stained limestone

[alexim]

Hi all,



I would like to pick your brains on a problem which needs a professional solution. We were having works done to our house near Bath which extended the kitchen. Which had Laurent limestone from Artisans and underfloor heating. The plasterer decided to protect the floor by covering it in a dpm which was a green colour. when the dpm was lifted it had a left a greenish blue pattern over the floor. We tried a chemical cleaner, and got a professional cleaner in but the heat has drawn the colour through to just below the surface. I have tried jewels rouge and fine sand paper and this eventually removes it, but the area is about 3.5 x 3.5 m. Someone suggested nitromors and wirewool, but my feeling is it will have to be sanded and re polished.
Any ideas for someone to do the work would be much apprieciated.
Alex

 

[Richard Edwards]

Hi Alexim

This is unusal and we might be able to help you. Could you answer a couple of questions in advance - Terry might see this thread and offer his advise too.

[1] Please describe the surface of the Laurent Limestone - as it went down. Is it smooth, polished, tumbled, honed etc. ?

[2] As it sounds like the sealer coat has been stained from the colour pigment in the DPM sheet, what was the time delay between sealing and covering the floor with DPM ?

[3] When you have used Jewlers Rouge and sandpaper [Not advised] has the result been permanent or is the green colour 'leaking back' ?

[4] Was the Limestone and the Grout sealed post installation or limestone pre-installation or both ?

[5] Does the grouting have the same discolouration as the Limestone ?


Some photo's might help if you can get a couple that adequately show the surface and the staining.

As present - until you provide a few answers, I'm thinking on the lines of either stripping off the sealing coats and re-applying the sealer / and-or refinishing the surface using our diamond buffing machine [which will cut- back the top surface- hence the reason why I'am asking what type of finish you have] and re-sealing after cleaning and drying.

I would be suprised if it cannot be rectified.

I'll look up this thread Friday PM to see if you have any answers

 

[alexim]

Hi Richard,
thanks for your input here are some photos and answers to the points raised.
1)honed
2) 2 years
3) no leak back
4)both
5)no the grouting is slightly lower (unfortunately as it traps dirt and lets edges get chipped).


I have put photos on album.

Lets hope it can be resolved,Thanks



This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 1355x1016. IMG 2626
As you can see quite dramatic almost three dimensional, the tiles on the left are new just fitted in the extension. Sorry the tiles are in need of a clean.


IMG 2624
where the sheets were taped together no staining?



Alexim

 

[Richard Edwards]

Thanks for your quick response

Looking at the photographs and your answers, my advise to you be to refinish the surface - ie re-hone the entire floor using a diamond polishing machine equipped with a range of cutting compounds - probably finishing with either 400 or 800 grit. I think you would struggle to hire one and probably best to get 'someone in' as they say.

The entire floor will probably need honing including the ' new extension '
Lesser treatments are still possible, but it is impossible to assess this unless someone visit your home. Please re-confirm the total floor area - includining the new section. Post honing, the floor will need to be dried and sealed. UFH will need to be off and left off for a few days to allow the solvent in the sealer to vap off naturally.

If you need help with getting this done, contact me outside this formum and we will see if we can assist

If Terry sees this reply - perhaps he can add his thoughts into the mix.

Thanks
Richard

 

[enduro]

we will wait for Terry then..

 

[Aston]

hi alex,
it will be important to mention to terry what sealer you have used?? and how many coats you applied too?? and how your applied the sealer?? roller-brush etc...

the more info the better reagrding this one...
all the best, somebody on here have the answer mate
ed

 

[Terry Cottar]

Good Morning Alex

You have two options regarding your floor. You can either have the floor chemically honed or mechanically honed.
Chemical honing wil almost certainly rid you of the staining thereby solving the issue you have but it will not solve the dirt getting trapped in the grout recesses or the lipped edges getting chipped.

The best solution is to have the floor ground flat then honed back up to the finish of your choice thereby getting rid of all the staining, grout dirt trap and chipping in one fell swoop.

Whichever route you take the floor will need to be resealed and of course there is a significant price difference. If you would like to discuss it further please post back or e mail me with your details.

tel