SLATE
CLEANING, SEALING AND MAINTENANCE OF SLATE
This is a natural product, which varies in colour from reds to browns, yellows to blacks and also green.
It has a natural hewn finish and is extremely porous.
It can however also be obtained in a smooth, honed, sheen finish and this is achieved by mechanically honing the surface of the tile until smooth. These tiles although very durable, do tend to scuff and show signs of wear more readily than other natural stones e.g. sandstone and tend to chalk when washed.
As it is a natural product, colour variations are to be expected.
Slate is extremely porous and susceptible to staining and it is recommended that the stone be handled with the utmost care during installation.
The most common form of jointing is the use of plaster sand and cement. As not all tilers work to the same standard, the amount of cementitious residue, which is left on the surface of the tile after grouting, may vary and accordingly requires removal with an acid based cleaner.
The use of hydrochloric acid and spirit of salts is not recommended as these acid types tend to leech into the tile and only qualified cleaning specialists would be able to properly neutralize the acid residues left in the tile.
We would suggest the use of SPECKLEEN® ACON™, which is specially formulated with different acid types so as to gently but effectively remove cement residues from tile surfaces with almost no neutralizing necessary other than the water used in the rinsing process.
SEALING AND SEALERS
There are 2 commonly used tile sealer / finishes.
- A sealer, which coats the surface by slight penetration to achieve bonding, thereby protecting the colour and surface integrity. One would use SPECKLEEN® PUC m/t to protect the denser types of slate e.g. black slate where the tile surface would be strengthened by the application of the sealer thereby reducing chalking and scuffing but also enhancing the natural beauty of the stone colour and protecting against staining by beverages and food oils.
- Sealers with a higher viscosity to be used for the more porous types of slate, e.g. the browns, yellows and greens.
- Interior: Seal with SPECKLEEN® PUC h/s matt / gloss
Exterior: Seal with SPECKLEEN® PUC u/v semi matt / gloss finish SPECKLEEN® PUC u/v can facilitate fine anti slip traction thereby making these coatings more resistant to slipping.
- Where substrates have been honed eg black slate, the use of SPECKLEEN PERMOSEAL STD SB is recommended. No colour change. The added benefit of using these superior sealing systems is that it facilitates easier cleaning, especially where the grouting has been done poorly, creating a rough, porous and difficult to maintain finish.
- Use SPECKLEEN® PERMOSEAL STD SB or WB where no colour change and a flat matt finish is desired i.e. bathrooms showers, etc.
The use of polymers, polishes and waxes is strongly discouraged.
MAINTENANCE
We suggest the use of SPECKLEEN NEUTRADET for daily maintenance cleaning. For other cleaning requirements contact SPECKLEEN® directly for detailed cleaning and maintenance specifications pertaining to the finish applied.
This information is based on tests that we believe to be reliable. It is the responsibility of the user to ascertain the suitability of the product to the situation since conditions of use are outside of our control and therefore all expressed or implied warranties are confined only to the replacement of product found to be defective upon receipt of goods by purchaser. Written representation for faulty goods must be made to the supplier within 7 days of receipt of product. All products / names are the registered property of SPECKLEEN®.
