Flagstone Cleaning Durham City, By Abbey Floor Care

Interesting Flagstone Cleaning Durham City Project

First Seen on Abbey Floor Care

Tumbled Travertine Cleaning Ripley Derbyshire

This Travertine Cleaning Ripley project is about restoring a soiled Travertine tile floor.

The floor is 12 years old and has suffered quite a bit of wear.

Contents

• Step 1 - Preparing The Rooms For Travertine Cleaning
• Step 2 - Deep Cleaning The Travertine Tiles And Grout
• Step 3 - Pressure Rinsing The Floors
• Step 4 - Filling Holes In Travertine
• Step 5 - Filling Cracks in Some Of The Tiles
• Step 6 - Sealing a Travertine Tiles In Ripley
• Step 7 - Travertine Aftercare Advice

    

The original sealer had worn off a lot of the floor. 

 So my client was looking for a specialist travertine cleaning service covering the Ripley area in Derbyshire. 

 This Travertine was laid in a well used, heavy foot traffic kitchen diner and conservatory in Ripley. 

 They were looking for a clean floor, that would continue to look clean and display the natural colours in the tiles, without having to scrub the Travertine on hands and knees. 

 Looking at photos of the floor, I could see how the grout was dirty, and the soil-filled holes. 

 I recommended a deep clean to remove soil from the holes, fill the holes, then seal with a hard-wearing topical sealer. 

 Happy with my quote for restoring the tile and grout we scheduled a date for the work.

Step 1 - Preparing The Rooms For Travertine Cleaning

On the day I arrived the customer had prepared the work area by removing all small items of furniture. 

 I started by vacuuming the floors to remove any loose debris.

 

Then I installed protective sheeting on the walls,  kitchen units and adjoining floors to stop cleaning chemicals splashing onto the paintwork.

 

Step 2 - Deep Cleaning The Travertine Tiles And Grout

I then applied a dilution of Travertine cleaner focusing on the heavily soiled areas and grout lines and then left to soak in for ten minutes.

 

I scrubbed the Travertine with a rotary scrubbing machine, working the brush well into the surface of the tiles to help dislodge impacted soil.

 

Step 3 - Pressure Rinsing The Floors

I removed the cleaning slurry using our pressurised rinse and capture equipment.

repeated the cleaning until the soil and old sealer residues were removed.

Step 4 - Filling Holes In Travertine

Holes are a natural feature of travertine, but they can trap dirt, so it's best if they are filled with a suitably rigid filler. 

 Also, if left alone the larger holes can quickly become larger as their edges crumble and break up leading to the entire tile becoming unstable. 

 So the next job is to fill the holes in the Travertine tiles and any areas of missing grout. 

 I used a high-quality Beige colour filler.

 

We were careful with the cleanup to leave as much grout as possible in the holes

 

Step 5 - Filling Cracks in Some Of The Tiles

It is quite normal to see cracks in natural stone tiles. This occurs when the subfloor settles or moves and the tiles have to crack to accept the movement.

Thankfully, there were only 5 cracked tiles.

I filled the cracks with a flexible silicone grout.

 

Step 6 - Sealing Travertine Tiles In Ripley

We offer a number of Travertine sealing options for this flooring type. 

 Giving a matt, satin or gloss finish 

 After discussing the options with the customer, we decided on a Topical, satin finish film-forming sealer.

  I applied a high-solids sealer that dried to a pleasant mid-sheen finish.

 

The sealer acts as a sacrificial wear layer, protecting the surface of the Travertine and the grout. 

 The sealer also gives more time to wipe spills before they damage the floor.

  Importantly, the sealer makes the floor much easier to clean. 

 My client was certainly impressed with the improvement and was over the moon when they saw the result.

 

Thank you so much, David, fantastic job.  Both floors look like new.

Mrs Joanne P. - Ripley, Derbyshire

Even the weather celebrated the work with a beautiful rainbow.

 

Step 7 - Travertine Aftercare Advice

For aftercare cleaning and maintenance, I recommended they use the cleaner recommended by the sealer manufacturer called LTP Floorshine.

