Slate Floor - Stripping High Gloss Sealer

[michel graff]

I installed Vermont green slate - approx. 600 sq feet 5 years ago - looked great for about 1 year. The high gloss sealer attracks dirt - and regular mopping does not get it clean.

So, I am going to strip it - then experiment with other sealers that are cleanable.

Looking for comments from others who have done this - what type of stripper, methods ect. I think my sealer is Acrylic - not sure though - I could find out if critical. Also - any suggestions on a low sheen sealer that is cleanable would be helpful

Thanks.

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[KChurch1]

It would be helpful to know the brand name of the product you are trying to remove. Did you purchase the finish from a stone/tile department or did you use a floor finish from a janitorial store/grocery store? If it's a normal acrylic floor finish you might be able to remove it with a floor finish stripper from a janitorial store. If it's a more difficult type of finish, you may need to use a solvent based paint and epoxy remover.
There are a few slower acting safer products to use... by slower acting I mean a day or two of letting the stripper dwell on the floor. www.peelaway.com is one of those. StoneTech also has a slower acting coating stripper. I haven't used it, but you could contact StoneTech for a free sample.
Whatever product you decide to go with... be sure to test it on a small area before committing to the entire floor. It's usually easier to remove the finish from the surface of the stone than it is to remove the last little bit of stuff that turns to snot on the grout. That's one reason why I prefer to use a penetrating enhancer sealer to bring out the color and a little bit of shine on a natural stone floor than a topical floor finish.

[Unregistered]

Karen,

Thanks for your reply. The high gloss stuff was purchased from a tile store -I believe it is acrylic based.

I have been playing around with some stuff - the typical tile and stone cleaner and stripper that is sold at Home Depot's tile aisle is not doing the job - however - acetone is.

Mike

[doitright]

Hi Mike, Welcome! :)

Please register, as you and your project will be a lot easier to keep track of.

Please don't use acetone to strip your floor. It's a good product for small spots and testing, however due to being extremely flammable, and quick evaporation rate, is dangerous and non productive.

By your testing, it seams as though you may need a solvent based stripper. I have had much success with Prosoco's "Fast Acting Stripper". I'm not familiar with Stone Tech's product, but it may be similiar, and easier to procure.

Get registered and keep us up to speed! :shades:

[claycarson]

Michael -

I agree with Karen above. The regular janitorial type 'wax' finishes are built from the beginning to be 'strippable'. It's one of the selling points for that type of product, since the company applying it knows they will be stripping in a year or maybe less.

With topical finishes more like paint, which sounds like what you have, the finish was built to never strip. Therefore, it takes much more firepower to do the job. Some of my worst jobs were stripping this type of finish without adequately preparing for the battle ahead. Don't underestimate this job.

If you are a DIYer who's retired and has no job to go to, or if you are just looking to fill your days and nights with some activity, go for it. Besides, you'll meet some quality people down at the local hardware store or home center on your 5th or 6th visit, really fine folks.

But if your interest is in getting the job done and your time has a value, you might want to have a pro do the job. My guess is you could show the job 4-6 times before you find anyone who seems interested in doing it.

Don't pay upfront.

Not a fun job, in my painfully educated opinion. :bang:

[michel graff]

Well,

I guess I have my work cut out for me. Thanks for the heads up on the acetone - I was going that direction. Going away for 1 week - back in a week from Wednesday - I will start then.

Mike

[bradness]

I have a similiar dilemna only I have no idea what the coating applied by the prior homeowners was. It almost appears to be a floor wax substance.

My question is what's the best product to coat it with once I've got it stripped?

We found the slate by "accident" when having the carpet removed and hardwood refinished!

[John Bridge]

Welcome, Mike. You, too, Brad. ;)

Hang tight. The gurus will return. :D

[doitright]

Hi Brad, Welcome! :)

For slate I recommend a impregnating sealer. It is available in a natural look, or enhancing (for the wet look). No more coatings to strip. Maintain with a neutral cleaner. ;)

[bradness]

Thanks gentlemen. John can you give me some more specifics on "impregnating sealer"? Like where to get it, brand names, etc.? I'm located near Toronto, Canada. We've got Home Depot here, but no Lowes.

Thanks again. :)

[doitright]

Hi Brad :)

If you can order through the internet, here's two options:

www.mbstone.com (MBStone products)

www.stoneandtilecare.com (StoneTech products)

[claycarson]

Wax - won't hurt stone, but more work to maintain a sacrificial coating. If rarely walked on and very low traffic, may be years without restripping and scrubbing, so it may not matter.

Impregnating sealers - good for stone, low maintenance, truly good products.

Only mistake nearly everyone makes with sealers, including yours truly, is to put them on like a coating at first and allow them to dry on top of the stone.

Don't let them dry out on top of the stone. Keep telling yourself it's OK if they don't show...they are supposed to 'vanish' and do their work beneath the stone, not on top of it.Wipe the stuff off before it dries. Follow the directions, even though you feel stupid doing it that way.

We did one half a auto showroom of ceramic tile with sealer, and one half the manager did not want to spend the money. (about $100/gallon, not cheap). After 6 months of identical maintenance, she complained that we were not 'mopping right' for the half that was diriter, the unsealed. It did look worse, too. Had to remind her that she saved the money 6 months ago and was now paying it back.

She was not thrilled. :rolleyes: