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Why is my limestone still staining after I sealed it?
QUESTION
My Ludders Limestone (outdoor kitchen) is staining after I applied a Behr waterproofing sealant (for stone) I am still getting stains from honeydew dropping from the tree s. Please advise.ANSWER
ANSWER - Ludders Limestone is a Texas Limestone. The absorption rate and propensity to stain does vary depending on the physical properties of the stone. Per ASTM C568 limestone can be rated as a low density limestone, a medium density limestone or a high density limestone. So the high density stones are lower absorbing and more resistant to staining. I think the Texas Limestones tend to be medium density or low density.Sealers do help make the stone more stain resistant, but not stain proof. If some stain agent gets on the stone and it isn't cleaned up right away, it can seep through the sealer and stain the stone. Also sealers don't last all that long. Typically out door stones need to be reapplied every 6 months or so. If you put a quarter size drop of water on the stone and if the drop of water doesn't tightly bead up and if it leaves a damp spot after you wipe it off then the sealer isn't working and you need to reapply.
To clean deep stains you can use poultices to draw them out.
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I have Indiana limestone on my porch floor which was sealed with an impregnated sealer. Every time we have a weather inversion my floor is soaking wet . My neighbors have tabby floors and do not have this problem. If I have the sealer removed will it help with all this water pooling on my floor so that the floor can absorb it?
Limestone is a natural stone and like most natural stones they do not readily absorb moisture. Some stones are very low absorbing and some are more absorbing. Even the tabby concrete floor doesn’t readily absorb moisture, although it may absorb more than the natural stone depending on how it was mixed and applied.
If water is pooling on your floor it is because it wasn’t properly sloped. All interior wet areas or exterior floors are suppose to have a 2% slope away from the structure towards a drain or off the side of the exterior deck, which is 1/4″ per foot or 6 mm in 305 mm.
Removing the sealer will not make a difference.