A3MachinesInfo

Multiple Victorian Tiled Floors Restored at a Property in Boston Lincolnshire

Thu, 02 Nov 2023 16:26:10 +0000

I recently worked on several Victorian Tiled floors at a property in the Lincolnshire market town of Boston. With a few exceptions the tiles were generally in good condition and just needed a deep clean and fresh seal. The exceptions were a several areas of loose tiles that needed to be refitted before the cleaning process could begin.

Lose tiles are a quote common with tiled floor of this age and something I am more than happy to deal with. Another issue was that some of the floors had been covered in carpet and there were still some remnants of underlay stuck to the tiles when I arrived.

Old floors like this were not built with a damp-proof membrane under the floor to stop moisture rising up from the subfloor, as a result the tiles should be left to breathe and not covered up or this can result in a build-up of damp and the appearance of efflorescence. I had to consider this when planning the restoration and I made sure to point out to the owner that it would be necessary to use a fully breathable sealer.

Restoring Victorian Floor Tiles in Boston

On the first day I set about lifting the loose tiles, cleaning up the base and then re-securing the original Victorian tiles with fresh adhesive and grout. It’s always interesting when lifting old tiles as some manufacturers such as Minton marked their products underneath. After making the repairs I left the floor to set fully overnight.

I came back on day and setup my equipment ready for deep cleaning the tiles. Working in sections I applied a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean which is our go to Tile and Grout Cleaner. This is sprayed into the tiles and then left to soak in for at least ten minutes before being worked in with a 200-grit and then 400-grit diamond pad fitted to a weighted buffer machine.

The pads are run over each part of the floor which generates a lot of soiling and then the soiling is removed using an industrial wet vacuum. Once complete each section is reviewed and any stubborn areas retreated to the same process or spot cleaned by hand as necessary until I was happy the floor was clean.

Once the initial clean was done I treated the floor to an acid rinse with an application of Tile Doctor Acid Gel. This step further cleans up the tiles, removes grout smears and will also dissolve any efflorescent salts lurking in the tiles. After a final rinse and extraction, the cleaning process was completed and the floor was left to dry out overnight.

Sealing Victorian Floor Tiles in Boston

On the third day the floor was first tested with a damp meter to ensure it had dried before starting to apply the sealer. This is an important check as applying a sealer to a damp floor can result in a patchy appearance.

I had discussed the different types of sealer with the owner when I came to survey the floor and it was clear they preferred a matt rather than glossy appearance; also given we needed to use a fully breathable sealer I decided to go with Tile Doctor Colour Grow which would also improve the colours in the tiles.

Several coats were applied, allowing time between each coat to dry. Fortunately, I had a couple of floors to work on so as one was drying, I was able to apply sealer to the other.

The floors were transformed by the work and the new sealer should keep them looking that way for many years to come. Before leaving I took time to discuss on-going maintenance cleaning with the owner and recommended they use a pH neutral tile cleaning products such as Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner. I always mention this as other products are simply too strong and contain bleach which can damage the sealer reducing its life.

Source: Victorian Floor Cleaning and Restoration Service in Lincolnshire

Achieving a Deep Shine on Polished Marble Flooring in in Merseyside

Sun, 09 Jul 2023 16:48:12 +0100

A client in the Merseyside village of Thornton asked me to come over to see what could be done about their Marble tiled floor which ran from the hallway into the kitchen and dining room. Over the years the Marble had lost its polished appearance which is not uncommon with polished stone as the shine does wear down with use.

It’s worth mentioning at this point that Tile Doctor offer a maintenance plan for owners of these types of floors whereby we pop in once a year for a few hours to bring up the polish on the floor and top up the sealer. Before I could offer that option though the floor needed to be stripped back, burnished and re-sealed.

Cleaning a Marble Polished Tiled Kitchen and Hallway Floor in Thornton

To start I gave the floor a wash with Tile Doctor Pro-Clean which was left to soak into the tile and grout for ten minutes before scrubbing it in with a black pad fitted to a rotary floor machine. Then a little water was added to the floor and the grout lines scrubbed by hand using a stiff brush. The dirt was then removed with a wet vacuum.

The next job was to add extra weight to the floor machine to improve contact with the Marble tiles during the next process of burnishing which involves the application of a set of diamond pads of increasingly finer grits. The first burnishing pad used was a 400-grit which removes light scratches and old sealers; water is used for lubrication and the pad is run over each of the tiles four times making sure to cover the full tile. Once done the floor is then rinsed off with water and the soiling generated is extracted with a wet vacuum.