 You must be careful when choosing a cleaner for sealed floors as many products are too strong and will reduce the lifespan of the sealer. 

 If you have a stone floor in Ripley or the surrounding area that you need help with, please drop me a line.

I’ll be happy to help.

First seen at abbeyfloorcare.co.uk/

https://www.abbeyfloorcare.co.uk./travertine/travertine-cleaning-ripley/

Travertine Cleaning Ripley Derbydhire By Abbey Floor Care

Slate Cleaning Abergavenny

 

This slate cleaning Abergavenny project focuses on cleaning a large area of Brazilian slate tile floors in a home in Abergavenny.

The tiles were originally sourced from Mandarin Stone and installed 3 years ago.

Following advice from the supplier, my client sealed the floor with a neutral impregnating sealer, followed by a coat of natural floor wax.

With The Wrong Sealer, A Slate Floor Can Be Difficult To Maintain

With three large dogs in the home, my client found it difficult to keep the wax finish clean.

They had to scrub the floor to remove the surface soils but found it difficult to remove soil from the grout lines.

Also, my client did not enjoy having to deep clean the floor annually and then applying a new coat of finishing wax, only for it to get dirty again within a few months.

Considering the overall area was around 2,000 square feet, I can understand their frustrations.

After three years, they had suffered enough and contacted the tile supplier for advice.

After discussing the situation, the supplier agreed that a wax finish was not appropriate for this installation.

What Should An Ideal Slate Sealer Give You

My client started investigating alternative finishes that would:

• display the natural colours in the tiles
• have a pleasant satin finish
• be easy to clean without having to scrub on hands and knees
• last for a number of years
• not need to be reapplied every year

My client visited our website and saw the alternative sealing options we offer.

Our Hybrid Slate Sealer - A Sure-Fire Winner

After discussing the situation, I recommended deep cleaning the floor and sealing the slate with our CeeTech hybrid slate sealer.

CeeTechh sealer is a powerful resin-based impregnating and film-forming sealer.

The resin soaks deep into the surface of the slate just like an Impregnating sealer.

However, being a resin, the sealer bonds to the pores of the tiles, making them tougher and more hard-wearing.

Being a resin, the sealer creates a thin,  hard-wearing surface film, giving added protection to the surface of the slate.

The result is a beautiful, hard-wearing satin finish.

The homeowner agreed to my quote and we set a date to restore the Slate.

Slate Cleaning Abergavenny - The Way To A New Finish

On the day I arrived the customer had prepared the work area by removing all small items of furniture.

My first step in the Slate cleaning process was to brush and vacuum the area to remove any loose debris.

I protected walls static furnishings with plastic sheeting as I had to use powerful cleaners to dissolve the existing wax coating.

Working in manageable areas, I applied our wax and coating remover and allowed it to soften the wax coating.

Then I used a rotary scrubbing machine to break the wax off the surface of the tiles ready for removal.

I removed the dirty slurry with our rinse and capture equipment.

I repeated the cleaning and rinsing until the soil and old sealer residues were removed, then moved on to the next area.

It took me two and a half days to clean all of the floors.

Slate Sealing In Abergavenny.

We offer a number of Slate sealing options for this slate cleaning Abergavenny project.

However, as I mentioned earlier, we had decided on using our CeeTech Hybrid Sealer.

Importantly, the sealer also makes the floor much easier to clean.

I applied the sealer using a 9-inch hand applicator.

After a couple of minutes, the sealer is polished off using lint-free cloths.

The sealer takes six to eight hours to dry.

As you can imagine, it took a full day to apply one coat of sealer.

The next day, I applied a second coat for maximum protection.

My client was delighted with the results.

Wow, what a lovely finish, the floor looks better than when it was installed. Thank you, David.

Slate Floor Aftercare Guide

CeeTech is one of the more hard-wearing sealers, ideal for this slate cleaning Abergvenny project.

With normal wear conditions and correct maintenance, the sealer will last at least 5 years before areas may need topping up.

In light traffic areas, it can last for 10 to 15 years.

