STONE cleaning and MAINTENANCE GUIDE
Natural Stone Cleaning and Maintenance Guide
Natural stone paving provides a durable, hard-wearing surface and is a valuable investment. Please be aware that stone paving will periodically require basic maintenance to keep it looking its best and to make sure the surface is free from permanent staining and marking.
All paving will benefit from a regular wash using a stiff scrubbing brush and a mild solution of light domestic detergent and water, such as washing up liquid. Regular maintenance will prevent the build-up of organic and inert residues, which if neglected could result in permanent staining or deep-rooted growth requiring advanced treatment and cleaning methods.
General dirt and debris removal
To remove general dirt and detritus, regular brushing and washing is recommended. This is good practice and the regularity and the extent will depend on the surface concerned: e.g. a pale sane limestone will typically benefit from a maintenance every 2-3 months where as a dark reclaimed sandstone may need a light brush over every 6 months. The most common method of washing paving is using a detergent solution or an acid-free based floor cleaning product and carefully agitate into the paving surface with a stiff brush and the wash off with clean water. Continue washing the surface with clean water until all the solution has been thoroughly removed.
Deep cleaning and specialist stain removal
The accumulation of organic debris on the surface of paving is allowed to remain can encourage the germination of algae and weed growth. If this is unattended to, this can penetrate deeply into the stone and may require an organic removing solution to kill and deep clean the stone, restoring it to its original state. Always choose a specifically developed product that will not harm your paving and follow the application method carefully. It is always recommended to trial the product on a sample area prior to application to the entire area.
Deep cleaning natural stone may be required to remove stubborn stains and the services of a professional contractor may need to be employed. Power washing is only advised with a light duty pressure washer, and a test on a sample area must be carried out prior to cleaning the entire area. Take care not to hold the nozzle and closer than 400mm from the paving to avoid damaging the surface of the stone. The recommended professional cleaning equipment if DOFF advanced steam cleaning system, which is designed for use on stone, and other hard surfaces, and will effectively remove paint, graffiti, bird fowling, algae, moss, fungi, was, chewing gum, bitumen, oil & grease. Other treatable types of staining with specialist products include rust, oil, wine, fruit, leaves, blood, cement, concrete and efflorescence.
For advice and technical information regarding recommended treatments and cleaners for specific stone surfaces, call our technical team on 01935 415560.