To seal or not to seal, that is the question. Whereas some stone types are less in need of sealing, most experts advise that all stone floor will benefit from some form of sealing. Sealing your stone floor will give it maximum protection from wear and tear, spills and stains and increase it’s life.
How do I know if my floor needs sealing?
This will depend on variety of factors such as the type of stone, where the stone is located and it’s finish.
Stone Types: Certain types of stone are more porous that others, which means they will need sealing more regularly. A few examples of more porous stones would be limestone and travertine, however for a more in-depth look at the different types of stone and their qualities check out our ‘KleanSTONE guide to stone flooring’ blog.
Stone Location: Stone floors in a higher traffic area that is more susceptible to spills, wear and tear, such as the kitchen and bathroom, will be in greater need of sealing.
Stone Finish: Stone with a polished finish is less absorbent than a stone with a honed finish and will therefore need sealing less often.
The Test: There is a simple test that will help you to determine whether your stone floor is in need of sealing. Simply place a few droplets of water on your stone floor and time how long it takes to absorb. Use the guide below to determine your results.
|
Time take to absorb |
Results |
|
Under 1 minute |
Your stone is extremely porous and requires sealing |
|
1 – 3 minutes |
Your stone is porous and requires sealing |
|
Over 4 minutes |
Your stone is only slightly porous, but could still benefit from sealing for maximum protection. |
I need to seal my floor, what next?
The next step would be to determine which sealer is right for you and with lots of sealers on the market this can seem like a daunting task. Do not fear however as KleanSTONE have you covered.
Check out our simple guide on picking the right sealer below:
Which floor sealer is right for me?