Limestone care and maintenance

Limestone is one of the more common natural stones used in building. Many buildings, decks, patios, walkways, and more use limestone. It’s durable but can be porous, depending on where and how it’s installed. Stains and damage can happen to limestone more easily than they can to other tougher stones.

Historically limestone has been a common building material because it’s easy to work, common around the world, and strong for its weight. It’s been used since the time of the Great Pyramids of Giza.

Limestone cleaning

If you want to clean limestone, you might run into problems. Limestone is porous and picks up dirt and chemicals more than other stones. It can be damaged by harsh cleaning techniques or excessive wear, and it’s an easy material to damage if you’re not careful. Limestone in its natural state is fairly soft and reactive, and you can damage it with acid with something as innocuous as tomato or orange juice. You can scrape layers away and leave marks with harsh scrubbing or heavy pressure washing.

Usually, a mild detergent with water is the best way to clean limestone. Mix some soap and water together and splash it over the surface, let it sit, then wash away gently. For worse staining, you can create a poultice with flour and hydrogen peroxide — mix it together, then place it over the stain and let it sit. Eventually, you can brush it away and it will have soaked up as much as possible of the stain.

Sealed limestone is easier to clean, but it’s still worth taking some precautions. Make sure the coating isn’t scratched because of patio furniture or other things that can leave areas that aren’t covered by the seal coating.

When you want to clean limestone, make sure it’s inspected first for any damage. Avoid any problems before they start.

Limestone inspection

Before conducting any cleaning, take a walk around and look at all the limestone surfaces by your building. Are they chipped? Cracked? Discolored? Sometimes erosion can make surfaces flake away in large chunks. Standing water can also cause issues with erosion and staining, especially with algae and mold.

Limestone seals look close to natural stone because the natural porosity means it soaks up the sealing chemicals. Proper cleaning and coatings will help limestone stay naturally beautiful.

If you’re trying to figure out the best way to take care of your limestone, contact JK Industries. We can help.