Cleaning yorkstone paving in cellar

Patio flagstones (slabs), concrete flags, stone flags including yorkstone and imported flagstones.
Post Reply
Shaz
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Jun 08, 2005 9:33 am
Location: Leeds

Post: # 8580Post Shaz

Hello.
We have just had our cellar done up, and have left the yorkstone paving down. We are now attempting to clean the paving and seal it.
The house is an old building and the cellar has previously been used for storing coal. As you can imagine we're having a struggle with the cleaning. We have scrubbed it twice already and although it is looking cleaner, I wondered whether there was any faster/ better way of cleaning the floor?
We've also bought Thompson's sealant, but I've seen bad things written about it on this website, will it be ok to use?
Cheers
Sharon

danensis
Posts: 335
Joined: Mon Aug 11, 2003 4:24 pm
Location: Derbyshire
Contact:

Post: # 8582Post danensis

I would avoid sealing a cellar floor, as you will force the damp up the walls. The reason cellars are so cool (and often so dry) is that groundwater evaporates from the stone flag floors.

Have you tried a power washer?

Shaz
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Jun 08, 2005 9:33 am
Location: Leeds

Post: # 8584Post Shaz

We have had a damp proof system added to the walls, and then new plaster added, will this not stop the problem of the damp rising up the walls?
Haven't tried a power washer, cos I thought this would ruin the new plaster?
Cheers
Sharon

Tony McC
Site Admin
Posts: 8346
Joined: Mon Jul 05, 2004 7:27 pm
Location: Warrington, People's Republic of South Lancashire
Contact:

Post: # 8607Post Tony McC

A power washer is probably the easiest way to clean the flagstones, but it's probably worth protecting the walls with visqueen or polythene before starting.

As for the sealant, I wouldn't bother.
Site Agent - Pavingexpert

Post Reply