Friday, May 1, 2015

Slate lost its color & has white chalky look to it

I have a slate floor.  This room flooded about a year ago and what appear to be water marks/stains are left.  A white outline around where a rug was remains, underneath where the rug was still looks glossy and bright and where the carpet was not has lost its color and has a white, chalky look to it.  Is it possible to restore the color to this flooring and is there anything I can use to remove the white chalky look.  I have been told everything from strippers, to acid to paint thinners but do not want to do anything to further damage the slate.  Thank you. 

Is slate in general hard to upkeep?

I saw the perfect color of tile that I have been looking for on ebay.  It is called African Gold Slate Tile.  Can you give some advice on this type of product?  Is slate in general hard to upkeep?
Thanks for your help,
Penni

water based seal over a solvent base sealer

I have an Indian slate floor that is driving me insane. I have slate in my kitchen and family room and had to strip it back after someone put a water based seal over a solvent based sealer. The stripping process was a nightmare and destroyed the carpet adjoining the slate and my walls and skirting boards. Now the floor has been stripped and resealed I have noticed that the person that sealed my floor did not clean it prior to sealing and has sealed in hair and dirt and anything else on the floor at the time. Is this inevitable when sealing? He has used a water based sealer is there anyway I can fix this without stripping again. The slate is very light in colour and it is really obvious and dirty looking. Thanks findstone2006-05-29 16:06:31

The panels have grease stains from food

I bought a dining room set that has blue slate panels in it. The panels have grease stains from food.  I was advised to remove the stains with soapy water containing
detergent with a degreaser. That made the spot worse. It is now dark in that area and is worse than before. How can I get the slate cleaned

Beverly Brooks
IT Security Specialist
Government Accountability Office
441 G St. N.W.  -  1T54
Washington, D.C.  20548

work   (202) 512-6703
email   brooksb@gao.gov
 

many tiles are either powdering or flaking

Hi,
The original owner of my home (I'm the third) installed slate tiles outside on a base of concrete, I believe. I'm not sure what kind of slate it is, but it's dark grey with some brownish hues.  Anyway, the slate doesn't seem to be weathering well in some areas.  On the covered front porch, many tiles are either powdering or flaking (with thin, brittle layers washing away with just a simple hose spraying). In the back where it's sunnier, some of the tiles are doing the same thing, though to a lesser extent.  In a few places, the tiles seem to be doing fine.  We're in a Southern California coastal valley where it gets both very hot (95ish for a month or so) and very cool and damp (when the ocean fog rolls in).  A few years ago, we had someone spray the slate with a water-based sealant, but that didn't seem to do much, and I'm sure it's long since worn away.  I see lots of conflicting info about sealing or treating slate.  Is there anything we can do to both protect our slate and, potentially, make it look a little more lusterous ("wet") without spending a bunch of money?  I appreciate any expert advice you can offer.  Thanks.
S. Nelson
Aliso Viejo

Saturday, February 14, 2015

Absolute Black Honed Countertops

I have just discovered your website and wish I had seen it before we put in our absolute black honed countertops. We are slaves to keeping it clean and have found that it is impossible! It even seems to scratch easily. We are receiving none of the benefits of having granite. Could part of it be a bad sealer? Will it help to have the sealer stripped? If so, how is that done? Do we keep the counters "sealer free" or is there a recommended sealer? Is the only way to resolve the constant problems through applying a color enhancer (worried that it will no longer go well with my backsplash which is a type of slate)? Could we have someone come in and polish it? Is there a product you recommend to clean it with?
I appreciate any help you can give us as well as product names.
Thanks,
Kimber

black honed slate countertop

 
This is a question for an expert regarding problems with slate countertops.
I would be eternally grateful if one of your panelists could advise me how to remove lemon/lime stains from my black honed slate countertop..............I have tried using the fine screen mesh, warm water and dishwashing liquid methods which reduced the stains slightly, however I am hoping that there is a more successful method........PLEASE advise.........
Angela
findstone2006-05-29 16:05:20

How can stones be cleaned of lichen growth?

We live in Colorado on 6 acres with lots of local sandstone. My wife has the
idea to collect this stone and arrange with a local stonemason to lay a
stone floor and build fireplace out of this local rock.  This seems very
labor intensive.  Do you think we can find someone to do it.  How is
sandstone for interior use, especially a floor.  Will it show stains, can it
be adequately sealed?  Are airborne silicates a concern?  How can stones be
cleaned of lichen growth?

Lou, Durango

Wine stains

Help! Have spilled red wine onto what looks like a sandstone fireplace. I
know that's not much to go on, but it's all i really know about the stone,
apart from the fact that it is sandy coloured and red wine stains it! It is
my parent's fireplace, and dad will be pretty grumpy about it tomorrow.. not
suprisingly. I have tried supermarket stain removals that we have.. but was
hoping that you could let me know of any other product or tecnique of stain
removal that could help.

