Home Improvement Information

Keeping Stone Floors in Tip Top Condition


I had a customer call me to make a complaint about the Limestone floor we had restored and sealed for them. The building is a state of the art facility in the heart of Covent Garden, in London. The problem was as an up market serviced office block the tenants were complaining that the Limestone Floor was resoling very fast and looking extremely dirty even immediately after the contract cleaners had washed the floor.

I was somewhat surprised by the complaint as we had only restored the floor a few weeks prior to the complaint. I know the floor would take quite a bit of looking after and the right guys with the right cleaning machinery and detergents should be able to keep the floor in great shape.

I had to find out exactly what was being done to maintain the floor. I enquired to my client and he promptly told me that the cleaners where using a strong "washing up" liquid in a warm bucket of plain water to perform the cleaning. I felt that I had found the root of the clients problem and realized he wasn't going to like what I was about to tell him but I soldiered on regardless.

When you are performing maintenance on a stone surface you need relatively neutral pH cleaning detergents. So in this case the "washing up" liquid that had a pH level of around 18 was leaving a greasy residue on the surface of the stone that would be invisible to see but would still be present. The floor would be attracting all dust, grease from shoes etc because of the greasy film.

The second part of the problem would be the amount of clean water used. I know from experience that a "contract cleaner" would only ever use 1 bucket of water on a floor. It would be too much trouble to keep getting fresh water to clean a stone floor and that is exactly what is required. If you continually use dirty water to clean the floor you will simply be washing dirt into the floor from the dirty water.

So I had to explain that Professional maintenance was required to keep the floor in tip top condition and we set up a maintenance regime over the course of a month at the same price the cleaning contractor's had charge and the floors look great.

So, what should you do to maintain your commercial facilities stone floor surfaces?

1. Also have a professional Stone maintenance quote for your work

2. Contract cleaners do not understand stone and will never keep it in great shape.

3. Never use a product that isn't designed to keep the stone in good order

4. Never use a high pH detergent you will leave the floor greasy.

5. Change the water in your bucket a minimum of every 5 sq mtrs.

It needn't be more expensive for your stone contractor to offer professional maintenance services for regular upkeep of your stone product so always ask, we don't bite.

Marblemasteruk.com offers regular stone maintenance services call for a quotation on 0800 7317232.

Edward Green owns and operates the highly successful Marble Master Ltd Company. Marble Master specializes in Restoration and Refinishing of all types of natural stone and consultancy services to Architects, Restoration Companies and Interior Designers. http://www.marblemasteruk.com


MORE RESOURCES:

Home improvement stores in Manatee prosper
Bradenton Herald
BY JOSH SALMAN MANATEE - Lingering struggles in the housing market have furnished a jolt to home improvement retailers, as consumers look to cut costs by tackling home improvement projects themselves. More homeowners across Southwest Florida, ...

and more »


New York Daily News

Home Improvement Star Arrested for DUI, Drug Possession: Report
People Magazine
By Tim Nudd Taran Noah Smith, who played youngest child Mark Taylor on the '90s sitcom Home Improvement for eight years, was arrested early Wednesday for DUI and drug possession, according to a report. Smith, 27, was arrested around 1 am in Los Angeles ...
'Home Improvement' actor arrested on suspicion of DUI in BurbankLos Angeles Times
'Home Improvement' actor Taran Noah Smith busted for DUI, drug possessionFox News
'Home Improvement' Star Taran Noah Smith Arrested for DUI & Drug PossessionThe Daily Blabber from iVillage
Yahoo! Contributors Network -New York Daily News -KCRA Sacramento
all 139 news articles »


BBC News

Simplified home improvement rules introduced
BBC News
New regulations have come into force to make it easier for Scots to make changes to their homes. The move means many home improvements will be able to go ahead without planning permission. Projects including extensions, sheds and garages will not need ...

and more »


Daily Mail

'Home Improvement' kid suspected of driving stoned
San Jose Mercury News
(Photo by Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images) BURBANK -- The actor who played the youngest brother on "Home Improvement" was arrested Wednesday in Burbank on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs, police said. Taran Noah Smith, 27, was arrested ...
"Home Improvement" actor Taran Noah Smith arrested for DUI, reports sayCBS News
Home Improvement star Taran Noah Smith arrested for 'DUI and possession of ...Daily Mail
Former Home Improvement child actor Taran Noah Smith in drink driving and drug ...The Daily Telegraph
Ology -Perth Now
all 28 news articles »


Milwaukee/NARI Offers Free Panel Discussion on Roofing Options
Wauwatosa Now
By Dave Amoroso The Milwaukee chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (Milwaukee/NARI), celebrating 50 years as the area's leading home improvement and remodeling industry resource, will sponsor a free consumer panel discussion ...



InComm Awards "Dreams and Drywall" Sweepstakes Winner with $25000 in Gift ...
MarketWatch (press release)
InComm's Do It Yourself Home Improvement(TM) gift card is available in any denomination between $20 and $500 and is a flexible, secure option for home improvement enthusiasts to accomplish any project. The card can be used at identified home ...

and more »


NARI Home Improvement Show set for State Fair Park
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The best place might be at the 50th Milwaukee/NARI Home Improvement Show to be held Thursday through Sunday in the Wisconsin Exposition Center at State Fair Park. The show includes hundreds of exhibitors offering home improvement advice, products and ...



The Consumerist

Home Improvement Projects To Warm Up Cold Rooms
The Consumerist
A quick home improvement project can make the room more livable. Family Handyman has several ideas to help you warm things up. Here are a few: * A toe-kick heater. A type of space heater you'll need to wire in to your main electrical panel, ...



Breath of spring at Eastern Iowa Home Show
Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier
A whiff of spring at the Eastern Iowa Home Improvement and Landscaping Show will cure what ails homeowners in a fever-pitch to paint, wallpaper, redecorate, refurnish, refurbish, remodel, build, landscape or garden. Nearly 200 home improvement and ...



Home improvement for your health
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
By (ARA) (ARA) - When considering home improvements, people tend to choose projects that will improve the value of their home. While this is important for a healthy bottom line, investing in the health of those living inside the home also is a ...

and more »

Google News

home | site map
© 2006