Limestone Sealing in Canberra

Polished Limestone Canberra Sealing your tiles is our specialty, with years of experience in the field of protection and having the best non-toxic water based sealers. Limestone is a porous natural stone that is extremely important to seal against stains and spills, preventing the liquid particles from sinking in between the pores of the stone. Trapped spills are usually hard to clean as they penetrated the surface of the limestone and it is very important to have us strip clean and reseal your floors for the best result possible. Sealers are engineered to protect your limestone tiles and have them look fresher and new for longer. They will be easier to clean and you will notice a difference in their appearance as their colour wont fade quickly and will maintain their natural colour for a long period of time.

We seal limestone with our high quality Impregnating Penetrating Sealer. It won't change or alter the texture of your limestone tiles or affect their slipperiness, but it will protect the pores from staining and help making the everyday cleaning process a lot easier. Providing our tile cleaning services for various areas around your house, such as the pavers around the pool, swimming pools, kitchens, bathrooms, showers and other indoor and outdoor tiled areas that are hard to reach. Our technicians are experts in sealing limestone and our years of experience help us deliver the best tile cleaning service to you. It is best to get us to seal your tiles once they are installed, to prevent any detrimental damage to them. Give us a call and let us handle everything.

Our customer service will be able to help you with your enquiry and assist you with your tile cleaning needs. You can call us at all times as we provide our tile cleaning service after hours for your convenience.

What is Limestone

Limestone is a sedimentary rock which is formed at the bottom of the ocean. It consists wholly or mainly of calcium carbonate. In its pure state it is white but it may be coloured by other materials. This calcite is sourced primarily from the shells and bones of marine organisms. The sediment that builds up preserves these organisms into fossils. Over millions of years the heat and pressure cause a chemical reaction which turns this sediment into limestone.

Limestone floor is actually quite porous and prone to scratching, staining and fracturing. It also needs to be allowed to breath, instead of being covered by synthetic sealers or urethane. We offer the right solution to protect your Limestone by using highly penetrating impregnating sealers.

The primary cause for polished stone floors becoming dull is walking on them. Prolonged foot traffic grinds and packs in dust, sand, and grit. Although the scratching that occurs is very fine, it eventually covers the majority of the surface and over time dulls the finish to the point where it loses its reflective properties. To make your stone surfaces smooth and reflective, we employ the use of high speed polishers.

Polished Limestone Many older buildings have durable limestone flooring. This is the chalky porous type typical of most French and Spanish limestone. Etched by acids, including soft drinks. Absorbs oils and other liquids and is more easily stained than marble. Composed of Calcite and some Magnesium. Common colors are black, gray, white, yellow and brown. Has a smooth granular surface. Varies in hardness. Should be sealed with a penetrating sealer to prevent staining and reduce soiling. Should only be cleaned with neutral pH detergents. Because it is soft, it should never be cleaned at pressures above 800 PSI and then only if the grout is in good condition.

Professional regular maintenance will be required to maintain its honed or polished appearance. Limestone looks best with a honed or low/medium sheen appearance however many people insist on a high shine finish. Limestone will never have the gloss of marble or granite. Some low calcite limestone can be extremely difficult to polish and therefore vitrification would be required. Vitrification however can give the stone an unnatural plastic appearance if repeated too often.

Pros
Durable
Easy to clean
It is less expensive than marble and granite
It is moisture-resistant

Cons
It feels cold and hard under-foot
It requires sealing
t reacts to acid

Sealing Limestone Tiles

All limestone is highly porous - a tablespoon of water on a limestone surface will be absorbed in seconds, although it does vary in porosity from piece to piece. Porosity is also affected by its finish - highly polished limestone is a little harder to penetrate than limestone with a honed (matt) finish.

Due to its high porosity it is particularly important for limestone to be sealed with a high quality impregnating sealer which will not affect its slip resistance or look. Limestone is used both outdoors and indoors, and our impregnating sealers will seal limestone equally well in either.

Limestone can be difficult to maintain if a proper maintenance cycle is not put in place from the point of installation. As it is usually not polished, the problem of scratching is not as big an issue as it is with marble, however if proper barrier matting is not introduced even a honed surface will lose its attractiveness. The most important factor to consider with the maintenance of limestone is the possibility of staining.

Limestone's calcite composition makes it susceptible to acid attack from spilt food and drink. Its high porosity can also mean oil will permeate the surface and leave staining if it is not properly sealed with a penetrating / impregnating sealer.

Pre-Sealing Preparation

Any surface to be sealed should be clean and looking just as you want it before it is sealed - it may be impossible to remove stains after sealing without having to strip the sealer again. Acidic cleaners should not be used on limestone as it will damage it.
Limestone must have no other coating such as wax or a topical sealer before it's sealed, so any such coating must be removed before sealing.
Floor must be thoroughly dry before applying any sealer.

