Limestone Cleaning & Sealing

Tile and Stone Cleaners® is the go-to company for limestone tile and grout cleaning, stripping, sealing, and restoration. Our technicians are experts in these areas and are able to provide you with the necessary advice and service to make your old limestone floor and tile grout look brand new again. Whether you need help on how to clean and reseal your limestone tile on your own, or you would like our team to do it for you, we are here to help. We are dedicated to bringing back the beauty of your limestone floor and tile grout.

What is Limestone

Limestone is a type of rock that is formed from the accumulation of sediment at the bottom of oceans. It is primarily composed of calcium carbonate, and can be found in a variety of colors due to the presence of other materials. The calcium carbonate that makes up limestone is sourced from the shells and bones of marine organisms, and over time, through the process of heat and pressure, the sediment that preserves these organisms turns into limestone rock. Thus, limestone is made of fossilized marine organisms.

Cleaning Limestone Floors

Limestone flooring is known for being porous and vulnerable to scratches, stains, and fractures. Additionally, it needs to breathe and cannot be covered by synthetic sealers or urethane. Tile and Stone Cleaners® offers the right solution to protect your limestone by using impregnating sealers that penetrate deeply into the surface, creating a barrier that provides protection against chemical attack, deterioration, and contamination.

Foot traffic is often the primary cause for polished limestone floors to become dull, as prolonged use leads to the accumulation of dust, sand, and grit that grinds and packs in over time. Even though the scratches that occur are fine, they will eventually cover a large portion of the surface, dulling the finish and losing its reflective properties. To restore the smooth and reflective surface of your limestone, our team uses high-speed polishers.

Many older buildings feature limestone flooring, particularly the chalky, porous type with a smooth granular surface, which is typical of French and Spanish limestone. This type of limestone is more prone to staining than marble and can vary in hardness. It can also become etched by acidic substances such as soft drinks, as well as absorb oils and other liquids. Common colors of limestone include black, grey, white, yellow, and brown. To prevent staining and reduce soiling, limestone should be sealed with a penetrating sealer and only cleaned with neutral pH detergents. Limestone is a soft stone and should never be cleaned at pressures above 800 PSI, and only if the grout is in good condition.

To maintain the honed or polished appearance of limestone, regular professional maintenance is necessary. Limestone looks best with a honed or low/medium sheen finish, although some people prefer a high shine finish. However, some types of low-calcite limestone can be difficult to polish, so vitrification may be required. However, it should be avoided as it can give the stone an unnatural plastic appearance if repeated too often.

Advantages:

Limestone is a durable natural stone that can withstand high traffic and daily use.
Limestone is easy to clean and maintain, making it a practical choice for flooring and countertops.
Limestone is generally less expensive than other natural stones such as marble and granite.
Limestone is moisture resistant and can hold up well in areas such as bathrooms and kitchens.

Disadvantages:

Limestone can feel cold and hard underfoot, making it less comfortable for prolonged standing or walking.
Limestone requires regular sealing to protect it from stains and wear.
Limestone is sensitive to acidic substances, which can cause etching and damage to the surface over time.

Sealing Limestone Tiles

Two main types of sealers that can be applied to limestone tiles:

Impregnating sealer: This type of sealer is deep penetrating and creates a protective barrier by reacting chemically with the pores of the limestone surface. It can be used to create a transparent finish or color-enhancing finish.
Topical sealer: A coating applied on the surface of the limestone tiles, that can be used to achieve a gloss, satin, or matte finish. This type of sealer creates a barrier on the surface of the limestone, protects the tiles from external factors but does not penetrate the surface like impregnating sealer.

An impregnating sealer using nano-technology chemically reacts with the surface pores of limestone and grout, forming a protective barrier that shields against water and oil-based stains. This sealer also results in easier cleaning and maintenance of the limestone surface and grout as it prevents absorption of stains.

Pre-Sealing Preparation

To ensure the best results, surfaces to be sealed should be cleaned and in the desired condition prior to sealing. Once sealed, it may not be possible to remove stains without having to strip the sealer. Additionally, it is important to note that acidic cleaners should not be used on limestone as they can cause damage.
Before applying a sealer, any existing coatings such as wax or topical sealers must be removed from the limestone surface.
It is crucial that the floor is completely dry before applying any sealer.

Protection from Acid Etching

Sealing limestone to protect it against acid attack can be challenging, as limestone and other calcite-based stones such as marble and travertine are prone to acid etching. These materials can be easily damaged by acidic substances upon contact, including lemon juice, cola, wine and champagne. The honed (matte) finish is a popular choice for limestone as it is less likely to show etch marks compared to a polished finish. However, it’s always important to clean acidic substances as soon as possible to minimize the damage.

