Stone floor cleaning, sealing and restoration
We specialise in treatments for all types of natural stone floor, so that you can enjoy this stunning, long lasting natural material.
Natural stone floors
We work with a large variety of different types of natural stone that has been put to use in a wide range of domestic and commercial environments. The advantages and challenges of each variety of stone are highly varied, but our experience, equipment and dedication ensures that we always find the best possible result for you. We believe all natural stone flooring is worth protecting and we aim to deliver you the best value from your investment.
Common issues
All types of stone present their own individual challenges, so the best solution for your floor will depend on your unique situation. General wear from daily use tends to leave behind a variety of marks which get worse over time. Most commonly we see dust, dirt and grit that has left scratches after being walked into the floor. Regular, careful vacuum cleaning and dusting helps counteract this, but it’s practically impossible to prevent it entirely. Highly polished floors tend to visibly deteriorate most quickly, since any loss in shine tends to be quite obvious.
When dealing with softer, more porous type of rock, or in cases where the sealant has completely worn down, we often deal with damage from water, fruit juices and other liquids. Acidity in common food and drinks can create lasting stains on certain types of stone and the use of incorrect cleaning products and solutions can actually make this damage more serious.
The majority of stone floors use some sort of grouting to secure the individual pieces. Grout is softer than stone so is often particularly vulnerable to wear. Being slightly recessed, grouting can trap dust and dirt, often resulting in its porous surface becoming stained and discoloured.
How we maintain natural stone floors
The exact process we use will always vary depending to the type of stone, the condition of the flooring and the finish that you would like us to achieve. Here is an example of our workflow:
- Tile and Stone Medic Manchester will examine the floor type that you have in order to decide the appropriate solutions to be used.
- The solution is applied and left to dwell for a brief period of time.
- The cleaning solutions are then worked into the surface of the floor using our professional-grade rotary cleaners.
- Once the solutions have fully dwelled, the floor is then washed using powerful fresh water extractor systems. This ensures removal of all old sealers, dirt and other contaminants from the surface of the stone.
- The surface is then washed several times to neutralise the floor and free it from any soiling.
- Once the floor is dry, our specialist sealers are applied. The sealers range from impregnating sealers which will not alter the look of the stone, to matt, satin or high sheen, glossy finishes.
Tile and Stone Medic Manchester are happy to advise you on the most appropriate sealer to use for maximum improvement to your tile or stone floor. Advice on cost effective maintenance and best practice to enhance and maximise the life of your stone floor is also available.