[benny d]

Hi,
We do clean tile and grout flooring quite often. Normal ceramic tiles in kitchens etc, but I went large house and the lady wants to have 55 square meters (550sq feet), of what seems like Limestone flooring cleaned.(The customer didnt exactly know what type of flooring it was, and I dont know either). It had fossils in it, and had underfloor heating. A posh pad!

We use a Steamway TM with a SX-12 cleaner. and get very good results on the run of the mill tile and grout, but I am a bit concerned about this one.

Our usual system for cleaning tile and grout is to vacuum-
Apply the pre cleaning solution, by Bridgeport from Alltec.
Aggitate the flooring and the grout lines.
Use the SX-12 to clean, and it sucks the dirt back to the van.
Use an air mover or two to dry as quickly as possible.
Sometimes use a finish/protector.

If it is Limestone, is this the correct way to clean, or do I need any other special cleaning solutions?
Any advise is appreciated. 

Any idea as to cost? I was thinking as it is two of us working, which I think will take about 6 hours of work, approx £550-00 to £ 600-00. Am I in the right area as to cost?

[D woods]

Make sure you do it properly, or you will be known as The Limestone Cowboy...

[Hamilton smith]

Post the question to Sherco he lays this kind of flooring and cleans it. He gave me bags of help with a travetine floor that was scratched by broken glass. Good luck!. I have been doing stone floors for about £10.00 per square metre Hope that helps

[Ryan Smyth]

LIMESTONE is a tricky one, probably the most porous of all the natural stone flooring you will come across, very sensitive to acidic solutions. although if it hasnt been sealed prior or immediately after laying there can be stains that will seep into the stone and thats another kettle of fish..........

[benny d]

Thanks for the information...

[sherco]

The only way you can clean natural stone is with a good rotary scrubber and a good wet vac, tried every other way and this is  the only way. just a quick run through what i do...Apply cleaning solution, scrub floor and grout joints, wet vac up dirty water, wash floor with a neutraliser, then rinse floor again with just water, let the floor thoroughly dry, return next day apply two coats of sealent let that dry, and buff up with a white or tan pad. You will not get that job done properly in six hours.

[master-clean]

I recently did a 1000 ft of limestone with spinergy 11 an sx-12, got great results!

I been championing high prices but a £1.00 a foot! is that with protecting?

I charged £0.45 for mine just to clean, was that to cheap?

(by the way limestone looks better unsealed imo)

[sherco]

I recently did a 1000 ft of limestone with spinergy 11 an sx-12, got great results!

I been championing high prices but a £1.00 a foot! is that with protecting?

I charged £0.45 for mine just to clean, was that to cheap?

(by the way limestone looks better unsealed imo)

Limestone has to be sealed as its the most porous natural stone, i have been laying natural stone for 15 plus years and you really need to be able to identify natural stone if you want offer maintenance. I would say 80% of limestone cleaning i do is because wrong cleaners have been used and etched the surface and its opened up the pores so we have to diamond polish the stone to rectify this problem, or no sealer has been applied as you will never keep it clean. And if its a very porus stone i use a calcium based powder, but you need to know what you re doing with this stuff, this reacts with the stone and closes the pores of the stone.

[master-clean]

Does lime stone have pores that open and close? thats skin/leather aint it.

Just dont use acid cleaners as that will etch the surface.   

[sherco]

Does lime stone have pores that open and close? thats skin/leather aint it.

Just dont use acid cleaners as that will etch the surface.   

That's exactly what i mean, people cleaning specialist stone with no knowledge about it.

[benny d]

Attention Sherco;

Can you email me at      office at xtremeclean.info. or call 07969 026589
It's possible that you can help me a bit, and if you want it, have a nice job, as the job I have been asked to do is quite near to you.
Ben

[sherco]

Attention Sherco;

Can you email me at      office at xtremeclean.info. or call 07969 026589
It's possible that you can help me a bit, and if you want it, have a nice job, as the job I have been asked to do is quite near to you.
Ben

I will give you a call tmro Ben.

Thanks Andrew

[benny d]

Thanks Andrew