The Colors of this Slate Patio in Frisco, TX Stand Out Like Never Before Thanks to a Stone Sealing

June 09, 2017

Slate is a wonderful natural stone for outdoor surfaces such as patios or sidewalks. It's a low-maintenance, long-lasting rock that usually comes in a variety of colors and shades, and that is often used in multi-colored arrangements. Nonetheless, sun exposure and weathering can cause it to lose its shine over time. This family from Frisco, Texas, contacted us a while ago after noticing the slate tiles of their backyard lacked the colorful appearance they used to have.



The homeowner and his wife weren't aware of the slate floor discoloration until they compared pictures from their housewarming party held a decade ago to the current state of the surface. The difference was shocking—the tiles used to have vivid and bright colors ranging from grays to greens to browns. However, after so many years, the color in the tiles faded away. They were hoping to restore their patio, which was one of the areas they used the most for parties and family barbecues. The couple went online and searched for a stone sealing company in Frisco, as one of their neighbors advised them to do claiming a sealing procedure helped bring back the natural colors of his travertine floors.

The homeowners found Sir Grout Dallas Fort Worth's website among the first search results. At first, they thought that a stone cleaning and sealing might be enough to refresh their slate floor. But when they surfed through our website and found out about the different restoration services we offer for natural stones, the couple decided to call us and request an appointment for an in-home consultation so that our craftsmen could take a look at the floor and determine what we could do to revive it.

On the day agreed for the consultation, we went to the Frisco residence and examined the slate floor. At a first glance, we noticed how dull and faded the tiles looked. The homeowners told us that they chose slate tiles for their backyard for the variety of color tiles they found; they loved the combination of dark green, gray, black tones for the floor. They had also heard this type of natural stone is more durable and suitable for outdoor surfaces versus other options like marble or travertine, and they wanted something that didn't require much maintenance.

However, as time passed, the tiles dulled and all began to appear the same shade due to long exposure to the elements without proper periodic maintenance. The patio floor didn't stand out like it did before. We had the perfect solution to make it colorful and shiny again! To boost the natural colors of each tile and refresh the surface, we proposed a stone cleaning and color enhancement service. Upon hearing our offer and understanding how these procedures would restore the surface, they agreed right away and chose a convenient date in the following days to perform the service.

We came back on the agreed day to start the cleaning and restoration process. First, we used Sir Grout's pH-neutral cleaner to emulsify the dirt and remove the embedded soil and grime—we deeply clean and wait for the surface to dry to ensure the sealant and enhancer will adhere and absorb properly. Once the floor was dry, we used our proprietary enhancer and sealant for stone surfaces. This product is a solvent-based penetrating sealer that is specially designed to bring out natural tones in stones like slate, while also giving it a wet, glossy look. Plus, our color enhancing formula makes the floor UV resistant and provides maximum stain protection from oil and water-based stains.

The results after the procedure were outstanding! The slate looked great after we cleaned and sealed it. As you can see in the pictures above, the stunning colors in the stone really popped out thanks to the enhancer. Our customers were really pleased by the restoration project. The wife couldn't believe that it had been ten years since the floor was first installed—it looked just like it used to. The family was glad they hired us and told us they will be having a party just to celebrate their brand-new looking patio.

Finally, to keep the stone in great condition, we gave our clients some care and maintenance tips before leaving. Although slate is a strong rock, it still needs to be cleaned and protected every one to three years, so we advised them to hire professional cleaning and sealing in that timespan to prevent the stone from dulling again. As cleaning advice, we told them not to use steel wool or any other abrasive tools to clean the tiles; they could scratch and dull the surface. Even if the tiles were now resistant to stains thanks to the sealing, we still strongly advise to clean up spills immediately, especially during barbecues where hot grease, oil, and all kinds of food and beverages fall on the floor.

Do the stone surfaces of your patio, backyard, or any other place in your home have a run-down appearance? At Sir Grout Dallas Fort Worth, we offer the stone cleaning and sealing services you need to make any kind of natural stone look as good as new—whether it's marble, granite, limestone, travertine, slate, or any other, our team of well-trained Frisco stone restoration technicians can protect it and simplify the cleaning process for you. Call us at (972) 457-3116 or fill out the "Request a Quote" form on this website to schedule an appointment with us today! To keep up to date with our promotions and receive relevant information about hard surface maintenance, subscribe to our newsletter.

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