Pro-Clean Archives - South West London Tile Doctor

Grout Revamp of a Ceramic Tiled Bathroom Floor in Isleworth

The Grout on this bathroom floor at a property in Isleworth was in quite a state and was bringing down the overall look of the bathroom. Ceramic tiles are impermeable so very easy to clean so although I would include giving them a thorough clean, I knew it was the grout that would be the most work.

Bathroom Floor Grout Before Restoration Isleworth

After taking a look, I realised that the staining was so deep cleaning wouldn’t give a consistent look so immediately recommended colouring the grout and replacing the tired silicone sealant all of which could be done in a day. Happy with my suggestion I worked out a quote which was accepted and a date agreed.

Deep Cleaning Grout on a Ceramic Tiled Floor

To start the grout was given a scrub using pre-treat cleaner, it’s comes in a spray bottle so it’s very easy to apply. It’s an effective ready-to-use cleaner designed to clean and lightly etch the grout to achieve a superior bond with the colourant which would come next.

As part of the cleaning, I also gave the ceramic tiles a light scrub with Tile Doctor Pro-Clean which is an alkaline Tile and Grout cleaning solution. The bathroom floor was a small area so this work was carried out by hand using a scrubbing brush. Once done the floor was rinsed with water and the soiling extracted with a wet vacuum until as dry as possible.

The next step was to strip out the silicone sealant between the tile and verticals; this is done using a sharp knife until all the remnants of silicone are removed. With that completed work moved on to colouring using a bottle of Tile Doctor Grout Colourant in White. The colourant is painted onto the grout line using a small brush and any excess wiped off the tile afterwards. Two coats of colourant were needed to achieve a consistent appearance.

To finish fresh anti-mould silicone sealant in White was applied between the floor tiles and vertical surfaces.

Bathroom Floor Grout After Restoration Isleworth

Once complete the bathroom looked fresh and crisp giving the impression of a new installation. For aftercare cleaning I like to recommend Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner along with a two-chamber mop and bucket that can keep clean and dirty water separate.

Professional Cleaning of Ceramic Tile and Grout in South London

Grout Revamp of a Ceramic Tiled Bathroom Floor in Isleworth Read More »

Multicoloured Slate Tiled Kitchen Floor Surbiton

Multicoloured Slate Kitchen Floor Cleaned and Sealed in Surbiton

1 Comment / Grout Cleaning, Slate Tile Cleaning, Surbiton Tile Cleaning / Daniel Connelly

I was asked to visit a property in Surbiton to resolve a sealer issue with a Multicoloured Slate tiled floor that was laid in the Kitchen and adjacent dining area. The floor had been sealed professionally two years earlier and was showing signs of wear so the client decided to top up the sealer with three further coats. Unfortunately, the sealer went cloudy and the floor now looked awful.

I visited the property to work out a solution and it occurred to me the only guaranteed way to resolve the problem would be to strip the floor of sealer and re-apply. I worked out a detailed quote for the work which was accepted and a date set for the work to start.

Multicoloured Slate Kitchen Floor Before Cleaning Surbiton

Cleaning and Stripping a Multicoloured Slate Tiled Kitchen Floor

To strip off the sealer the floor was sprayed with a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Remove & Go and this was then left to soak into the Slate for ten minutes. Allowing the product to dwell gives it time to break down the sealer and contaminates. The floor was then scrubbed with a Victor Trojan floor buffer fitted with a black pad and an extra 65kg of weight to increase traction with the stone.

I brought along a colleague to work on this floor and worked backwards so as I scrubbed the floor with the Trojan he followed along with a Hyundai wet vacuum to remove the soiling. Removing the waste like these speeds up the operation allowing areas that need further attention to be dealt with quickly.

Multicoloured Slate Kitchen Floor During Cleaning Surbiton

Once the sealer was removed attention turned to the Grout which was cleaned with a dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean scrubbed in by hand with a wire brush. The floor was then washed twice with clean water and a black pad to neutralise the floor and remove any trace of product. The wet vacuum was used again here to remove the dirty water.

Multicoloured Slate Kitchen Floor During Cleaning Surbiton

After a final mop the floor was dried as much as possible with the wet vacuum and then left to dry of naturally overnight.

Sealing a Multicoloured Slate Tiled Kitchen in Surbiton-Upon-Thames

The next day work started by verifying the Slate was dry using a damp meter which confirmed the floor had dried out. With that confirmation the floor was sealed with Tile Doctor X-Tra Seal buffing off the excess with a white buffing pad afterwards.

