Limestone Nightmare

[Richard Edwards]

Dear Groucho

I am saddened my your sorry tale. I am a big fan of Limestone and have layed it for clients and myself.

It's important to think clearly why this has happened.

The acid based cleaner has etched the limestone - ie dissolved some of the softer parts of each stone piece and hence the result.

Calcareous stones - Limestone, travertine etc are formed my calcium desposits from seashells and other marine organisims and compressed and hence are basically alkaline deposits. Using acid dissolves the material - hence why they used acid in grout cleaners - to dissolve the limestone used cement production.

To get back to the original surface finish you might have a look and a caustic soda wash - but try a really small area first and start well diluted, uping the strength as you experiement. Watch out Caustic, is exothermic and mix crystals slowly to cold clean water with wooden stick. ! Wear eye protection and gloves.

I think HG Impreg is OK - use the special thicker molecule version for limestone / travertine (White bottle) and thin the first coat with turps and apply with wide soft hand brush as it gets better penetration and wipe off straight away.

In sympathy

Richard

 

[Terry Cottar]

I have just read this post. Please indicate where you are in the Country if it is not too far I will try and send someone to look at the floor. If not I will write you a description process post that will sort the floor for you. Its not the end of the World and you don't need to rip it up.

tel

 

[Groutcho Marks]

I have just read this post. Please indicate where you are in the Country if it is not too far I will try and send someone to look at the floor. If not I will write you a description process post that will sort the floor for you. Its not the end of the World and you don't need to rip it up.

tel

Hi Tel,
Whitby, North Yorkshire. I've just got in now (9:15pm) from where the damaged floor is, I've given it a coat of lithofin colour intensifier and it seems to have got rid of all the white cloudy areas and has darkened the whole floor to some degree. It was hard to see the true result as I was working with one large halogen lamp. I'll look again in daylight tomorrow. Hopefully a few coats of this may suffice but please carry on with your ideas anyway.

Thanks

WT

 

[Terry Cottar]

Hi Tel,
Whitby, North Yorkshire. I've just got in now (9:15pm) from where the damaged floor is, I've given it a coat of lithofin colour intensifier and it seems to have got rid of all the white cloudy areas and has darkened the whole floor to some degree. It was hard to see the true result as I was working with one large halogen lamp. I'll look again in daylight tomorrow. Hopefully a few coats of this may suffice but please carry on with your ideas anyway.

Thanks

WT

OK have a look at it in the morning but I think you may have made it worse as the lithofin will not be able to penetrate easily and evenly because of the other sealants. I suspect that it will dry dark and light i.e. even more patchy. However, I may be wrong so lets see in the morning. If you still have a problem PM me with your telephone number and I will talk you through it.

tel

 

[Groutcho Marks]

So the lithofin has worked, all be it only a little. You can no longer see the pail cloudy areas you could see from stood above the tiles, the whole floor is slightly darker. It has taken away the whole washed out look. Looking from an angle with the light behind you can still see all the roller marks that the acid has etched in. It is getting closer to the colour I wanted. Do I spend my time putting another few coats of intensifier on? , this may give me the colour i am after but will probably not hide the etching. Or some other abrasive method, so to make the surface of each tile the same texture/finish?


WT

 

[Terry Cottar]

So the lithofin has worked, all be it only a little. You can no longer see the pail cloudy areas you could see from stood above the tiles, the whole floor is slightly darker. It has taken away the whole washed out look. Looking from an angle with the light behind you can still see all the roller marks that the acid has etched in. It is getting closer to the colour I wanted. Do I spend my time putting another few coats of intensifier on? , this may give me the colour i am after but will probably not hide the etching. Or some other abrasive method, so to make the surface of each tile the same texture/finish?


WT

You are exacerbating the problem. You are adding more sealer and to make it worse two different sealers. Stone reaches a saturation point where it will accept no more sealer. You need to strip all the sealer off to do the job properley and then deal with the etching and then reseal it. PM me with your telephone number and I will ring you and talk you through it.

tel

 

[Richard Edwards]

Hi Groutcho

I agree with Terry - not sure if you read my long-wind reply - Strip off all the sealer and then deal with real problem - Consider neutralising the limestone with a caustic wash to remove etched areas. Warning please read my notes on caustic use or if your not convinced speak to technical at HG UkKdivision.

Hope you get it right - its a nice job otherwise

Richard

 

[Groutcho Marks]

Hi Groutcho

I agree with Terry - not sure if you read my long-wind reply - Strip off all the sealer and then deal with real problem - Consider neutralising the limestone with a caustic wash to remove etched areas. Warning please read my notes on caustic use or if your not convinced speak to technical at HG UkKdivision.

Hope you get it right - its a nice job otherwise

Richard

Thanks for your second post Richard. I did read your first post thanks. I have had a long telephone conversation with Mr Cotta today and I will be stripping the old sealer off first with Aquamix sealer remover and a mechanical floor cleaner. Then Aquamix nanoscrub, if that has not removed the etching I may have to use a honing powder. When I have got the floor back to the desired finish and it has had time to completely dry, finish it with Aguamix enrich and seal. So it was a similar proposal to yours.

Thanks for your input

WT

 

[bootsmckiber]

If you can I'd rip up affected tile,if it's to much use a "high gloss"enhancer,you'll think your on a skating rink,talk to your tile supply guy,they're usually straightforward,if you don't replace tile I'd think you'll still have stains there,only use acid in extreme cases(like at a Pink Floyd concert,jk)I always use vinegar and water.good luck,Mike

 

[Groutcho Marks]

If you can I'd rip up affected tile,if it's to much use a "high gloss"enhancer,you'll think your on a skating rink,talk to your tile supply guy,they're usually straightforward,if you don't replace tile I'd think you'll still have stains there,only use acid in extreme cases(like at a Pink Floyd concert,jk)I always use vinegar and water.good luck,Mike

Ha ha ok thanks (I think!)