How to maintain natural stone flooring in winter – this is a question to which we are looking for an answer even before the freezing temperatures. We must be prepared with preliminary measures, as well as with preparations to preserve the beauty of the external natural stone flooring.
Experts will advise you to provide a periodic sealing coating
For the first time after laying the flooring, and then once a year, a sealing layer should be applied to protect against sudden temperature changes and the action of any solutions and materials poured or spilled on it. This layer impregnates the surface and protects it from the action of water – if it contains minerals, it will leave stains on the stone surface if you do not protect it by sealing. It fills the pores of the stone material and thus provides better protection.
Renew the sealing coating of the gneiss flooring before winter to provide effective protection. You can entrust this to specialists or apply the sealing coating yourself.
When it snows
The snow that remains on the stone pavement freezes and a layer of ice forms. If snow accumulates, clean it to prevent icing. It has an adverse effect on the surface of the pavement and on the sealing layer. And if there is no sealing layer, the water that has penetrated the pores of the stone and frozen in them will create risks of cracking.
If you have used gneiss from Ivaylovgrad for paving, you can rest assured of its durability. This material has a very low water permeability and is more durable than other types of paving stones.
Clean regularly from dust, mud and other contaminants
Cleaning the stone pavement should be done throughout the year. Dirt can form stains on the pavement, especially if there is no sealing coating or it was laid long ago, more than a year ago. After that, cleaning the stains is difficult and some of them with more aggressive ingredients can damage the flooring.
If a stain has formed, for example, from a spilled liquid
Sometimes you can inadvertently pour some liquid on the floor. Wipe and rinse the area immediately to prevent the liquid from acting, if it has a corrosive effect, it will break the integrity of the material.
If necessary, contact a cleaning company to remove the stain. Cleaning companies use appropriate detergents and will select one that will not damage the pavement.
If the flooring does not have a sealing coating
If you have not protected the stone floor with a sealing coating with impregnating and protective properties, you should clean it regularly. Even if it has not snowed or is not muddy due to rain, clean it regularly from dirt.
It is best to periodically clean the stone pavement with a special machine or to grind it. Contact a specialist for a more detailed explanation of where to find and how to use cleaning machines.
It is important not to allow water to penetrate the pores of the stone, because the penetration into the material results in the so-called “creeping moisture”. It increases the size of the pores and gradually cracks appear, especially at sub-zero temperatures, when the water in the pores of the stone freezes.
Dry the stone pavement to prevent such penetration of moisture into the material and cracking when the water in the internal pores freezes.