Is my Limestone floor sealed correctly?

Having problems keeping your limestone floor clean?
Want to know if your limestone floor needs maintenance?
Want to know if your new limestone floor is sealed properly?
If your answer is yes, then read on.

If you are struggling to keep your Limestone floor clean the chances are it has not been sealed correctly or it is in need of maintenance.

There is a quick and easy way to check that your floor is sealed correctly.

1. Pour a few drops of water in several places around the floor. This water should bead and lie on the surface.
2. Leave for five minutes.
3. Then wipe off the water with a dry cloth.

If the water leaves a damp ring mark in the stone after wiping off, this shows your floor is still porous and is a stain and dirt magnet.

If this is the case; maintenance is urgently needed as rapid deterioration will occur.

Firstly, try cleaning the floor and then applying a thin coat of polish. Allow a day to dry, and test again.

If the problem persists, then this suggests the floor was not installed correctly in the first place, and unfortunately more radical work will need to be carried out.

In most cases the top coat polish will need to be stripped off using the manufacturers recommended stripper.  Once stripped, let the floor dry out thoroughly, then apply a coat of impregnator sealer, leave for twelve hours and then apply a second coat. Ensure any excess impregnator is wiped off the tiles if pooling occurs.  Once the sealer has cured for a minimum of 12 hours, it is now a good idea to carry out the water test again. Once you are satisfied the floor is correctly impregnated apply 2 coats of the top polish.

Allow the polish to harden overnight; and your floor should now be fully protected, easy to clean, and looking great!