This process is then repeated with a finer 800-grit pad and then a 1500-grit pad which further brings up the polish on the tile. The floor was rinsed and dried by wet vacuum and then left to dry off completely overnight.

Sealing Marble Polished Tiled Kitchen and Hallway Floor

The next day I applied the last Tile Doctor Burnishing Pad which is a very fine 3000-grit pad, this time applied with only a spray of water which is a process we refer to as a spray burnish. This last pad builds on the polished appearance of the marble really bringing up the shine.

The final step was to seal the Marble floor using several coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow which is an impregnating sealer that protects the tiles and improves colour. Once dry the floor was given a buff with a White buffing pad leaving a deep shine to the floor.

Once complete the floor looked fantastic, the grout was much cleaner and the Marble had a deep shine you could see your reflection in. The client was delighted with the outcome and I’ve made a note to get in touch with them next year about a maintenance visit. In the meantime, I’ve recommended they clean the floor with Tile Doctor Stone Soap which is ideal for maintaining the patina on polished stone floors.

Source: Marble Floor Tile Cleaning and Polishing Services in Merseyside

Terracotta Floor Deep Cleaned and Sealed in Mablethorpe Lincolnshire

Wed, 17 May 2023 18:55:59 +0100

Details below of a Terracotta Tiled floor that was installed in the Kitchen, Hallway and WC of a house in Mablethorpe. You can see from the photographs below that the floor was not looking its best having been splashed with paint from decorating and overdue a deep clean and seal.

Terracotta tiles are very porous and need to be sealed to prevent dirt from becoming ingrained in the tile as once that happens, they become very difficult to keep clean and just look permanently dirty. Unfortunately, sealers wear off with use and so overtime dirt starts to become lodged in the tiles. Another problem we find is the premature degradation of the sealer due to the use of bleach-based supermarket floor cleaning products that are simply too strong for use on a sealed floor.

Having surveyed the floor I could see straight away that the tiles needed a deep clean to remove the ingrained dirt and deal with the paint spots, then resealing with a durable product that will enhance the look of the floor and importantly protect the Terracotta. I worked out a quote for the renovation work which my client was happy to accept and a date was set for my return.

Deep Cleaning Terracotta Floor Tiles

To get the tiles clean we applied a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean mixed 50/50 with Nanotech Ultra Clean which combines well to produce a heavy-duty alkaline cleaner/coatings stripper. This combination is ideal for working with difficult floors and for best results I spray the solution onto the tile and grout and leave it soak in for ten to twenty minutes. Long dwell times give the product more time to work breaking down the dirt and softening up the paint.

The next step was to work the products into the floor using a black scrubbing pad fitted to a rotary machine running at a slow speed. Once done the resultant slurry was rinsed off with water and then extracted with a wet vacuum. The floor was inspected and any stubborn staining was spot treated using the same process until I was completely happy the floor was clean.

The floor was still quite wet at this stage with small puddles of water forming in the dips of the uneven floor; the wet vacuum took care of most of this but the floor was still too damp for sealing so I left a couple of air blowers to assist with the drying of the floor and returned two days later to start the sealing.

Sealing Terracotta Floor Tiles

When I returned the floor was mainly dry but there were a couple of damp spots which I took care of with a heat gun. Tile Doctor Seal and Go was used to seal the floor; Terracotta can be very porous so eight coats were required to completely seal the floor so it was some time before it was finished.

When finished, I gave the customer instructions on how to maintain the floor using Tile Doctor Neutral Clean which is a mild but effective Tile and Grout cleaner. He was over the moon with the result and said that it had far exceeded his expectations which is always nice to hear.

Source: Terracotta Floor Cleaning and Renovation Services in Mablethorpe Lincolnshire

Stripping and Re-Sealing a Slate Tile Kitchen Floor in Scunthorpe

Mon, 01 May 2023 06:30:42 +0100

I was approached by the owner of a property in Scunthorpe, who wanted me to restore the appearance of the Slate tiles in their Kitchen and Hallway. They had previously another company to clean the floor but it was clear that they had little experience of cleaning sealed floors and had struggled to remove what was left of the original seal leaving the floor in a worse state.

Sealer wears in the busiest sections of a floor first, so to achieve a nice even finish its vital to strip off all the original sealer before cleaning and then re-sealing. To prove our ability to restore the floor, I conducted a demonstration on a small test area, which satisfied the owner that we were capable of the job. We scheduled a date for my return to do the work which would take two days, one to strip off the old sealer and deep clean the floor and the second to apply a fresh seal.