Thanks for your help, from a worried sarah

sealing sandstone

We have moved into a home with a backyard of Arizona sandstone.  It includes a salt water pool.  There are a few stones by the pool deck that are always peeling.  My concern is, if I apply a sealer it will only make the peeling in deeper layers.  Any suggestions on Product or application?  Cost is a factor.  There is over 
1500 sq ft of flagstone.  Thank you, Diane, Arizona

Monday, February 9, 2015

'dry-look' or a high-gloss 'wet-look'

hello,
I've perused thru your website, and at least now feel somewhat qualified to ask the right questions regarding sealing my new patio.  I live in Texas and just had an Arizona Buff sandstone patio installed.  To me, the question of whether or not to seal is not the issue.  What I'm concerned about is whether or not going with a wet-look sealer is appropriate.  I personally like the wet-look, since it brings out the various reds & tans embedded in the stone. 
I have been told that my two choices for sealers are a 'dry-look' or a high-gloss 'wet-look'.  One supplier advised me that going with a wet-look seal will cause the surface to be too slippery when it's wet, and a dry sealer would be safer.  (wouldn't a sealed patio be slippery if it was wet anyway?)  In addition the product he was selling (Prime-A Pell 200), would only last a year on sandstone, since it's a relatively soft rock.  Is there a wet-look / color enhancer product out there for sandstone that will last a reasonable amount of time...and won't become a hazard if it gets wet?
thx,
Brad

I'm learning a lot from you professionals

I'm learning a lot from you professionals. Thank you
for your knowledge.
I will need to stabilize and/or replace some "Moinkopi
Sandstone" in Holbrook Arizona on an old building.  Is
there any organization I could get in touch with that
could teach me what I need to know, or that could help
me with any testing that I would need to do?  I would
really appreciate any information you could give me.
Fred, Mesa, Arizona

sandstone lives, o.k

Lancashire houses had nothing but sandstone floors, very often
throughout the ground floor and the roof and the yard and the outer skin
of the house itself.

It went out of fashion and then into fashion and became wildly expensive
in the 80's and early nineties.

I've flagged our kitchen floor together with the lobby, pantry and
cloakroom.

I believe it to be yorkshire stone which likely originated from
sidewalks around the Manchester area.

It ranges from 3inches to 6inches in thickness and each flag measures
from 2feet by 2 feet to 2feet by 3feet 6 inches.

We love it, but it's never had any treatment and the solid fuel rayburn
we had for 16 years added all sorts of grime to what was already there.

I note your comments on sealing. Advice like that is worth gold dust.

I'm still looking, however for an industry standard method of restoring
the stone to its natural state.

What a great site, though.

best regards

Peter Steggall

sealing sandstone

I help maintain a resort/spa that has a lovely hot springs facility on the
ocean. The floors are all sandstone - exposed daily to rain, showers, hot
springs water and anything else that hundreds of people every day bring.
It is not sealed and is in good shape, however the bathrooms are
developing a problem because any urine that misses the toilet is soaked up
by the stone and they are becoming very smelly.  We're going to try
cleaning the stone with bleach and/or a natural enzyme product intended
for pet stains to see how that goes, but we would love to seal the floor
to help prevent this from being a consistent problem.  I have done some
online research and there seems to be much debate about sealing sandstone.
 Maybe wax is the answer for us? Or just regular linseed oil applications?
 I don't want to use anything that can contribute to a more rapid
deterioration of the stone.

Thanks for your help,
Lisa

want to use the local sandstone

I am putting in a pool deck in Thailand and want to use the local sandstone, which I assume would be similar to what is found elsewhere in SE Asia.  My question relates to what sort of impregnator would be appropriate for a salt water pool of this nature.  Does the application of an impregnator make sandstone tile more slippery when wet?  Is a sealer required for this kind of material and does that make footing more slippery?

Thanks, James

Could you please send me Maurizio's web site address as well?

Friday, February 6, 2015

sandstone is flaking & leaving very sandy residue

I have an inground swimming pool that has sandstone around the edge.  It is about 5 years old and the sandstone is flaking and leaving a very sandy residue.  Is there any kind of epoxy coating or sealer I can use on the stones.  Please help!!!!!!!
Don Ross

salt have a significant affect on the sand stone

Hi -
I have recently purchased my first home, a 1920's brick in Shaker Hts, OH - everything I've ever thought I wanted in a home, and more (I'm sure!!).  The front entry way has sandstone steps and landing, and during the winter months I put salt (the cheap stuff in a bag) on the steps and walkway to deter ice accumulation (trying to protect the mail person).  Does the salt have a significant affect on the sand stone or is it a natural occurance (errosion) that I am seeing now. I do see what appears to be sand, and I've noticed that there is now a gap between the threshold of the front door and the sandstone landing.  It looks as if there were some type of masonry caulking in place before. 
Any clues you can provide will surely be appreciated.
Kim in Shaker Heights

paint or stain my sandstone fireplace

 I would like to paint or stain my sandstone fireplace.  I have used TSP to remove the smoke stains etc,from the stone in preparation for paint or stain.  What should I use and how should I apply the product? thanks

recommend a sandstone cleaner

Hi, I was wondering if you could recommend a sandstone cleaner. We have sandstone walls at our front steps and they are covered in moss. We have come across an acid based cleaner but we would like a kinder product. I look forward to your reply. Thank you.