Sealing limestone flags - Sealing limestone flags

ladyloupina · Post: # 19844Post **ladyloupina** Fri Jun 15, 2007 3:15 pm

My husband has just laid a black limestone patio, he has sealed it using Thomsons patio sealer and it has now white marks on it. Can you advise of how to get rid of these white marks? It has also been raining very heavily and the patio beaded at first before these stains showed now it does not bead so well. Should we put another coat of sealer on to hide the white stains or will this make it worse, or can anyone advise of anything to remove the white stains.

Post: # 19847Post **Tony McC** Fri Jun 15, 2007 4:08 pm

Oh no! Another instance of Thomson's Patio Ruiner. Why are they still allowed to sell this crap? I must have received over 100 emails this year about exactly this problem. Patio Ruiner and *any* moisture in the flags, in the joints or in the atmosphere is a surefire recipe for milky-white formations within the sealant.

Sorry, but, as far as I know, there's no known cure. I've heard of people trying to strip off the Patio Ruiner with thinners and xylene, but no-one has reported any success. Most have reluctantly learned to live with it, while a few have ripped up the paving, laid new, and then bought a proper quality sealant once the paving is established.

ladyloupina · Post: # 19848Post **ladyloupina** Fri Jun 15, 2007 4:14 pm

Thank you for your reply, what is the best sealer to use? Do you think that this will just wear away with time?

Fri Jun 15, 2007 4:29 pm

lithofin MN stainstop is the kiddie
about Â£25-30 a litre but it really is the stuff for natural stone
cheers LLL

ladyloupina · Post: # 19860Post **ladyloupina** Fri Jun 15, 2007 4:34 pm

Do you think it would be wise to seal over the white milky marks that have appeared, or should be let it wear a bit before sealing?

Fri Jun 15, 2007 4:39 pm

i think lithofin do a cleaner called "wexa" for getting rid of stains and such but TBH no idea
basically any lithofin product does what it says on the tin
cheers LLL

Post: # 19869Post **Tony McC** Fri Jun 15, 2007 4:51 pm

The Patio Ruiner needs to come off before applying any new sealant, but the problem is getting it to come off. The stuff is a damned nuisance!

Phone and complain to Thomsons/Ronseal and see if they have any suggestions for how to get rid of their awful jollop.