CASE STUDY: White Limestone floors in hotel
PROBLEM: Very porous surface
SOLUTION: Coating process (1 or 2 coats)
This scenario was a hotel that had white limestone installed throughout the hotel. Limestone is very porous and sealing the limestone would not be enough as any sealer would just be absorbed, leaving the surface exposed. This surface would become very dirty, very fast.
Once this stone becomes soiled by heavy foot traffic, cleaning effectively would be next to impossible. A floor machine would be needed, the action of the floor machine over time, would turn this original flat, rough appearance, to a smooth slick surface resembling marble.
As stated earlier, sealing this surface would be a mistake. The porosity of the stone would just absorb the sealer and possibly become an issue with adhesion of the coating process.
Application of one coat of ‘coating’ would be enough to protect the stone from absorbing moisture and chemicals that would be used for the daily upkeep (mopping). Our coating would not be affected by any chemicals the hotel would use i.e. soaps, degreasers etc However, to protect this stone adequately, a second layer of coating would be highly recommended to actually cure on the surface and create a hard barrier. This would not only protect from moisture and chemicals, but protect from getting dirty and preserving the white stone.