The Benefits of Different Types of Flooring

Care and Maintenance Tips for Quarry Tiles

29 June 2017

Marian Moreno

Quarry tiles are perfect for bringing a rustic or bringing a homey feel to your kitchen tiles; they're popular among those who prefer a bit of warmth and tradition in their decor. As flooring options go, they're also fairly hard-wearing and don't require a great deal of maintenance, particularly when compared with other materials and types of kitchen floor. New or old, if the tiles were never sealed, they may take a bit more effort to keep in good condition.

With that in mind, it's not exactly true that you can just leave them and hope for the best. Being in a kitchen, there's a higher than normal chance of spillages and dropped food, and your tiles will need a bit of care if you want them to last and to look beautiful for a long time.

Consider sealing the tiles

If your floor is old and was never sealed, you might find that the tiles are porous and, therefore, liable to absorb liquids that stain. For those who've had tiles fitted more recently, they were probably sealed when the work was done, but you might have chosen not to at the time.

It's worth sealing them because it makes them waterproof, which helps them last much longer and stay looking good. Traditionally, this is done with linseed oil. Just clean the floor thoroughly, wait for it to dry, then paint the oil all over until it soaks into the floor. Be careful there's no excess, which could cause accidents.

Nowadays, there are also products available specifically for sealing stone floors, so use that if you prefer to.

Help prevent damage

Sharp feet and legs of furniture can damage stone tiles, so don't place any of them on the floor without some form of protection. Things like rubber feet help, as does placing a rug underneath anything that could cause damage.

Use the right cleaner

Quarry tiles can be quite delicate, so it's essential to use the right kind of cleaning products. The one you want should be clearly marked as being intended for stone floors or tiles. Don't use anything else, as harsh chemicals can cause damage quite easily. Clean once a week if you can, to stop stains setting in.

Keep dust at bay

In between full cleans, try to dust the floor as much as possible. The reason for this is that dust often hides sharp grits and sand that can scratch delicate quarry tiles. Dust lightly and carefully or use a vacuum cleaner to remove them safely.

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