Stone Tile Sealing Medindie Gardens - Prospect

1. 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 limestone as it will damage it.
2. 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.
3. Floor must be thoroughly dry before applying any sealer.

Our Stone Floor Restoration service will bring back your limestone tiles & grout to its best possible condition, and protect them for years to come.

It is very difficult to seal limestone 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 limestone. In any case, acidic substances should be cleaned up as soon as possible, and limestone should not be used outdoors in areas where there is acid rain.

Here are some recommendations for routine care and cleaning of your stone tiles:

Do’s:

• Do blot-up spills immediately.
• Do clean your natural stone frequently with warm water and a clean, non-abrasive cloth sponge or mop.
• Do thoroughly rinse and dry the surface after washing
• Do use a neutral cleaner formulated for natural stone or a few drops of liquid dishwashing detergent, will help you remove soil, that normal dusting or damp mopping leaves behind.
• Do use coasters under all glasses, particularly those containing alcohol or citrus juices. Many common foods and drinks contain acids that will etch or dull the stone surface
• Does use felt pads underneath the furniture that is likely to scratch the floor such tables, chairs.
• Do use mats or trivets under hot dishes.
• Do keep kitchen countertops and vanities dust free.
• Do dry or squeegee water from shower walls following each use. This will prevent hard water or soap scum build-up.
• Do protect floor surfaces with non-slip mats or area rugs and countertop surfaces with coasters, trivets or placemats

Don’ts:

• Do not place hot items directly on the stone surface. Use trivets or mats under hot dishes and placemats under china, ceramics, silver or other objects that can scratch the surface.
• Don't use cleaners that contain acid such as bathroom cleaners, grout cleaners or tub & tile cleaners
• Don't use vinegar, lemon juice or other cleaners containing acids on marble, limestone, travertine or onyx surfaces
• Don't use powder cleaners, or cream cleansers, mildew removers or disinfectants, or abrasive nylon scrub pads, as they can easily etch your stone.
• Don't use abrasive cleaners such as dry cleansers or soft cleansers
• Don't use general-purpose cleaners such as Ajax, Flash, Limelite, Harpic as they may damage your stone surface, and the effectiveness of your sealer.
• Don't mix bleach and ammonia; this combination creates a toxic and lethal gas
• Don't use cork and wood furniture protectors. These can cause severe stains.
• Don't place for a long time any metal object on top of a stone surface, especially in bathrooms, as it is very likely that would leave a rust stain.

The natural variations on your stone surface can easily loose their appealing qualities, due to damage resulting from everyday wear and tear. Natural Stone is absorbent and has a mineral chemistry that can react in strange ways to conventional cleaners, making the proper selection of cleaners is essential for daily basis maintenance of your natural stone surface. Some variation of stones will absorb liquids and oils causing discoloration. Having your stone treated with a penetrating impregnating sealer can diminish this. It is recommended that a sealer is applied every year, and that the floor is fully stipped and sealed every 3-5 years depending on the type of stone its made from.

Dust-mop interior floors frequently using a clean non-treated dry dust mop. Sand dirt and grit do the most damage to natural stone surfaces due to their abrasiveness. Mats or area rugs inside and outside an entrance will help to minimize the sand, dirt and grit that will scratch the stone floor. Be sure that the underside of the mat or rug is a non-slip surface. Normally, it will take a person about eight steps on a floor surface to remove sand or dirt from the bottom of their shoes. Do not use vacuum cleaners that are worn. The metal or plastic attachments or the wheels may scratch the surface.

In the bath or other wet areas, soap scum can be minimized by using a squeegee after each use. To remove soap scum, use a non-acidic soap scum remover or a solution of ammonia and water (about 1/2 cup ammonia to a gallon of water). Frequent or over-use of an ammonia solution may eventually dull the surface of the stone. You need to have a penetrating sealer applied. Hard water or soap scum may damage the lustre of your natural stone. For tile shower or floor, we suggest having your grout cleaned and sealed periodically to prevent mildew.