When you want to choose and select a suitable material for your projects; whether using natural or manmade material, one of the main concern of any customer is maintenance and how to clean it.
As you already know we are one of the famous suppliers of natural stone such as Marble , Travertine and … , in Australia with good reputation. Firstly, we advise you to get professional help. But as this is a very common question that customers ask about our products especially when using them in residential projects, we decided to discuss process and steps to have clean sandstone in this article. Here we will tell you all there is to know and we’ll walk you through its steps.
About Sandstone
Sandstone is a type of sedimentary natural stone which is one of the common choices of our customer for various applications in their project- it is a versatile natural stone-. It can be used in both modern and traditional design styles in which it can deliver the best outcome.
Before we begin, you may want to know why should you clean your sandstone tiles. Firstly, sandstone tiles are available in various colors, shapes, sizes and even finishes exactly like Granite. These facts can be the reason why you chose sandstone in the first place but if you don’t maintain them properly, there can be discoloration or scratch marks caused by heavy loads all over the surface of your tiles.
There is a tricky point in the installation process of sandstone tiles, you must always keep in mind to seal them with a proper sealant especially if you are using them for outdoor purposes. You should check your tiles and reapply the sealant every now and then. Also if you are using these tile in open areas and for outdoor applications, be aware that they can weather and change over time; this process can give them a new look that is not favored by many people.
Sandstone stain problems
There are different kinds of stains that can appear on your sandstone slab and tiles. To make it easier on you we will give you some examples:
If your sandstone tile has a dirty appearance, it’s most likely that its caused by everyday use and you can easily clean it with soap and water. If it is a little bit more serious, meaning that there are stains that contain green blemishes or grimy spots which can grow over time, you can add some iron-free fungicide to your soapy water bucket and clean the tiles as well.
Some other fuzzy green stains caused by algae’s. If you don’t notice them at once, they can cover the whole slab over time which will require a more invasive approach.
You should check the small space between slabs, there can be moss growing in the dirt between them.
The most serious and challenging problem can be patches which are caused by lichen. They are alarming, because they will grow as time passes and cause more significant problems and harder to deal with as well.
Steps to clean sandstone slab and tiles
Cleaning sandstone tiles can be simple task in which you just need to prepare the stuff that we have named in below:
- A Bucket of water
- Some kind of acid-free bleach or soap. (Note that if the detergent that you use has acid, based on its percentage it can destroy your tiles.)
- You will need a suitable tool like a stiff brush or broom for the scrubbings.
- For removing the lichen on the tile you will need an iron-free fungicide.
- A watering can or a hose for wash-down or
- Use a power washer
- Someone to do the cleaning and scrubbing
Here are the steps toward clean sandstone slab and tiles:
Find what is the problem
The first important thing that you should do, is to identify and understand what is the problem with your tile.
You have to clarify the cause of changes to your tile and how serious is it. If the problem is something like discoloration, you need to understand how serious is it spreading. By having the answer to questions like this you can easily identify the exact problem and find the best way to overcome it, then you will be ready to have a proper plan of action.
Find the best solution
One of the best ways to clarify what to do, is to understand what you should not do. Here are the tips you must keep in mind no matter what the problem is:
Avoid using acid-based detergents or cleaning products with formula containing iron. In this way you can preserve your sandstone tiles. Using them can only cause more problems as they will lead to rust. They can even result in permanent discoloration of your tiles.
Most of the stain on your sandstone tiles must be cleared by a simple soapy water and good scrubbing, if not you should add a fungicide. Keep in mind that the soapy water should have enough soap to make foam also keep in mind that if you are using bleach products, dilute the bleach with the exact amount of water that has been said on the product use instructions.
Pour the mixture on the surface
Now that you know the problem and found the best answer to it as well it is time to get to work and clean your tiles. First, clear the area from unnecessary furniture near the place that you need to do the cleaning. Then sweep the affected surface and pour the mixture you have made onto your tiles or slabs. Now you must leave the mixture enough time to settle in and do its job. (about 15-30 minutes or longer for more serious stains.)