Cleaning slate Floor Tiles in Scunthorpe

To strip off the sealer and deep clean the tile and grout I used a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Remove and Go which is an alkaline product safe to use on natural stone such as Slate. We primarily use this product for removing coatings such as sealers, adhesives, and paint splashes however it’s also a good tile cleaner as well.

The product is applied by diluting it into an industrial sprayer and then spraying the solution onto the floor. It’s then left to soak in for ten minutes so it can get to work breaking down the coatings etc. The solution is then scrubbed into the tile and grout using a Black pad fitted to a rotary machine which is run over each tile several times.

The pads can struggle to reach into the recesses of the grout lines so to get the grout clean Tile Doctor Pro-Clean is applied to the grout line and scrubbed in by hand with a stiff brush.

Finally, I gave the floor a through rinse with water and then extracted the soiling with a wet vacuum. The Slate tile and grout was then inspected and the process repeated where required until I was satisfied all the old sealer was gone and the floor was as clean as it could be.

Sealing Slate Floor Tiles in Scunthorpe

The next day I checked the floor was dry using a moister meter which thankfully it was and so I was able to apply the sealer which for this floor I had chosen Tile Doctor Colour Grow.

This product was chosen due its matt finish and its colour enhancing formula which brought out the deep rich tones in the dark Slate. This product is an impregnator which works by seeping into the stone, occupying the small pores and thereby preventing dirt from becoming ingrained there. Its hard wearing, ideal for use in a Kitchen and will provide maximum stain protection for many years to come.

My customer was happy to finally have the floor looking they way it was when it was installed and relieved to have found a local company that could maintain the floor for her in the future.

For aftercare I advised the use of Tile Doctor Neutral Cleaner, part of the problem with stone floors is the use of strong cleaning products which are not designed for use on sealed floors and will cause the sealer to erode prematurely.

Source: Slate Floor Tile Renovation Services in Scunthorpe Lincolnshireshire

Victorian Hallway Floor Renovated in Cartmel Cumbria

Wed, 11 Jan 2023 08:20:49 +0000

Pictures below are from a Victorian tiled floor we recently renovated in the South Cumbrian village of Cartmel. The house had experienced a bit of subsidence in the past, which had settled long ago, but left a series of cracks running through from the front door to the staircase.

The owner of the property had decided to get the floor renovated and wondered if anything could be done to improve the cracks and reset several tiles which had become loose. Having restored numerous period floors previously I was confident all these problems could be resolved and the floor renovated to a high standard.

Repairing and Cleaning a Victorian Tiled Floor

Before cleaning the floor needed to be secure so the subsidence issues had to be resolved first. I had to take out several loose tiles, rake out the old adhesive and grout and then reset them with fresh rapid setting adhesive and grout. Then to resolve the cracking a colour matching grout filler was pushed into the gaps and this disguised the cracks quite well.

Once the repairs had set the cleaning process could begin starting with the application Tile Doctor Remove and Go worked in with a coarse 200-grit milling pad. Remove and Go is a powerful tile cleaning product that as the name suggests will remove all sorts of coatings such as sealers.

Small hand-held Diamond blocks were used for cleaning up the Yellow tiles, these tiles contain sand in the clay to give it the colour as such they are always the most porous and most difficult to get clean. However we have found using a set of handheld Diamond blocks of different grits we can open up the pores of the clay, release the ingrained dirt and then close the pores ready for the final clean and seal.

The final clean involves giving the floor an acid rinse for which I use Tile Doctor Grout Clean Up. This final step removes old grout smears, clay resin and also counters the use of alkaline cleaning products such as Remove and Go leaving the floor with a neutral ph. Lastly it etches the clay slightly resulting in a stronger bond with the sealer, improved finish, and better performance.

Sealing a Victorian Tiled Floor

To seal the floor a thin coat of X-Tra Seal was applied, this is an Oil based Impregnating sealer that soaks into the pores of the clay tile protecting it from within and helping the colours to pop out. Additional this sealer is fully breathable which is an important consideration when dealing with a floor laid in the Victorian era without the benefit of a damp proof membrane.

As usual before leaving we like to advise the customer on how to maintain the tiles using a compatible cleaning product such as Tile Doctor Neutral Cleaner. This aftercare product has a neutral ph. which won’t impact the sealer like many of the standard bleach based products you find in supermarkets.