Tile Doctor X-Tra Seal was chosen for this floor as it’s an oil-based sealer and that add structure to the stone and works well to bring out its features and colour. It’s also extremely durable and leaves an attractive satin finish.

Multicoloured Slate Kitchen Floor After Cleaning Sealing Surbiton

The floor was transformed by the work and my client was extremely pleased with the result. For aftercare I recommended the use if Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner, it has a pH neutral formula that won’t impact the newly applied sealer. Typical household cleaning products tend to be bleach based and can strip off the sealer protecting the stone from ingrained dirt and so best avoided.

Multicoloured Slate Kitchen Floor After Cleaning Sealing Surbiton

Professional Renovation of a Multicoloured Slate Tiled Kitchen Floor in South London

Multicoloured Slate Kitchen Floor Cleaned and Sealed in Surbiton Read More »

Limestone Tiled Shower Cubicle Renovation Isleworth

Stained Limestone Tiled Shower Cubicle Renovated at Isleworth Rental

1 Comment / Grout Cleaning, Limestone Tile Cleaning and Polishing, Twickenham Tile Cleaning / Daniel Connelly

Here we have a Limestone tiled shower cubicle with fifteen years of chemical damage and general grime at a rental property in the Hounslow borough of Isleworth. It had never been professionally cleaned since installation and previous tenants had used Viakal limescale remover.

Limestone Tiled Shower Cubicle Before Renovation Isleworth

Limescale removers like Viakal are acidic with a low pH and will etch natural stone such as Limestone so definitely not recommended. The product states to avoid use on natural stone on the label, which in this case was ignored.

Fortunately, there is a solution however it involves using various grades of diamond burnishing pads to cut back the stone to remove the damage and restore its appearance. I worked out a quote for renovating the stone and cleaning the grout which was equally stained. Happy to have found a solution and keen to have the shower cubicle ready for the next tenant I was asked to go ahead,

Shower Tile and Grout Cleaning

I started off by cleaning the grout with a wire brush and Tile Doctor Pro-Clean. Unfortunately, the grout was so bad it couldn’t get it consistently clean so decided to apply a grout colourant on it later.

Next attention turned to resurfacing the Limestone starting with the application of a 400-grit 6-inch pad fitted to a DeWalt machine. The pads are applied with water for lubrication and are designed to resurface the stone to remove the etching. I very quickly realised however the 400-grit wasn’t having the desired effect so I dropped down to a 200-grit pad, this also didn’t work so I went down to a 100-grit. This did the job and the Limestone started to show improvement.

The 100-grit pad was then run across the all the effected Limestone again using water for lubrication. Once done the tiles were rinsed with water to remove and the pad switched for a 200-grit. This process was then repeated working through increasingly finer pads of 400, 800 and then finally 1500-grit.

Once the whole shower was burnished in this was the remaining water was vacuumed away with a Hyundai wet vac and the shower left to dry with a fan in place. When I came back, I checked the results of the burnishing and realised there were still visible marks on some of the Limestone tiles and so repeated the process starting with the 400-grit pad and up; eventually after around 6-7 hours I had the desired finish.

Sealing Limestone Shower Tiles

A lot of water was used during the burnishing so I left the shower to dry overnight and added the finishing touches the following day. This included cutting out the silicone sealant and sealing the stone with Tile Doctor Ultra-Seal. I wanted to keep the stone light so decided against using a colour enhancer.

After allowing two hours for drying the last steps were to colour the grout using one of Tile Doctor’s Grout Colourants in a Limestone colour and then apply fresh silicone mastic around the edges.

Limestone Tiled Shower Cubicle After Renovation Isleworth

This was the hardest job I’ve done so far but the result was worth it. The shower cubicle looked like a new installation and my customer was very happy with the result; they had very low expectations and this far surpassed them.

Professional Stone Tiled Wet Room Renovation in Berkshire

Stained Limestone Tiled Shower Cubicle Renovated at Isleworth Rental Read More »

Ceramic Tile and Grout Renovation Richmond

Colour Restored to Black Grout on a Ceramic Tiled Floor in Richmond

1 Comment / Ceramic Tile Cleaning, Grout Cleaning, Richmond Tile Cleaning / Daniel Connelly

This customer from Richmond called Tile Doctor due to see what could be done to improve the Grout on their Ceramic tiled floor which had been installed throughout the ground floor. Having previously called in a cleaning company to deep clean the tile and grout it now needed remedial work to restore the appearance of the grout. The grout had originally been painted black and this had been badly scrapped by the cleaning company leaving it in a bad state, also he felt the tiles could had not been cleaned properly either.

