A beautiful slate floor is an excellent foundation for any room––and you want that beauty to last. The proper care needs to be taken to ensure that you get the most out of your slate floor, or else you will have to prematurely replace the tile because of wear and tear. While all great things must come to an end someday, there are necessary steps you can take to extend the life of your slate floors. Make sure you get the most out of your latest installation by following these steps.
Sweep The Floor Daily
All floors should be swept daily, but it is especially important during the first few months of your slate floor’s life that you sweep diligently, twice a day, if you can. All natural stone floors experience spalling, a process in which small bits of the tile flake off during the initial stages of being used. Once the spalling naturally stops, you can be more lax, but still, maintain a regular schedule for sweeping.
Don’t Drag Furniture Across the Floor
Heavy furniture, when dragged across a slate floor, can cause severe damage to the floor’s finish. Avoid dragging the furniture when it needs to be moved: instead, lift and carry it, or place cardboard or other smooth covers underneath the furniture before you push.
Know Which Cleaning Products To Use
Unfortunately, stone floors can be prone to scratches. Avoid abrasive cleaners like steel wool, or else they may cause damage to the floor’s surface. Use smooth cleaning tools, such as a mop.
The cleansers you use on your slate floor should have a neutral pH and not contain high-acidic ingredients like lemon or vinegar. Acidic cleaners can damage or discolor the floor.
Treat Scratches As They Occur
As mentioned previously, slate floors are exceptionally easy to scratch. Don’t panic as soon as you see a minor scratch––instead, be sure you have mineral oil at hand. Applying mineral oil to small scratches will help cover them up.
Seal The Floor As Recommended
Floor sealing protects floors and increases their lifespan by adding a polymer-based coating that creates a smooth surface resistant to ingress from water or dirt. This slows down the deterioration of natural wear and tear. Sealers will also prevent stains on the slate floor’s surface.
A slate floor should be sealed once every couple of years, or as recommended by the manufacturer. Be sure that your floor had been completely dry for at least half a day before sealing.
One quick method of knowing whether your floor needs to be sealed or not is pouring a small amount of water on its surface. If there is still a darkened, damp spot after 10 minutes, it’s time to use a sealer on the floor.
In Summary
A slate floor looks fantastic but requires proper maintenance in order to extend its lifespan. You can delay having to replace your slate floor by taking adequate care in sweeping, cleaning, sealing, and much more.
