How often should you be washing or sweeping your natural stone floors? And when should you get these floors polished, buffed or re-coated? Stone floors are some of the floor types that require the least amount of maintenance. But even these floors require the right care at the right time to keep them in brilliant condition. In this stone floor maintenance guide, we take a closer look at when to do exactly what with your stone floors.
Immediate Tasks
Natural stone floors are pretty resilient against staining. But it is still best to clean up spills immediately, especially if your natural stone floors are uncoated. Some stone types like marble have a porous structure and will absorb oils that are spilled. These oils can stain the natural stone. Stone sealants will act as a protective barrier between your floor and the spill but these barriers can also be discoloured or stained by certain types of products like chemicals or oils.
It is best to clean up all spills as soon as you notice these messes on your natural stone floors.
Daily Tasks
You can never sweep, dust, or vacuum a stone floor too much. In fact, infrequent sweeping can cause damage to your floors because there will be more sand or dirt deposits on the floors that can cause scratches. It is best to sweep and dust your floors at least once a day. In high-traffic areas, these floors can be swept two to three times a day to keep them in good condition. Stone floors can also be mopped daily. These floors are naturally water-resistant and won’t be damaged if you wash them every day.
Weekly Tasks
Stone floors in quiet office spaces don’t always have to be mopped every single day. But you should mop these floors at least twice a week to keep them bright and sparkly. Regular mopping and sweeping will keep loose dirt off the floors and can prevent unnecessary damage.
Monthly Tasks
Your stone floors can benefit from a deep clean once a month. With that said, you should still avoid harsh chemicals since these products can damage your sealant. Take some time to brush away dirt and debris from all of your grout lines and the edges around your walls. Regular deep cleaning will keep your grout lines in better shape and will help you avoid nasty buildup.
Every 6 months to 1 year
It is a good idea to polish your natural stone floors at least once a year. Floors in high-traffic areas can be professionally polished more often. In quiet offices, you can postpone floor polishing for a maximum of three years. Polishing helps restore your floors and removes deep scratches so these floors can continue to look great for much longer.
Every 3 – 4 Years
The best way to keep natural stone floors protected is by adding a protective sealer on top of these floors. But while natural stone tiles can last a lifetime, the sealant on top of these floors doesn’t last quite as long. Floors need to be re-sealed every 3 – 4 years. It is best to hire a professional for this type of task because, with some sealant types, the old sealant will first need to be scraped off the floor before a new seal can be applied. It is also very difficult to apply a smooth and seamless coat if you don’t have the right equipment.
If you need help with these stone floor maintenance tasks then you should give Stone Wiz a call. These professionals can assist with these simple maintenance tasks and they are also great for restoring stone floor damages. With this guide and the help from professionals at Stone Wiz, your floors will always look fantastic.