Source: Victorian Floor Cleaning and Renovation Service in Cartmel South Cumbria

Deep Cleaning and Sealing a Travertine Tiled Kitchen Floor in Cardiff South Wales

Mon, 28 Nov 2022 02:50:37 +0000

I actually laid this Travertine floor in Cardiff myself back in 2010 and since then it has experienced a lot of wear and tear. The floor was installed throughout the kitchen and adjacent diner which are some of the busiest rooms in the house, also the client owned dogs which spent a lot of time in the kitchen.

Deciding it was high time for a refresh the client got in touch to have me return and to discuss some other tiling work they required. During my visit to look at the other work I could visibly see how much this floor needed a thorough renovation. Before starting work I suggested that I carry out a test clean on one tile to show what could be achieved. The demonstration worked well, and the client was delighted to see what could be achieved. This also helped me work out which cleaning products and methods would work best.

The property was close to the buzzing city of Cardiff, thankfully there was on site parking, which can be a bit of a problem when we work this near to the city. Over the years I have invested in a heavy rotary machine and vacuum extractor which give a better clean and makes the work more efficient.

Cleaning a Travertine Tiled Kitchen Diner Floor

Focusing on the grout I started to clean the floor with a handheld scrubbing brush and a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean and Tile Doctor Nano HBU tile cleaner which is also a stripper that helps to remove the old sealers and grease. These two combinations were worked into the tiles with a black scrubbing pad fitted to a rotary machine. Following that the floor was thoroughly rinsed with clean water and the soiling extracted with a wet vacuum.

I was then able to see where the work had been effective on the travertine and grout and was able to identify stubborn areas and spot treat them by hand. Whilst doing this manually takes a little longer it is well worth the effort to achieve the best finish. Once I was satisfied the floor was left to dry overnight for the sealer to be applied.

Sealing a Travertine Tiled Kitchen Diner Floor

Returning the following morning, I used the damp meter to test that the floor was dry, the floor was then ready for me to apply the sealer. The choice of sealer for this floor was Tile Doctor Colour Grow which is also a colour enhancing impregnator. It soaks into the pores of the tiles rather than sitting on the surface.

Two coats of the sealer were applied, waiting for the first coat to dry before applying the next. Knowing they have two large dogs this sealer is usually my preferred choice as it is a very hard-wearing product.

Once complete the floor looked great, and the client was very happy with the work we carried out. We recommended the use of Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner which is pH neutral and will ensure they can maintain the floor moving forward.

Source: Travertine Floor Tile and Grout Cleaning and Renovation in Cardiff South Wales

Builders Clean of Victorian Tiled Floor in Worcester

Wed, 12 Oct 2022 01:24:15 +0100

This Edwardian property in Worcester laid in a herringbone tile pattern had been subjected to substantial renovations resulting in a crew of builders treading dirt and building materials through the Victorian tiled hallway. The tiles were now looking very dark and grubby with straining from what cement or plaster. Someone had tried to wash the floor but having realised it wasn’t as easy as it looked reached out to us to have it done professionally.

I decided the best thing to do was to give the tiles a deep clean to remove the old sealers and dirt and then to apply a fresh sealer that would put some life back into the tiles. My quote was accepted and a date agreed for my return and more importantly once all the builders had gone.

Renovating an Edwardian Tiled Hallway Floor

To clean up the tiles, remove the staining and strip off the old sealer I sprayed Tile Doctor’s Remove and Go onto the tile, this product is a multi-purpose stripper formulated with a long dwell-time to remove most sealers, epoxy grout haze, adhesives and even paint.

After leaving it to soak in for ten minutes the Remove and Go had broken down the soiling and was ready to be scrubbed in. I use a Black scrubbing pad to do this fitted to a rotary buffing machine and adding water along the way to help lubricate the process. Once done the soil generated was extracted using a wet vacuum. This process was then repeated until I was satisfied.

Old Victorian floors don’t have a damp proof membrane installed under the floor so the next step was to treat any dormant alkaline salts in the floor using Tile Doctor Acid Gel. These can materialise as white spots on the tiles as the moisture rises through the tile and evaporates on the surface leaving the salt behind. The process is known as efflorescence and you can neutralise the salts by giving the floor an acid wash. The Acid Gel is scrubbed into the tiles as before and then rinsed off with water and then extracted with a wet vacuum.

Once I was done the floor was looking so much better and after more drying with the wet vacuum, I was able to leave it overnight to dry off fully.

