How to Seal Limestone Tiles

After discovering the many benefits of this product in our Faber Limestone Densifier blog, you know exactly when and why you need this impregnating sealer. In this blog, I will explain how to use Faber Limestone Densifier to seal and harden limestone surfaces. Additionally, this lime-based surface strengthener assists in the polishing process, so I will explain how to use it for this situation as well.

For the best advice for surface restoration and cleaning products and instructions, visit the Tiling Logistics blog. Our team of experienced professionals has produced a series of articles explaining everything you need to know for various surface care and maintenance treatments.

To hear from one of our team members, call us on 0121 773 9129 or send us a message online.

Why should you seal limestone tiles -

Unsealed limestone quickly loses its appealing appearance and the colour fades. 

Furthermore, limestone is a porous stone material making it susceptible to the effects of:
- food
- drink
- oil spillages
- water damage 

As such, the look you want quickly turns into something unattractive. 

Always clean before you seal!

Cleaning limestone floors is an important process before you seal them. 

By cleaning the surfaces, you’ll wash away any dirt and residues present in the pores of the stone. 

Dirt and these residues prevent the sealer from penetrating the limestone, reducing its effectiveness and making future cleaning much more difficult. It also results in a patchy look. 

Getting rid of dirt allows the limestone to properly absorb the sealer and take advantage of the proper protection it offers.

 Harden limestone surfaces with the right tools

First of all, you need Faber Limestone Densifier Professional Impregnating and Hardening Sealer. Faber Limestone Densifier is a water-based impregnating sealer that offers top-quality assistance for mechanical sanding and polishing of limestone and lime-based surfaces.

Typically, lime-based surfaces are difficult to polish due to their porosity and high capacity for water absorption. 

This water-based impregnator penetrates deep down into surfaces ensuring robust, long-lasting protection against rising damp. Rising damp often causes most problems associated with lime-based surfaces.

These problems include:
- Persistent damps marks
- Rusting
- Flaking and Pop-ups
- Saline Efflorescence 

When using this limestone surface sealer, you also need a flat microfibre mop head or a brush. 

How to Harden Limestone Surfaces

1. Apply Faber Limestone Denisfer 

Apply an even layer of the product to the limestone surface, ensuring the entire surface is covered.

2. Even out the residues

After 5 - 10 minutes, spread out the residues before the impregnator dries. Do this using a roller, brush or lambswool applicator. 

For a completely clean surface at this time, redistribute the residues until they are completely gone. 

This redistribution operation is essentially important since it allows easy removal of any dry residues on the limestone surface of the material, which if not re-distributed will be particularly hard to remove. 

3. Wait for 1 - 2 hours

Wait for the solution dry. During this time, reposition the lime-based tiles so you can treat the underside of the surface. 

4. Remove the residues 

After the solution is dry, proceed to remove the remaining residues with a white pad or damp cloth. 

Otherwise, remove the residue using a floor polisher with a white disc straight after laying.  

If the material laid needs to be polished, the residues will be removed directly during the polishing operations

Harden limestone surfaces and assist in the polishing process

As well as strengthening lime-based surfaces and offering increased protection, Faber Limestone Densifier assists with the polishing process.

0. Before applying Faber Limestone Densifier - 

It is imperative that Faber Limestone Densifier is used as part of the mechanical polishing process on surfaces previously sanded with 200/400 grain. 

To reduce the time this process takes, we recommend carrying out the preliminary sand process dry to avoid waiting for the surface to dry before applying Faber Limestone Densifier. 

In the event that preliminary sanding is done with water, you should wait between 24-48 hours before applying the limestone hardener. To reduce the waiting time, we advise you to apply LD before beginning the first mechanical polishing grain sizes. Doing this greatly limits the amount of water the surface absorbs. 

1. Apply Faber Limestone Densifier

Apply a generous amount of this impregnating sealer. Make use the product evenly covers the entire surface using a lambswool applicator, roller, brush or airless applicator. 

When treating especially absorbent surfaces, apply a second coat of the strengthening sealer around 1-2 hours after the first.

2. Continue the polishing process 

After 4 hours, continue with the next level of polishing grain. We advise you to wait until the next day as to allow the Limestone Densifier to completely spread and cure. 

The lime-based surface will require more mechanical polishing after this. Due to this, it is not necessary to focus on any residues since they are removed in later steps. 

After applying the hardening sealer to a dry surface, it is appropriate to continue the polishing process with the next grain up from the one used prior to Limestone Densifier. 

The second part of the polishing process needs to be done with water. Fortunately, Faber Limestone Densifier allows surfaces can be treated with finishing chemical polishes after the 800-grain size is used. This could already correspond to the mechanical polishing done with a particularly fine grain (1500-3000). 

Additionally, we recommend Faber A3 Yellow or Faber A2 Mix to polish a surface treated with this limestone impregnating sealer,

What makes Faber Limestone Densifier unique?

Save Time on Future Polishing

Faber Limestone Densifier drastically decreases the time spent and difficulty of any mechanical sanding and polishing process on lime-based surfaces. 

Typically, these materials are more difficult to polish as they are porous and have a high capacity to absorb water but Limestone Densifier greatly reduces this.

With Limestone Densifier It is possible to give a matt, dirt-resistant finish to limestone surfaces that are generally very difficult to reach with traditional treatments. 

Eco-friendly

This limestone impregnator is distinct as it has a 100% water-based and eco-friendly formula. 

Furthermore, there is a lack of volatile organic compounds (V.O.C free) in this sealer. As a result, using Limestone Densifier has no harmful effects on the environment or the health of the user. 

This water-repellent sealer can tolerate the action of dewaxing products.  

Cleaning and Maintaining Limestone flooring - 

After sealing limestone floors, regularly cleaning these surfaces is always a good idea. Doing so preserves the appearance of the floor and extends the life of the sealer. 

Although, for routine cleaning of surfaces treated with this limestone sealer, the use of Faber Neugel, Faber Algafloor or Faber 30 is advised. 

More Information on how to harden limestone surfaces

To learn more about the sealing and hardening of limestone surfaces, read the technical datasheet (TDS) for Limestone Densifier. 

Alternatively, read our blog detailing the benefits of Faber Limestone Densifier when sealing lime-based surfaces. 

If you want more information on anything said about Faber Limestone Densifier or any of the other products mentioned don’t hesitate to reach out. Our team at Tiling Logistics are always more than happy to answer any questions.

Call us for a quick chat at 0121 773 9129 where we will answer any questions you have or send us an online message.

Why Tiling Logistics?

Here at Tiling Logistics, we are very passionate about surface care, so much so that our team members have devoted over 30 combined years to it. This 30-year worth of first-hand experience has granted us a great understanding of stone and tile surface care.

After this time, we have developed an understanding of the best tools, products and methods for any surface treatment. Due to this, we are sure to have the best advice for you regardless of whether you are working on commercial, industrial or domestic property.

Free UK Delivery and Same Day Shipping Monday to Friday - Pay Before 2 pm

Order with ease from Tiling Logistics and remember, all orders of £100 and over automatically qualify for FREE UK delivery. Pay before 2 pm for same-day despatch Monday-Friday.