Having visited the property to survey the floor I was able to reassure the customer that the Grout could be restored and discussed the benefits of the Tile Doctor Grout Colourants. These colourants are made from epoxy and are much more hard wearing than the paint-based product which we usually only recommend for touching up.

Ceramic Tile and Grout Floor Before Cleaning Richmond

Ceramic Tile and Grout Bathroom Floor Before Cleaning Richmond

I worked out a quote for deep cleaning the tiles and colouring the grout with a black colourant to restore the appearance of the floor. After reviewing and answering any questions they quote was accepted and a date scheduled.

Deep Cleaning a Ceramic Floor Tiles

I started off by checking the whole floor for missing grout and then raking out the problem areas and re-filling using a fast-drying black grout.

Attention then turned to deep cleaning the Ceramic floor tiles starting with the application of a medium dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean. This was left mopped onto the floor and then left for ten minutes before being worked into the tiles using a Victor Trojan floor buffer fitted with a Black scrubbing pad. The pad is run over each tile several times moving slowly with small circles to ensure the floor was getting a good scrub and I was getting everything off.

Ceramic Tile and Grout Floor During Cleaning Richmond

There was also a small toilet area to be done which was too small for the Victor machine so and I did this using the same process but with a handheld Dewalt polisher fitted with with a 6-inch black scrubbing pad. Once an area had been scrubbed it was rinsed with water and then all the liquids extracted using an industrial wet vacuum.

Once the floor was cleaned work started on epoxy sealing the grout using Tile Doctor Black epoxy grout colourant, this not only seals the grout but also gives everything a uniformed colour the whole way through. I didn’t need to wire brush and clean the grout on this occasion as the grout had already been cleaned earlier.

In total It took three coats of Black grout colourant to achieve the desired effect and nine hours of hard work on my hands and knees.

Ceramic Tile and Grout Bathroom Floor After Renovation Richmond

Ceramic Tile and Grout Floor After Cleaning Richmond

When finished the Ceramic tiled floor was cleaner, the black grout had been restored and my customer was very happy and requested I return to renovate two bathrooms. For aftercare cleaning I recommended they use Tile Doctor Neutral Cleaner which is a mild yet effective product.

Ceramic Tile and Grout Colour Restoration in South London

Colour Restored to Black Grout on a Ceramic Tiled Floor in Richmond Read More »

Acid Stained Marble Floor Renovation Twickenham

Shine Restored to a Dull Marble Tiled Wet Room Floor in Twickenham

1 Comment / Work History / Daniel Connelly

I was asked to renovate a beautiful dark Marble tiled floor in the wet room of a property in Twickenham. My clients had the tiles installed ten years ago and had never had it professionally cleaned in that time, over the years they had maintained the stone poorly using general floor cleaning products.

Unfortunately, cleaning products with an acid base are not suitable for use on calcium-based stone like Marble, Limestone, Terrazzo and Travertine. The acid reduces the life of the sealer and can react with the calcium leaving stains and, in some cases, etching.

Acid Stained Marble Floor Before Renovation Twickenham

I was able to reassure the client that although the Marble looked beyond renovation it was not the case and that they could be restored to their original condition. They are not the only clients to have had this issue with polished stone and Tile Doctor has worked out a solution that can be used to restore their original polished appearance.

Relieved there was a solution I was asked to provide a quote which was accepted and a date for the work to start agreed.

Cleaning and Repairing a Marble Tiled Bathroom

To start we did a small test in the corner to be sure the renovation plan would be successful, although we have worked on many of these situations before, we still like to do a small verification test before starting any job.

All was well with the test, so the remedy was deployed to the whole floor. This begins with the application of a coarse 400-grit diamond burnishing pad to the floor worked in with water and a solution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean. This combination removes any remaining sealer and dirt from the marble as well as removing etching. A wet vacuum is then used to extract the slurry from the surface.

Acid Stained Marble Floor During Renovation Twickenham

Once satisfied the tile was ready for the next pad we then went to work with a medium 800-grit pad to deep clean and begin to hone the tile to restore its polished appearance using only water. After another rinse and extraction, we then moved onto the fine 1500-grit pad to bring the tile to a polished appearance again using water for lubrication.