Limestone Floor Care & Maintenance

Proper maintenance is essential for keeping limestone in good condition from the time of installation. Limestone is typically not polished, so scratches are not as much of a concern as they are with marble. However, if appropriate barrier matting is not used, even a honed surface will lose its appearance. The key consideration when maintaining limestone is preventing staining.

Things to Do:

Clean up spills immediately
Seal limestone floors, as it’s a natural stone
Place a mat at every entrance
Use a microfiber mop to clean floors
Keep floors cleaned regularly

Things to Avoid:

Never use bleach, ammonia or vinegar to clean limestone floors
Don’t use cleaners that are acidic
Never use abrasive cleaners or scouring pads

Our Commercial Limestone Cleaning Services Cover

Building Cleaning
After Building, Renovation Clean
Insurance Companies
Side Walks
Store Fronts
Power Wash Awnings and Signs
Gum and Tough Stain Removal
Strip Malls
Condominiums
Town Homes

Tile and Stone Cleaners® Limestone Services

Limestone Stripping and Sealing

Tile and Stone Cleaners® can strip, clean, and reseal your limestone tiles regardless of their location. Whether they’re in your kitchen, shower, bathroom, around the pool, outside in your backyard, or in hard-to-reach indoor areas, we’ve got you covered.

Limestone Cleaning and Sealing

If your limestone surfaces have lost their shine and are not displaying their natural color, or if you’ve recently installed new limestone tiles or your existing sealant is wearing off, Tile and Stone Cleaners® is the best option for effectively and efficiently cleaning and protecting them against future stains and deterioration.

Limestone Tile and Grout Cleaning

To achieve the highest standard of cleanliness for your tile and grout, it requires a combination of specialized equipment and heavy-duty cleaning products. Our team uses specially formulated solutions and powerful, high-pressure, van-mounted cleaning equipment to clean your tiles and grout thoroughly.

Limestone Tile Sealing

It is important to seal all porous tiles to prevent and reduce staining. When you seal your limestone tiles, it creates a barrier on the surface that keeps most stains from penetrating the tile. This barrier also provides protection against chemical damage, deterioration, and contamination. By sealing your tiles, you are taking an important step in protecting your surfaces from stains.

Limestone Stripping

Removing the old sealant and its residue, in order to restore the original appearance of the floor, is done through a process of stripping, scrubbing and cleaning. Our technicians are fully equipped and have the necessary skills and experience to provide an extensive floor stripping service for your limestone tiles. We have the capability to strip and reseal any hard surface flooring, including wall tiles.

Limestone Grinding

Grinding is a process that smooths out imperfections and opens a new layer on which a high-quality honed or polished finish can be applied. It is effective in removing deep scratches, stains, and other contaminants from limestone, resulting in a smooth and even surface. Additionally, grinding can remove lippage, which is the term used to describe uneven tiles that may occur after installation.

Limestone Honing

Honing limestone surfaces creates a satin-feel, smooth, and velvety surface that is well-suited for casual and comfortable environments. Compared to more formal polished surfaces, honing your floors can reduce maintenance requirements while still maintaining the beauty of stone surfaces in your home or business.

Limestone Polishing

Polishing involves using fine-grade abrasive diamond discs to create a reflective finish on the surface. The final stages of polishing involve using extremely fine abrasives that effectively remove scratches that are not visible to the naked eye. This allows the natural crystals on the surface to reflect light better, resulting in a highly polished finish. The smaller pores on a highly polished floor collect less dirt, soil, and grime, making maintenance much easier.

Efflorescence Treatment

Efflorescence is the buildup of salt deposits on or near the surface of tile and grout. At Tile and Stone Cleaners, our technicians have the equipment, tools, and solutions necessary to effectively remove efflorescence. Whether the deposits are found internally or externally, we have the necessary treatments, agitation tools, and chemical solutions to safely remove them.

Minor Tile Repair

Are you facing the problem of cracked, chipped, loose or discolored tiles in your walls, floors, stairs or around swimming pool areas and have spare tiles from the installation? Our team of professional and experienced tilers at Tile and Stone Cleaners® can assist you in repairing and replacing those damaged tiles both indoor and outdoor areas.

Grout Colour Sealing

The technicians at Tile and Stone Cleaners® have the ability to re-color severely stained grout or alter the color of existing grout. Our Grout Color Sealing service is specifically designed to revitalize dirty, old grout and make it look like new again.

Limestone Cleaning & Sealing