STEPPING Robert Merry of the Stone Consultants provides exper
Swaledale Fossil
Due to the current coronavirus pandemic, stone supplies from mainland Europe are limited. However, turning to the UK stone market will provide some interesting choices. Not only an excellent flooring material, but with a reduced carbon footprint, UK-sourced stone is an environmentally sounder proposition for a project.
There are over 270 registered quarries in the UK, producing limestones, sandstones and slates predominately and very limited supplies of granite. So, there is no excuse for not buying locally.
Looking after stone floors adds a little extra dimension to the cleaning process. But selecting the right stone and then learning how to maintain it will give lasting results and a beautiful finish that will keep its looks for years.
Spillages need to be removed quickly. Many food and drinks contain acids and will burnish the face of limestones and marbles if left on the surface. You sometimes see glass or bottle ring marks on work surfaces for instance. This is often caused by the acidic liquid on the inside running down the outside and gathering on the base. The salts in dishwasher tabs will also leave white ring marks. Wines, juices, sauces and plenty of fruits contain acids that are harmful to limestone and marble.
Most granite, quartz and slate are less likely to mark from acidic liquids and are more suitable as worksurfaces.
Honed limestone or marble with plenty of movement in the face will work well for floors. Beware of laying a cream- coloured plain stone floor in a heavily trafficked area, it will discolour quickly and need endless cleaning. Be prepared
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to have limestone or marble floors re-polished, especially around busy food preparation areas. You won’t stop the effects of foodstuff falling on the surface.
A granite, quartz or slate floor will resist staining for longer and require less maintenance and resurfacing rarely.
Sealing a stone surface using impregnators is part of the solution, but not the only solution. These products are good at forming barriers,particularly solvent-based impregnators, but they won’t resist all stains.
Regular cleaning is key. Stone soap or preparatory cleaners developed especially for stone contain mild surfactants – soaps with emulsifiers that break down dirt on the surface without stripping the face.
If your floor is not big enough to invest in a scrubber-dryer, make sure that the mop is clean, and the dirty water is changed in the bucket. Otherwise, you end up moving the dirt across the surface without taking it away.
There are plenty of highly competent stone cleaning companies that can transform tired and stained floors if needed. But it is so much better to get the cleaning and sealing of the new stone floor right the first time and maintain it correctly. This will help keep its good looks for longer.
As with any luxury item, the more you look after it, the longer it keeps its value.
www.stoneconsultants.co.uk
Robert Merry is a member of the Technical Committee of the Stone Federation of Great Britain. His company, The Stone Consultants, is an independent stone consultancy who offer advice and guidance on stone related issues to the construction industry as well as acting as an expert witness.
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