Chelmsford Tile Cleaning Archives - South Essex Tile Doctor

Travertine Kitchen Floor Renovation Chelmsford Essex

Travertine Tiled Kitchen Floor Renovated in Chelmsford

Earlier this year I paid a visit to a client in Chelmsford who had a large that needed attention. The floor had been installed twelve years ago when a extension was added to the rear of the house.

Travertine Kitchen Floor Before Cleaning Chelmsford

Discussing the floor on the phone my client had said that the floor always seemed dirty and was proving hard to keep clean. This to me is a sign that the protective sealer that keeps dirt on the surface of the tile had failed. It is important to maintain the sealer on a stone floor as without it the dirt becomes ingrained in the pores of the tile where it is difficult to shift. With stone floors like Travertine, I always recommend our annual maintenance program to ensure the floor keeps looking its best.

I paid a visit to the property to survey the large floor and came up with a renovation plan that would deep clean the floor, remove the ingrained dirt from the tile and grout and then re-seal. Keen to improve the appearance of the floor my quote was accepted, and a date set for the work to start.

Cleaning a Travertine Tiled Kitchen

To remove what was left of the original sealer and get the tiles clean I applied a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Remove and Go and left it to soak in for ten minutes. Then the floor was scrubbed using a rotary buffer machine fitted with a Black pad running at a slow 150 rpm. The black pad was then changed to a poly brush which would be better at cleaning into the recesses of the grout lines. The floor was then rinsed with water and the soiling extracted with a wet vacuum.

Travertine Kitchen Floor During Cleaning Chelmsford

Once clean I was able to inspect the floor and spot clean any stubborn areas. With the cleaning finished the floor was given a final rinse and then dried as much as possible with the wet vacuum. The floor was then left to dry off overnight.

Sealing a Travertine Tiled Kitchen

I returned the next day and checked the floor was dry using a damp meter. I always like to do this as applying sealer to a damp floor can result in a patchy result. The moisture readings were fine, so I went ahead and sealed the floor with two coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow sealer.

This is a colour enhancing impregnator that works by soaking into the pores of the stone, improving colour and preventing dirt from residing there. Tile Doctor Colour Grow is ideal for characterful tiles like travertine as it helps bring out the brown shades in the stone. It certainly did the trick on this floor and helped bring out its character.

Travertine Kitchen Floor After Cleaning Sealing Chelmsford

For aftercare cleaning I recommended Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner which is a gentle yet effective tile and grout cleaner that won’t impact the sealer. This is important as many of the tile cleaning products you find in supermarkets are simply too strong for use on a sealed floor and will quickly degrade the sealer.

Professional Cleaning of a Travertine Tiled Kitchen in Essex

Travertine Tiled Kitchen Floor Renovated in Chelmsford Read More »

Quarry Tiled Kitchen Floor Renovation Woodham Walter

Quarry Tiled Kitchen Floor Deep Cleaned and Satin Sealed in Woodham Walter

1 Comment / Chelmsford Tile Cleaning, Grout Cleaning, Quarry Tile Cleaning / Matthew Tyler

The photos are of a large Quarry tiled Kitchen floor at a property in Woodham Walter which is a small village between Danbury and Maldon. The floor had been installed 20 years ago by the current owners and although in reasonable condition they felt it was time to have them renovated as the tiles had lost their sheen and now looked flat and unattractive.

Quarry Tiled Kitchen Floor Before Cleaning Woodham Walter Maldon

I went over to survey the floor and quote for deep cleaning and then re-sealing. The photographs don’t really show it, but it was clear to me that the sealer had worn off and it was the sealer that had brought the depth and colour to the quarry tiles.

We discussed the process which would take two days and decided on a sealer that would best match their expectations. They were happy with my quote and the work was booked in.

Cleaning a Quarry Tiled Kitchen Floor

On arrival I set about prepping the floor for cleaning which for this floor primarily meant removing the kick boards from underneath the kitchen units.

