Flagstone Tile Cleaning

I was contacted by the new owners of a townhouse in the southside of Edinburgh who needed help restoring an old Flagstone floor. They had uncovered the flagstones beneath parquet flooring during renovations and the thick adhesive was proving problematic.

The clients were keen to restore the floor as a feature of their oval-shaped reception hallway, which was a highlight of their home. They wanted to retain the natural, rustic charm without making it look artificially shiny.

I went over to take a look and could see that although structurally sound the stone was heavily soiled having absorbed decades of dirt and grime so once the glue had been removed it would need a deep clean. I worked out a detailed quote for restoring the floor, which was accepted and a date set.

Removing Parquet Adhesive from Flagstones

The first challenge was to remove the thick parquet adhesive and residues. To do this the thick parts had to be carefully scrapped off until it left a thin residue. Next a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Remove & Go which is a powerful coatings remover was sprayed onto the tiles. This was allowed to dwell and soak in for about twenty minutes to give it time to break down the glue. Then it was agitated with a heavy-duty rotary floor machine fitted with a coarse black scrubbing pad. The resulting slurry was then removed with a wet vacuum.

With the bulk of the residues removed, I turned my attention to deep cleaning the stone. For this a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean was applied and worked into the stone using the same rotary machine and another pad. The grout lines and edges were scrubbed manually using detail brushes to ensure a consistent clean.

The slurry was extracted using a wet vacuum gain, and the floor was thoroughly rinsed with water several times to remove any remaining residues. The floor was then left to dry naturally for a few days, aided by air movers.

Sealing an Indian Flagstone Hallway

Once dry, I tested for moisture using a moisture meter to ensure the stone was ready to be sealed. Tile Doctor Ultra-Seal was chosen for this; it’s a natural look sealer that doesn’t change the stone and which would give the completely natural appearance they wanted. It’s also a full breathable and ideal for use on flagstone and other natural stone floors in older properties where damp can be a concern.

Two coats were applied to ensure full coverage and protection; Ultra-Seal is an impregnator that works by occupying the pores in the stone ensuring dirt remains on the surface where its easily cleaned away.

The transformation was stunning. The once-dull and neglected stone now looked vibrant and full of character in keeping with the historic nature of the property. Additionally, the new seal will protect the floor against stains and dirt for many years to come.

The clients were delighted and commented that the restored flagstone floor had become the centrepiece of their renovation. They were also reassured to know it would be much easier to keep clean for which I recommend Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner.

If you have a flagstone floor that could use some expert attention, whether it’s been recently uncovered or simply needs a refresh, get in touch. I cover Edinburgh and the surrounding areas.

 

Professional Restoration of an Indian Flagstone Hallway in Edinburgh