| Office buildings have many types of flooring | | | | granite to be polished mechanically using |
| and growing in popularity are stone floors. | | | | superfine abrasives. The re-polishing of |
| Stone floors give buildings a classic and | | | | granite is a slow process as compared to |
| upscale image. Popular choices in flooring | | | | re-polishing a marble floor.At times the |
| these days are natural surfaces including | | | | floor will have been so neglected it may need |
| marble, slate, granite, and terrazzo. As | | | | restoration. A properly restored stone floor |
| more and more buildings are installing stone | | | | will have no lippage (where one edge of a |
| floors there is a growing need for cleaning | | | | stone is higher than adjacent edges, giving |
| contractors who have the experience and | | | | the stone a ragged appearance), will look |
| knowledge to take care of these valued | | | | better and be easier to clean. The |
| surfaces properly. Learning the tricks of | | | | restoration process is best handled by |
| stone floor care can lead to extra income and | | | | professionals. Improved technology has made |
| profit for your cleaning company.Before | | | | the restoration process faster and with a |
| expanding into the area of stone floor care | | | | restored floor maintenance costs will go down |
| make sure that you understand the differences | | | | while the overall appearance of the floor |
| in the types of flooring and how to design a | | | | will go up.Stone itself has a porosity factor |
| maintenance program to keep stone floors | | | | (materials can pass through it) and some |
| looking their best. It helps to develop a | | | | stones absorb stains faster than other types |
| relationship with a distributor that has | | | | of stone. A high quality impregnator can help |
| quality products and can help you with | | | | prevent stains from passing through and being |
| technical support.The first step in any floor | | | | absorbed into the stone. Impregnators can be |
| maintenance program is finding out what type | | | | water resistant, or water, grease and oil |
| of stone you're dealing with. Stone floors | | | | resistant. The specific impregnator to use |
| are broken down into one of two categories: | | | | will depend on your specific situation.The |
| stone that contains calcium and those that do | | | | most important part of your stone floor care |
| not contain calcium. It is important to note | | | | program will be the use of a quality stone |
| that acids will attack and etch stone that | | | | soap. A high quality soap will clean and |
| contains calcium.If the floor is not coated | | | | enrich the stone, which will make it more |
| on the surface, a simple test can determine | | | | soil and stain resistant. This is not an |
| what type of stone you are dealing with. | | | | area to be cutting costs!Quarterly cleaning |
| Place a drop of hydrochloric acid in an | | | | is recommended for commercial stone floors. |
| inconspicuous area and watch the reaction. | | | | This will not only remove any built in soil, |
| If the acid fizzes the stone contains | | | | but will also remove stone soap build-up. |
| calcium. If there is no reaction, the stone | | | | This is an important step as most stone soaps |
| is most likely granite, slate, sandstone or | | | | are non-rinse. Because of this dirt can |
| some type of ceramic that has been designed | | | | build up in the grout lines, even when you |
| to look like natural stone.Your second step | | | | are following a floor maintenance program. |
| is to decide what type of results you want | | | | An intensive cleaning should also be used if |
| with your floor program. Do you want a | | | | you have an extremely dirty floor.Other stone |
| polished surface, a slip resistant floor or a | | | | surfaces that may need extra care are |
| floor program that is easy to manage? Any | | | | countertops, vanities and vertical surfaces, |
| stone floor program should also take into | | | | such as pillars. A good relationship with a |
| account the type of surface - polished, honed | | | | distributor of quality products will help you |
| or textured. Also, remember that stone is a | | | | in deciding which chemicals you'll need to |
| product of nature and should be admired for | | | | use to clean these surfaces.If you have |
| its inconsistencies. The imperfections of | | | | buildings with stone floors, your first step |
| stone create random patterns, which is what | | | | is to develop a quality stone floor care |
| makes natural stone so desirable.When looking | | | | program. Spending a little time and effort |
| at how you should maintain stone floors, both | | | | before beginning your stone floor program |
| calcium containing and non-calcium containing | | | | will save you headaches and keep the floor |
| stone floors should be maintained in | | | | looking its best. Your customer will be happy |
| identical ways except when it comes to | | | | and your bank account will grow!Copyright |
| re-polishing. A marble floor develops wear | | | | 2006 The Janitorial StoreSteve Hanson is |
| patterns faster as marble is a softer stone. | | | | co-founding member of TheJanitorialStore.com, |
| You can polish marble, limestone and terrazzo | | | | an online community for owners and managers |
| effectively with superfine abrasives you mix | | | | of cleaning companies who want to build a |
| with potassium oxalate or oxalic acid. These | | | | more profitable and successful cleaning |
| are typical compounds available in various | | | | business. Sign up for Trash Talk: Tip of the |
| ready to use formulas.Granite floors, on the | | | | Week at and receive a Free Gift. |
| other hand, are acid resistant requiring | | | | |