Travertine Floor Cleaning Houston: 3 ways to Cleaning Travertine Floors (via https://t.co/Ck9yBd1njv) - https://t.co/zQsUK0nGin #travertine
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When you think of granite flooring, you think an invincible stone. You are not completely wrong in thinking that as granite stone is very durable, but it is not invincible. Having properly maintenance of your granite flooring will certainly make it seem like it is invincible. It will also give you that long lifespan that is expected from granite.
One big tip that can be said about the care for your granite flooring is when a drink or food has spilled on its surface, clean it up. When you clean it up, you always want to use a soft, damp cloth or damp paper towel. Then you will blot the area of the spill, do not wipe it up, you will want to blot. Wiping will cause it to seep into any cracks or holes and stay within the stone and can cause it to deteriorate.
Using a scrubber or sponge can cause permanent scratches on the surface that can only be removed by being grinded out. Also, do not leave the spill long as it can stain, especially be cautious of soda, red wine, greasy foods, and coffee as these can cause the surface to dull.
To help take care of any debris buildup, there is a daily cleaning maintenance that you can do. Simply dry dust mopping each day, which will help prevent any grit or dirt to build up. If there are any marks that are not going away, using some hot water with your mop will help get those out.
Is your granite in need of a deeper clean? This you can so in a simple way as well, but just do your best not to go too crazy with the cleaning as it can cause damage to your granite. For selecting a cleaner, one that is ph-neutral is best. Make sure that you rinse thoroughly as well, any left over residue can cause damage and/or buildup.
Make sure that you protect your granite from possible damage. If you have granite in a high traffic area, having your guests take off their shoes or having a rug over the surface will help protect your granite for the dirt or grit that can be attached to the sole of shoes. If you have any furniture that is on top of the granite, having pads under it will help protect your granite flooring from any scratches or scraps if the furniture is moved.
You can always polish your granite flooring, which will help bring out its natural shine. The only thing is with granite flooring, polishing can cause it to be very slippery, so consider doing this with care, especially if your granite is in a high traffic area. Always best to consult a professional.
The final way to protect your granite flooring is making sure to put a granite sealer on it. Be sure before you do this, that you have the answers to a few questions first. Such as if a granite sealer was applied when the granite was first installed? If there was, what brand was used and how often does it need to be reapplied?
Also know what type of granite that you have because certain granites are different, such as a darker granite will not need to be sealed as often as a lighter one. And some black granite does not even been to ever be sealed.
The reason for sealers is because they will help resist moisture and prevent stains. Over the years, cleaning and traffic that happens each and every day slowly remove the sealant. Resealing if your granite is one that needs to be sealed is always best.
It is always best to know how best to care for your granite flooring not only for it to last for its full lifespan, but also because it is very expensive to purchase and install.
Please contact us today to schedule your appointment to polish your granite flooring or if you have any questions.
Floor ReNew Houston
Natural Stone Restoration
4530 W. 34th Street Suite C
Houston, TX 77092
(713) 418-9983
Saltillo tiles are tiles made out of natural clay in northern Mexico. Though it is very beautiful, and low costing it is also very fragile and hard to clean. These tiles are created by hand and left in the sun to dry, then placed in a kiln to harden. Generally they are left unglazed, but some can be found pre-treated or pre-sealed to add to their durability.
As Saltillo is a more delicate stone, it can crack or chip very easily and can only be placed usually indoors in climates that do not have drastic changes in weather. This is one of the draw backs of choosing this stone for flooring, though there are a few others such as if left untreated or unsealed, it can be very difficult and hard to clean while using diluted ammonia and tons of rinsing. Before cleaning, it needs to be stripped and resealed and after cleaning as well. It can be easily affected, even if sealed, by chemicals and other liquids spilled on it. This can cause severe damage and/or staining, so it is very important to clean up any spills or debris immediately.
Thankfully, in today’s time, it has become easier to clean and care for Saltillo stone. Today’s sealants make that more realistic and for an affordable price to match the low price of the stone.
The polishing process for Saltillo is using a very fine grade diamond sander that will help improve its shine and remove any minor scratches or stains with the gentle touch that is needed. This can be part of the restoration process for this stone. If there are deeper scratches or stains in the stone, then the next step would be honing. This step will remove them from the stone, restoring it to its natural beauty. After these steps are taken and there seems to be some that are slightly higher or lower than the other tiles, or if all the issue was uneven tiles, grinding helps level all the tiles to the same height as one another. This gives a smoother look to the tile.
Once these steps, plus the cleaning are completed, the next and one of the most important steps to do would be to seal the entire flooring. Resealing the Saltillo acts as a buffer between the floor and any future spills or scratches. Over time, this will not completely protect the flooring completely, but it helps delay any deterioration that can happen from everyday life such as scratches or stains.
