Slate floor final prep before sealing (and sealing advice)

Hi everyone,

I've laid an uncalibrated slate floor and I'm about to start the final prep before sealing. I've scrubbed the floor with plain old water and have just used residue remover over the whole thing.

Before I start sealing is it advisable to use residue remover once again just to be 100% sure it's dead clean or is that too much? (I'm in no hurry to get the sealing done so I can afford the time)

Any advice on residue remover application and sealer application would be appreciated in case I've missed anything and before I truly muck it up!

Thanks, Easty.

Hi easty,

The way i tend to judge whether a floor is clean or not is to simply let it dry and then you see any residue, dust etc before sealing. Use a roller to seal to avoid over appllying sealer. Hope this helps.

Thanks stoner. I'll go and take a look now! Is any particular roller better? (Gloss/Standard?)

Easty - What you see is what you get!
If the floor is clean the seal wont make it dirty.
Allow the floor to be DRY before you seal.
When you put the seal on the floor with a roller just use the roll and not the er.
Take the fitting off the handle and drag it accross the tiled surface don't roll it. This cuts out any bubbles and allows full coverage of seal.
If its a rough surface use the textured type ( not smooth).
Put plenty on 1/2/3 coats if required but don't allow any to lie on the surface - wipe off after 10mins.

John.

John, that reply was, well, timeless!!!

Thanks for the tip about the roll(er) I would have been slapping it on like I was painting a wall. You saved me learning a lesson there!

One quick question though, When you say "don't allow any to lie on the surface - wipe off after 10mins" are you referring to drips and drops and where it pools in the rough surface?

Thanks again everyone, what a nice friendly place this is!

Easty - If you leave any on the surface that hasn't soaked into the tile it will just become sticky and attract the dirt.
Allow to dry 1 day and then use HG satin golvpolish to give it a final lustre and ease cleaning.

Don' forget the pictures.

Timeless John.

Thanks again, will pick up some of the recommended polish and post proud photos when I'm done (my first slate floor!)

Personally i use Lithofin. Slate seal for a glossy finish or colour intensifier then stain stop for a matt finish or just stain stop for a invisible seal. Slate seal won't bubble so no wiping should be needed and slate will normally pull cloth fibres apart and stick to slate/sealer and then you end up in a mess.

If it's a honed slate like brazilian black/green then i use a brand new sponge to apply, if it's more like china black, rustic multi then roller everytime.

Tend to use a rad mohair roller for applying sealer

Superb, thanks guys.