Scrubbing
The time that you give the chemicals in the mixture to settle in will loosen the surface crumbs, now all you need to do is using the suitable tool that we advised you to prepare and start scrubbing the surface. (A stiff brush or broom can easily do the job.) For corners, borders and gaps you must pay a little bit more attention. The stiff brush or a wire brush can make it easier on you as sometimes they are tricky to reach. Also you should not put so much force one the brush as it can leave scratch marks on in which is another kind of harm to your tiles.
If you have used a bleach, it is better to let the mixture rest for another 15 minutes after scrubbing and before rinsing it.
Washout and then repeat the last step
This only depends on how serious the stain is. In some cases, one time is enough. But for more aggressive stains you may need to repeat the step 4 process for 2 or 3 times again in different period of time but not at once; just this time try to use a low-pressured water.
Use a power washer
An excellent alternative for the last step is using a power washer. This approach is most helpful for treating large and open areas. The only trick to use a power washer on sandstone slab and tiles, is finding the best pressure settings. Sandstone slab and tiles have soft surfaces which can damage easily under direct pressure and powerful stream.
In order to avoid any damages to your slab and tiles, you should start by a low-setting. The washing must be in diagonal direction across the slab and tiles; if you wash these surfaces parallel to the joints, you may do damages to your slab and tiles. Similar to the approach we discussed, you may need to repeat this process several times to have a clean area.
Precautionary actions
As we always say, the proper care and maintenance can help you preserve your tile for a longer amount of time. Here we will guide you to take some precautionary actions in order to prevent future build-ups or infections:
- Get proactive and make a schedule to regularly brush your sandstone slab and tiles. In this way you will destroy disturb weeds, dirt and microorganisms before they can grow to become a major problem.
- Invest your money in buying a quality sealant, so you don’t have to use money on fix and repairs. If the sealant is properly applied, it will improve the durability of your tiles by protecting the jointing and eradicating the damp conditions in which the moss, algae and fungi can grow fast.
- Try to not apply planting near sandstone pavers; also try to remove the water features near them.
By regularly doing the actions we discussed above, you are always one step ahead of any confliction to your sandstone slab and tiles. You can prevent any threats before they become serious problems.
Steps to cleaning damaged sandstone surfaces
If your sandstone surfaces are exposed to large amount of water from natural causes like floods, rain or storms, it can get damaged or have a soiled surface. In this cases we advise you to get professional help. This can be a tricky job, so if you try cleaning by yourself you may just do more harm. (note that if you use a proper sealant, this should never happen.)
If you insist on cleaning it yourself, here are the steps:
- You may need to consider using a dedicated sandstone cleaner or liquid chlorine solution.
- vacuum the surface
- spray chlorine or cleaner onto the surface (just a lightly)
- let it rest and soak for half an hour
- washout the surface (do not use a high pressure water)
- clear the surface and let it dry out.
All the data that we provided in this article is for general information and Unikastone will not take any responsibility for any damages that may arise in doing what we discussed. Like always we advise and recommend you to get professional help for sealing, installing and wanting to have a clean sandstone slab or tiles.
If you have any questions in regards to sandstone or another product that we offer, contact us. we will be more than happy to help and provide you consultation with our professionals.
How many steps does cleaning damaged sandstone have?
1- You may need to consider using a dedicated sandstone cleaner or liquid chlorine solution.
2- vacuum the surface
3- spray chlorine or cleaner onto the surface (just a lightly)
4- let it rest and soak for half an hour
5- washout the surface (do not use a high pressure water)
6- clear the surface and let it dry out.
How to pour the mixture on the surface?
Now that you know the problem and found the best answer to it as well it is time to get to work and clean your tiles. First, clear the area from unnecessary furniture near the place that you need to do the cleaning. Then sweep the affected surface and pour the mixture you have made onto your tiles or slabs. Now you must leave the mixture enough time to settle in and do its job. (about 15-30 minutes or longer for more serious stains.)
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