Suzannah

[Suzannah]

Thats really interesting I will study it once I'm finished scrubbing

 

[Ajax123]

if Suzannah's flags are slate ie metamorphic then the acid won't etch them, but if they're limestone ie carboniferous, acid will dissolve them

slate is highly resistant to etching from weak acids such as citric and acetic but will still be etched by stronger acids like hydrochloric, sulphamic and phosphoric particularly at high concentrations.

 

[user123]

Thats really interesting I will study it once I'm finished scrubbing

Have fun... :lol:

 

[Ajax123]

Here is a pdf file from the British Geological Survey regarding quarrying in that area. Limestone is definitely a possibility.

http://www.bgs.ac.uk/downloads/dire... Resource map for Clackmannanshire, Fife an's

Be wary of this angle. Although it is worthy of consideration the logic behind the use of local materials in local construction can be very counter intuitive. The local stone bit could be a big red herring.

My brother in laws cottage is a classic but by no means isolated example. He has a really old flagstone floor (approx 400years) in Rutland. The stone for this is deffinitely not local stone. The obvious sources would be Collyweston, Barnack or Carlby all of which were quarrying around 400 years ago when the cottage was built. The flags are of stone more typical of the Cotswolds.

Welsh slate was being used as early as the 11th century and was being exported in the 1500's to lots of places in the UK including Norfolk, Scotland and I beleive Ireland as well.

In the late 18th and Early 19th century's it was exported all over the World. I would guess in that period it was probably the foremost export product of Wales. In 1850 there were probably more square meters of Welsh blue slate covering the UK than any other building material cos it was used for millions of rooves.

 

[DHTiling]

Hi Suzannah.. Wot a nice floor..

It looks like you have just a stubborn residue.. when you wet the slate does it darken and you cannot see this whiteness..?

If so ,then it is residue and can be sorted no probs..

 

[user123]

Suzannah, you're online ... how did the scrubbing go?

 

[mikethetile]

lets not get bogged down with this, its most likely that a local stone gets used for the simple fact that theres no expense involved in transporting material around the country, sometimes local builders will pay out to transport stone as they want something different

Doug has raised a valid point about the difference between slate and limestone and really that needs to established before reccomending a suitable cleaner

Dave has also made a valid point that it could be residue and if so will scrub off

untill we know more we cant really say

 

[Suzannah]

Hi All, Here are photos from this evening, I am exhausted, what do you all think? I have scrubbed all day

 

[faithhealer]

lovely job, pour yourself a drink

 

[DHTiling]

Much better.. Told you it was just residue... i would use some colour enhancer now.. Aqua mix Enrich and seal would leave a very nice finish..

 

[Suzannah]

Great thats what i'll do, I will post more photo's when i'm finished, probably wont be till tuesday, thanks again this has been great

 

[user123]

Wow, Suzannah, great job!! Great, great job!! :hurray: :hurray: :hurray:

 

[Suzannah]

Also, if you look at photo you will see a strip of stone, what is best thing to do with it, what is good paint to use to get it same colour as tiles? I'm going to make window seats so the stone at the windows isn't a problem but the strip to the fire place, I think it must have been to put in a vent for fire or something like that

 

[mikethetile]

if it was me I would leave it suzanna as its part of the history and character of the floor, but thats just me

 

[user123]

Me, too, Suzannah, I would leave it, too... it will make a good conversation piece when you have friends round, wondering what it might have been, but it is part of the history of your home, and not unpleasant at all...