[Dave_Lee]

Been asked to clean some slate tiles. They have been sealed with a topical sealer giving them a glazed appearance. In places the sealer hasn't taken as the lighter slates natural colour shows through in blotches. My thoughts are to simply clean them with an Alkaline detergent  brushed in and rinsed with an SX12, however I am unsure as to what the final appearance will be and whether some of the topical sealer would be removed as I don't intend re-sealing. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Dave.

[Tadgh O Shea]

Sorry Dave i can't mention the A word for another 5 posts so i'm out on this one.

[maxcampbell]

Dave, 9 times out of 10 we'd end up re-sealing, because, mainly, the customer just wants it to look different, so we wouldn't be trying to save the existing sealer, so for that reason, I'm out.

Tadgh, nice to see you've accepted the challenge, well done, but surely you could run us through your method without a mention (if your method includes micro-fibre mops, go for it, you've got an excuse.)

[Tadgh O Shea]

Hi Dave, i would  be going the same route as Max on this one, as i think it would be easier all round to just strip and reseal the floor if the customer argues against that let someone else have the hassle of trying to blend it all in.  Tadgh

[Kev Martin]

Been asked to clean some slate tiles. They have been sealed with a topical sealer giving them a glazed appearance. In places the sealer hasn't taken as the lighter slates natural colour shows through in blotches. My thoughts are to simply clean them with an Alkaline detergent  brushed in and rinsed with an SX12, however I am unsure as to what the final appearance will be and whether some of the topical sealer would be removed as I don't intend re-sealing. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Dave.

Do a test area starting with Alkaline then progress to a stripper if necessary.  Use a soft to medium brush on a Mono Rotary which will get in to all the pits, fissures, clefts and grout lines.  A pad is useless on slate.  Vac it all with wet vac and rinse and vac again.  Do not use a TM, or Porty as you are likely to block them with the residue sealer.  Once you have the slate displaying an even aesthetic appearance wipe it all with a damp mop to ensure it darkens all over evenly then allow it to dry thoroughly then seal it with Miracle 511 Seal & Enhance

[Dave_Lee]

Thank you all for your replies. I did a small test area this morning. Simple diluted alkaline solution, sprayed down, brushed in and rinsed off with plain water through SX12, then dried off. It did remove some of the topical sealer leaving the tiles more 'matt' than before, but customer delighted and booked to do the rest (large kitchen/diner) next week.
I know it's late in the day or should I say years for me (just turned 70) but I'm thinking off getting much more into hard floor cleaning/stripping/polishing as I'm not even considering slowing down for at least another 5 years or more, retirement to me is a scary thing, I'm far too active for that.
Dave.

[Kev Martin]

Thank you all for your replies. I did a small test area this morning. Simple diluted alkaline solution, sprayed down, brushed in and rinsed off with plain water through SX12, then dried off. It did remove some of the topical sealer leaving the tiles more 'matt' than before, but customer delighted and booked to do the rest (large kitchen/diner) next week.
I know it's late in the day or should I say years for me (just turned 70) but I'm thinking off getting much more into hard floor cleaning/stripping/polishing as I'm not even considering slowing down for at least another 5 years or more, retirement to me is a scary thing, I'm far too active for that.
Dave.

Good for you

[Neil Jones]

Can't imagine they will be happy with the overall finish on the floor, slate looks dull, washed out and unless you removed every spekle of topical, patchy.

Sell them a sealer off Kevin,  will make the slate look 100% better

[Barry W]

Did you ask the customer what it was sealed with in the first place, just beware of Lithofin slate seal as it is a nightmare to remove.

[derek west]

Hi Dave, hope you are well, Hope my body holds out as well as yours is doing, be great to keep working well into my 70's, never even thought of retiring, don't see the point.
Regards the slate. We've started using a water based impregnator followed by a wax dressing which gives a fantastic look on slate, there is a choice of matt or satin. Best thing is you can then sell them a maintenace plan and because the wax dressing protects the water based sealer its really quick to whizz over and then apply a fresh wax. keeps the costs down for the client and keeps you coming back year after year. email me if you want to know more, info@arcadiacleaners.co.uk 
 If they are not interested in maintenance then i would personally put an enhancing impregnator on it, gives it a darker look.
Hope this helps.

[Kev Martin]

Interesting Post Derek!  Great to see new products and other approaches to tackle things!  Can you clear a few things up for me and the other CIU Members?

Which brand of water based Impregnator is it?
How did it fare when Stain Testing and Longevity Results were carried out?
Do you have any comparison results?
How do you get one wax dressing that is matt and another that is satin? 
What brand is the dressing as you call it?
Why does a sealer that has impregnated  into the stone need protecting?
Moreover how does a topical wax dressing protect something that is below the surface?
How does this topical dressing affect the CoF of the slate?
How is the dressing applied?
Union Mix Brush, MicroFibre Cloth ,  Waffle Cloth?

[derek west]

i have no desire to answer any of your questions Kevin. 

It works for me , it gets repeat business for me and wax dressings are all the rage according to 3 interior designers i work for. 

I'm just sharing the love. 