However, it is still good practice to check the sealer every year to make sure there it is still giving good protection.

If you do need to top up the sealer in areas of extreme wear, you don't have to worry about stripping off the old sealer.

It is a simple job to deep clean the area and then top up the sealer.

If you are looking for slate cleaning Abergavenny or the surrounding area that you need help with, please drop me a line.

I’ll be happy to help.

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Cleaning Quarry Tiles - How To Clean Quarry Tile Floor Professional Advice

Helpful advice for cleaning quarry tiles

How To Clean Marble Floors – Professional Help

Marble is a beautiful elegant stone, bring a sense of luxury to any room. However, looking after a marble floor, particularly a polished floor, is not as straightforward as other types of flooring.  Marble is a relatively soft stone, very porous and can damage easily. If you need to understand how to clean your marble floors, look no further than this article.

How Is Marble Made?

Answering how to clean marble floors starts with understanding it is made. Marble is a natural stone, made from Limestone and other sedimentary minerals. Heat and pressure within the earth cause the individual mineral grains to recrystallise into a solid stone. Mineral impurities such as clay, sand and metal oxides help create the different colours seen in marble, such as green, brown and black. Geologists classify the stone as non-foliated metamorphic stone.

It is a versatile natural stone, available in a variety of colours, patterns, and textures. Marble is a relatively soft stone compared to harder stone like Granite. It is also quite a porous stone compared to Granite. Since ancient times, it has been used as a building and sculptural material and as a decorative feature on walls, floors, counter-tops and furnishings. it is a beautiful stone, adding value to any home.

How to Clean Marble Floors

 

A Marble floor is one of the most beautiful natural stones Marble floors have been used for millennia to create elegant floors. It is just as popular today. Like all natural stone surfaces all other natural stones, marble must be cleaned regularly to prevent soiling and stains. If you have a dirty, stained marble floor, here is a 7 step guide on how to clean it and restore the finish:

1. Use a dry mop or vacuum cleaner to remove dirt and dust.
2. Make up a cleaning solution with a marble cleaning chemical and water. Only use a cleaner made for marble. Lots of standard floor cleaners contain chemicals that can harm marble.
3. Use a microfiber soft cloth, microfiber flat mop, sponge or soft brush and give the floor a good clean, then rinse with clean water.
4. Keep rinsing your soft cloth, sponge or mop and replace the cleaning solution once it becomes dirty. Also, replace the rinse water when it starts to become dirty.
5. Allow the floor to dry. If you want to speed up drying, dry the floor using old towels.
6. Treat any stains, following the guidelines below
7. Finally, apply a marble impregnating sealer to help protect the finish. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and make sure that you don’t leave any sealer pooling on the surface.

Treating Stains on Marble Floors

Spills must be removed immediately to prevent staining and damage. Absorb the spill into a paper towel, taking care not to spread the spill. Then wash the area with a ph neutral marble cleaner and dry the area with a soft cloth. If you are unlucky and there is a remaining stain, try the stain removal tips below

How to Remove Stains from Marble

The longer a stain sits, the harder it will be to remove it from marble floors. Stains must be treated immediately, because the longer a stain is allowed to work, the harder it will be to remove. Be mindful that different types of stain need different treatment.

How to Remove Oil Stains from Marble Surfaces

Vegetable oils, milk, cosmetics and other oil-based spills will quickly penetrate the porous surface of your marble floors, leaving a persistent dark stain.

Removing the stain requires you to draw the oil out of the marble. Start by mixing a few drops of strong alkaline cleaner or ammonia with your marble cleaner. Try to clean the stain with a few drops of strong alkaline cleaner added to your dilute marble cleaner. If this doesn’t work, use a poultice paste with some acetone and leave if for a couple of days. Rinse with a dilute marble cleaner and wipe dry.

How to Remove Organic Stains from Marble

Coffee, tea, wine, foods and other organic substances usually create a brown or pink stain. Mix a solution of 12% hydrogen peroxide and three drops of ammonia. A lower hydrogen peroxide solution will be less effective. Blot the area with the hydrogen peroxide solution to remove the stain. Take care when using this treatment on darker marble floors because it can lighten the stone.

