Caring for stone floors

ShareThis

Do you have a marble, granite, quartzite or limestone floor? Has it lost its luster? Do not worry, as help is on the way.
First, let's get the negatives out of the way. Do not use vinegar, no matter how diluted, as a cleaner. Vinegar is acidic and that acid will etch the stone. Same goes for tub and tile cleaners and any cleanser that contains acid.
According to the World Floor Covering Association, basic commonsense cleaning is in order. Sand, dirt and grit do the most damage to natural stone surfaces due to their abrasiveness, so floors should be dust-mopped frequently using a clean, non-treated dry-dust mop or broom. A vacuum cleaner can be very helpful, especially on textured floors, but it needs to be in good condition and have no beater bar, so as to avoid scratching the floor. Use vacuum-cleaner attachments to get to hard-to-reach areas.
It is best not to have the luster restored by means of re-crystallization or vitrification because these processes are acid-based.
So what's the big deal with acid? Marble and limestone are made up of a compound of calcium carbonate along with other minerals. Scientists have deduced that when the stone mixes with acid, this calcium-carbonate bond is broken. Once this compound is destroyed, calcium ions are released by the stone, producing a new compound, calcium fluorosilicate, forming an impervious film on the stone that blocks its pores. If the pores are blocked, the stone cannot breath, so moisture is trapped inside the stone and it will begin to rot.
Now that the don'ts are out of the way, let's get to the dos.
There is a natural process that all quarries and fabricators use to polish stone floors. Even if the stone floor has been destroyed by acid, this process can and will erase all etchings and scratches and put shine back into the stone.
The first step is to remove all waxes, acrylics, urethanes or any re-crystallization or vitrification the floor might have. An impregnator is then applied that will protect the stone from spills such as water, coffee, colas, etc. The impregnator seals the floor, yet lets it breathe. Don't ask. I don't know how it can breathe yet be impregnable. Somehow, though, it works.
What if the flooring has an unpolished look? This process is still the answer. The only difference is that the end product is a matte finish instead of a glossy one. Stone floors are beautiful but very expensive, so you will want to be sure they are protected in the best way possible.
After the floor is protected, maintenance is simple. Dry-mop the stone daily. That is all that needs to be done. Recoating, waxing and later stripping the accumulated wax is all eliminated. If something spills, simply blot with a paper towel. Always blot -- never wipe -- because wiping will spread the spill. Rinse the area with water and blot again.

(Rosemary Sadez Friedmann, an interior designer in Naples, Fla., is author of "Mystery of Color." For design inquiries, write to Rosemary at DsgnQuest(at)aol.com.)

CREATIVE ENVIRONMENTS