How to Seal and Maintain Outdoor Stone Tiles
In recent years, stone has become an extremely popular choice for modern outdoor areas.
And it’s easy to see why!
Natural stone is beautiful, durable and has timeless appeal.
However, what many people don’t realise is that even though stone is a hard material, it’s quite porous which makes it more susceptible to stains.
In saying that, maintaining your majestic stone tiles and pavers is actually relatively easy to do and with the right TLC (tender love and care), they will be able to outlast any other surface.
So let’s have a look at ….
How to Seal Your Stone Tiles to Protect Them?
In order to protect your natural stone from absorbing foreign liquids and moisture due to its porous nature, sealing is highly recommended. Sealing is a relatively simple process and there is a range of products that will be able to help you, but before starting this you need to ensure that the stone is sufficiently clean. To prepare your stone tiles or pavers for sealing, we suggest using our Stone Deep Clean product for a powerful clean.
Now that the stone is clean, you can start the sealing process. Use a new mop or sponge (for extra cleanliness) and liberally apply a sealing product like our natural look Sealers Choice Gold. Allow the sealer up to five minutes to penetrate into the stone before wiping it dry with a clean towel. Depending on the surface, you may need to repeat this process multiple times. We recommend testing each application after 2 hours.
If you prefer a glossy finish use our High Gloss Sealer and to achieve wet look finish Enrich N Seal is the way to go.
To ensure that you achieve a clean application and effective drying, we also recommend using our Sealer Application Kit. This kit includes an application pad for even application and microfibre towels for efficient drying; all crucial for a successful sealing application.
Once the sealer is applied, give it enough time to dry. We recommend doing this not on a hot day and not on a wet day where the sealer can properly absorb into the stone without drying too quick.
Maintenance and Cleaning Your Stone Flooring for Longevity
Keeping your natural stone floors looking their best is simply a matter of maintaining them on a regular basis. The first step to clearing surface debris is vacuuming or sweeping. After this, a water based cleanse is usually the most effective. Rather than using plain water or a standard soap solution, our cleaning products are specifically formulated for cleaning natural stone. Concentrated Stone and Grout Cleaner is the best product for your every day cleaning. You only need to add a cap full of this concentration into the 4L bucket of water. This is enough liquid to mop your entire floor.
Though it is recommended to use specific products and complete deep clean to keep your tiles properly maintained, you can also do simple things on a day-to-day basis to ensure that your natural stone look great!
Simple things include, wiping spills as soon as they happen immediately rather than giving them a chance to settle in and absorb (even on a sealed surface). Paper towels are excellent for initial spills because they quickly absorb the liquid. For most effective spillage wiping, we suggest using a dabbing motion rather than wiping or rubbing the spill. This absorbs the spill instead of spreading it to other parts of the stone. Regular sweeping will also help to ensure that debris doesn’t have a chance to stick or leak into the surface of the stone.
One of the benefits of natural stone is that when maintained properly, it can last a lifetime. Additionally, with the right care, stone can actually improve over time, adding long lasting character to your space. By using the right products and keeping the surface clean, you’ll be sure to enjoy your stone for years to come.
If you have any questions about sealers and maintaining your stone pavers, reach out to our expert team at Armstone.
You can find us online or call 1300 560 560.
We would love to help you!