The last pad is a super fine 3500-grit pad which is applied dry using only a small amount of water sprayed onto the tile to fully polish the marble. Our client didn’t want a high gloss, so we concentrated more on giving the tile a nice depth and low shine.

Sealing a Marble Tiled Bathroom

Once the Marble tiles had dried, they were sealed using Tile Doctor X-Tra seal, wiping small amounts into the tile at a time and then removing the excess with a clean cloth. This is especially important with oil-based sealers as too much oil left in the tile will make it sticky once dry and leave a light residue on the surface.

Acid Stained Marble Floor After Renovation Twickenham

X-Tra Seal is rated for external use which makes it a good choice for wet areas, it’s also an impregnator that soaks into the stone protecting it from within and ensuring contaminates remaining on the surface where they can be cleaned away.

Once complete the Marble had a very attractive low gloss finish that was protected and ready for anything they could throw at it…anything but acid-based cleaners! It’s important that if you do ever accidently use the wrong cleaner you immediately wash it away with plenty of clean water. This will neutralise the acid and hopefully save the floor. For a sealed and polished floor like this I recommend Tile Doctor Stone Soap which contains a patina enhancer.

Acid Stained Marble Floor After Renovation Twickenham

Professional Renovation of Marble Flooring in a South London Bathroom

Shine Restored to a Dull Marble Tiled Wet Room Floor in Twickenham Read More »

Professional Restoration of Kitchen Quarry Tiles in Twickenham

Neglected Quarry Tile and Grout Professionally Cleaned in Twickenham Kitchen

1 Comment / Grout Cleaning, Quarry Tile Cleaning, Twickenham Tile Cleaning / Daniel Connelly

This Quarry tiled floor was installed in the kitchen of a property in Twickenham thirty-eight years prior. The tiles had never been professionally cleaned or sealed since installation and as you can see from the photograph both the tile and grout were in need of restoration.

Quarry Tiled Kitchen Floor Before Professional Tile Cleaning Twickenham

Having visited the property to inspect the floor I recommended giving the tile and grout a deep clean to remove the years of ingrained dirt and then sealing with a breathable sealant that would improve the appearance of the tiles. The main function of the sealer is to prevent dirt from becoming lodged in the porous clay tile, this keeps it on the surface where it can be easily cleaned away. Whilst at the property I also discussed potentially colouring the grout as it was badly stained and may not respond as hoped.

I worked out a quote for the restoration which was accepted and a date agreed for the work to start.

Deep Cleaning a Quarry Tiled Kitchen Floor

The first part of this job was the restoration of the tiles themselves; stained with years of ingrained dirt they needed a deep clean with a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean. For the best results this is sprayed onto the tile and grout and then left to soak in for ten minutes before scrubbing with the black pad fitted to a buffing machine.

The grout was also hand scrubbed at this point with a wire brush and more Pro-Clean, I find the pads can struggle to reach into the recesses of the grout line, so this ensures a better clean. Once done the soiled cleaning solution was then extracted using a wet vacuum.

Next the floor was given an acid rinse with Tile Doctor Grout Clean-Up which was mopped onto the floor and then brushed in. This further cleans up the tiles and removes old grout smears, it also neutralises the floor following the use of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean which is a strong alkaline.

The floor was then given a thorough rinse to remove any trace of product and dried as much as possible with the wet vacuum. Once done the floor was left to dry out for a few days.

Upon my return I noticed that as the floor dried several areas of efflorescence (White salts) had appeared, probably due to the amount of water needed during cleaning. This will have pushed salts up to the surface as the moisture in the tiles evaporated. To resolve this, I gave the floor a further clean with a weak solution of Tile Doctor Grout Clean-up which being an acidic dissolved the salts.

Applying White Grout Colourant to a Quarry Tiled Kitchen Floor

The floor was then inspected, and it was agreed that although the grout lines were much cleaner than before they were still stained in places, and this was bringing down the overall appearance of the tiles. So, it was decided to implement my contingency plan and colour the grout using a Tile Doctor Grout Colourant in White.

Quarry Tiled Kitchen Floor During Grout Colouring Twickenham

The colourant is painted onto the grout any excess is wiped off the adjacent tile as you progress. It doesn’t take long to apply however there were a lot of grout lines to cover due to the small size of the tiles.