Sealing a Victorian Tiled Hallway Floor

Returning three days later, I took some moisture readings with a damp meter first. The readings were fine so satisfied that the tiles were sufficiently dry, I began applying what Tile Doctor Colour Grow. This product was chosen for its ability to improve the colours in the tile and because its fully breathable which is an important consideration when sealing floors that don’t have a damp proof membrane.

As you can see from the photos, the floor looks so much fresher and 100% cleaner, not bad for a hundred-year-old floor.

Before leaving I took time to discuss how to look after the floor including the importance of avoiding harsh tile cleaning products on the floor as they can reduce the life of the sealer. For the regular cleaning of sealed Victorian tiles, I recommend Tile Doctor Neutral Cleaner.

Source: Tile and Stone Sealing Contractor in Worcester

Refreshing a Victorian Hallway in Devon Ready for House Sale

Thu, 08 Sep 2022 08:48:42 +0100

This owners of this grand Victorian property in Exmouth were putting their home on the market and so decided to have its beautiful patterned Victorian Tiled hallway floor renovated to its former glory first.

To get the best price for your property it needs looking its best and first impressions count so it makes sense to ensure the frontage and the hallway looks its best.

Deep Cleaning a Victorian Tiled Hallway Floor

I began by applying Tile Doctor Remove & Go to the floor which was then left to soak in for twenty minutes. This gives the product time to breakdown and emulsify existing sealers and loosen ingrained dirt. I then worked the floor with a 200-grit burnishing pad fitted to a rotary machine which had extra weights fitted to improve contact. The pads are made with industrial Diamonds that cut into and release the dirt bringing it to the surface where it can be removed. To help with lubrication the floor was wetted with minimal amounts of water, old floors like this one will not have had a damp proof membrane installed so it’s best to keep fluids at a minimum.

The now soiled cleaning solution was extracted with a wet vacuum and I hand cleaned around the perimeter with Diamond burnishing blocks. A few rinses were required to remove the now dirty cleaning solution from the floor, again keeping water to a minimum and extracting with the wet vacuum afterwards. The Victorian tile and grout were then left to dry off overnight with the assistance from a couple for floor dryer’s that I left in place overnight.

The following day I went back over the floor with the Diamond handheld burnishing blocks focusing on anything I may have missed the day before such as paints spots from decorating and other stains. Once satisfied I gave the whole floor an acid wash using Tile Doctor Grout Clean-Up worked in with a 400-grit burnishing pad. We do this to prepare the tiles for sealing and neutralises any leftover alkaline cleaning product left in the pores of the tile. This process also removes old grout smears and will counter any latent efflorescent salts in the tiles. Once done, the floor was rinsed, extracted, and left to dry off overnight as before.

Sealing a Victorian Tiled Hallway Floor

it’s probably difficult to tell how dirty the tiles were from the earlier photographs but by the time I returned on day 3 the customers were already chuffed with how much cleaner the floor was looking.

Moisture readings taken from the floor indicated it was dry enough to seal so I set about applying a base coat of a colour enhancing sealer called Tile Doctor Colour Grow. There was 36m2 of tiling through the hallway section and into the more heavily used entrance way so it took some time to apply. One that was dry I then applied a topcoat of Tile Doctor X-Tra seal to add further protection.

The new sealer will protect against dirt from muddy wellies, boots, and pets, keeping the dirt on the surface where it can easily be removed using an everyday cleaning product like Tile Doctor Neutral Cleaner.

Source: Floor Tile Cleaning Contractor in Devon

Adding a Deep Polish to Cream Marble Flooring in Lympstone Devon

Fri, 15 Jul 2022 04:41:53 +0100

I was asked to pop over to the village of Lympstone to survey a beautiful Cream Mable tiled floor. The owner of the property was unhappy with its appearance as the wax-based product used to seal it previously had significantly dulled over the years resulting in a flat/matte look and making marks extremely obvious and difficult to remove.

Wax based products like the one used on this floor and a traditional method for protecting Marble floor but its easily marked, tricky to remove and with the advent of modern stone sealing products it’s not a solution we recommend

After surveying the 130m2 of Marble tiles, I could see the best way forward would be to remove the wax, clean the floor and then use a ‘Burnishing’ process to bring up the deep natural shine in the stone and then seal to protect. I explained the process in full and a date was agreed for my return to do the renovation.

Deep Cleaning Red and Brown Marble Kitchen Tiles

I began by scrubbing in Tile Doctor Cleaner/Stripper product called Remove & Go, this emulsified and broke down the wax seal, loosened up any surface dirt and marks and cleaned up the grout lines which was significantly discoloured due to years of use.