Like most different stone floorings, it is best to stay on top of regular maintenance and care for them, but also make sure to bring in professional care to help prolong the lifespan of your stone flooring. Any neglect can not only cause damage and deterioration of the flooring, but can end up costing you to replace it.
Please contact us today to schedule your appointment or if you have any further questions.
Floor ReNew Houston
Natural Stone Restoration
4530 W. 34th Street Suite C
Houston, TX 77092
(713) 418-9983
Limestone is found to be a natural calcium carbonate which, like marble, you will find is sensitive to acid solutions. The surface itself is very smooth, and it comes in various hardness, which some of the more dense can be polished. Though you will find that it can be polished, it may never be as shiny as marble or granite. Due to what the stone is made out of, it is very absorbent, and many different liquids can stain or start deteriorating the stone itself.
The basic care for limestone flooring would require frequent cleaning with a dust mop that is dry and non-treated. A variety of debris can cause damage to limestone, the worse being sand, dirt, and grit due to them being the most abrasive. Though you can use a vacuum to help remove the debris, it may be best to either use the dry dust mop or a vacuum that does not have any metal or worn plastic attachments as they can cause scratches and damages to the surface as well.
The next step would be to use a damp mop to apply a ph neutral cleaning solution to thoroughly clean the surface, and then rinsing it multiple times to make sure the solution has been removed along with any soil or dirt. Once you have rinsed, it is important to make sure to dry the flooring, usually with a microfiber cloth. Keep in mind that this process can be done yourself to remove both dirt and stains, but many stains may need a professional to help remove without further damage being done.
There is a restoration and polishing process that can be done next if the surface of the limestone is heavily scratched and dull. Using a variety of special polishing pads specifically for limestone helps sand down the surfaces to the point where it not only takes out any scratches or blemishes, but it also brings out the shine again. Usually this needs to be done every year to couple years depending on how much traffic comes through your home. Over time it is possible for your limestone to become chipped or uneven. This can also be taken care of with the polishing process.
The final process would be to seal the limestone. This last step helps prevent any deterioration within the stone. Applying a sealant, especially one that is a penetrating sealant will seep into the pores to better protect the stone. This will help protect the stone from everyday spills, making it bead on the surface instead of seeping into the stone. This process usually needs to be completed every year or two. Though this step will protect the limestone from a liquid to seep into the pores, it still will not protect it from any etching from any type of acidic liquids.
Please feel free to contact us today to schedule your appointment or if you have any further questions.
Floor ReNew Houston
Natural Stone Restoration
4530 W. 34th Street Suite C
Houston, TX 77092
(713) 418-9983
One of the more commonly used stones used now a days in flooring is polished granite. It is best suited for floors due to its durability and also being available in various colors and patterns. Usually no matter how much wear and tear is brought to the flooring, its shine and luster remain.
With that being said, one thing to keep in mind is that though they are very durable and seem to keep their shine, this does not mean that they are free from stains or scratches or even dust. Though most stains, such as rust, can be removed using special removers or detergents, scratches have a much different process to remove. Quartz is a material similar to sand that can create scratches in granite, and quartz makes up most of the dirt that can be tracked in by footwear.
There is a way to maintain your granite floor, helping prolong its life. Regular maintenance would be to dust mop the floor each day to help and remove any quartz particles as well as every few days clean the floor with a stone soap and fresh water solution. Not only will this remove the harmful debris but also helps to bring out the color and reseal the floor. You then follow with a wet vacuum which will prevent any chances of water stains. One of the last steps would be to spray along the floor a crystallizing solution and then use a buffer to buff the granite on a high speed. Doing this final step generally removes any minor scratches and will help restore the natural shine.
If the floor is neglected, thus it becoming highly scratched and very dull, there is an option to re-grind the surface. There are downfalls to this process, which would be that the color of the granite would change, no longer being the same as it was, and the process can take anywhere from two or three hours to complete a small area. It is always best to try and stay up on the regular maintenance of the flooring to prevent having to take this drastic step that can give you have a beautiful and shiny surface to the granite again, but one that will leave the coloring looking very different than the original.
One of the big ways granite can deteriorate is due to water slipping into the pores. Since granite is made up of different types of minerals entwined together, it leaves small pores or voids throughout the stone. Water slipping into these pores will reduce its gloss and create cracks to form. Though it is impossible to prevent water from gaining contact with granite, there is a way to prevent it from deteriorating your granite. This step would be to seal the stone. Sealing the stone will protect the granite from absorbing any water that can and more than likely will spill on the surface.
