Many older buildings have durable Stone flooring. This is the chalky porous type typical of most French and Spanish Stone. Etched by acids, including soft drinks. Absorbs oils and other liquids and is more easily stained than marble. Composed of Calcite and some Magnesium. Common colors are black, gray, white, yellow and brown. Has a smooth granular surface. Varies in hardness. Should be sealed with a penetrating sealer to prevent staining and reduce soiling. Should only be cleaned with neutral pH detergents. Because it is soft, it should never be cleaned at pressures above 800 PSI and then only if the grout is in good condition.
Stone Masonry Otago - Clarence
Of course, we deal with Stone from anywhere in the world. As you are aware Stone can be purchased from China and India fairly cheaply but be aware that some of the stone can be next to useless. You need to be careful when choosing the correct stone but we can advise on that if you need us to. The correct Sealant is paramount in a Stone purchasing decision, again, call us for information on 1300 771 201.
Stone tiles vary in porosity and hardness however they are soft and porous on the other hand. Since most stone tiles can absorb water very fast, it is important to follow proper Stone tile restoration methods in every opportunity to ensure proper maintenance.
Stone floor can be prone to scratching, staining and fracturing. It also needs to be allowed to breath, instead of being covered by synthetic sealers or urethane. We offer the right solution to protect your Stone by using highly penetrating impregnating water based sealers.
The primary cause for polished stone floors becoming dull is walking on them. Prolonged foot traffic grinds and packs in dust, sand, and grit. Although the scratching that occurs is very fine, it eventually covers the majority of the surface and over time dulls the finish to the point where it loses its reflective properties. To make your stone surfaces smooth and reflective, we employ the use of high speed polishers.
Our Stone Tile Restoration services can bring back your Stone tiles & grout to its best possible condition, and protect them for years to come.
We cover all Hobart suburbs, all Clarence area and all surrounding suburbs to Otago
Old Stone Tiles
Stone Maintenance
Professional regular maintenance will be required to maintain its honed or polished appearance. Stone looks best with a honed or low/medium sheen appearance however some people insist on a high shine finish. Stone will never have the gloss of marble or granite. Some low calcite Stone can be extremely difficult to polish and therefore vitrification would be required. Vitrification however can give the stone an unnatural plastic appearance if repeated too often.
- Pros
- Durable
- Easy to clean
- It is less expensive than marble and granite
- It is moisture-resistant
- Cons
- It feels cold and hard under-foot
- It requires sealing
- t reacts to acid
Our Stone Tile Restoration services can bring back your Stone tiles & grout to its best possible condition, and protect them for years to come.
We cover all Hobart suburbs, all Clarence area and all surrounding suburbs to Otago
Stone can be highly porous - a tablespoon of water on a Stone surface will be absorbed in seconds, although it does vary in porosity from piece to piece. Porosity is also affected by its finish - highly polished Stone is a little harder to penetrate than Stone with a honed (matt) finish.
Due to its high porosity it is particularly important for Stone to be sealed with a high quality impregnating sealer which will not affect its slip resistance or look. Stone is used both outdoors and indoors, and our impregnating sealers will seal Stone equally well in either.
Stone can be difficult to maintain if a proper maintenance cycle is not put in place from the point of installation. As it is usually not polished, the problem of scratching is not as big an issue as it is with marble, however if proper barrier matting is not introduced even a honed surface will lose its attractiveness. The most important factor to consider with the maintenance of Stone is the possibility of staining.
Stone's calcite composition makes it susceptible to acid attack from spilt food and drink. Its high porosity can also mean oil will permeate the surface and leave staining if it is not properly sealed with a penetrating / impregnating sealer.
Our Stone Tile Restoration services can bring back your Stone tiles & grout to its best possible condition, and protect them for years to come.
We cover all Hobart suburbs, all Clarence area and all surrounding suburbs to Otago
Before sealing your stone
- Any surface to be sealed should be clean and looking just as you want it before it is sealed - it may be impossible to remove stains after sealing without having to strip the sealer again. Acidic cleaners should not be used on Stone as it will damage it.
- Stone must have no other coating such as wax or a topical sealer before it's sealed, so any such coating must be removed before sealing.
- Floor must be thoroughly dry before applying any sealer.
Our Stone Tile Restoration services can bring back your Stone tiles & grout to its best possible condition, and protect them for years to come.
We cover all Hobart suburbs, all Clarence area and all surrounding suburbs to Otago
Stone Protection
It is very difficult to seal Stone against acid attack.
Stone and other calcite based stone such as marble and travertine are prone to acid etching. Stone is immediately 'etched' (eaten / corroded) by any acidic material on contact - including lemon juice, cola, wine and champagne. For this reason the honed (matt) look is popular, as it doesn't show the matt etch marks as much as polished Stone. In any case, acidic substances should be cleaned up as soon as possible, and Stone should not be used outdoors in areas where there is acid rain.
We provide specialised restoration solutions for Stone tiles.
Our equipment can handle both domestic and commercial jobs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Client Range
huge range of tiles and surfaces in all locations including:
Related Links
- Our Services
- Best Tile Cleaning in Otago
- Tile Cleaners Otago
- Grout Cleaning Otago
- Grout Cleaners Otago
- Ceramic Cleaning Otago
- Porcelain Cleaning Otago
- Slate Cleaning Otago
- Limestone Cleaning Otago
- Sandstone Cleaning Otago
- Travertine Cleaning Otago
- Bluestone Cleaning Otago
- Marble Cleaning Otago
- Marble Honing Otago
- Terracotta Cleaning Otago
- Quarry Cleaning Otago
- Granite Cleaning Otago
- Timber Floor Polishing Otago
- Pressure Cleaning Otago
- Vinyl Floor Cleaning Otago
- Stone Tile Cleaning Otago
- Natural Stone Restoration Otago
- Best Tile Cleaners in Otago
- Cleaning Pool Pavers Otago
- Sealing Pool Pavers Otago
- Grout Cleaning Otago
- Carpet Cleaning Otago
- Stone Sealing
- Stone Restoration
- Stone Repairs
- Stone Mason
- Stone Stain Removal
- Types Of Stone Tiles
- Stone Care
- Marble Polishing
- Marble Honing
- Marble Sealing
- Marble Restoration
- Marble Repairs
- Marble Sealer
- How To Make Stone Floors Shiny
- Cleaning Polished Travertine Tiles
- Sealing Polished Travertine Tiles