The cleaning of marble after construction or refurbishment goes far beyond the mere sanitization of the stone. In this case, domestic cleaning systems, do not work because a much more thorough process is required, this process is called Commissioning.

During construction or refurbishment, a series of harmful agents are accumulated and embed themselves into the surface of the stone. It is important to take into account that each natural stone is different; for this reason, it is necessary to customize the treatment according to its mineralogical characteristics and to avoid altering its characteristics or damaging the marble .

The cleaning of marble after construction or refurbishment must also take into account the function of the stone once the work is completed. For example, a bathroom floor in a private residence will not have the same traffic volume as an outdoor marble floor in a public area . Also, aspects of the environment must be taken into account, for example, whether it will be exposed to humidity, chemical agents, etc.

Goals of the cleaning of the marble after a work or reform

The cleaning treatments for the marble after construction or refurbishment have the goal of improving those characteristics of the natural stone that prevent its staining (absorption and porosity) and its degradation and are aimed at recovering its beauty as well as facilitating its subsequent cleaning and maintenance.

+ Recovering the original appearance of the stone: after a construction or refurbishment work the conditions of the of the marble can differ considerably from its original appearance. The surfaces usually show marks and discontinuities. These irregularities in their textures often originate in the process of installation and finishing of the material (irregularities, remains of grout, scratches, and stains).

+ Improve stain behavior: in the example of the images, a treatment to avoid stains is recommended. It is achieved with a process that minimizes the absorption capacity of the marble and improves its stain resistance. The mechanism consists of increasing the exposure time to which it can be submitted before being affected by the spilled agent.

+ Facilitating cleaning and maintenance work: to start with, the nature of the flooring is taken into account, as well as its texture, the use it will be given and the volume of foot traffick. Subsequently specific treatments are being applied to minimize maintenance work and increase the performance of the marble.

Cleaning treatment of the marble after a work or reform

In the example of the images we proceeded in the following way:

+ Texture brushing + Cleaning, Hygienizing, and Descaler: like any pavement after the passage of time and a work process presents a high level of dirt, impossible to remove by conventional cleaning. This circumstance is increased in textured surfaces. In the example, we see a honed finish, in which the dirt was embeded in cavities, and joints of the installation. Therefore, to recover the original appearance of the different materials, an exhaustive cleaning must be carried out. It is necessary to use specific detergents for natural stone (TINO Range), innocuous to the marble but efficient in the elimination of different types of dirt, as well as the use of tools adapted to the characteristics of each texture.

+ TINO Waterproofing Treatment (in this case with an increase of color): given the use to which the pavements of the example are exposed, it is recommended the application of a water-repellent treatment that will reduce the absorption capacity of the stone and will make it more resistant to staining. There are alternatives in the market to this treatment, although they are not recommended due to their non-specificity. The proposed treatment does not generate superficial laminates and minimizes the absorption capacity of the Natural Stone, thus avoiding the appearance of pathologies that may cause its alteration.

Subsequent maintenance proposal

The TINO Stone Care team recommends a subsequent maintenance protocol at the end of the procedure. On the surface of the example, it is recommended to carry out dry cleaning. The surface can be swept or vacuumed.

If a pressurized water blasting system is used, it should be done with the incidence beam in fan and never with a direct jet on the substrate, to avoid the appearance of marks. An “excessive” application of water is not recommended, and water should be removed to prevent it from drying on the surface.

Machinery equipped with cleaning discs can be used as well as some neutral detergent for Natural Stone (TINO Range or similar), rinsing the surface perfectly to remove any remaining product or dirt.

Do not use bleach, ammonia, acid, or alkaline detergents in any case.

Waterproofing

The waterproofing durability varies depending on the type and volume of agents to which the surface will be exposed. The behavior of the water on the surface must be evaluated to determine when re-application is required, as well as surface thinning.

After the proposed sequence, the pavement will be ready for use, without cadence times that may affect the ordinary course of activity of the dwelling.This process of cleaning of the marble after construction or refurbishment arises from the extensive research activity and experience acquired by TINO Stone Care. Contact us for more information >