Water damage in any part of your home is frustrating and even damaging depending on the severity of it. But damage to something as expensive as stone floors can be a particular headache. Stone floors are an upgrade to any home and often one of the centerpiece textures of a room and unfortunately, they show water damage quite plainly. But that can also be a good thing as it alerts you to a problem quickly.
Below we’ve outlined some of the common signs of water damage in a stone floor and if restoration is necessary.
Keep reading for some additional questions you may have about handling apparent water damage.
White residue on the floor
One telltale sign of water damage on a stone floor is white residue left behind when the floor is dry. This is calcium residue, also known as efflorescence. Water carries soluble salts which stay behind when the water evaporates (that’s how, on a big scale, the salt flats in Utah came to be). Don’t use water to try and mop this up, instead hit it with a vacuum or broom to sweep it away dry. Adding water will only exacerbate the problem and keep the cycle going. If the issue persists, you know you have a persistent water leak somewhere.
Black and green residue on the floor
This is unfortunately slightly more of a problem than calcium deposits. Black or green residue on a floor is usually a sign of some type of mold which is indicative of a longer-term problem of water leaking and standing in one spot. This can be particularly worrisome if you have a naturally porous stone floor. To deal with this you’re going to want to call a professional as some molds can be dangerous when inhaled and remediation for this may require more intense work than a simple surface cleaning.
Stains and discoloration on the floor surface
Stains and discoloration are signs that water has been on the surface and potentially done a bit of damage to the stone. A darker spot could be sitting moisture still in the process of evaporating and if you have a coating on the floor, it will need to be stripped in order to dry out this portion of the floor. Other stains may be left by rust which comes from wet metal that can leave traces on the floor. Any staining should be handled by a professional as it often involves a professional process to restore.
Additional Questions
What do I do if my stone floor has lost the luster it had when it was new?
Time can wear away the shine to a stone floor, but water damage can certainly hasten it. If you have a fairly new stone floor that is already looking dull, water damage may be to blame. A stone floor professional will seek out the source of water and restore the polished finish to your floor.
What is poulticing?
You may have heard a stone floor restoration professional talk about poulticing as a method of stain removal. This involves taking an absorbent compound, often a clay like substance, and putting it over an exposed stain to draw the moisture out. It’s a damage free way to tackle stains and standing moisture in stone.
Talk to a stone restoration service such as Restore-A-Floor in Brighton today about tackling the signs of water damage in your stone floor. Restoring stone and tile floors back to life and exceed expectations has been our commitment for over 20 years. Our success in stone and tile restoration, repair and polishing shows in our finished product and we have become Michigan’s preferred contractor.
Call and setup an on-site estimate to discuss which restoration services best suit your needs and budget, Free!