One issue for many people is how to maintain natural stone flooring once it has been purchased. If you have pets like the two little fella’s above then maintenance is essential. As much as I love my Frenchie, we all know the dirt that comes with having an animal.
When you have been saving for a particular item, or alternatively have found the exact product you love that you haven’t been able to find anywhere, the last thing you want to do is spoil it. The costings of a new kitchen floor seems extravagant if it isn’t going to be looked after.
If you spend money whether it be on an item of clothing or a new marble floor, you want to ensure that this money is well spent and you can get as much joy and value out of this product as possible.
If you are paying a high price for a product then you expect the quality to reflect its price. If you want a cheap alternative then maintenance is still essential to make this product last as long as you can make it.
Firstly I would recommend that the floor is laid by a professional that you trust the quality of work. It is essential that the flooring is laid properly to avoid the tiles moving, cracking or lifting. This will guarantee you get the most out of your flooring and ensure that your flooring will last a lifetime.
I would recommend that all natural stone products should be sealed using our trusted R F Interior Sealer or a water based sealant such as Lithofin. If you have bought a property and would like to know if the natural flooring is sealed then there is a very simple water test that can be used. If the water is soaked up by the flooring then the product needs to be sealed as soon as possible. If the water sits on top of the stone then this product has already been sealed and no action needs to be taken. This product may need resealing dependant on how long ago the sealant was applied and what product was used.
Before you seal a product you must ensure that the product is clean. You need to ensure that any dirt and residue is removed off the stone before you seal it. If you do not do this then this can cause problems down the line as you are sealing the dirt between the stone and the sealant.
When cleaning the product before the sealant is applied you can either dry mop the dirt off or use a mop and water. Ensuring that the mop is cleaned after every use in the mop bucket, removing the excess water from the mop head. Cleaners using chemicals should not be used especially if they contain bleach or ammonia. General purpose cleaners should also always be avoided. Acid will stain the stone if used as a cleaner, depending on which product you have laid, some will stain more than others. You can also hoover the excess dirt of the stone tiles ensuring that the hoover doesn’t scratch the stone.
I recommend that you clean all products with water weekly. Dependant on if the product is a sandstone product or a highly polished porcelain tile, water will always be effective without ruining any characteristic of the tile. If the product is highly polished and in a high traffic area, it is likely that the product will need polishing again. I recommend that this is done by a professional.
If the product is sealed (which is recommended) by a resin based sealer such as R F Sealant then the any product that is spilt on the stone will not be absorbed. However if anything is spilt on the stone, even if sealed I would recommend that this is cleaned off as soon as possible to reduce any type of staining.
If you keep up the maintenance of your natural stone product it will last a lifetime. If you need any advice then please get in touch with me via email and I will do my very best to help you.