Sealing a Quarry Tiled Kitchen Floor

With the cleaning complete and the grout issues resolved it was time to move onto the final part of the floor restoration by sealing the tiles. Having discussed the required finish earlier the customer had chosen Tile Doctor Seal and Go Extra for this. This product provides a lovely low sheen finish and due to the porosity of the clay Quarry tiles it took seven coats before the floor was fully sealed.

Once complete the work really lifted the appearance of the quarry tiles which were more colourful and brighter. Also, the new sealer along with the protection provided by the Grout Colourant will make maintenance cleaning much easier.

Overall, the floor came out well and my client was very happy, leaving positive feedback and more work booked in for a later date.

Quarry Tiled Kitchen Floor After Professional Tile Cleaning Twickenham

Before leaving I recommended, they use Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner for cleaning going forward, this product is safe to use on sealed tiles and won’t harm the sealer.

Professional Restoration of a Quarry Tiled Kitchen in Southwest London

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Black Slate Kitchen Floor Renovation Richmond London

Cleaning and Sealing a Black Slate Kitchen Floor in Richmond KT2

1 Comment / Grout Cleaning, Richmond Tile Cleaning, Slate Tile Cleaning / Daniel Connelly

This is a black slate floor in Richmond that had been stripped of its natural oils and sealer due to the client using a steam mop repeatedly over the years. The floor also had missing grout that needed replacing before cleaning could commence.

Black Slate Floor Before Cleaning Richmond KT2

The flat wasn’t on the ground floor so there was a concern that the missing grout may result in water getting under the tile causing damage to the floor and not to mention the ceiling of the property below.

Repairing Grout and Cleaning a Black Slate Tiled Kitchen Floor

The first thing I did was to protect all the Kitchen units by covering them in a drop cloth. Once that was done work started on the grout lines which involved raking out the loose grout and replacing with a fast-setting grout in matching grey.

Once the grout had set attention moved onto to cleaning the Black Slate tiles which without the protection of a sealer contained a lot of ingrained dirt. To clean the tiles a medium strength dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean was sprayed onto the floor and left to soak in for ten minutes. The floor was then scrubbed with a carbide brush fitted to a handheld De Walt polishing machine, I then used a Hyundai wet vacuum to hoover up the water and sediment that had come up during cleaning.

Next, I scrubbed the grout with a mixture of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean, water and a wire brush. To finish I gave the tiles a light acid wash using Tile Doctor Grout Clean-Up diluted with water. I vacuumed this off, washed the tiles down with water and gave it a final vacuum to get it as dry as possible.

Black Slate Floor After Cleaning Richmond KT2

The floor was then left to dry out, leaving a floor dryer with the client to run for a few hours more before turning off and leaving the floor overnight.

Sealing a Black Slate Tiled Kitchen in Richmond-Upon-Thames

On my return, after establishing the stone had completely dried out, I applied two coats of Tile Doctor X-Tra Seal. The sealer was worked into the floor with a cloth using small amounts at a time polishing off the excess as I went along. It’s important to do this with this sealer otherwise it can get slightly tacky if too much is left on the surface.

Tile Doctor Xtra Seal was chosen for this floor as it’s an oil-based sealer and that add structure to the stone and works well to bring out its features and colour. It’s also extremely durable and leaves a nice low satin finish.

Black Slate Floor After Renovation Richmond KT2

The floor was transformed by the work and my client was extremely pleased with the result. For aftercare I recommended the use if Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner, it has a pH neutral formula that won’t impact the newly applied sealer. Typical household cleaning products tend to be bleach based and will strip off the sealer protecting the stone from ingrained dirt and so best avoided.

Professional Renovation of a Black Slate Tiled Kitchen in South London

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Quarry Tiled Kitchen Floor Renovation Worcester Park

Renovating a Quarry Tiled Kitchen Floor in Worcester Park

1 Comment / Grout Cleaning, Quarry Tile Cleaning, Surbiton Tile Cleaning / Daniel Connelly

I was asked to renovate a Quarry tiled floor in the Kitchen of an older property in the South London suburb of Worcester Park . I was informed the Quarry tiled floor was in fact 130 years old Quarry floor and had not been professionally cleaned for 45 years.

I went over to the property to survey the tiles and could see the tile and grouting had experienced a lot of staining over the years. The floor had layers of old sealer, which I suspect was a wax-based product, as well as paint, adhesives and cement. All of which would need to be removed

Quarry Tiled Kitchen Floor Before Renovation Worcester Park

I worked out a quote that would involve stripping the floor, deep cleaning the tiles and then re-sealing with a modern sealer. The client was happy with my quote, and so we scheduled a date for the work to start.