I find the best was to do this it to spray on the Remove and Go, then let it soak into the tile and then run over each tile with a black scrubbing pad. Pads can struggle to reach into the recesses of the grout line so to ensure a thorough clean I also run a stiff hand brush over the grout.

The floor was rinsed with water and then the soiling extracted with a wet vacuum. It was important to remove the wax before starting the next stage of burnishing other wise the diamond pads used in this process will become clogged with remnants of wax.

With the wax removed the chemical clean was complete and I was ready to move onto burnishing the Marble. On this occasion I stared with an 800-grit diamond burnishing pad fitted to a rotary machine running with added weight to make better contact with the floor. I only use water to lubricate the process and make eight to ten passes over each section. The process is then repeated without the weights using a 1500-grit diamond pad and water before vacuuming up the slurry.

Finally, I spray a small amount of fresh water onto the floor and burnish the Marble until almost dry with a 3000-grit diamond pad. This is the last step in the polishing processed and adds a lovely sheen to the stone.

Sealing Red and Brown Marble Kitchen Tiles

After the floor had been buffed dry, I finished by sealing the marble with Tile Doctor Ultra seal which is a specially formulated seal specifically for polished marble. It’s a natural look sealer that doesn’t change the characteristics of the stone and is almost invisible.

Ultra-Seal is an impregnating sealer that provides durable protection by impregnating the pores in the stone with sealer, so dirt cannot become ingrained there. The results were sharp and obvious and the customers were both very happy with the results and was a large job on their renovation tick list completed.

For aftercare cleaning of polished stone floors, we recommend using Tile Doctor Stone Soap, it’s compatible with sealers and helps maintain the patina on the stone.

Source: Marble Tile Cleaning and Polishing Service in Devon

Transforming Stone Kitchen Flooring in Gerrards Cross Bucks

Mon, 13 Jun 2022 04:51:43 +0100

This client in Gerrard’s Cross wanted to be able to see the different colours and features in their Sandstone Kitchen floor and to remove the ring marks which you can see in the photograph. They had just moved into the house in and loved the Stone floor but soon realised the previous owners hadn’t taken much care of it. They tried a selection of supermarket products to clean the floor but none of them made much of difference.

I carried out a site visit and it was clear to me that what was once a light Sandstone have literally darkened with all the dirt it had absorbed. I was confident that the dark stone could be deep cleaned and lightened to give them what they wanted, and then protected with a fresh sealer to ensure it remained that way. I worked out a quotation which they agreed to, and we arranged a date for the work to start.

Deep Cleaning a Sandstone Tiled Kitchen Floor

Day one of the work started by deep cleaning the Indian Sandstone tiles and removing as much of the dirt that become stuck in the pores of the stone as possible. To do this the floor was wetted with a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean which is our go to tile and grout cleaning product.

After leaving it to soak in for ten minutes the solution was scrubbed int the stone and grout using a rotary floor buffer which was setup with a black scrubbing pad. This action drew the dirt and any remaining old sealer out to the surface where the soiling could be extracted with a wet vacuum.

The next step was to refinish the surface of the stone using a set of Tile Doctor’s Diamond Burnishing Pads. Starting with a 400-grit pad to remove the ring marks in the floor created from plant pots and then continuing through the different grits from 800 to 1500 grit which gave the floor a natural sheen and then a 3000-grit pad to finish. The floor is rinsed with water between pads and the slurry generated extracted with the wet vacuum as before.

The lower grit pads are applied with water to help lubricate the process however the last pad is applied almost dry with only a little water sprayed onto the floor so by the time the process in completed its well on its way to being dry.

Sealing a Sandstone Tiled Kitchen Floor

I left the floor to fully dry off overnight and came back the next day to apply the sealer. Before starting thought I gave the floor another run over with the 3,000-grit pad just to tighten the pores before sealing.

To seal two coats of Tile Doctors Ultra-Seal were applied, this is an almost invisible product recommended for use in food preparation areas that leaves the stone in a natural finish which was the effect my client had requested. They had long French patio doors leading onto the garden and wanted to allow as much light in as possible because before the floor was cleaned the room was quite dark.

After allowing the seal to soak into the Indian sandstone I gave the floor one last buff with a fresh 3000 grit pad to burnish more of a natural sheen onto the floor and to bring out the colour definition.

Once complete the floor was transformed from dark to light and looked so much cleaner. My client was very impressed by the work and surprised at how different the floor looked with the colours coming through and said she would recommend me to her friends and family in the area.

