Stone Restoration Archives - Gloucester Tile Doctor

Black Limestone Patio Restoration Dursley

Ruined Black Limestone Patio Restored in Dursley

1 Comment / Dursley Tile Cleaning, Limestone Tile Cleaning and Polishing, Work by Category, Work by Location, Work History / Malcolm Crowther

Earlier this year a client from my home town of Dursley phoned Tile Doctor in an emotional state having just had a Black Limestone patio laid and then immediately ruined when the tiler tried to clean it with brick acid. Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed primarily of calcium carbonate which can be dissolved in acid, so using acid on Limestone is never a good idea.

Black Limestone Patio Before Renovation Dursley

I went along to survey the patio and could immediately see that the stone had been bleached white by the acid and looked terrible. Whilst there I completed a test clean to work out the best method for renovating the patio. Much to the relief of the owner the results were very encouraging and so she was happy to accept my quote and I was booked in to do the work.

I needed a couple of warm and dry days to do the work but fortunately the weather this summer was exceptional, so it wasn’t long before an opportunity arrived.

Cleaning a Limestone Tiled Patio Floor

I spent the first day burnishing the tiles with 200, 400 and 800-grit diamond pads using the rotary machine in sequence, these pads renovate the surface of the stone and remove the etching caused by the acid. Water was used to lubricate the process and the floor was rinsed with fresh water after each pad and the soil extracted with a wet vacuum.

Sealing a Limestone Tiled Patio Floor

The patio was left to dry off overnight and I returned the next day to finish the renovation checking first that the stone was dry with the use of a damp meter. The readings were good, so I went ahead and applied a single coat of Tile Doctor Stone Oil which puts the oil back in the stone.

Black Limestone Patio During Sealing Dursley

The Stone Oil was left to dry for an hour and then this was followed up with two coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow sealer to add protection. Tile Doctor Colour Grow is a colour intensifying impregnating sealer that allows the surface to breath and enhances the colour as well as providing durable protection. The patio will now be able to withstand the outside weather and the stone will be protected from the elements. For maintenance we recommend the patio to be cleaned and resealed annually which will keep it in great condition and extend its’ life.

Black Limestone Patio After Renovation Dursley

The results were amazing, you would not have thought it was the same patio, needless to say, my client very pleased by the transformation. Apparently, she has now managed to squeeze in a few late summer barbeques with friends to show off her lovely new patio.

Professional Restoration of a Limestone Tiled Patio in Gloucestershire

Ruined Black Limestone Patio Restored in Dursley Read More »

Travertine Tiled Floor Renovation Bishops Cleave

Travertine Tiled Floor Renovated in Bishop’s Cleeve

1 Comment / Cheltenham Tile Cleaning, Tewkesbury Tile Cleaning, Travertine Tile Cleaning, Work History / Malcolm Crowther

The client in Bishops Cleave contacted me as she was so frustrated with her Travertine tiled floor she was thinking of having it taken up. The tiles had been laid throughout the Hallway and into the Kitchen many years prior. The appearance of the floor had slowly deteriorated over the years to the extent that she was now having real trouble getting it clean.

Travertine Tiled Kitchen Floor before polishing Bishops Cleave

I arranged to visit the property in Bishops Cleave which is a small village between Cheltenham and Tewkesbury. The floor was indeed in need of attention, the sealant had clearly broken down and dirt had become ingrained in the pores of the stone. I discussed with the client what could be done to restore the appearance and demonstrated the cleaning process on part of the floor. She was thrilled with the result and about the possibility of getting the floor restored. Better still she would avoid all the disruption of relaying the floor and of course the cost. We agreed a price to carry out the work and I arranged a suitable date to return and complete the work which would take two days.

Renovating a Dirty Travertine Tiled Floor

Returning to the property the first task was to protect the kitchen units and wooden stairs with masking film. I then started cleaning with floor with a coarse 400-grit Diamond burnishing pad fitted to a rotary floor buffer using water to lubricate the abrasive process. The pad is run over each tile a few times and then once the section is completed the floor is rinsed with more water and fine slurry extracted with a wet vacuum.

This process is then repeated with the medium 800-grit pad and fine 1500 grit pads, again rinsing with water and extracting after each pad with the wet vacuum. it’s a slow process but burnishing the floor in this opens the pores in the stone so the dirt can be removed and then closes them up again so restore its appearance.

The grout lines were quite heavily soiled with dirt, so my next task was to scrub them with a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean. The area was then again rinsed, and the soil extracted leaving the floor to dry off overnight.

Sealing a Travertine Tiled Kitchen Floor

Returning the following morning, I then spray burnished the floor with a 3000-grit polishing pad to remove any residue that might have been left behind and to further bring up the polished appearance of the Travertine.

This final pad is applied dry with only a little water, so it leaves the floor nice and dry and ready for sealing. For the sealer I had selected Tile Doctor Ultra Seal which is a no-sheen, penetrating sealer which doesn’t change the appearance of the stone leaving a natural finish. It is formulated to provide maximum stain protection, so is particularly good in kitchens. It is also an excellent grout sealer. The sealer was applied and left to dry for an hour then buffed again with the 3000-grit pad. This gave the floor a lovely finish and the natural beauty of the Travertine was at last able to shine through. I was very pleased with this restoration.

Travertine Tiled Kitchen Floor after polishing Bishops Cleave

The client was delighted and very pleased the she had contacted Tile Doctor, the floor looked great. She was very happy she had not needed to replace the floor. I suggested to her to maintain the floor she should use Tile Doctor Stone Soap which is a pH balanced product which you dilute. It will ensure the seal is not compromised and will keep the floor in great condition.

Professional Restoration of a Travertine Tiled Kitchen in Gloucestershire

Travertine Tiled Floor Renovated in Bishop’s Cleeve Read More »