Our Limestone Floor Restoration service will bring back your limestone tiles & grout to its best possible condition, and protect them for years to come.

Protection from Acid Etching

It is very difficult to seal limestone against acid attack.
Limestone and other calcite based stone such as marble and travertine are prone to acid etching. Limestone is immediately 'etched' (eaten / corroded) by any acidic material on contact - including lemon juice, cola, wine and champagne. For this reason the honed (matt) look is popular, as it doesn't show the matt etch marks as much as polished limestone. In any case, acidic substances should be cleaned up as soon as possible, and limestone should not be used outdoors in areas where there is acid rain.

Limestone Tile Care & Maintenance

Limestone is a very hard tile to keep clean especially if it is not sealed. It does not go good in wet conditions so the best way to take care of youre Limestone is to get sealed.

Do’s:

Clean spill-ups right away
Seal limestone floors since it’s made from natural stone
Place a mat at each doorway
Use a Microfiber mop to clean floors
Clean floors regularly

Don’ts:

Never use bleach, ammonia or vinegar to clean limestone floors
Don’t use cleaners that are acidic
Never use an abrasive cleaner or scouring pad.

We provide specialised cleaning, stripping & sealing solutions for limestone floor and wall tiles. We cover all Canberra suburbs.

Our equipment can handle both residential and commercial cleaning jobs, leaving your limestone spotless and hygienic.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q:What is a sealer?

A: A sealer is a substance that, when applied to a porous surface like limestone, it prevents the transmission of liquids through that surface. Stone Sealers are intended to be a permanent barrier between the surface and liquids.

Q:Why is it important for me to have my limestone tiles sealed?

A: Sealers are different from polishes and are actually designed to keep liquids and dirt particles from sinking into the natural stone. It is extremely important to get your limestone tiles sealed. All limestone tiles should be sealed when they are first installed, and this initial seal can last many years. It is important to call us as soon as your limestone floors are installed so we can come and protect them before you do any accidental permanent damage.

Q:Are there different types of sealer for limestone tiles?

A: Yes, here at Tile Cleaners we provide a variety of top quality sealers to seal your limestone tiles, wether you choose to use a Topical Sealer or an Impregnating Sealer for your limestone tiles depending on your needs.

Q:What is the best sealer to use for my limestone pavers around my pool?

A: The best sealer to use for limestone pavers around the pool is our high quality Impregnating Penetrating Water Based Sealer that will protect your stone to the core and eliminate the slipperiness factor other sealers apply to limestone pavers. Slipperiness around the pool can be very hazardous and it is best to eliminate this for the safest experience around the pool.

Q:How do I know if my limestone floors need sealing?

A: Tile Cleaners advise the Water Test. The Water Test is well known in the stone industry and it will help you determine wether you need to seal your limestone floors, when it needs to be resealed or if you floors are perfectly sealed. First you need to spill few drops of water on your stone and let it set for approximately 10 minutes to 30 minutes, then wipe it dry. If your stone did not darken, it means it's perfectly sealed and does not require sealing, but if it darkened, it means that the water was able to penetrate your floors and they need to be sealed.

Q:What kind of sealer do you apply? And will it affect the texture of my limestone tiles?

A: All of our sealing products are water based, and we do not use any solvent- based sealer except in certain cases where it is the only option. The sealer will not affect the texture of your limestone tiles in any way; however, it will protect your limestone tiles from staining and keep that lustrous, natural finish you are looking for.

Q:Do you provide colour enhancing, and what does it do?

A: Yes we do. Colour enhancer is a compound that is designed to make your limestone tiles look better. It darkens and enhances the colours of your limestone tiles and brings out the natural beauty in your limestone tiles, and gives it a bit of a wet look / low sheen.

Q:Will the colour enhancer affect the texture of my limestone floors?

A: Tile Cleaners colours enhancer will not affect the texture of your limestone floors, however, it will enhance the colours of your limestone tiles and bring up the natural beauty of the limestone tiles.

Q:What is the process I can expect when you come to reseal my limestone floors?

A: Our professional team will go through the job processes step by step so you know exactly what your getting. The process includes ensuring the absence of any pervious sealer. The limestone floor is then thoroughly cleaned and neutralised so that it is free of dust, residue and anything else that can affect the new sealer. The new sealer is then applied to the dry limestone floor and allowed to set. The newly sealed limestone floor will not only look as new again, it will also protect the limestone surface for longer and make it much easier to clean.

Q:How long does it take to reseal my limestone floors?

A: It all depends on the size of the area that we are sealing but most jobs take 4 - 8 hours to complete. We do cleaning and resealing in the same day so you don't have to fuss with more than one appointment.