[Dave_Lee]

Derek, thanks very much. I will get back to you at some point regarding this, I may see you at the training day. I defo need to do more research on cleaning and maintaining hard floors as it really appeals to me. I think many courses is of the way to go, to date all I have done is the Nu Life Stone Restoration DVD set.
Neil, Barry thank you also, The floor was laid laid during previous ownership they don't know what the sealer is. There are a few patches where it hasn't taken exposing the lighter shade of Slate, which she prefers. I have covered myself and explained that merely cleaning may remove some sealer to a degree but not all and that it could look patchy afterwards, and that the only solution to that would be a complete strip down re-clean and seal with either a topical or impregnator. At this stage they are not bothered, as she just wants it clean. She has been mopping it since moving in some months ago and says that the water is still ending up black. She also says that they will call me next year to carry out the complete job, so this is just a make do for now.
Dave.

[Kev Martin]

i have no desire to answer any of your questions Kevin. 

It works for me , it gets repeat business for me and wax dressings are all the rage according to 3 interior designers i work for. 

I'm just sharing the love. 

Derek

No problem!

[Tadgh O Shea]

Interesting Post Derek!  Great to see new products and other approaches to tackle things!  Can you clear a few things up for me and the other CIU Members?

Which brand of water based Impregnator is it?
How did it fare when Stain Testing and Longevity Results were carried out?
Do you have any comparison results?
How do you get one wax dressing that is matt and another that is satin? 
What brand is the dressing as you call it?
Why does a sealer that has impregnated  into the stone need protecting?
Moreover how does a topical wax dressing protect something that is below the surface?
How does this topical dressing affect the CoF of the slate?
How is the dressing applied?
Union Mix Brush, MicroFibre Cloth ,  Waffle Cloth?

Hi Kevin, if you don't mind can you clear a few things up for me and other members on this section, will you post up a link for the safety data sheet on your PSRP-x-treme heavy duty cleaner. cheers Tadgh

[Barry W]

Another post that is gonna die.
What other forums do you guys use where you can share info.

[Kev Martin]

Another post that is gonna die.
What other forums do you guys use where you can share info.

I have tried time and time again.  I have written posts and guides on how we do floors using tried and tested methods.  I have advised loads of CC's over the years and at least 10 of them are now very successful Hard Floor Specialists so that proves to me I must be doing something right. (In fact 4 of them don't do carpets at all now).  However, there is always someone who has been in Hard Floors for a short period and  done a couple of hard floors and become a so called expert.  Put quite simply all the people on here who really want advice and have done lots of different hard floors and therefore gained experience to add to their portfolio now either ring or e mail me direct and that suits me better.  When Roger Oakley left this forum I didn't really understand his reasons but I totally get it now!

So the invitation is open to anyone who wants genuine advice you need to ring us or e mail us direct.

[will_turton]

dave am only round the corner from you, ive got the kit for this if you need to borrow anythin

[Tadgh O Shea]

Another post that is gonna die.
What other forums do you guys use where you can share info.

I have tried time and time again.  I have written posts and guides on how we do floors using tried and tested methods.  I have advised loads of CC's over the years and at least 10 of them are now very successful Hard Floor Specialists so that proves to me I must be doing something right. (In fact 4 of them don't do carpets at all now).  However, there is always someone who has been in Hard Floors for a short period and  done a couple of hard floors and become a so called expert.  Put quite simply all the people on here who really want advice and have done lots of different hard floors and therefore gained experience to add to their portfolio now either ring or e mail me direct and that suits me better.  When Roger Oakley left this forum I didn't really understand his reasons but I totally get it now!

So the invitation is open to anyone who wants genuine advice you need to ring us or e mail us direct.

Kevin, i will start this post with some good news for you and many other members on this forum i am sure, as my time on CIU will be up over the next few days. We are going into partnership with a US company who want to promote some of our cleaning concepts across the North American markets so thats me doing 16 hour days for the next year at least. What i find strange Kevin is only recently you requested that i share some information with you on one of our products which i gladly did so, yet when i asked  you to share some information on one of your products it causes a hissy fit, that does make me wonder indeed.
I have said on here before Kevin that yes you do give some sound advice and are helpful to members on this section. This long running spat was started when i pointed out to Kevin that he was giving wrong advice to a member on this section and Kevin knows full well that this same advice was totally wrong as well as other very poor advice he was sharing on this section which i won't go into but Kevin knows where i am coming from on this so i won't bore ye again with it. So Kevin now that i am leaving very shortly you can post all you want without having other members of this section who have gained far more experience and knowledge than you have when it comes to deep cleaning hard floors disagreeing and pointing out ONLY on the posts where you shared very poor or wrong advice.
I said i would say my goodbyes on this section as i started posting on CIU nearly 4 years ago also on this section.  I must admit i have enjoyed my time on CIU over the years, yes i have taken many pot shots from members on all sections and was happy to return them when i felt it necessary, but i also have met some great guys on here and developed some great clients over the years so in all CIU has been very beneficial to us as a small company and i will always be grateful to the owners and members for that. I will continue to  recommend CIU to guys in the cleaning industry as i know how beneficial membership can be for them as its one of the best sources of information help and guidance available online to do with all the different sectors of our industry.
So before anyone says don't forget to close the door after you i got there before you. So its over and out for me and as i always say happy cleaning, and don't forget to keep it safe.  Tadgh

[SteveAllan]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIIuR-HjFho