Limestone

Limestone Tiles and Surfaces - History, Modern Use, and Cleaning & Maintenance Tips

Historically Limestone has been used in architecture extensively around the world. Many medieval castles and churches were constructed from the material, with their popularity peaking in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. During this period the majority of banks, train stations and prestigious office buildings were built using solid blocks of the material. Found in vast quantities around the world many famous buildings across London and other parts of the UK are built from the famous Portland Limestone.

Over the last few years, there has been a massive resurgence in the popularity of indoor cleaners and patio cleaners specifically for limestone. With improvements in extraction equipment, the material can be mined at a fraction of the cost that could previously have been achieved. This has led to far greater available quantities becoming available at lower prices. The landscaping and stone floor industry has literally been flooded with many varieties of material from all parts of the world.

As a consumer, always be aware that some forms of Limestone are wholly unsuitable for external use in the UK. This is because some varieties are relatively soft and can quickly lose colour when exposed to extreme weather or even small quantities of acid rain. There are huge variations in the cost and quality of tiles available from an ever-increasing amount of retailers. Forms of the product such as Kota, Jura and Aluri stone, which are known for their high quality and durability are at the higher end of the price range.

Protect External Limestone with a Quality Impregnating Sealer and pH-Neutral Cleaners

With its natural soft colour tones and susceptibility to adverse weather and acid rain, externally Limestone should be protected with a quality impregnating sealer. This will also help to minimise the need to apply harsh cleaning chemicals and the necessity to aggressively pressure wash this relatively soft material. Acid-based cleaning chemicals should certainly not be used and if a cleaner is required, a neutral or mild alkaline-based product is essential.

StoneCare4U product range includes colour boost and matt Limestone sealer. We also have a full range of cleaning products and internal stone sealers. All our formulations take into account the composition of the stone and provide maximum protection combined with ease of application.