One thing that you will find that due to everyday use and traffic, you will start noticing wear and deterioration on your natural stone floors. And without knowing the proper cleaning and maintenance that your floors need can leave them looking dull, worn, and dirty.
That is where the refinishing or restoration process comes in. It is about bringing back your natural stone flooring’s beauty back into it. It is best to always do your research on your specific stone tiles whether they be granite, marble, slate, or many others. Each one has its own specific weakness to certain cleanser, so be sure to study up as it can cause more damage than good.
The restoration process begins with cleaning. You will need to use a soft-bristled broom to sweep up all dirt and debris. From there, you will need to use an un-treated dust mop and sweep up all dust and small particles that the broom missed.
The next steps would be to fill a bucket with warm water and with your choice of cleanser, after reading the label, pour in the appropriate amount of cleanser into the water. Taking a wet mop, start mopping the stone tiles. After you have mopped the entire area, allow it to set for 10-15 minutes so that it gives the cleanser time to loosen any dirt or grime while making sure that the area does not dry.
Then you will need to dump the dirty water out and rinse both the bucket and wet mop thoroughly. Refill the bucket and use the wet mop to start mopping up the dirty water. Make sure to empty and refill the bucket periodically so that you are not just pushing around dirty water.
Allow the area to air dry, but make sure that it is completely dry. This can take anywhere from a couple hours to a day or two depending on what kind of stone tiles you have. If needed, you can use a soft microfiber cloth to dry the area.
Once the entire area is completely dry, now begins the restoration steps. First phase is the grinding method, which very aggressive. There is a metal-bonded and diamond grit that is heavy weighted that buffers out all the deep scratches and lippage. This is to flatten the floor and generally dust free.
The next phase is honing, which slightly less aggressive than grinding. The materials and grits used are not nearly as coarse though the process is the same. There are times where this can be the first phase, depending on how damaged the stone tiles are. This process removes moderate scratches and etch marks, but in a softer manner. This will also make sure the floor is flat.
Now is the polishing phase. This process brings out the shine in your stone by using higher grit and sometimes a combination of higher grit compounds.
The final phase is sealing the natural stone tiles. A high quality sealant is applied to the surface that helps protect it. This is best done once all the grinding, polishing, and honing is finished that way you are ensured the proper protection.
Thus finishing the refinishing or restoration process. This process is usually accomplished every 5 to 10 years as long as you have been staying on top of the regular maintenance. Sealant may need to be reapplied between refinishing processes.
When in doubt contact a professional, contact us today to schedule your appointment to polish your natural stone flooring or if you have any questions.
Floor ReNew Houston
4530 W. 34th Street Suite C
Houston, TX 77092
(713) 418-9983
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