FINISHES & AFTERCARE HE STONE AGE Director of The Stone Consultants. Here, he offers advice for specifying and caring for stone floors.
and leaving a clean crisp finish, it is expensive. All those diamond-tipped blades are not cheap. It uses a great deal of water which needs to be contained. Excessive water can find its way under the stones, debonding the base. In a worst- case scenario, the drying process can cause oxidisation of iron minerals within some stones, turning the floor yellow in places. My best advice is, if you need to diamond cut the floor, use a scrubber dryer to remove the water.
There are plenty of highly competent stone cleaning companies that can transform tired and stained floors, 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 to retain its good looks for longer.
Here are some useful tips for consideration when selecting the right stone for a floor:
• Limestone and marbles are mainly formed from calcium carbonate which will burnish and stain from acids commonly found in household foods and cleaning products.
• Granite and slate are less prone to damage from acids and are harder wearing.
• The surface of stone is like skin. Once the polish is removed, the “pores” of the stone are exposed and dirt and moisture are more likely to become trapped in these.
• Honed floors will need more cleaning than polished floors.
• Polished floors show scratches more readily, particularly black stone.
• In general, honed materials give better slip-resistance. • Impregnators or sealers will not prevent all staining.
• A regular maintenance regime, using the correct products designed for use with the type of stone installed will keep the floor looking fantastic for years.
• Always ask the supplier for a copy of the CE Certificate, which should give vital information on the performance of the stone. You may need a stone consultant to interpret the results.
Stone floors are the Rolls Royce of floors. As with any luxury item, the more you look after it, the longer it keeps its value.
The Stone Consultants is an independent stone consultancy which offers advice and guidance on stone-related issues to the construction industry, as well as acting as an expert witness. If you need any assistance with selecting a floor or have any issues with an installed floor, contact Robert Merry at The Stone Consultants (
robertmerry@stoneconsultants.co.uk).
www.stoneconsultants.co.uk twitter.com/TomorrowsTS — 19 —
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