From: "Roy" 
Newsgroups: misc.consumers.house
Subject: Brick, concrete and flagstone floors
Date: Fri, 7 Nov 2003 22:12:22 -0700

I have just purchased a house in New Mexico that has brick, concrete and
flagstone floors.  What a change from wall-to-wall carpeting!
The concrete floors seem to be in fairly good condition.  I just vacuum and/or
mop them.  However, I could really use some help on cleaning and preserving the
brick and especially the flagstone floors.  Some of the flagstones seem to be a
little loose, no movement, just sound loose and/or hollow, and the mortar is
crumbling in some places.  Does anyone have suggestions on ways to patch the
mortar?  Is there anything that can be applied to flagstone and brick floors to
preserve them?  Floor wax?
There is radiant heating from beneath the floors too.  It seems to work rather
well.  I don't know if that will limit what I can apply to the floors.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.