Deep Cleaning and Restoring a Quarry and Quarry Tiled Floor

To strip the floor of old sealers etc. I applied a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Remove and Go and left it to soak into the Quarry tiles for a good ten to fifteen minutes. The solution was then worked in with a Carbide Brush fitted to a weighted rotary floor buffer. The resultant slurry was rinsed away and then extracted with a wet vacuum. The floor was then inspected and repeated with stubborn areas spot treated with hand tools until I was happy all the old sealer was gone.

The grout lines also need attention so these were scrubbing by hand using Tile Doctor Pro-Clean and a wire brush. I find this is the best way to clean grout as pads can struggle to reach into the recesses of the grout. Some of the grout was badly stained however so short of replacing it the best I could do was to get it as clean as possible. Once done I rinsed the floor with water again and extracted the soiling with a wet vacuum as before.

Last step in the cleaning process was to treat the floor to an acid rinse using a medium dilution of Tile Doctor Grout-Clean-up. This is an acidic product that will dissolve old grout smears, efflorescence and other mineral deposits left of the tiles, it also neutralises the pH level of the floor following the use of Remove and Go which is a strong alkaline. The product is brushed into the tiles and then removed as before with more water and a wet vacuum.

After a final rinse the floor was dried as much as possible using the wet vacuum and left to dry off overnight.

Sealing a Quarry Tiled Barn Conversion Floor

Returning the next I started by taking several readings with a damp meter. It’s not a good idea to apply a sealer to a damp floor as the results can be inconsistent so I always like to check. The readings were within tolerance so I was able to apply the first of what would be six coats of Tile Doctor’s Seal and Go Extra which I felt was the best choice for sealing this floor. The floor looked patchy for a while and I was slightly concerned however the sealer eventually filled the tiles up and was left with a nice finish.

I chose Seal and Go Extra because it’s a fully breathable sealer that adds a nice subtle sheen to the tiles which matches the customers’ expectations. It was important to choose a breathable sealer as these old floors don’t have the benefit of a damp proof membrane and any moisture under the floor will be able to rise through the tile and evaporate at the surface un-hindered.

Quarry Tiled Kitchen Floor After Renovation Worcester Park

Once completed, the floor looked fantastic, not only was the Quarry Tile and Grout looking so much cleaner the sealer had enhanced the orange colour in the Quarry tiles. Needless to say, my customer was very happy with the result.

For aftercare I recommended Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner which is designed for the safe and effective cleaning of sealed floors without impacting the sealer.

Quarry Tiled Kitchen Floor After Renovation Worcester Park

Professional Cleaning of a Quarry Tiled Floor in South London

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Terracotta Tiled Kitchen Floor Renovation Richmond

Deep Cleaning a Filthy Terracotta Tiled floor in Richmond

1 Comment / Grout Cleaning, Richmond Tile Cleaning, Terracotta Tile Cleaning / Daniel Connelly

This Orange and Red Terracotta tiled floor at property near Richmond was absolutely filthy and proved to be a real challenge to get clean. It clearly hadn’t been professionally cleaned for some time and when I went to do the survey, I could see a build-up of grease and old sealer throughout.

Due to its porosity Terracotta is particularly vulnerable and to keep its appearance the sealer needs to be maintained correctly as it will wear in the busiest areas with use. In this case I was able to re-assure the homeowner that I would be able to strip off all the old layers of sealer, deep clean the tiles and re-seal to leave it looking like a new floor.

Terracotta Tiled Kitchen Floor Before Cleaning Richmond

Happy with my quote I got the go-ahead and we agreed a date to start the work which should take two days, one to strip and clean and the other to seal.

Removing Sealer and Cleaning a Terracotta Tiled Kitchen Floor

To strip the sealer off the Terracotta floor I applied a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Remove and Go which is a powerful alkaline coatings remover that’s safe to use on Tile and Stone. The solution was sprayed on to the kitchen floor and then left to soak in for fifteen minutes to give it time to break down the sealer and soils.

I then inspected the floor and could see a lot more work would be needed to get it completely free of old sealer and dirt. As a result, there was nothing for it but to get down on my knees scrapping everything off the tiles with more Remove and Go. I found most of the old sealer and grease just flaked off but some areas were difficult. I had some assistance from a DeWalt handheld buffing machine fitted with a stiff brush but it was still very hard work, especially around the edges of the kitchen as my hands barely fit underneath the units.

