Cleaning Stone Floor

[charlier]

Hello

I wonder whether someone can help. I moved into a stone terrace c 1880 a few months ago and discovered a York Stone floor under the carpet. Most of the flags are in good condition but some are covered with a concrete film and plaster and concrete blobs! Brick acid does not work...and wire-wooling is tough going. Does anyone have a solution...? Any advice gratefully received!

All the best

W

 

[Penners]

The term "York Stone" is sometimes used generically for a wide range of stones, not only from Yorkshire but from much of the north of England.

In Yorkshire itself, both sandstones and limestones are quarried.

What I'm taking a long time to say is this: if your floor happens to be limestone, don't use acid on it. You could cause considerable damage to its surface. Sandstone should be safer, although some types can still be etched by acid.

When you tried brick acid, did you get the slightest fizzing or fuming from the flagstones? If so - put the bottle of acid back on the shelf.

This, of course, leaves you with a problem, because the only cement removers that I know of are acid based. Others may know of something to do the job, but if not then you could be faced with having to chip the cement carefully off. This could require a heavy investment in elbow grease and patience.

 

[charlier]

Thank you very much for your reply! the floor is a mix of sandstone and limestone I think. Different colours..bluish to yellowish..to soot blackened near the hearth! Yes, the acid did fizz. Happil, I only tried it on a small area and it doesn't seem to have damaged the surface. I've invested in a drill and wire brushes....(!) and this seems to be making an impression whilst not scratching the surface. One stone is particularly challenging. Concrete to the depth of an inch has been slopped on it to make it level with the adjoining flag! Any suggestions about tools I might use to chip this off....the last chisel broke....!

Thanks for your help. Much appreciated.

W

 

[Penners]

Any suggestions about tools I might use to chip this off

The most obvious choice would probably be a bolster - like this or wider:

Just use it carefully to avoid damaging the surface of the flagstones.

 

[DaveBrigg]

Before the bolster, try a paint scraper. They can work quite well on small surfaces, if you're not in a hurry

 

[chuckey]

I have cleaned about 22 sq yards of limestone flags with acid based brick cleaner. My limestone flags are a creamy colour with light brown markings or some are "Burtersett" flags, really soft, almost black with tiny little shiney particles in them. The acid did not touch either of these stone types, the fizz is when it hits some lime or cement. Even when the acid hit some of my new lime pointing, the effect on it was minimal, like I can't now see where it had occurred. What I did was to use some acid with a stiff brush until it stopped fizzing, if the mark is still there, then a brush over with a small softish wire brush (to get rid off the sand particles), then more acid.
Frank

 

[Nemesis]

Amazed, Frank. Lime pointing? Thought cement was your thing...

 

[Penners]

Oi! You're stirring!

 

[Nemesis]

No, simply puzzled.

 

[chuckey]

Lime is an excellent material for pointing. I have done all the external faces of my cottage with it and some internal decorative features - such as the flags
Frank

 

[Nemesis]

Well, that's good to hear.