Removing Soap Residues from Marble

Soap residues rapidly fill the pores in marble shower units, sinks, baths and vanity units, staining the finish. So all your marble surfaces that come into contact with natural soap should be cleaned regularly to remove the soap residue. Thankfully, this is a simple job. Use a marble deep-cleaning chemical to dissolve the soap and then rinse with your marble cleaner. Alternatively, you can use a solution of ammonia and water, but this is not a pleasant job. Also take care when using ammonia, as it can dull the surface of the marble.

How to Remove Rust Stains from Marble

Metal furnishings and containers can rusty and stain the marble. Brass and bronze are often used as a decorative insert in marble floors. If they are left wet, they will make brown stains that are very difficult to remove.

If you are lucky, you may be able to top polish our a rust stain with 0000-grade wire wool. If the stain is persistent, you will need to use a poultice mixture with a rust removal treatment. Most of these treatments are acidic, so they will etch the surface of your marble floors. You may need professional help to remove the etch damage and repolish the area.

How to Remove Ink Stains from Marble

If you have ink stains from markers and pens, you can make a poultice with a small amount of acetone. Deep ink stains and paint will need the help of commercial paint removers, that can damage the marble. So you may be better off calling on professional help.

How to Remove Etch Marks from Marble

Etch damage is usually caused by acidic spills (fruit juices, vinegar, tomato-based sauces, etc.) or cleaning products containing harsh chemicals. Some spills cause etch marks without causing a stain, while others both etch and stain the surface. As an example, water stains and ring marks are actually etched, not stains. Minerals in the water penetrate the surface and break down the marble’s surface.

You can often remove water rings by buffing the area with 0000 steel wool. Take care to remove any steel dust, because if it gets wet, it will rust and stain the marble.

If you have a larger area of etching or the damage is deep, then you may need professional assistance to refinish and polish the damaged surface.

What Is A Marble Poultice

A marble poultice is used to draw stains out of marble floors. A liquid cleaner or chemical is mixed with a carrier to form a creamy paste.

How to Make a Marble Poultice

Poultice materials include; fuller’s earth, diatomaceous earth, powdered chalk, talcum powder, baking soda, flour, etc. You can also use cotton wool or white kitchen paper to make a poultice.

To make a marble poultice, mix a poultice material with water, acetone, hydrogen peroxide etc. to make a thick paste. If you are using cotton wool or kitchen paper, soak with the chemical, then let it drain so the chemical is not dripping.

How to Use a Marble Poultice

1. Wet the area with a little of the cleaning chemical.
2. Apply a 5 to 1mm thick layer of poultice over the stain.
3. Use cling film or clear plastic to cover the poultice.
4. Tape the edges of the cover with masking tape to prevent the chemical from evaporating.
5. Leave the poultice for 24 to 48 hours. The liquid chemical will draw the stain into the absorbent material.
6. When the paste is dry, remove the cover and wipe off the material with a damp cloth. Try not to scrape off the poultice as you could scratch the marble.
7. Rinse with your marble cleaner and buff dry with a soft microfiber cloth.
8. Repeat until the stain has gone or until the police removing the stain.

If you can’t remove the stain with a poultice, you may need to call on professional help

Additional Tips on Marble Stain Removal

Before using a poultice material, take care to consider the following:

1. Test any poultice on an inconspicuous area of the marble to make sure it does not cause any damage.
2. Do not mix ammonia and bleach – it creates dangerous chlorine gas.
3. Take care if using hydrogen peroxide on darker stones;
4. Rinse any treatments well to remove all residues
5. Try to dry the marble as standing water spots can leave marks.
6. If you are treating rust stains and the poultice etches the marble. Use 0000 wire wool to try to polish out the etch mark. Alternatively, call on the services of a professional.
7. Try to prevent staining your marble in the first place.
8. Reseal marble surfaces at least once per year.
9. Use coasters under glasses and cups.

