Sandstone Tile Cleaning & Sealing

Sandstone Paving Grey Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains, including quartz, calcite, gypsum or various iron compounds. Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone has a granular texture and may be found in almost any color, but the most common colors are tan, brown, yellow, red, gray, pink, and white. Since sandstone beds often form highly visible cliffs and other topographic features, certain colors of sandstone have been strongly identified with certain regions.

Sandstone tiles vary in porosity and hardness however they are soft and porous on the other hand. Since sandstone tiles can absorb water very fast, it is important to follow proper sandstone tile cleaning methods in every opportunity to ensure proper maintenance.

Sandstone floor can be prone to scratching, staining and fracturing. It also needs to be allowed to breath, instead of being covered by synthetic sealers or urethane. We offer the right solution to protect your Sandstone by using highly penetrating impregnating water based sealers.

The primary cause for polished stone floors becoming dull is walking on them. Prolonged foot traffic grinds and packs in dust, sand, and grit. Although the scratching that occurs is very fine, it eventually covers the majority of the surface and over time dulls the finish to the point where it loses its reflective properties. To make your stone surfaces smooth and reflective, we employ the use of high speed polishers.

Sandstone Paving Blue Many older buildings have durable Sandstone flooring. This is the chalky porous type typical of most French and Spanish Sandstone. Etched by acids, including soft drinks. Absorbs oils and other liquids and is more easily stained than marble. Composed of Calcite and some Magnesium. Common colors are black, gray, white, yellow and brown. Has a smooth granular surface. Varies in hardness. Should be sealed with a penetrating sealer to prevent staining and reduce soiling. Should only be cleaned with neutral pH detergents. Because it is soft, it should never be cleaned at pressures above 800 PSI and then only if the grout is in good condition.

Sandstone Paving Grey Professional regular maintenance will be required to maintain its honed or polished appearance. Sandstone looks best with a honed or low/medium sheen appearance however some people insist on a high shine finish. Sandstone will never have the gloss of marble or granite. Some low calcite Sandstone can be extremely difficult to polish and therefore vitrification would be required. Vitrification however can give the stone an unnatural plastic appearance if repeated too often.

Pros
Durable
Easy to clean
It is less expensive than marble and granite
It is moisture-resistant

Cons
It feels cold and hard under-foot
It requires sealing
t reacts to acid

Sealing Sandstone Floors

Sandstone can be highly porous - a tablespoon of water on a Sandstone surface will be absorbed in seconds, although it does vary in porosity from piece to piece. Porosity is also affected by its finish - highly polished Sandstone is a little harder to penetrate than Sandstone with a honed (matt) finish.

Due to its high porosity it is particularly important for Sandstone to be sealed with a high quality impregnating sealer which will not affect its slip resistance or look. Sandstone is used both outdoors and indoors, and our impregnating sealers will seal Sandstone equally well in either.

Sandstone can be difficult to maintain if a proper maintenance cycle is not put in place from the point of installation. As it is usually not polished, the problem of scratching is not as big an issue as it is with marble, however if proper barrier matting is not introduced even a honed surface will lose its attractiveness. The most important factor to consider with the maintenance of Sandstone is the possibility of staining.

Sandstone's calcite composition makes it susceptible to acid attack from spilt food and drink. Its high porosity can also mean oil will permeate the surface and leave staining if it is not properly sealed with a penetrating / impregnating sealer.

Pre-Sealing Preparation

Any surface to be sealed should be clean and looking just as you want it before it is sealed - it may be impossible to remove stains after sealing without having to strip the sealer again. Acidic cleaners should not be used on Sandstone as it will damage it.
Sandstone must have no other coating such as wax or a topical sealer before it's sealed, so any such coating must be removed before sealing.
Floor must be thoroughly dry before applying any sealer.

Our Sandstone Floor Restoration service will bring back your Sandstone tiles & grout to its best possible condition, and protect them for years to come.

Protection from Acid Etching

It is very difficult to seal Sandstone against acid attack.
Sandstone and other calcite based stone such as marble and travertine are prone to acid etching. Sandstone is immediately 'etched' (eaten / corroded) by any acidic material on contact - including lemon juice, cola, wine and champagne. For this reason the honed (matt) look is popular, as it doesn't show the matt etch marks as much as polished Sandstone. In any case, acidic substances should be cleaned up as soon as possible, and Sandstone should not be used outdoors in areas where there is acid rain.