A black limestone dilema

[benjd]

Hi all,

Thank god for this forum, I couldn't find anywhere to turn!
Here is my predicament...

I have just purchased a property that has a log stove placed upon a hearth of two natural black limestone flagstones.
They look reasonably similar to the flag stones seen here:
Special offer handworn black limestone flagstones

Unfortunately, the hearth looks to have never been sealed at all and looks truly neglected. There are various stains. To makes matters worse, they seem to have been grouted with plain old cement. This has left some nasty cement staining around the edges of the stones which looks hideous.

What would be the best course of action regarding cleaning up the stones and the awful cement stains?
Should I try and re-grout them, and if so, with what?
Eventually, what would you recommend I seal these stones with?

If necessary, I can provide pictures of the problem areas if you'd like to get a better idea.

Cheers.

 

[wetdec]

Rough cut black probably indian limestone. Honest opinion if they are stained and marked take them up and put 2 more down.

Black marks and stains and nearly always when stripped leaves shaddows, its horrid stuff to clean.


Your turn ?

tiler

,,

 

[benjd]

Rough cut black probably indian limestone. Honest opinion if they are stained and marked take them up and put 2 more down.

Black marks and stains and nearly always when stripped leaves shaddows, its horrid stuff to clean.


Your turn ?

tiler

,,

Replacing them is not logistically viable at the moment as they have the stove sitting on top of them. It's connected to a flue system and goes right up the chimney. I can't see that moving it would be worth the hassle at the moment.

On second though, I probably made it sound worse than it is. It's really only the edges with the cement that need cleaning up. I'll try get some pictures this evening.

 

[TilingLogistics]

Even so what Wetdec says makes more economical sense because by the time you buy the products required and the labour to do the job it will probably make more economical sense to lay new ones even if you have to move the stove. It will also give you a good opportunity to clean behind the stove and clean the flue IMO

Kev

 

[wetdec]

That was my train of thought


.

 

[ailema]

well if you have problems better consult it to people who knows those stuff, me if I have problems on tiles and stones i always trust