After about six hours I was satisfied everything was removed and I could turn my attention to the grout. For this I hand scrubbed the grout lines using a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean rinsing and extracting as I went.

Terracotta Tiled Kitchen Floor During Renovation Richmond

Last step in the cleaning process was to treat the tiles to an acid wash which will further clean the tiles and equalise the floors pH level after the use of alkaline cleaners earlier. I used Tile Doctor Grout Clean-Up for this which was first scrubbed in, then rinsed with water and extracted as before. The floor was rinsed down again two more times with water to remove any trace of product. I used the wet vacuum used to extract as much moisture from the floor as possible so it can have a better chance of drying out overnight.

Sealing a Terracotta Tiled Kitchen Floor

When I called back seal the Terracotta, I first checked the moisture readings in several areas with a damp meter to verify the floor was nice and dry. All was well so several coats of a Tile Doctor Seal and Go Extra were applied to the floor allowing forty minutes drying time between coats.

The new sealer left the now clean Terracotta tiles with an attractive mid satin finish and
looked fantastic and was doubly improved by the grout cleaning which had responded well to the Pro-Clean. The customer was very pleased with the transformation in their floor which now looked clean and bright.

Terracotta Tiled Kitchen Floor After Renovation Richmond

Before leaving we left the customer with a bottle of Tile Doctor Neutral cleaner for aftercare. To get the best from their Terracotta tiles it’s important that customers use the correct product for regular maintenance cleaning from the start, stronger products will reduce the life of the sealer.

Professional Clean and Seal of a Mexican Terracotta Tiled Kitchen in South London

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Large Limestone Floor Cleaned, Polished and Sealed in Surbiton

1 Comment / Grout Cleaning, Limestone Tile Cleaning and Polishing, Surbiton Tile Cleaning / Daniel Connelly

This large Limestone tiled floor at a property in Surbiton had been recently maintained by a cleaning company who didn’t do a thorough job. They hadn’t done anything to improve the polish on the Limestone and unfortunately stripped off the original sealer during cleaning leaving it vulnerable to ingrained dirt.

Limestone Floor Before Cleaning Surbiton

The stone floor now looked very flat and lifeless and I was asked to do the job properly, including deep cleaning the grout, polishing the stone and finally replacing the sealer.

Stripping and Polishing Tumbled Limestone Tiles

I started work by focusing on the grout which had become darkened with dirt. For this I applied a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean along the grout lines, left it to soak in for a few minutes and then worked it in with a wire brush. This process turned the grout from Black back to White and the dirt was rinsed off with water and extracted with a wet vacuum.

Limestone Floor During Cleaning Surbiton

Limestone Floor During Grout Cleaning Surbiton

The next step was to burnish the stone using a set of Diamond encrusted pads of increasing grits that range from a coarse 400-grit to a very fine 3000-grit. The pads are fitted to the rotary machine and are run across the whole floor lubricating with water which darkens as the dirt is lifted out of the stone. Each pad is moved slowly across the floor with the machine leaving small rings on each pass. The floor is then rinsed and all the slurry with a wet vacuum after each pad.

It was a large floor that extended from the hallway into the Kitchen so it took some time to cover every section thoroughly. I stopped one the 1500-grit pad had been applied and after another rinse and extraction left the floor to dry off overnight.

Sealing Limestone Tiles

I returned the next morning and set about sealing the floor with Tile Doctor Ultra-Seal which is an impregnating natural look sealer that soaks into the pores of the Limestone protecting it from within. The sealer will ensure any dirt remains on the surface where it can be easily cleaned away.

I left the sealer to dry for an hour before polishing the floor with the last in the set of burnishing pads which is a 3000-grit pad. I covered every angle of light to make sure I’d left no smudges anywhere. This pad is applied with only a little water sprayed on to the stone as its run over the surface, this technique is known as a spray burnish and leaves the floor dry.

Limestone Floor After Polishing Surbiton

Before leaving I took time to discuss aftercare cleaning which for polished stone floors, I recommend Tile Doctor Stone Soap which not only cleans but also help maintain the patina on polished stone.

Limestone Floor After Polishing Surbiton

Professional Renovation of a Large Polished Limestone Floor in South London

Large Limestone Floor Cleaned, Polished and Sealed in Surbiton Read More »