Superior quality in interior stone cleaning
The floor covering is the most important area in any building and acts as an integral part of its design. If the first impression is that the floor is smooth and clean, most people assume that the building is well maintained, which conveys a good impression of an organisation’s operating culture and, most importantly, the care for the people within it.
Thomann-Hanry® work with natural stone and offer an extensive range of different interior stone cleaning processes, products and impregnators. Our technicians can restore all natural and man-made stone floors and surfaces.
The team have benefited from decades of experience of interior stone cleaning, frequently focus on the maintenance of flooring, often in areas with high footfall.
Thomann-Hanry® are experts in the restoration, repair, polishing and maintenance of all natural and man-made stone.
The team can survey the flooring throughout your portfolio and provide detailed recommendations for initial restoration, as well as advising on and, if required, implementing periodic maintenance cleaning programmes.
We employ experienced operatives who have industry-recognised accreditations. As unsuitable exterior and interior stone cleaning methods can cause irreparable damage, it’s essential that stone cleaning specialist operatives are used to ensure that your property investment is in safe hands.
We also offer an all-in-one invisible surface protection range called Aqua Fend®. It shields floors, walls and other surfaces against long-term damage, ensuring easy ongoing cleaning and maintenance.
Interior stone cleaning and resealing
The use of natural stone in the commercial environment continues to grow year on year and periodic maintenance is critical to its appearance and longevity.
Combined with high traffic and lack of proper maintenance, grease and dirt are detrimental factors which can significantly contribute to the deterioration of stone surfaces.
Most of natural stone floors are porous and require sealing to protect them from staining, making the daily cleaning easier and more effective. Stains can cause disfiguration, grout can decay and a build-up of ingrained dust and grime will cause the stone to lose its natural sheen.
Once restored, the correct programme for daily stone cleaning is essential not only to maintain the stone’s natural appearance but also to prevent permanent staining.
The interior stone cleaning, care and restoration process
Natural stone will eventually lose some of its original lustre over time. No matter how well a natural stone is maintained, it will inevitably require restoration at some point. Stone floors that endure high levels of footfall will certainly become scratched, dull and worn.
When restoration is required, our interior stone care experts follow distinct processes, depending on whether they are managing restoration works on Marble, Granite, Terrazzo, Travertine, Limestone, Sandstone, Slate or Terracotta.
Diamond grinding
This process of stone cleaning utilises mechanical technology to remove the damaged surface and reveal a new and fresh layer of stone.
Diamond grinding removes scratches to restore the floor to a smooth, honed or high gloss finish. It is similar to sanding a wood floor; simply removing the damaged layer of the floor and then refinishing it. Note that once the grinding process is complete, the flooring will need to be resealed.
This process should be carried out by specialists only.
Crystallisation & vitrification
These methods use a combination of diamonds and polishing powders, which harden the stone and allow a gloss finish to be produced.
Our interior stone cleaning team of experts use a low-speed rotary machine, usually on a periodical basis. Supported by the correct daily cleaning regimes, it helps to enhance the natural properties of the stone. It is also possible to control the finish that can be achieved – from a matt, honed to a high gloss finish, also removing light scratching. Note that an impregnating seal is recommended to prevent staining.
Many high traffic areas like public buildings and stations face the problem in maintaining the surfaces fresh appearance due to insufficient periodical care. For this reason, crystallisation and vitrification are processes designed to provide a quick and efficient maintenance solution. Both processes can be carried out much quicker than grinding and at lower costs, as well as providing a longer-lasting and fit-for-purpose solution.
Clean (strip) & seal
This process involves deep cleaning the stone to remove any polish or sealant that may have been previously applied.
The stone is sealed, using either a surface or impregnating seal – depending upon the finish required. The sealing of natural stone is important as it prevents the stone from absorbing water, salts and oil-based stains that can significantly harm it. Without proper periodical sealing, stonework will usually damage very fast.
A professionally applied sealant will give the floor breathable and impregnable protection.
“Interior stone flooring, staircases and decorative features can be incredibly beautiful. However, much like anything else, if left uncared for, the cost of maintenance and ultimately restoration can prove exceptionally expensive. A key example of this is when the wrong chemicals are used for cleaning stonework – a very common issue that can arise even when employing reputable cleaning or maintenance companies. It is often not appreciated that, depending upon the type of stone, different chemicals are required for the cleaning process.”
Quick Q&A:
How often should I clean and maintain stone floors?
Daily maintenance should be carried out on natural stone products that contain natural fats. This will enhance the colour of the stone and help maintain its seal. If the stone has not been sealed, this should be done prior to any maintenance programme taking place.
Can I use general detergents to clean stone floors?
Avoid general detergents as they can leave the stone looking dull and washed out. They often leave residues which detracts from the natural look of the stone too.
What equipment should be used to clean stone floors?
Whether you are using a mop or machine, your equipment should have non-abrasive materials to ensure the surface isn’t scratched or damaged.
What treatments are best for a stone floor?
All stone floors will inevitably be affected by acid. each type of stone can react differently. The question is when will you need to do something about it. Let our interior stone cleaning experts use their extensive knowledge to restore your stone surface to its former glory and look after your ongoing maintenance demands.
Interior stone and flooring protection
Thomann-Hanry® flooring protection product, Aqua Fend® G, extends the aesthetic and physical life of paving and flooring, ensuring that future cleaning and maintenance costs are minimised for up to eight years. The guarantee can be assured if required.
Aqua Fend® G makes the cleaning and ongoing maintenance of flooring and paving significantly easier.
For flooring protection, it offers:
- Immediate reduction in costly cleaning operations with a quick return on investment.
- An all-in-one and long-term protection against water, oil, dirt, stains and fouling.
- Invisible protection.
- UV resistant – does not discolour the treated surface.
- Easy chewing gum removal – reduces the adhesion of chewing gum to the surface.
- Easy application and suitable for interior and outdoor use. 0% VOCs, non-toxic, non-hazardous, solvent – and silicone-free.
- Minimal re-treatment requirements, required only when the surface has worn – depending on footfall.
- Resistance to mild acids, alkalis and fuel.
- A product that does not alter the slip resistance of your surface.
While daily cleaning operations can temporarily maintain a natural finish, this is a costly exercise for owners. Thomann-Hanry® operatives regularly apply Aqua Fend® G on flooring surfaces which can be kept stain-free through standard maintenance cleaning techniques, keeping public places looking their absolute best all year round and saving vast sums of money in specialised cleaning.
Aftercare tips
Once a natural stone surface has been cleaned and restored, regular maintenance is of the utmost importance. As part of our aftercare services, full advice is provided to enable daily cleaning and housekeeping teams to maintain the floor. This agenda includes advice on suitable cleaning chemicals and machinery, together with a programme for periodic maintenance, ensuring that the flooring will keep its appearance all year round.
Complementary processes such as colour enhancement and surface coating (polish) can also be employed when looking for flooring protection.