Limestone Floor - help needed

[newgirl68]

Hello,
Can anyone help!! We laid a limestone floor in our bathroom less than a year ago and sealed it about 4-5 times. It now looks so grubby and however much it is washed, never looks clean. We have 2 kids and it is a high traffic area, but I chose Limestone because I was told it was very hardwearing. The dirt now looks ingrained in the stone and there are also little chips in the stone which are now filled with dirt. It just looks terrible and every time I walk into the bathroom I feel depressed! Does anyone know how I can rectify this problem? Would we need to totally strip back and seal again? Not sure what to do about chips in the stone though? I would be really grateful for any advice??
Thanks

Have the same problem. I'm afraid that I am ripping it out and starting again

Oh no!! We have underfloor heating so wouldn't be so easy to start again!

Limestone floors can in theory be stripped back and resealed to restore them. See this link. re the chips, I guess it's just down to scrubbing those out with a small brush once the stripper is on. Personally I'd get an expert in though, it sounds like the kind of thing that could go horribly wrong (at least if it was me!)

why dont you guys fill the limestone with a white or very light grout..then have it polished and sealed...you will still have the rustic look but the holes will be filled...it would almost be like a rougher travertine. you can also get a darker color grout....you can also do this yourself...buy a tile first and try it.

I hate my limestone floor in the kitchen and hall and would never get it again.

Especially with cream grout

and a dog and 3 kids...

Having said that I am surprised you were recommended it in a bathroom. I thought it was very porous and took in water very easily if you didn't keep on top of the sealing.

Thanks for all the advice! That's a good idea about filing with grout. Will look into all options.

Mandarin Stone never mentioned anything about not using in a bathroom! wish they had!