This Indian Sandstone floor in Melrose had been down for many years. Although it was cleaned weekly it needed to have a deep clean, strip off all the soiling and old sealers then have a fresh seal. Soiling over the years had been ingrained making it impossible for standard cleaning products. The heavy soiling also hid the amazing colours and shapes within each tile. You can see these with the before and after pictures.

The tiles were soaked with Remove and Go to lift old sealers. Once the solution had been left for 15 minutes a special Carborundum Silicone Carbide Brush on a rotary floor cleaning machine. As Indian Sandstone was riven this specific brush ensured all areas of the tiles were reached. The floor was then rinsed and al residue was removed with a wet vacuum. The floor was then given another clean and again all residue was removed with a wet vacuum. A third clean with a treatment for efflorescence with black scrubbing brush was completed and the floor was again rinsed to remove all residue.
The floor was then left over night to dry. After testing the moisture levels the next day, to ensure the tiles were dry, the natural look impregnating sealer, chosen by the client, was applied in two separate coats. It is a tough sealer with a matt finish.
To maintain the fresh look and sealer going forward the tiles will be cleaned using a Neutral PH cleaner which lifts soiling but doesn’t erode the sealer.The Indian Sandstone floor in Melrose had been in place for many years. Although it was cleaned weekly, it required a deep clean to strip away all the dirt and old sealers before being resealed. Over time, the soiling became ingrained, making it impossible to clean with standard cleaning products. The heavy buildup of dirt also obscured the beautiful colors and patterns in each tile, which are clearly visible in the before and after pictures.

To treat the floor, the tiles were soaked with a product called Remove and Go to lift the old sealers. After allowing the solution to sit for 15 minutes, a special Carborundum Silicone Carbide Brush was used with a rotary floor cleaning machine. This brush was specifically chosen for its effectiveness on riven Indian Sandstone, ensuring that every area of the tiles was cleaned. The floor was rinsed, and all residue was removed with a wet vacuum. The cleaning process was repeated, with another thorough rinse to remove any remaining residue. Additionally, a third cleaning with a treatment for efflorescence was done using a black scrubbing brush, followed by another rinse.

The floor was then left overnight to dry. The next day, moisture levels were tested to ensure the tiles were completely dry before applying the natural look impregnating sealer, as requested by the client. This tough sealer, which has a matte finish, was applied in two separate coats.

To maintain the fresh appearance of the tiles and the integrity of the sealer moving forward, a neutral pH cleaner will be used for regular cleaning. This cleaner effectively lifts dirt without damaging the sealer.