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