Marble Stone Crystallization

Stone floors offer something no other flooring can: history. Architects and designers have been using natural stone for most of their important works. In countries around the world, stone has long been the accepted choice for cathedrals, monuments, museums, houses of government and, of course, hotels.

Natural stone forms over millions of years but improper care can ruin nature’s beauty. Although we usually think of stone as “hard”, it is a porous material that can absorb spills and stains if left untreated. Sand, grit, and dirt can damage natural stone surfaces because they are abrasive. With natural stone floors acid resistance / sensitivity is probably the most important factor for the choice of cleaning methods. Different natural stones have different properties & characteristics depending on which the treatment method is chosen. For example, the most common stones available or used widely in India are Marble and Granite. Both are natural stones.

Marble

Marble is commonly available in white and a wide range of colours depending on the embedded metal salts or their oxides. It normally has a fine to coarse grained structure. It is soft, easy to process, easy to polish and maintain. It is sensitive to all kinds of acids, resistant to moisture, alkalies and solvents, has limited resistance to oil & grease and is very sensitive to mechanical damage (scratches).

When a marble floor becomes dull and scratched, it obviously loses its shine and lustre. These scratches or dullness is predominantly due to constant foot traffic that the floor is subjected to. At this point in time, the marble floor needs to be refinished to restore its original shine. The process of bringing back the gloss and shine is called ‘crystallization’.

Crystallization is a combination of mechanical and controlled acidic reaction with the calcium carbonates contained in the stone. Calcium carbonates are changed into components (fluorides and oxalates) that are less sensitive to acids and which densify the floor. Crystallization products also contain abrasives which help remove little scratches on the floor. Please note that crystallization is applicable on only calcareous floors like marble.

Marble floor crystallization is normally a 4-step procedure. The equipment that you would need are:

• Single disc machine (that weighs a minimum of 50 Kgs and above and rotation speed of 165 rpm)

• Crystallizing chemical

• Grinding discs

• Floor pads

• In addition to this, you need a wet & dry vacuum cleaner, microfibre flat mop, a wet floor sign and other accessories.

The first step of marble floor restoration is grinding and honing. This is nothing but a process of removing the lippage (the uneven portions existing on the floor). Even newly installed marble floors can have higher or lower tiles due to the natural gradient of the floor. This step removes all edges, roughness, and makes the floor even and smooth. This step can also remove the deepest of scratches and stains.

The process of honing is usually done when the existing floor has a high amount of scratches, possible stains and is extremely dull. This process is done with the help of a single disc machine and diamond pads that cut the top surface of the soft marble stone in a uniform pattern. The diamond pads are to be used from a coarser to a finer pattern to ensure consistency in the honing process.

Before beginning the crystallization process, the first important thing to do is to clean the honed floor with the help of a microfibre mop so as to pick up all the finer particles of stone, dust and sand. Take the crystallizing compound and apply to the floors with the help of a single disc machine. Work for three – four minutes/sqm. of the floor and massage the crystallizing compound into the floor. Rinse the floor with plenty of water and pick up the salt solution with a Wet & Dry vacuum cleaner. Crystallization creates a microfilm on the surface of marble which is more solid and durable and helps to preserve the colour and brightness of marble.

The benefits of crystallization are:

• Increase in gloss levels giving a shiny floor

• Durability as the surface of the stone has been chemically altered to calcium fluoro silicate which has higher durability and less porous.

Daily maintenance after crystallization

Since crystallization of marble floors is an expensive proposition, this process cannot be done on a frequent basis (every two or three days). Consistent foot traffic on a crystallized marble floor will reduce the gloss levels steadily everyday. Therefore, it is imperative for us to ensure that the crystallized marble floor is maintained so that the gap between two crystallization cycles can be increased.

The following steps can be taken to maintain crystallized marble floors:

Damp mopping of the floor with a neutral cleaner and microfibre mop. This activity needs to be done depending on the foot traffic the floor is subjected to.

Use a maintainer. Marble maintenance product with the help of a single disc ensures that the gloss levels do not reduce quickly. This process of crystallization can be used on all types of marbles and is a very good method to ensure longer life and enhance its appearance.

Abhay Desai,

Director-Marketing,

South Asia,

Diversey India

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Trends in Floor Cleaning and Maintenance

It is a proven fact a good looking floor goes a long way in enhancing ambience and helps enhance one’s productivity, be it at home or at work. Over the years, the trends in hard floor cleaning and maintenance have been shifting towards – low cost, prolonged life, ease of maintenance, safety and environmental friendly products.

