Grout Clean-Up Archives - Stirling Tile Doctor

Terracotta Tiled Conservatory Floor Renovation Bannockburn

Cleaning and Sealing Terracotta Tiled Flooring in Bannockburn

This cottage in Bannockburn had 70m2 of Terracotta tiled flooring in various rooms across the property including the conservatory, kitchen, utility room and porch. The tiles had not been sealed since they were laid 30 years previously and now needed renovation, including removing what was left of the old sealer, deep cleaning then and resealing.

Terracotta Tiled Conservatory Floor Before Renovation Bannockburn

Without an active sealer protecting the porous Terracotta had no protection from ingrained dirt and were heavily soiled in the busier areas, also some of the tiles were loose and wobbly.

I worked out a quote for the renovation and due to the size of the area I planned on splitting the work into three sections. This would make the job more manageable and has the advantage of minimising the impact on the homeowner’s movement around their home. Happy with my plan the quote was accepted and we worked out a schedule for the job to start.

Cleaning a Terracotta Tiled Ground Floor

Before starting work in a section all the moveable furniture was removed and the rest was protected from the cleaning and resealing process. To tackle what was left of the old sealer and deep clean the Tile and Grout a strong dilution of 2 parts water to 1 part Tile Doctor Pro-Clean was applied to the floor.

The strong dilution makes an extremely effective as a stripper and cleaner and was applied with a cloth and then left for ten minutes. This gives the product time to breakdown the dirt and old sealer. The floor was then scrubbed using a black pad and then once complete the soiled solution was removed with a wet vacuum. The floor was then rinsed with clean water and extracted again.

The next stage of the process was to neutralise the floor as it would be alkaline after the clean. To do this I used an acid to rinse the floor called Tile Doctor Grout Clean-Up. This product not only neutralises the floor preventing the build-up of efflorescence which can be a problem for old floors. It also provides a better bond between the floor and sealer. During this process a grout brush was used to ensure all the grout had been reached during the cleaning process. The Tile Doctor Grout Clean Up solution was then extracted with the wet vacuum and then the floor is thoroughly rinsed.

While the floor area that had just been stripped and cleaned was left to dry before sealing, I repaired the “wobbly” tiles which will prevent them from cracking and becoming a hazard. Small holes were drilled into the grout around the moving tile and then injected with a filler. The tiles were then left for 24 hours for the filler to cure and then the tiles were tested to ensure the issue has been fixed.

Terracotta Tiled Conservatory Floor During Renovation Bannockburn

Sealing a Terracotta Tiled Ground Floor

When the tiles had been thoroughly cleaned, rinsed and given time to dry, they were tested with a damp meter to ensure they were dry and ready for sealing. The readings were fine and I had selected two different sealers to protect the floor. Two were needed to match the clients finish requirements which were to enhance the colour of the tiles and for them to have a slight sheen finish.

First the tiles were given a coat of Tile Doctors Colour Grow sealer which as the name states enhances the natural colours in terracotta tile. The coat was given 30 minutes to dry before the second sealer was applied.

The second sealer was Tile Doctors Seal and Go which is a topical sealer and works well with Tile Doctor Colour Grow. Tile Doctor Seal and Go leaves a slight satin sheen on the tiles and six coats were needed to complete the process. This did take some time as each coat needed time to dry before the next coat was put on.

Terracotta Tiled Conservatory Floor After Renovation Bannockburn

For aftercare cleaning I recommend the use of Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner which is a mild but effective Tile and Grout cleaner that won’t upset the sealer which can be the issue with the stronger products you find in supermarkets.

Professional Restoration of a Terracotta Tiled Ground Floor in Stirling

Cleaning and Sealing Terracotta Tiled Flooring in Bannockburn Read More »

Deep Cleaning and Sealing a Slate Tiled Kitchen Floor in Dunblane

Due to scheduling conflicts, I was unable to survey this Slate tiled floor at a property in Dunblane. This was mainly due to the client who didn’t live at the property and was only available on certain dates. As a result, I requested detailed photos and measurements of the kitchen, which allowed me to assess the tiles and provide a quote for renovating the floor. This is not ideal, especially for old floors but in this case, I was happy this would be a straightforward clean and seal.

The proposed work would take two days and involve removing the remaining old sealer, deep cleaning the slate, and then resealing the tiles with a matte finish sealer. It’s important to remove all the old sealer before applying new as busier parts of the floor will wear the most resulting in different levels of sealant across the floor.

I worked out a detailed quote for the renovation, which was accepted, and dates agreed to complete the work.

Cleaning a Slate Tiled Kitchen Floor

Work began by adding protection to the kitchen units, I use a lot of water during the cleaning process and didn’t want to mark them in anyway. Once that was done a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Remove and Go was applied to the floor and left to soak into the stone for ten minutes. This gives it time to breakdown the old coatings and being an alkaline product its safe for use on all types of stone or tile. A 200-grit diamond pad fitted to a rotary floor buffer was then applied to the tiles and work the solution into the stone. This process strips off the remaining sealer and pulls the dirt out of the pores of the stone.

Slate Kitchen Floor Before Cleaning Dunblane

This was then followed with grout cleaning brush along the grout lines and corners to ensure I reached all the areas which needed to be cleaned. The floor was then thoroughly rinsed, and the soiled solution was removed using a wet vacuum.

Next, I treated the floor with an acid wash using Tile Doctor Grout Clean-up. This product is effective for removing grout smears and other mineral deposits, it also neutralises the pH level of the floor after the use of the alkaline Tile Doctor Remove and Go. After using the rotary cleaning machine and black pad to work the solution into the tiles I rinsed the floor and extracted all the soiling with the wet vacuum.

Sealing a Slate Tiled Kitchen Floor

The floor was left to dry overnight and returned the next day to apply the sealer. Before doing so, I checked the moisture level of the tiles with a damp meter to check they had dried sufficiently. This step is crucial, as applying sealer to a damp floor can lead to an inconsistent finish.

The sealer chosen for the Slate tiles was Tile Doctors Colour Grow. This was chosen as the client wanted a matt finish and was keen to bring out the natural colours in the Slate. Two coats of sealer were applied to protect the floor from ingrained dirt. The first coat was applied and after 5 minutes the excess sealer was removed with a white cotton cloth. After half an hour passed the second coat was applied and again the excess sealer was removed. A water test was completed after 2 hours to ensure the sealer had worked.

Slate Kitchen Floor After Cleaning Sealing Dunblane

Once done the Slate tiles looked so much brighter and the grout was consistently clean. My client was delighted with the finished appearance of the Slate tiles as the true colour was again visible.

Before leaving we discussed aftercare cleaning and the importance of avoiding strong cleaning products which can damage the sealer. Because of this I always recommend Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner which is pH neutral.

Grout Clean-Up