Hearth tiles

[Igloo]

Hi, I'm hoping to have a fuel-burning stove fitted into an old fireplace and am also going to have a hearth laid.

I've got three large blue/black limestone slabs that will be cut to size and fitted but they are a bit marked, despite me washing them off with warm water a few times. I'm not sure if I should get a specialist cleaning solution for them, or just keep washing them down? They've got a few scratches on too.

Also, I want to make sure they don't get damaged by grout when they're laid so I've been told I need to seal them. I've been recommended LTP Mattstone and/or the water-based version - are these ideal to get?

Many thanks!

 

[tpt]

ltp mattstone is a good product and popular as it doesnt change the look of the tile at all. remove any marks that you dont want to be permanent first though

 

[Igloo]

Thanks for the answer. Will carry on cleaning up the tiles, see if I can get them to look decent enough before I use the LTP.

 

[tpt]

if you have any idea whats on them ltp also do cleaners for limestone

 

[Igloo]

I'm not sure. They were very dirty when first got them from the shop. But it came off easily with just warm water. But it seems almost like dust so don't know if it's actually the way natural unsealed limestone is?

 

[aggy]

Our house is built with very soft limestone, a kind of beige sandy colour though. The stones give of dust constantly, if you brush against them your clothes get dusty. A stone mason I know says to clean with dilute bleach then seal them.

 

[Igloo]

Yes, that's what it's like! It's like they're always dusty and it's always increasing. Thanks for the tip about the bleach, I shall look into that

 

[Igloo]

Seems dilute bleach is the way to go! But . . . trouble is, it needs rinsing off well and the tiles are massive and are at present in my front room. No way I can move them outside to clean, and get them in again - no way at all. And they're way too heavy for me to ask anyone else to risk doing their back in moving them

So I guess it'll have to be more wiping down with warm water.

 

[aggy]

Our stone is so absorbant that I rinsed a few then thought whats the point?

 

[Igloo]

I wouldn't be worrying really but I need to seal the tiles to protect them when they're fitted as a hearth, and I want them to look as 'clean' and good as possible before I seal them . . . ! Going round in circles really!