stain removal slate

tog50 · 10-11-2007, 12:56 AM

I need to know the best way to remove stains and scratches from slate flooring prior to color enhancing the stone. I have a floor where the painters dripped stain and junk on the floor ( spots on several different tiles.) I am able to scrape bits of the stone to remove these so there not very deep. Any help would be appreciated.

Steve Patrick · 10-11-2007, 01:10 AM

Tog50,
In the post re: Introduction forum -you said the floor was a new install with no wax or coating and you had tried to clean the surface with a white buffing pad ,neutral cleaner using a swing machine. How deep are the scratches? Have you tested an area with a red pad to see if that might remove the stains? The scratches might indicate possibly honing the floor.What color is the slate?

tog50 · 10-11-2007, 01:34 AM

Dark slate scratches are not to much of a concern very few scratches more drop splatter staining then anything. I was going to try a green pad tomorrow but I did not want to leave scratch swirls in the floor I will try the red if that is what you recomend I just dont want to waste a lot of time if i can get these drip marks up which are surface marks then i will be in good shape I thought the white pad would remove them but did nothing what so ever. How abbrassive can I get with this floor without causing scratches that I have to remove. This floor is new with some drip marks left by painters builder just wants them gone and floor enhanced
once the marks are gone I am fine. can I use my hand grinder with apiece of green or red pad on it and spot clean?

Steve Patrick · 10-11-2007, 12:27 PM

I'm thinking the red pad w\ a hand machine on this. A green pad would most likely be too abrasive. Bill, it might take a little bit more time up front, but leaving swirl scratches will cost you a whole lot more.

tog50 · 10-11-2007, 01:23 PM

This may sound crazy but I took a scrap piece and ground the piece with a 400 diamond dead center and took a little bit of the stone off, you cant even tell it was done if I try to grind large areas it smooths the stone out and takes the natural look away. I will try the red pad first the less abrassive the better. Steve thanks for all your help. I will let you know how it goes and maybe this can help someone in the future. Bill

Steve Patrick · 10-11-2007, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tog50

This may sound crazy but I took a scrap piece and ground the piece with a 400 diamond dead center and took a little bit of the stone off, you cant even tell it was done if I try to grind large areas it smooths the stone out and takes the natural look away. I will try the red pad first the less abrassive the better. Steve thanks for all your help. I will let you know how it goes and maybe this can help someone in the future. Bill

De nada Bill. Maybe we can get some more of the guys on the forum to give their thoughts on this.

tog50 · 10-11-2007, 10:37 PM

ended up taking a razor blade to the stone and scraping away a little bit of stone where the stain was scraping the stain right off the stone being careful not to scratch it. Worked perfectly I then enhanced the stone. Everything went GREAT!

Steve Patrick · 10-11-2007, 11:17 PM

Great! Right before the weekend...Nothing like spending your weekend on "details" of a job.