Slate Cleaning And Sealing

So Why Use A Slate Sealer?

There are two issues to consider.

1. The location of the slate floor

The main reason a you should think about sealing slate floor tiles is the chance of oils and other liquids being spilled on them.

If the floor is in a kitchen or a bathroom, or anywhere in a home for that matter, there are lots of liquids that can stain a slate floor. Cooking oil, candle oil, soaps, coloured liquids.

While they are unlikely to soak through the slate, they can penetrate into the surface of the slate, leaving spots and marks. A stone sealer will help prevent the spill staining your slate.

2. The type of slate

Whilst the slate used on roof tiles has little porosity, slate can vary considerably in its porosity.

The highest quality slate, e.g. welsh slate can have a wide variation in the water absorbtion. There are also plenty of types of slate that are quite absorbent, e.g. Indian slate.

So to make sure you should always seal your slate floor.

Now you have to decide what type of sealer to use on your slate floor. There are two types of slate sealer, impregnating or surface sealer.

Penetrating Slate Sealer

Slate sealed with impregnating sealer

If you want your slate to retain a natural matt finish, then penetrating slate sealers are your best choice.

Penetrating slate sealers site just below the surface of the stone, giving it water and oil repellence but not affecting the finish or the appearance of the stone.

Some penetrating slate sealers have additional polymers to enhance the colour of the stone, making it slightly darker.

So if you would like your slate floor slightly darker, then you can use one of the colour enhanced penetrating slate sealers.

Topical Slate Sealers

A topical or surface stone sealer sits on the surface of the stone, giving the slate tiles a slight sheen or high gloss.  They are usually made from a blend of polymers called acrylics.

Many of these acrylic topical sealers are tough enough to act as a wear layer on the stone. Many people prefer a surface sealer on

A surface sealer on rough-surface or riven slate tiles will be easier to clean with a surface sealer.

Once your slate floor has been sealed, it is a simple job to maintain it.

First dry sweep to remove dust and grit. Then just clean it using a micro fibre flat mop and a mild solution of stone cleaner.

It is important to use a stone cleaner because standard household cleaners can damage a stone sealer.

Slate sealed with surface sealer

Should You Wax A Slate Floor?

Natural wax gives a stunning finish to a rough or riven slate floor. When the wax is laid onto a floor that has initially been sealed with an impregnating sealer, you have a beautiful, easy to maintain, long-lasting finish.

Wax is not necessarily harder-wearing than a modern acrylic surface sealer, but it does give a more natural sheen or polish to the stone

Wherever possible, we suggest finishing a slate floor with a natural wax. However, our recommendation will always be based on assessing your situation.

Sealed Slate Tiles Make A Beautiful Long Lasting Flooring

The right care and maintenance will keep it looking beautiful for years to come. Sealing your tiles may not be necessary, but you will only find out if you never spill anything on them. And then it may be too late. So it’s a safer bet to seal your slate floor with an appropriate stone sealer.

So your only question should be to use a penetrating stone sealer or a surface sealer. Then you can enjoy your natural stone slate floor for years.

Colour Enhancing Slate Sealers

If you’re looking for a greater depth of colour and lustre, using special colour enhancing sealers, we can give you a luxurious hard wearing finish. We can apply colour enhancing impregnating sealers and surface sealers, so there is a wide choice available to you.

With specialist cleaning and applying an appropriate slate sealer we can restore of your stone floors so you can enjoy them for years to come.

Looking After Your Slate Floor

Slate is a relatively soft stone. So walked in sand and grit can scratch the Slate surface like sandpaper. Unprotected furniture legs can cause deep scratches and even gouges when dragged across the floor. Some slates can be extremely porous and can easily be stained by food, plant pots, metal furniture legs, oils, ink, water etc.

You can greatly extend the life of your Slate floors by following a simple maintenance program and following the tips below.

Slate Cleaning Tips

• The surface should be protected with a quality penetrating Slate sealer to help prevent staining.
• Barrier matting is essential to prevent walked in sand and grit from spreading onto the floor and causing scratches and dullness.
• Furniture legs should be protected with felt or plastic pads.
• Standing objects and especially plant pots should be placed on special bases to prevent scratching and staining.
• Cleaners specially formulated for natural stone should be used for cleaning.
• Slate floors should be vacuumed or dust mopped with dry microfiber mop daily or at the least weekly to remove surface sand and grit and reduce the chance of scratches.
• Slate floors should be damp mopped once or twice per week, and daily on heavy traffic areas to remove surface dirt and soil. Only use cleaners specially formulated for natural stone.
• Spills should be removed immediately. Always blot, never wipe as the act of wiping can spread the spill.
• Traffic areas should be professionally deep cleaned, resealed or polished where necessary on a yearly basis.
• When regular Slate cleaning procedures fail to return an adequate surface, complete restoration may be necessary.  Loose or chipped tiles, cracks, dislodged filler, difficult stains and poor maintenance may only be rectified by surface grinding, colour matched filling and other intensive restoration techniques.