Sealing Limestone Archives - South Lincolnshire Tile Doctor

Dull and Scratched Limestone Floor Polished in Horncastle

Here we have a beautiful Limestone tiled floor installed in the kitchen and adjacent dining area at a property in Horncastle. We were asked to polish the floor in order to bring up the finish and also remove the fine scratched and etching caused by furniture and pets.

Scratched Limestone Floor Before Cleaning Horncastle

Polished stone floors like this one do need regular polishing to keep them looking their best and, in this case, it had been a while since had last been done. After measuring up and investigating a few problem areas we discussed the plan to renovate the floor and worked out a quote for the work. Happy with the quote we set a date for my return.

Polishing Limestone Flooring

To remove the light scratches and bring up the polished appearance of the stone the best course of action is to hone the stone with a set of diamond burnishing pads of different grits. After adding protection to vulnerable areas, the burnishing work then started with a coarse 400-grit pad fitted to a rotary machine which had extra weight added to increase traction with the floor.

Scratched Limestone Floor Before Cleaning Horncastle

The 400-grit pad removes old sealers, light scratches and opens the pores in the stone so the dirt can be flushed out. Once the pad has been run over each tile several times the floor is rinsed with water and the soiling extracted with a wet vacuum.

The pad is then swapped out for a medium 800-grit and the process repeated and then again with a fine 1500-grit pad. These pads close the pores and build-up the polished appearance of the Limestone.

The burnishing process is then finished off with the application of a very fine 3000-grit pad which is applied in the same way but with only a little water sprayed into the floor.

Once complete a floor fan was setup and left to run overnight to ensure the floor would be nice and dry and ready for sealing the next day.

Saling a Polished Limestone Floor in Horncastle

On our return the Limestone was checked for moisture using a damp meter. This confirmed the stone was dry and work could then start to apply the sealer to the floor.

I used a colour enhancing sealer called Tile Doctor Colour Grow for this which helps bring out the natural colours and shades in the stone. It’s also an impregnator which means it works by soaking into the stone, occupying the pores, and thereby preventing dirt from residing there. This ensures dirt remains on the surface where it can easily be cleaned away.

Scratched Limestone Floor After Renovation Horncastle

Once complete the scratches were gone and the floor looked amazing with a lovely deep polish that reflected the light. The customer was delighted, and the new sealer will ensure the floor is easier to keep clean in future.

Scratched Limestone Floor After Renovation Horncastle

On the subject of maintenance cleaning, we recommend Tile Doctor Stone Soap for polished stone floors, it won’t impact the sealer, and contains a patina enhancer that will help maintain its appearance.

Limestone Tiled Floor Professionally Polished in Horncastle

Dirty Limestone Floor Renovation Sleaford

Party-Stained Limestone Floor Renovated in Sleaford

1 Comment / Limestone Tile Cleaning and Polishing, Sleaford Tile Cleaning / Phil

Recently we were called to deep clean and seal a semi polished Limestone floor at a property near the Lincolnshire market town of Sleaford. Unfortunately, a teenage party had become rather boisterous and resulted in the floor getting in quite a state during their enthusiastic celebrations.

The main culprit was alcohol from split drinks and as you can see from the pictures it had soaked into the stone and stained it and would not simply wipe or clean off. Having visited the property to survey the floor I came up with a restorative cleaning plan and provided a quote for restoring the floor back to its polished and clean look.

Dirty Limestone Floor Before Cleaning Sleaford

Happy with the quote we set a date for my return.

Polishing Limestone Flooring

To clean the floor and remove stains Limestone needs to be stripped back and then polished using a set of diamond burnishing pads. The pads come is a set of four and you start with the coarse pad which fitted to a buffing machine running on slow speed, the coarse 400-grit pad which removes old sealers and opens the pores in the stone so the dirt can be flushed out. Once the pad has been run over each Limestone tile at least three times you move onto the medium 800-grit and then fine 1500-grit pads which then close the pores again and build-up the polish.

Dirty Limestone Floor During Cleaning Sleaford

The pads generate a lot of slurry which is then rinsed off with water and then extracted using a wet vacuum. The burnishing process is then finished with the application of a very fine 3000-grit pad which is applied in the same way but with only a little water sprayed into the floor.

The last step is to use handheld burnishing blocks to get the same result in those places where the pads struggle to reach such as floor edges and corners.

Once complete a floor dryers was setup and left to run overnight to ensure the floor would be nice and dry and ready for sealing the next day. The customer can still use the floor in-between; they just have to be careful not to spill anything on it before it’s sealed.

Dirty Limestone Floor After Cleaning Sleaford

Limestone Floor Tile Sealing

On our return the Limestone was checked for moisture using a damp meter. This confirmed the stone was dry and work could then start to apply the sealer to the floor.

I used a quality sealer called Tile Doctor Ultra-Seal for this which is a natural finish sealer that is virtually invisible. It’s also an impregnator which means it works by soaking into the stone, occupying the pores, and thereby preventing dirt from residing there. This ensures dirt remains on the surface where it can easily be cleaned away.

Dirty Limestone Floor After Cleaning and Sealing Sleaford

The customer was over the moon that we had not only removed the etching from the partying but also fully restored the floor to its original shine. The new sealer should ensure the floor is easily cleaned going forward using a mop and a suitable cleaning product which for this floor I recommended Tile Doctor Stone Soap.

Limestone Tiled Floor Professionally Polished in Sleaford

Party-Stained Limestone Floor Renovated in Sleaford Read More »