5 Awesome Ways to Protect Outdoor Stone Floors during Rainy Season

Whenever the rainy season comes, we always focus our attention to our houses to ensure there are no leaks from the roof or loose doors, windows or cracks to let in the rain. However, it is important to also ensure all stone walkways and driveways are well protected during the rainy season.

Stone is natural and porous and this means that over the years, it will be affected by the elements. Rain and heavy wind affect natural stone and rain not only affects the stone from the surface but from the sides as well through the grout. You need to take the following steps to ensure you take care of any floors which will be exposed during the rainy season.

Here are 5 awesome ways to protect outdoor stone floors during the rainy season;

1. Sealing the stone – It is important if you have any outdoor tiles or stones such as marble or limestone, to seal the stone on an annual basis to protect it from the elements. Doing this regularly will ensure you do not have to rush last minute to get it done before the rainy season comes. Ensure you seal the surface of the stone and the grout as well to avoid rain seeping in through the surface or the sides.
2. Felt and Tape – If heavy rains, hurricanes or floods are expected, you can take additional measures by protecting your stone floors by using two layers of felt paper or contractor’s paper felt. Use painters tape to hold the paper onto the stone and then use duct tape over the painters tape to waterproof it. Painters tape, unlike duct tape will not leave a residue on the stone which will not look appealing and will be quite difficult to remove after the rainy season has passed.
3. Dry the surface – Once the rainy season passes, get rid of the paper and mop the floor with a neutral cleaner and let the surface dry. If it is a large area and if you have fans or dehumidifiers use them to ensure the surface dries thoroughly though if given enough time, it will dry out on its own.
4. Cleaning solutions – For an extra touch, you can use a no wax cleaning solution to clean, resurface and give the stone its natural shine. If there are any stains, you can seek solutions that might remove the stains from your local hardware store or seek a professionals help to remove any stains.
5. Maintenance – It is important to protect your stone floors even before the rainy season hits to ensure the maintenance afterwards is minimal. Ensure you use sealant annually to maintain the appearance of the stone floor to ensure it lasts longer and looks great.

Conclusion

Following these amazing tips will be sure to protect your outdoor stone floors during wet weather and ensure they are well maintained for years to come.