Floor Cleaning : Current/Old Industry Procedure:

Floor Dusting:
• Moves dust around
• Selective removal
• Hard to push

Floor Disinfecting
• Mop & bucket
• Cross-contamination
• Heavy and tiring

Floor Finishing
• Mop & bucket
• Heavy and tiring
• Inconsistent results

Future Industry Procedure:

Floor Dusting
• Traps and holds
• Works on all dirt
• Lightweight – easy
• Low drag – easy

Floor Disinfecting
• Solution in handle
• Clean solution
• Lightweight – easy
• Low drag – easy

Floor Finishing
• Backpack system
• Low drag – easy
• Lightweight – easy
• Great results

The basic objective of today’s floor maintenance operation is to,

• Have environmentally preferable cleaning method
• Reduce time and labour costs
• Have consistent performance
• Leave a clean surface post floor maintenance operation, ready for recoating, without big scratches
• Bring improvement on personnel’s health & safety

Non-Woven technology in Floor Pads

Non-woven technology is nothing but sheet or web structures which are bonded together by entangling fibers mechanically, thermally or chemically. This technology makes the floor pad more useful and long lasting in day to day cleaning and maintenance operations. These fibers are not woven or knitted and do not require conversion to yarn. This process eventually produces a distinct class of fiber-based materials with useful characteristics and properties.

A non-woven structure is a flat, flexible, porous sheet structure composed of a predetermined amount and arrangement of fiber-based material held together by friction, adhesion, or fusion..

In a nutshell they are engineered fabrics, fabric made directly from fibers. It is manufactured at high speed and competitive cost.

Using the non-woven technology in the floor pad provides the following advantages.
Non-contaminating – Healthy and hygienic
Non-rusting – Safer and hygienic
Flexible – Easy to use and soft on hand
Spring-like action – No wild scratch marks
Resists loading/re-depositing – Cleaner pad
Conformable – Easy to use and can reach difficult areas
Controlled abrasive action – No wild scratches

Debapratim Dinda
Advanced Engineer-
Building & Commercial
Services Division,3M India.

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Equipment for mall cleaning

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With footfalls becoming very high during weekends in malls & multiplexes, the use of right cleaning equipment and cleaning application help in maintaining the area clean
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Some of the essential ranges of equipment that go into the cleaning of a multiplex, include backpack, dry vacuum cleaners, single disc machines with foam generators and a range of wet & dry vacuum cleaners.

Each equipment has its specific applications :

Backpack vacuum cleaners help in cleaning areas which are otherwise difficult to reach, like areas under seats in a hall. Back packs which have a good air flow and high suction capacity help in effective cleaning of these areas with high productivity.

Injection / extraction machines are an ideal choice for activities like chairs shampooing and spot cleaning on carpets.

A small, compact and maneuverable vacuum cleaning machine with high air flow and suction capacity is ideal for cleaning office areas, receptions, food counters and for other general cleaning operations in multiplexes.

For carpet cleaning in multiplexes, a single disc machine with carpet shampooing blower / foam generator is very useful.

Malls experience high traffic on weekends and maintenance operations are carried out during nights or on weekdays (between 8 am and 2 pm). Some of the cleaning activities in a mall include:

Floor cleaning: A clean and shiny floor reflects the image of a mall. Cleaning equipment like battery operated ride on scrubber driers are highly recommended for mall floors. Forbes PRO – CTS has a range of scrubber dryers which include Tripla, Flexy and newly launched model Innova.

• Deep cleaning of toilets

• Glass cleaning

Parking & outer areas: Parking areas are prone to a lot of dust and pollution due to high vehicular movement. Regular cleaning with ride-on sweepers helps in high productivity and reduction in manpower.

Another advantage of ride on sweepers is dust free sweeping with less fatigue to the operator.

Rohit Bhasin
Regional Head, Forbes PRO – CTS
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Setting trends in uniforms

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Be it cleaning or flying an aircraft, uniforms give an identity to the profession, says Parvez Akhtar, Partner, Trend Setters.
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Since its inception in 2000, Trend Setters, a leading manufacturer and exporter of apparels, has been providing suitable outfits/uniforms to various sectors. Based out of Mumbai, Trend Setters manufactures T-shirts, shirts and other uniforms out of high grade raw material such as cotton knits woven viscose, acrylic and polyester.

Uniforms provide identify to a profession, says Parvez. While white uniforms are easily associated with hospitals, hotels and the navy, many other bright colours like blue, green, maroon and red are being used by many municipal corporations and housekeeping companies.

“We provide uniforms to sectors like hospitals, hotels, marines, schools and even offices. Materials like synthetic are in great demand in the housekeeping industry.” Since the housekeeping staff is engaged in various activities, there is a chance of the uniform bearing stains from spillages, etc. “In case of spillages, synthetic is easy to wash and it also dries quickly. Even in hospitals, synthetic is a most preferred material for nurse and ward boys uniforms. Whereas cotton is the most desired material for the patient’s gown, surgeon’s gown and gloves.”

Trendsetters supply uniforms for Kalsekar hospital in Mumbra, Vits hotel and resort, Ramada Hotel, Hotel A & A at Goa, Indian Oil, Hindustan Facilities, Total Solutions and Krystal Group of Companies.

“We have a well equipped manufacturing unit at Kurla and we are able to meet the bulk requirements of our clients. We are able to provide customized services, CAD services and packaging facilities and have earned a huge client base in India as well as in Europe.” Some of Trend Setters’ major international clients are Sony, Irex, Hadid, Id-Incorp N.S.A (France) and Vinco (Italy).