Natural stone flooring is a popular choice for many, in both indoor and outdoor spaces due to its natural and rustic look which is not only beautiful but extremely practical too. As with any flooring option, stone can become worn over time and the sealant used to protect it can wear away. For this reason, we recommend that you reseal your stone flooring to keep it looking its best. There’s no right or wrong answer as to when you should reseal your flooring but we would suggest aiming for every 5-10 years, depending on wear and tear. If you have a particularly busy home with heavy foot traffic, you may need to seal it sooner rather than later.

Which sealant should I choose? 

There are lots of sealants to choose from - we recommend Fila products which we also sell in our showroom. You can always get in touch with one of our flooring experts if you have any questions about which sealant would be best for your flooring.

Resealing your flagstone flooring is a relatively straightforward process which can be done in a few simple steps, providing you have the correct tools. 

1. First off, you need to clear your space from any furniture and give your stone a good clean, ensuring it is completely free of any debris or dirt. In the first instance, we recommend sweeping or vacuuming to remove any loose dirt. Follow this step by mopping the surface thoroughly. We recommend using a squeegee mop to ensure that you are lifting any dirt, rather than just sloshing it around! If you want to find out more about our cleaning recommendations, you can do so here.
2. Once you have thoroughly cleaned your floor, you need to ensure that it is completely dry before you can apply your sealant. This could take a little while so be prepared to wait! Whilst your stone is drying, try to avoid walking on it - you want to keep it sparkling clean before you can move on to the next step! 
3. Once completely dry, you can now think about applying your sealant. Remember to follow the manufacturer’s instructions when it comes to application. You’ll want to use a clean, dry applicator such as a brush or roller and work in small sections at a time to ensure full coverage. Be sure to apply the sealant to all areas of your flooring, including grout lines. We suggest working inward-outwards to ensure that the last area you seal leads to a doorway or an area that you can easily exit the room from.
4. Let the sealant dry! You need to ensure that the sealant is completely dry before walking on your newly sealed floor or moving any furniture back into the space. Depending on the humidity and temperature of the room, this could take anything from a couple of hours to a full day, so be prepared to not use that space for a while if you can! 
5. Maintaining - once sealed, it’s important to maintain your flooring to avoid having to reseal again before necessary. Take a look here for our top tips on cleaning and maintaining your flagstone floor effectively. 

We really hope that our step by step method to resealing your stone has been helpful. It may seem a daunting job at first, but just remember that looking after your stone properly will ensure a lifetime of enjoyment. If you have any questions, give us a call and we can talk you through it.