Stone floors are a choice for homeowners and designers aiming for an elegant, luxurious look without sacrificing durability. That’s where the large variety of natural stone choices come into play, such as:
● Granite
● Limestone
● Marble
● Sandstone
● Slate
● Onyx
● Travertine
● Pebble
While all of these choices are gorgeous and incredibly stone, like any other material, there is the potential for damage.
Read on for more information on what types of damage can occur, what you can do about, and when to give us a call!
Stone Floor Damage
Between accidental damage and typical wear and tear, there will likely come a time when you have to consider fixing your stone floors, or calling in a professional stone floor restoration service to handle the task for you. Before making the decision, it’s important to understand the types of damage that can happen to your flooring, which include:
● Cracking
● Chipping
● Grout issues
● Water damage
● Staining
You’re in luck, because we’re equipped to deal with all of the above and more! So, let’s dive into these last two in a little more detail.
Rock v. Water
Water is known as the universal solvent, meaning it can break down almost anything. Unfortunately, that includes natural stone floors. Water damage comes on a spectrum of simple fixes you can tackle as the homeowner to severe problems that require professional intervention.
Even for a diligent cleaner, it can be easy to miss clear water on a stone surface. If this water is left to fully evaporate, it could leave behind calcium, salt, and other minerals on the stone that create white rings or spots. Luckily, these can be easily removed with some gentle cleaning.
Water can also cause erosion. Think about a river – rocks become worn down and smooth over time thanks to the constant motion of water. This principle can happen to your stone floors, just on a smaller scale, if they are consistently exposed to moisture. Over time, the presence of water can chip away at the edges of the stone or any rough spots on top, which opens up the stone for further damage.
In extreme situations, a large volume of water allowed to permeate the porous nature of the softer stones such as marble or limestone can weaken it to the point it may experience lengthy cracks or even crumble. This is why flooding is detrimental to natural stone and should be dried as quickly as possible.
Staining Stone
Contrary to the hope of some homeowners, stone floors can definitely stain. The types of stain will appear different in color and require different cleaning methods to be effectively removed.
Because stone is commonly found in kitchens, oil-based stains from grease and other cooking oils is a typical cause of unsightly stains.These oils permeate the flooring and leave darker spots. Other foods can also cause discolorations, such as red wine, tomato sauce, coffee, and tea. Stone floors in lighter shades are especially susceptible to damage.
Mold and mildew are also regularly cited causes of stains and can grow from lingering moisture. If left untreated, the growth can lead to black and brownish blemishes on natural stone surfaces or in the grout that are difficult to remove. While this can happen anywhere, stone floors installed in bathrooms, laundry rooms, or mudrooms are most susceptible to this category of stain.
Accidents happen. If household items like paint, printer ink, colored soaps and shampoos, or other items are dropped, there’s always potential for staining. And that potential increases exponentially as time goes on. So, be careful to avoid these areas if you can, or clean up any messes immediately.
Signs to call a stone floor restoration professional
Some basic stone floor maintenance and repair can be done as a DIY project. For example, water spots or basic stains can easily be cleaned with natural mixtures of purchasing cleaning agents designed specifically for the task. Even if you choose to DIY, we still want to help by sharing our biggest tips in stone floor restoration:
● Be sure the floor is clean and dry before attempting any physical repairs, such as adding stone filler or new grout.
● Test any cleaning methods in an inconspicuous place.
● Never scrub with stiff bristles or hard metal sponges.
● Try to avoid harsh chemicals or acidic cleaners unless specifically formulated for natural stone, and always follow instructions exactly.
For many people, the thought of DIY stone floor repair seems like more of a risk than it’s worth, so they decide to call in the professionals. Regardless of your comfort level with DIY, there are some times when you should strongly consider reaching out to our expert team.
● Shifting in the stone: If the stones are beginning to tilt, become uneven, or overlap one another, it’s time to call in our pros for an evaluation and correction plan because issues underneath the stone could also be occurring.
● Large cracks or chips: While there are compounds that can be purchased and used to fill tiny holes and cracks, large scale issues should be left to the professionals to ensure that damage is actually corrected, not just covered up to get worse later.
● Big surface area stains: If the discoloration on your floors are taking up huge chunks of the area, it may be a good idea to allow a professional team to handle the restoration to ensure that the final product is evenly colored and matches the original floor.
Say Goodbye to Damage and Discoloration with Stone Floor Restoration Services
It’s likely you invested a lot of time and money into deciding on and paying for your stone floors. So, why risk their beauty and integrity? Instead, give Restore-A-Floor in Brighton a call to review the state of your stone floors and recommend any repairs to get your flooring in tip-top shape in time for spring!
Our stone floor restoration and tile cleaning services are a First Choice in Southeastern Michigan. Your floors will look refreshed and new in no time!