Recommended Cleaners for Marble Floors

You want your marble to look clean and beautiful at all times. Regular cleaning and planned maintenance are essential. Take care when using any cleaning chemical. Avoid acid cleaners, (many washroom cleaners contain acids) and strong alkali cleaners like ammonia and bleach. These cleaners will etch and damage the surface of the marble, dulling the shine and making it easy for soil to penetrate the surface. For daily use, use a ph neutral cleaner manufactured specifically for cleaning marble and diluted according to the manufacturer’s instructions. If you clean your marble with the correct cleaner and keep the seal topped up, you should never need to use a stronger alkaline cleaner. Stronger cleaning chemicals should only be used for interim maintenance tasks.

Is It Safe To Use Steam Cleaning On Marble Floors?

Heavy-duty commercial steam cleaners should not be used to clean marble floors in the home. The hot steam will cause thermal expansion in the marble and over time the surface can start to degrade. If the marble has fillers, the high heat can cause the fillers to fall out, leaving holes.

Home steamers are generally safe to clean marble floors because the temperature of the steam is not too high. However, you will probably find that a steam cleaner will not clean as well as a marble cleaner and a microfiber cloth or mop. Also, steam cleaners can overwet the mop head, reducing cleaning effectiveness.

If you look after your marble correctly, you will have no need for a steam cleaner.

If you need help, contact us about how to clean Marble floors marble the premier choice for marble flooring.

Grout Cleaning of Marble Floors

Stone marble floors enrich the appearance of any room. Whilst marble is porous, the group can be more porous, and over time, soils and mopping slurry can soak into the grout making it look dull, ugly and ruining the appearance of your marble flooring. The grout can be cleaned, using simple products like baking soda, but take care not to damage the marble while you are cleaning the grout.

1. Fill a bowl with your recommended marble cleaner diluted with cold or warm water.
2. Work in easy to reach areas
3. Use a soft cloth or dust mop to remove any dry soil.
4. Use a gentle scrubbing motion to clean the grout between the tiles with a grout cleaning brush. Use a gentle scrubbing motion to help clean the grout.
5. You can use some baking soda to help agitate the grout, but take extreme care when using baking soda not to damage the surrounding marble tiles.
6. Rinse the grout with clean warm water
7. Dry the grout using a soft absorbent cloth or towel.

Polishing Marble Floor

marble floor polishing work

Polished marble gives an incredible elegance to any room. However, the stone finish can deteriorate if it is not maintained correctly. Harsh chemicals and high traffic will damage the shine, making the marble dull and unattractive. Regular maintenance and polishing will preserve the finish, keeping the marble looking beautiful.

Before polishing, like any stone floor, the floor should be carefully cleaned and any stains and damage treated. If the finish is in good condition, dry polishing with high-quality diamond pads may be sufficient. If the floor has some wear, the surface may need to be honed and then polished with marble polishing powder. This is a specialist task, best carried out by professionals.

Maintenance

You can extend the life of your marble floor’s shine by following these simple guidelines.

Remove dry soil with a dust mop or vacuum

Frequent cleaning is the key to maintaining the finish on a marble floor. Dry sweeping with a dust mop or vacuuming will remove abrasive dust and dirt. If you use a vacuum cleaner on marble floor use soft tools. Metal floor tools can scratch marble and damage the finish.

Regular damp mopping

Use a soft microfiber dust mop and with the correct ph neutral marble cleaning chemicals to mop the floor to help keep the floor in tip-top condition.

Treat spills immediately

Clean up spills as soon as they happen to avoid staining and etching your marble. After removing a spill, clean the area with your marble cleaner, rinse with clean tap water and dry the floor thoroughly.

Use walk-off mats at doorways and entrances.

Use walk-off mats by entrance doorways and in high traffic areas to prevent dust and dirt being tracked into the home. This will avoid scratching by footwear.

If you need help, contact us about how to clean Marble floors marble the luxurious choice for homeowners.

 

from Abbey Floor Care https://www.abbeyfloorcare.co.uk/blog/how-to-clean-marble-floors/
via Abbey Floor Care