Q:How long does it take for my limestone tiles to dry?

A: It will normally take 24 hours for the sealer to fully cure, and that is fully settled when you can put back everything back into place. It takes 4 hours to touch dry that is nothing hard can be moved on the tiles and grout, as it needs at least 24 hours to fully cure.

Q:How long does the sealer last for?

A: Tile cleaners have two types of high quality sealers. The Topical Sealer has lifetime expectancy of around 3 years and The Impregnating Penetrating Water Based Sealer has lifetime expectancy of up to10 years.

Q:Will the sealer make my limestone floors slippery?

A: Tile Cleaners Topical Sealer might make your limestone floors slippery when wet, but it doesn't change the texture of the surface, but when wet it can be slippery, on the contrary to Tile Cleaners Impregnating Penetrating sealer which does not change the slipperiness of your limestone tiles' surface since the sealer penetrates into the top layer of your limestone tile. So if you are worried about your limestone tiles becoming slippery, then you must choose to go with our impregnating penetrating water based sealers to seal your limestone tile.

Q:What is acid etching and how can I protect my limestone from it?

A: Any acidic substance is harmful for your limestone tiles, they can be etched (eaten/corroded) easily and sealing it against acid attack is very difficult. The best way to protect your limestone tiles from acidic attack is to seal it and clean spills immediately. The high porosity of stone based tiles makes it a must to get it sealed to protect it from any future acidic attack and liquid spillage.

Q:Does sealing my limestone floors hide the scratches and etches on them?

A: Tile Cleaners colour enhancing sealer may help hide those nasty scratches you have, but we cannot guarantee that they will go back to their original condition. Tile cleaners colour enhancing sealer darkens the looks of your limestone tiles by up to 20%, and can help camouflage etches and it will bring back that new natural look of your limestone floors.

Q:What can I do to keep my limestone tiles looking new after sealing them?

A: To keep your limestone tiles and grout looking new after sealing them, Tile Cleaners recommend cleaning each week with a damp microfiber cloth and a mild detergent to remove any dirt or grime from the tiled surface. Any strong detergents (any strong acid or alkali) may affect the sealer, mild detergents and pH neutral substances are strongly recommended. Our best advice to protect your limestone tiles is to seal them with one of our highest quality sealers. This is the best protection you limestone tiles can have against staining.

Q:How will you charge me for sealing my limestone tiles?

A: We charge per square meter for each separate room. There is a price list on the cleaners website for you to review or you can always call us for a per m2 price. We prefer you measure each room individually before we come so when we charge you in the end it will be fast and easy for everyone.

Q:How do I measure the size of the area of limestone i need sealed?

A: We recommend that you measure each room separately. They way to measure is the width * length. For example a room that is 3 meters long and 2 meters wide is 3 * 2 = 6m2 in total.

Q:Will you help me move my furniture?

A: Tile Cleaners do not move large furniture because we are not insured for such work but we can help you move your smaller items.

Q:What should I do to prepare for the limestone floors cleaning?

A: Move all furniture and items up off the limestone floor so it is ready for us to clean when we arrive.

Suburbs we cover

We Cover All Suburbs within 100km range from Canberra CBD

For a complete list of Canberra suburbs we cover, please check the list below:

Acton
Ainslie
Amaroo
Aranda
Banks
Barton
Belconnen
Bonner
Bonython
Braddon
Bruce
Calwell
Campbell
Canberra
Capital Hill
Casey
Chapman
Charnwood
Chifley
Chisholm
City
Conder
Cook
Curtin
Deakin
Dickson
Downer
Duffy
Dunlop
Evatt
Fadden
Farrer
Fisher
Florey
Flynn
Forde
Forrest
Franklin
Fraser
Fyshwick
Garran
Gilmore
Giralang
Gordon
Gowrie
Greenway
Griffith
Gungahlin
Hackett
Hall
Harrison
Hawker
Higgins
Holder
Holt
Hughes
Hume
Isaacs
Isabella Plains
Kaleen
Kambah
Kingston
Latham
Lawson
Lyneham
Lyons
MacArthur
MacGregor
Macquarie
Manuka
Mawson
McKellar
Melba
Mitchell
Monash
Narrabundah
Ngunnawal
Nicholls
Oaks Estate
O'Connor
O'Malley
Oxley
Page
Palmerston
Parkes
Pearce
Phillip
Pialligo
Red Hill
Reid
Richardson
Rivett
Russell
Scullin
Spence
Stirling
Swinger Hill
Symonston
Tharwa
Theodore
Torrens
Tuggeranong
Turner
Wanniassa
Waramanga
Watson
Weetangera
Weston
Woden
Yarralumla

To schedule your cleaning appointment or to obtain a free estimate, please Call 0423 011 301 or use the online enquiry form at the top of the page.