's and solvent-based sealer's can both be used on limestone, however unless absolutely required for a specific reason, we always recommend applying a water based sealer that doesn't produce harmful fumes during application and removal. Water based sealers are easier to apply and remove and also require less drying time. One of the most popular product ranges available is Australian made Deepshield® quality impregnating water based sealer's that prolong the life of your surfaces by taking full advantage of recent advancements in nano technology, providing unmatched long-term stain resistance and reliability.

It is important to ensure the correct water based sealer is applied to your limestone tile, which will also depend on whether they are indoors or outdoors as most sealer's will not last long outside due to being designed for internal use. If your limestone is outdoors, it is important to use a water based sealer that is specifically designed for outdoor limestone.

There are two types of impregnating clear sealer, water based sealer & solvent based. In the past solvent based sealers were more widely used as they used to absorb deeper into the limestone and grout and would also last longer. Today however, thanks to new technological advancements, it is recommended only to use water based sealer's, that last much longer and cause less potential damage to health and property.

Solvent based products are more difficult to apply and can create major problems when applied incorrectly as they are very hard to remove. Tile Cleaners® recommend our clients apply a long lasting water based sealer such as a quality product from Australia's Deepshield® range of sealer's to their limestone tiles and grout. Topical sealer's (glossy plastic coating over the top of the limestone) are still used on limestone, but these older style sealer's can trap moisture in the stone and make the surface slippery when wet. When a topical sealer wears in higher traffic areas, the entire surface usually needs to be stripped and re-sealed.

It is very important to ensure that tiles achieve their cleanest possible condition prior to being sealed. This will protect the appearance of the tile, and importantly ensure that there won't be any dirt, stains or other debris caught under the layer of sealant.

To provide the best possible protection from oil and water-based stains; to maintain the look and slip resistance of your limestone and to prevent damaging moisture from being trapped within the stone, it is recommended to seal your limestone with a high quality, invisible, fully breathable impregnating sealer.

We provide specialised stripping, cleaning & sealing as well as all restoration solutions for Limestone tiles

To schedule your appointment or to obtain a free estimate, please Call 1300 771 201 or use our online enquiry form.

We cover all Albany suburbs