Common Mistakes Made With Natural Stone Tile

www.stonexp.com  2010-11-06 09:38:54  Popularity Index:0  Source:Internet

Do it yourself tiling projects are a great way to learn a new trade, save a few dollars and do something fun and hands on with your own home. Over the years, with the inclusion of the internet and easy exchange of ideas people have become more adventurous at laying their own tile and natural stone floors. The problem is that while the internet is a wonderful resource, it still cannot compare to the cool calculation of a professional who has experience working with natural stone tile and is aware of the risks and sensitivities that it has.

Most problems made by first time homeowners with stone tile has to do with the sealing process; either using an incorrect sealant or they've used the correct sealant, incorrectly. This begs for problems in the future and tends to become more costly as time goes on. The second most common mistake is failing to understand the chemical sensitivity and properties of that kind of stone. Stone is a durable material, but certain stones will be prone to wear, etching and other issues if abused with chemicals and solvents that weaken its integrity. It is incredibly important to understand just what your stone tile can handle and what you need to be careful of.

It is also important to understand a few terms and processes which can be used to help rejuvenate and keep your tile from weakening. Most of these processes include machinery and are usually best done by a professional to ensure it is done properly without damage, like professional cleaning and stain removal, repairs to match color to repair holes and cracks, re-grouting to replace damaged or old grout, anti-slip installation and sealing, stripping and polishing processes. All of these can likely be attempted to some small degree by an amateur but are best left to a professional for seriously damaged or worn stone.

Some processes involve grinding carefully at the stone in order to remove imperfections and other problems that have arisen. These should without a doubt be performed by a professional or someone who is aware of how to use the equipment. Vitrification involves using diamond disks or abrasive carbon pads to work across the floor to remove deep scratches, damage, pitting and lippage that can be caused by using damaging products and chemicals for cleaning the stone. Honing is when the floor is evenly sanded with a medium or fine abrasive to remove scratches and etching marks in the stone. Afterward, the flooring will appear with a matte finish and have increased traction; the process is also used regularly to restore shower floors. Scratch removal is removing individual scratches with a hand-held machine fitted with a number of graded pads largely depending on the depth of the individual scratch.

Caring for your stone and being aware of what to do and what not to do is more than half the battle and can save you lots of time and money having it fixed or having to tear it up completely and start again. Should you need to have a professional service fix your stone, it is equally as important to understand and be aware of what needs to be done and what you are paying for.