There are two different types of sealant that you can chose to use on your granite. One is where once applied to the surface of the granite it stays as a coat over the surface. The other option is one where it will penetrate the stone surface through the pores and embeds itself into that pore to prevent water from slipping in. Not only will be prevent and delay deterioration, but it also helps the surface to retain its natural shine.
Please feel free to contact us today to schedule your appointment to polish your granite flooring or if you have any questions.
Floor ReNew Houston
Natural Stone Restoration
4530 W. 34th Street Suite C
Houston, TX 77092
(713) 418-9983
Marble is a stone that has an alkaline mineral content, thus making it sensitive to any cleaners that have a heavy acid base. Marble has a make up of calcium carbonate, which reacts with various types of acid that eats away bits of its surface. When cleaning marble, it is best to use a cleaner that is alkaline based, this will clean the marble and not cause etching, or a dull spot or stain on the surface.
Though it is possible to clean marble yourself, that is just one small step to maintaining and taking care of it. If you wish to prolong the life and have it at its full potential, it is always best to have a professional come and help finish the entire process of both restoring and maintaining your marble. Due to marble being used not only for flooring, but very commonly used for counter tops, it is best to have it professionally cleaned and polished from time to time. Simply polishing the marble is where you clean it with the alkaline cleaner solution, usually one where it leaves a deep and natural shine is ideal.
Care and maintenance of marble is very important. Over time, there are two important steps that must be done in order to have the full life of your marble, regular maintenance and restoration.
Restoration is a process that will eventually need to be done to preserve the life of your marble, but regular maintenance helps delay that. Part of regular maintenance is when you make sure to not only dry dust mop, but also damp mopping at well, using a stone soap that is PH neutral and fresh water. After damp mopping, it is always best to make sure that all soap is cleaned from the surface so there will be no build up over time, so it is best to do multiple rinses to prevent this. Any types of spills that happen are cleaned up immediately so that they do not cause any etching or staining to the surface. To have regular professional maintenance is when you hire professionals to use polishing powders to help maintain the natural shine of the stone.
The restoration process is a service that sometime down the road will be required. You will know when this process is needed because the marble will have deep scratches, moving tiles, grout damage, cracking, deep stains, and much more that your regular maintenance does not take care of. This is a simple process where professionals use a diamond abrasive to resurface the marble which will grind the surface to smooth it out, taking deep scratches, stains, and more with it. If there are cracks or moving tiles, epoxy repair work will need to be completed before the grinding process.
After grinding is completed, all that is left is to either polish or honed and then resealing the marble. If you polish the marble, it is not usually necessary to reseal the marble, but if you have the process of honing the marble, it is imperative to have to sealed after. Honing is simply where the surface is dulled on purpose, either by a machine or an acid bath. It is simply a personal preference on which you would rather have. After this, the process is complete.
Contact us today to have us come and help take care of your marble today!
Floor ReNew Houston
Natural Stone Restoration
4530 W. 34th Street Suite C
Houston, TX 77092
(713) 418-9983
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Polished Concrete Flooring is growing in popularity. It’s quickly becoming the first choice as a durable, highly versatile, flooring option for homes and businesses. The demand for polished concrete is at an all-time high all around the world. The polishing method for this type of surface with grinders is very similar to refinishing wood with floor sander. Concrete grinders are easily used to grind down a surface with combination of diamond abrasives that are used for metal bonding; this is what successfully produces the right smoothness and shine.
Transforming concrete into a decorative and smooth surface for flooring requires treating it with a concrete densifier, a chemical material that’s applied over the concrete surface to fill the pores. After that the surface is prepared and dried, it’s then ground with grinding tools that get progressively finer to achieve the desired flooring finish. Polished concrete is measured in grades and finishes: when the grade is higher, the larger the exposed aggregates; similar to the higher the finish, the shinier the polish becomes.
We offer different types of concrete flooring services for your home or business:
Like a lot of flooring techniques, there are a number of things that can go wrong. For the best results, ensure that the concrete flooring contractor you hire is specialized, professional, and experienced.
Here are 5 of Floor ReNew Houston‘s Secrets tips to the perfect Finishing Polish for Concrete Floors:
Our machines use the latest technology and allow our concrete floor polishing team to complete a concrete project in a fraction of the time of a conventional team. Floor ReNew Houston also provides extensive training for those that purchase our machine as well providing 24/7 support after the purchase has been made.
Floor ReNew Houston take quality seriously and our floors speak to that. We always have satisfied customers with the level of quality and professionalism we bring to the table. Consider these items when looking to hire a concrete floor polishing contractor on your next job.
If you’re interested in learning more about restoration services for your floors, get in touch with the experts.
Floor ReNew Houston