For after care I recommended the use of Tile Doctor Stone Soap which is a gentle cleaner that won’t degrade the sealer and will help keep the patina on the stone. Most supermarket tile cleaning products are simply too strong for a sealed floor so it’s always worth checking the label in detail before buying.

Source: Kitchen Floor Tile Cleaning and Renovation in Gerrards Cross, Bucks

Tough Restoration of a 1930’s Terrazzo Floor in Cardiff

Tue, 26 Apr 2022 05:53:11 +0100

Tile Doctor were appointed to restore a 1930’s Terrazzo hallway floor in Cardiff which was deeply ingrained with dirt after being covered with carpet for many years. Rather than coving the floor with carpet again the owner had decided it was time to have it restored having had our services recommended by a previous client.

After surveying the floor, I could see the carpet had been down so long you could see its pattern in the Terrazzo. I could see there was a large amount of ingrained dirt in the floor that would need to be flushed out which meant several cleans would probably be required. There were numerous cracks in the floor and in one area near a wall the Terrazzo had broken up and turned to rubble.

Unfortunately, there was little that could be done to repair this, so we agreed to back fill it with cement and the owner planned to cover it with a timber boxing and then paint.

Cleaning and Repairing a Terrazzo Tiled Hallway Floor

To get the Terrazzo looking its best I planned to remove the dirt and restore the surface by burnishing the floor with a six-stage diamond polishing process. This would involve applying Tile Doctor burnishing pads of differing grits ranging from very coarse to very fine, rinsing between each pad to extract the soiling.

To start I applied a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean and left it to dwell and soak into Terrazzo for a short time so it could get to work digesting and breaking down the dirt. The first pad was then applied which was a very coarse 100-grit pad using the Pro-Clean for lubrication. The combination of the two lifted out the dirt from the heavily soiled pores of the Terrazzo where it could be extracted from the surface with a wet vacuum.

This process was repeated working through each of the six different burnishing pads, rinsing the floor along the way and extracting the soil after each pad. It was an arduous task, but it was rewarding to see the floor slowly come back to life.

With the floor clean the next stage was to make repairs to the various cracks. Terrazzo is poured onto the floor in one go and then polished to leave a unique and hardwearing surface, so you can’t simply replace a tile or cut out a section. What you can do however is to fill the crack with a resin or flexible grout colour matched to the unique colours in the floor. Once the whole floor had been sealed the crack should be difficult to spot.

Sealing a Terrazzo Tiled Hallway Floor

The next step would be to seal and protect the floor however it needed to be fully dry first, so it was left to dry for twenty-four hours and when I returned this was confirmed by taking several moisture readings with a damp meter.

The sealer of choice for this floor was Tile Doctor Colour Grow which is a fully breathable impregnating sealer which also enhances the colour of the stone chippings in the Terrazzo. This sealer is an impregnator that works by soaking into the pores of the floor rather than sittings on the surface, thus protecting it from ingrained dirt. Hallways are by their very nature a high traffic area so this should provide adequate protection and keep the floor in good condition for a long period of time.

Colour Grow is however a matt finish and my client had requested a very high sheen finish. So, after leaving the sealer to dry for 24 hours I returned to apply a further product called Tile Doctor Shine Powder which is a crystalline powder that is worked into the floor using a white buffer pad running at slow speed.

The client was delighted with the newly restored floor, as you can see from the pictures it looked so much fresher and of course free of dirt, not bad for a 90-year-old floor. For the aftercare of polished Terrazzo, I recommend Tile Doctor Stone Soap which is compatible with the sealer and will help maintain the patina.

Source: Specialist Floor Restoration Services in Cardiff, South Wales

Cleaning and Polishing a Marble Floor in Kettering

Sun, 13 Feb 2022 03:46:31 +0000

Last year I was called to look at Polished Marble floor at a house in the small village of Old in Northamptonshire which is situated between Kettering and Northampton. The Marble floor was reasonably large at 25m2, and the main problem was the Marble had lost most of its shine, becoming dull and lifeless over time, additionally the grout which was once white had darkened with ground in dirt,

If you want the look of a highly polished floor then it will need regular polishing to keep its appearance, in fact Tile Doctor provide a “Maintenance Plan” service for this purpose. How often you need a repolish really depends on how much the floor is used and for a busy high traffic area such as this kitchen diner it may be necessary to have two visits a year.

In this case the Marble needed a lot more than a repolish, my client was unhappy with the stained grout lines and the tiles really needed stripping and resealing to bring the colour back to somewhere near its original. After surveying the floor, I was able to confirm what needed to be done and gave them a price for the work which they were happy to accept.

