When to save a stone floor and when to simply cover it over....

We recently had a call-out to help a client save a floor in a listed building.

It raised the question – When can a floor be saved and when is it best to rather cover it over or replace it?  Renovating a stone floor is obviously preferable, but there are limitations....

Because the floor we looked at was in a listed building and there are limitations on what can be done, all the actions the home owner wants to take has to be approved.

Here are some basic guidelines – please note if the home or building is listed you will require consent to carry out works:

Background:

The old carpets are lifted from the floor and a beautiful clay tile floor is exposed. Here are a few things to consider....

How old is the home? – if it was build prior to 1875 it will not have a damp proof membrane and the floor will require to be open and beatable to allow for the moisture to evaporate. In some cases homes built up to 1980 and later can have damp problems due to incorrectly installed Damp proof membranes or DPC’s.

In a case where moisture is a problem (many time the smell in the room will give this away) the following should be considered:

Lift the floor and install a good quality DPM / DPC – get a builder with experience in the field.

Or the floor can be cleaned and a impregnating sealer can be applied to allow for moisture movement through the floor. Avoid waxes and topical sealers – this will mean the floor will not have a shine finish.

Do Not place rubber matting over the floor as this can cause moisture to get trapped under the rubber and it can turn into a very smelly room – remember that carpet underlays will in most cases act as a barrier and this can cause the same problem. It is sometimes better to do what is required to fix the problem than to simply cover it over.

If you choose to lift the floor and install a DPM – you can opt to keep the original floor tiles and re-lay then after the DPM is installed – ensure your builder is aware of this so he lift the tiles with care.

If you would like some more information and advice about our professional wood and stone floor services please contact our friendly team on 01223 863632 or visit www.artofclean.co.uk.

Art of Clean is a specialist cleaning firm in: 

Wood Floor Sanding,

Stone floor Cleaning,

Carpet Cleaning,

Rug Cleaning,

Upholstery Cleaning 

Leather Furniture Cleaning, 

CLEANING PRODUCTS

Working for domestic or commercial clients throughout Cambridgeshire, Essex, Suffolk and Hertfordshire.

For more information on our services contact our friendly team on 01223 863632 or email us at info@artofclean.co.uk

Visiting The Stonemasonry Company

 

We went for a visit with Pierre and Paul at The Stonemasonry Company yesterday to see what these incredible craftsmen create.  At Art of Clean we specialise in professional stone floor cleaning and polishing so we wanted to see how the whole process begins.

The first thing you realise is that their work is astonishingly beautiful.  They are a “group of dedicated master craftsmen with over 100 years of combined experience in all areas of masonry”.  They “specialise in the design, fabrication and installation of natural stone fireplaces, staircases, commissioned pieces and the restoration and conservation of existing stone features.”


Limestone from Lincolnshire

Making a bespoke fireplace

See the size of these flooring slabs!

For more information regarding our professional stone floor cleaning services contact our friendly team on 01223 863632, or access our website at www.artofclean.co.uk. You can also check our before and after picture of stone we have cleaned ART OF CLEAN

How to clean a Travertine floor?

The best way to clean a Travertine floor, where the holes have not been filled, is to use a soft to medium hard scrubbing brush to agitate the cleaner deep into the floor, working the dirt out from the pores of the rock.

If you can use a wax and residue remover such as to clean the floor such as Natural Stone Cleaner, after cleaning with this mixture you will need to reapply the sealer to protect your floor from getting dirty.

Avoid acidic cleaners at all costs, these types of cleaners will permanently damage your Travertine floor leaving it scratched and porous.

If you would like to use a recommended cleaning product please visit our on-line store for your Natural Stone Cleaner.

Maintaining your Travertine floor…

Try and buy a bucket with two compartments, such as AOC twin bucket and mop. Use a mild detergent cleaner such as Natural Care Maintainer.

First of all sweep or vacuum your floor, making sure you use a soft brush to avoid scratching the floor. Once the floor is thoroughly cleaned you can then start the cleaning process.

Wet your clean mop in the rinse water and wring thoroughly. Dip the tips (about 4-6 inches) into the cleaning solution, and wring the mop slightly. Make sure you move the mop in a figure eight shape, making sure that you overlap the area two or three times.

Make sure that you follow the dilution guidelines on the tub, if you make it too strong you do, some of the cleaning solution might be left on the floor resulting in it attracting soil faster.

Never use acidic cleaners on Travertine or marble floors.

Always make sure the floor is cleaned with a vacuum such as the SEBO Felix Pet, as it come with a hard floor attachment.

If your floor is very dirty, wash twice, and when it has completely dried seal with two coats of Stainguard SB impregnator.

If your floor is shiny and you would like it to have a matt finish, or vise-versa you will need a professional floor cleaning company to remove the top coat with a diamond disc and a heavy rotary machine. If you would like any further information about this or any other process please call our team for some advice.