[Graeme Smith]

In the area I live (Yorkshire) there are s**t loads of sandstone floors so this is the most common enquiry for hard floors I get.
I know topicals have there downside -namely maintenance, stripping them off and reapplication.
I find about 50% of the sandstone floors I look at have topicals on them to give a low sheen satin finish and to make maintenance in the short term easier. Every single floor I have seen including the one in the last house I lived in are of a riven finish and are usually quite a course grain sandstone so are rough and good at capturing dirt.
To date I have put subsurface impregnators on as standard but I am beginning to think for the sandstone in my local area
a topical could be better just from the point of view making the surface a bit smoother.
If anyone has any thoughts I would be interested, there are others areas in the country that have sandstone in abundance - just wondered what you do??

[Art of Clean]

Hi Graeme

I must agree with you. a sandy surface grabs hold of dirt really fast even with impregnator in it. A sandy surface will allow your topical sealer to get a good grip on the floor. I always explain to clients it is like trying to wash a sheet of sandpaper with a string mop
The down side of topical sealer in some terracotta (machine made and pre-sealed especially) and quarry tiles is that it easily peel / scratch. A very smooth sandstone can give you the same trouble

Make sure you advise clients to use felt pads under chairs and a top up coat of topical sealer ever so often (before it has been broken through) is essential.

Strict maintenance is important and a gravel drive/pathway outside will bring grit in that will damage the floor.

Pets also do not help.

Hope my view is helpful

Warmest Regards

Pierre

[Kev Martin]

Graeme

Sandstone is difficult!  However a premium water based MVT (Breathable) impregnating sealer applied correctly (two coats) with at least 24 hours between coats will assist greatly with regular cleaning when using a pH neutral cleaner.

The issue is whilst sandstone is then designed to grip and by definition it will therefore grip dirt the application of a penetrating sealer will help prevent the dirt from penetrating.  The downside is most householders only mop their floors and a traditional mop is not particularly effective in cleaning this type of surface.  However, we also know that very few would invest in a scrubber drier!  So what's the answer?

There are several routes that can be explored:

The least expensive is to ensure there is very good barrier matting on the outside and inside of all entrances to keep dirt and grit to an absolute minimum.  Then investing in a good quality Kentucky Microfibre Mop and a decent Mop Bucket on wheels as opposed to a vileda paper one which is next to useless!

Finally once a water based penetrating sealer is applied correctly provided you gently scrub the floor afterwards with a pH neutral cleaner to ensure there is no penetrating sealer left on the surface there is nothing stopping you applying a topical sealer as well.  This then becomes the sacrificial sealer but however, does not prevent the fact that it will need to be cleaned off and replaced from time to time depending on wear and foot traffic!

Kev Martin
Tiling Logistics
Marblelife Ltd

[Graeme Smith]

The only way forward is they decide - I do tell them to invest in a small wet vac to clean after mopping I would guess they probably do not bother though

[Graeme Smith]

Scratch that I have decided no topical finished one this week it would have looked poope with a topical.

[Tadgh O Shea]

Hi Kevin

I think you hit the solution bang on, the only thing i would change or recommend is to use waffle microfiber floor cloths instead of kentucky microfiber mop heads.
Waffle microfiber floor cloths are far more effective in removing soils than any other type of mopping system available.

Regards

Tadgh