Cleaning and Polishing a Marble Tiled Kitchen Diner Floor

To get the grout clean and give remove grit etc from the floor before polishing I gave it an initial clean using a medium dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean. This is a professional Tile and Grout cleaning product which is applied to the grout, left to soak in for ten minutes and then scrubbed into the grout line by hand. The soil is then rinsed off with water and then extracted with a wet vacuum.

To bring up the polished appearance of the Marble tiles I used a set of four 17” diamond encrusted burnishing pads which have different levels of grit. The pads are applied to the Marble tiles in sequence using a floor buffer and a small amount of water for lubrication. I started with a coarse pad, before moving on to a medium pad, then a fine pad on the first day, working in small sections of around 4 – 5sqm. The floor is given a thorough rinse between each pad to remove any excess residue generated from the burnishing process. The soil was then extracted using a wet vacuum to keep the mess to a minimum.

Sealing a Marble Tiled Kitchen Diner Floor

The floor was left to dry overnight, and I returned the next day. I carried on the process using the very fine burnishing pad to achieve a high shine finish. This pad is applied dry to the floor using only a little water sprayed onto the tile. It brings up the final polish on the tiles and leaves the floor dry so it can be sealed afterwards.

To seal I applied a single coat of Tile Doctor Ultra-Seal which is a premium impregnating sealer that soaks into the pores of the stone protecting it from within. It’s a natural look sealer and by this, I mean it doesn’t alter the natural look of the stone and is almost invisible. The area was dried with a fan for one hour and then I checked the performance of the sealer by carrying out a water repellence test. The result of this test will let me know if a second coat of sealer may be needed.

Once complete the grout was white again and the Marble tiles had a deep shine to them. My client was very happy with the results of my work and took the time to leave the following comment on the Tile Doctor feedback system.

For aftercare cleaning I recommended Tile Doctor Stone Soap which will keep the floor clean and help maintain the lustre. I also I let them know about our maintenance program which involves popping back for a couple of hours once a year to give the floor a polish with a very fine 3000-grit burnishing pad and top up the sealer.

Source: Kettering Tile and Stone Cleaning and Renovation Service

Porcelain Tile & Grout Deep Cleaned in Kent Kitchen

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 01:45:51 +0000

The picture below shows a grubby Porcelain tiled floor at a property in Eynsford just North of Sevenoaks. Installed throughout much of the ground floor including the kitchen, lounge, and dining room the porcelain tile and grout was in a very dirty state and the client was desperate to get them clean.

The floor had trapped dirt in the high traffic areas and the grubby appearance was bringing down the appearance of the area which was a shame as the kitchen was lovely. The client had tried all the usual household cleaners she could find, and nothing seemed to work so we were asked to call round.

I visited the property to survey the floor and was able to reassure the client that although the tile and grout was stained with dirt that it could be rectified. I was confident we would soon be able to get the floor looking great again and demonstrated the process I would use on a small part of the floor. The demonstration went well and happy with the result we agreed on a date for my return to complete the work.

Deep Cleaning a Porcelain Tile Floor

To deep clean the Porcelain tile and grout a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean (3 parts cleaner to 5 parts water) was sprayed onto the floor and then left to soak in for a good twenty minutes. This delay allows the Pro-Clean to get to reach into the pores of the tile and grout where it can break down the dirt.

Then using a rotary floor machine fitted with a black scrubbing pad the solution was scrubbed into the tile lifting out the dirt and turning the cleaning solution black in the process. Tile Doctor Pro-Clean is a concentrated, multi-purpose high-alkaline cleaner which is designed for deep cleaning tiles, stone and grout of dirt and grease and can also remove sealers. Exactly what was needed on this floor.

Pads can struggle to reach into the recesses of the grout line so once I was finished with the tiles, I hand scrubbed the grout with a wire brush. This is harder work, but the results justify the effort. The floor was then rinsed with water and the resultant soil was extracted off the floor with a wet vacuum. The tile and grout looked instantly better, and I knew the client would be pleased with the result.

Most Porcelain floor tiles are sealed in the factory when they are manufactured, so there was no need to apply a sealer in this case. I did however recommend the use of Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner for maintenance cleaning, it’s concentrated a small amount goes a long way, and it has a nice fresh fragrance. This will ensure the floor is kept in good condition moving forward.

As you can imagine my client was relieved to have the floor looking as good as new again!

Source: Porcelain Floor Tile and Grout Cleaning Service in Kent