[Rob Hall]

I have a Indian Sandstone floor to clean. It has been sealed over the past 9 years with Lithofin Slate Seal. The seal now needs removing and re-sealing. The client is reluctant to use Slate Seal again as it has proved difficult to maintain. What are YOUR thoughts on a good sealer for Sandstone? I was thinking of using LTP Ironwax gloss. There has to be something that will enhance the colour AND be easier to clean and maintain than Slate Seal.
What do you have Kevin?

[Kev Martin]

I have a Indian Sandstone floor to clean. It has been sealed over the past 9 years with Lithofin Slate Seal. The seal now needs removing and re-sealing. The client is reluctant to use Slate Seal again as it has proved difficult to maintain. What are YOUR thoughts on a good sealer for Sandstone? I was thinking of using LTP Ironwax gloss. There has to be something that will enhance the colour AND be easier to clean and maintain than Slate Seal.
What do you have Kevin?

Rob

I have said this before and I suppose i will say it again in the future.  It never ceases to amaze me on the amount of clients who go to a shop, buy a certain look, get someone in to lay it for them and then getsomeone else in to change it straightaway

Indian sandstone is meant to be matt (Honed finish).  It always looks its' best when it is laid and then sealed with an impregnating enhancing sealer such as Aqua Mix Enrich N Seal or LTP Colour Intensifier and Stainblock which bring out the natural colours, fossils and features in the stone.  They then have a no maintenance floor other than a regular clean provided they wipe spills up immediately.

Instead they come home with a beautiful stone and cover it with in this instance "Slate Seal" so now the stone can't breathe and then wonder why it is hard to maintain???

This is like going to a car showroom to buy a black car, coming home with a white one and then telling the local garage to paint it black

So long winded as usual but my answer is to strip it , clean it, dry it and then apply an enhancing sealer.  (one word of caution is to check it has not been enhanced before and if so it should be done with the same enhancer). Finally and most importantly get the client to have good exterior and interior barrier mats installed and  install an aftercare floor plan for ongoing maintenance

Kev martin
Marblelife ltd
Tiling Logistics

[Graeme Smith]

Getting the slate seal off will be a pig - can't stand the stuff once its gone just colour enhance the stone. Friend of mine has holiday cottages with Indian sandstone with slate seal on - he says he has removed it with a wire brush but some of its still there its just gone dull but it still needs removing properly. I have found that slate seal is out there on lots of stone, the customer bought something natural then has problems maintaining it and decides that if they 'sea'l it with something it will be easier to maintain. They also want it a bit shiny - keep finding slate seal on sandstone and travertine not to mention slate with 10 layers of water based topical on top of that - its evil should be banned

[Kev Martin]

Getting the slate seal off will be a pig - can't stand the stuff once its gone just colour enhance the stone. Friend of mine has holiday cottages with Indian sandstone with slate seal on - he says he has removed it with a wire brush but some of its still there its just gone dull but it still needs removing properly. I have found that slate seal is out there on lots of stone, the customer bought something natural then has problems maintaining it and decides that if they 'sea'l it with something it will be easier to maintain. They also want it a bit shiny - keep finding slate seal on sandstone and travertine not to mention slate with 10 layers of water based topical on top of that - its evil should be banned

Graham

I have never had a problem with getting Slate Seal Off a stone.  I use:

Aqua Mix Sealing & Coating Remover
http://www.tilinglogistics.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&path=61&product_id=75

Aqua Mix Heavy Duty Tile & Grout Cleaner
http://www.tilinglogistics.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&path=59&product_id=51
Honing Powder

It can take a while but with the correct dwell times and a combination of the above three AQqua Mix Products it will come off using the correct brush, a Mono Rotary and a decent wet Vac.  Patience and dwell times are the Key!

Kev Martin
Marblelife Ltd
Tiling Logistics

[Rob Hall]

Thank you Gentlemen.