NATURAL STONE
Natural stone cleaning, indoors and out
A very mild detergent and the right power washing system for stone indoors, on the patio, porch or driveway.
What goes wrong when stone gets the wrong cleaner
Natural stone is not tough in the way poured concrete is. Calcium-based stones such as limestone, travertine and marble are soft, and a harsh acid cleaner will etch them. The surface goes dull and chalky, and the damage is in the stone, not on it. Staining is the other half of the problem: porous stone drinks up whatever sits on it, so rust rings, oil and leaf tannin settle in below the surface.
Outdoors in Denver the stone takes a beating. Freeze-thaw cycles open hairline cracks, spring mud and snowmelt carry grit across a flagstone patio or paver porch, and a shaded driveway edge grows a green film of algae and mold that the sun never dries. Scrubbing hard or holding a pressure wand too close then removes the very surface you were trying to rescue.
Wet sandstone patio with one freshly cleaned strip brighter than the weathered stone
How TJ’s washes stone without punishing it
TJ’s uses a very mild detergent in conjunction with the right power washing system, so the method is matched to the stone instead of the other way around. The same approach covers stone indoors and out: the patio, the porch, the driveway.
Natural stone is $3.60 per square foot, so a measured patio or entry floor comes with a number you can check. If you are in Denver, East Denver or Aurora and are not sure what kind of stone you have, call 303-400-6961, describe it, and ask what the job would involve.
The truck that arrives runs on solar power, the same trucks that clean carpet across the metro. The van wrap reads “TJ’s Power Washing”, so you will know it when it pulls into the drive.
Aftercare, and the questions worth asking first
Ask whether your stone has been sealed and when. A quick test: sprinkle water on a dry spot. If it beads, the sealer is still working. If the spot darkens and soaks in within a minute or so, the stone is thirsty.
Sealer on exterior stone wears down over a few seasons, faster on a sun-baked patio and in high-traffic spots, so check it each spring instead of waiting for a date. The product label sets the real interval, and sealer belongs on only after the stone is fully clean and dry.
One more reason to keep exterior stone clean: the grit tracked off a dirty porch is the same grit that grinds into the entry carpet inside. TJ’s cleans carpet and upholstery too, so ask about both when you call.
All workmanship is guaranteed up to 15 days. Natural stone is $3.60 per square foot. Call 303-400-6961.