Working in sections I set about cleaning the quarry tiles using Tile Doctor Remove and Go. This as the name of the product suggests is a coatings remover that cleans the floor and removes any sealer left on the tiles. Although it had been some time since it was last sealed its important that all the previous sealer is removed before applying a new sealer. This ensures you don’t end up with different levels of sealer and some areas appearing darker than others.

The Remove and Go was left to soak in for ten minutes before being worked in with a rotary buffing machine fitted with a black scrubbing pad. The grout was also scrubbed into the grout lines by hand using more solution and a stiff brush. This action lifts the dirt out of the floor and turns the cleaning solution and old sealer into a slurry, this is then rinsed off with water and extracted with a wet vacuum.

Next, I treated the tiles to an acid rinse using a 1:5 dilution of Tile Doctor Grout Clean-up. This further cleans the tiles and will neutralise the pH level of the floor following the use of Tile Doctor Remove and Go earlier which is a strong alkaline. The acidic nature of the product microscopically etches the tiles to ensure a stronger bond with the sealer.

The Grout Clean-up was brushed into the floor and then rinsed off with more water before being extracted with the wet vacuum. After another rinse with water the wet vacuum was then utilised to get the floor as dry as possible before leaving it to dry off fully overnight.

Sealing a Quarry Tiled Kitchen and Dining Room

The next day the moisture level of the Quarry tiles was checked using a damp meter to ensure the floor was dry enough for sealing. This is always worth doing as applying sealer to a damp floor can result in a patch appearance.

Quarry Tiled Kitchen Floor During Sealing Woodham Walter Maldon

The moisture readings were fine and so work started on sealing the tiles using Tile Doctor Seal & Go which works really well on Quarry tiles and results in a warm satin sheen finish. This product is also water based so you don’t get that solvent smell being given off as it dries.

Quarry Tiled Kitchen Floor After Cleaning Sealing Woodham Walter Maldon

Sealers work by keeping the dirt on the surface of the tile where it can be easily cleaned away and on the subject of aftercare cleaning I recommended the use of Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner. It’s important to use a neutral tile cleaner on sealed floors like this as stronger bleach-based products will wear the sealer off prematurely.

Professional Restoration of a Quarry Tiled Kitchen and Dining Room in Essex

Quarry Tiled Kitchen Floor Deep Cleaned and Satin Sealed in Woodham Walter Read More »

Terracotta Tiled Kitchen Floor Renovation Danbury Chelmsford

Filthy Terracotta Tiled Kitchen Floor Renovated in Danbury

1 Comment / Chelmsford Tile Cleaning, Grout Cleaning, Terracotta Tile Cleaning / Matthew Tyler

The Terracotta tiles in the kitchen of this property in Danbury near Chelmsford were installed by the owners only five years prior. At the time they didn’t like the light colour of the terracotta, so they were sealed with a black pigment added to the sealer in an attempt to darken the floor. Five years later and the sealer had clearly failed, and the tiles and grout were now seriously filthy and impossible to clean.

I wanted to be certain I could remove the dirt and old sealer so whilst at the property surveying the floor I did a cleaning test with Tile Doctor Remove and Go scrubbed into a couple of tiles by hand. The product worked really well and easily cleaned the tiles and grout with excellent results (see picture).

Terracotta Tiled Kitchen Floor Before Cleaning Danbury Chelmsford

The difference was quite striking and equally impressive so after I worked out a quote, they were more than happy to get me booked in to complete the floor.

Deep Cleaning a Terracotta Tiled Kitchen Floor

I returned on the agreed date and immediately set about applying the same process to get the Terracotta tile and grout clean. I used a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Remove and Go working it into the tiles using a black scrubbing pad fitted to a rotary machine which also cleaned the grout lines.

The Terracotta was rinsed, and the soiling extracted with a wet vacuum. Once done the tiles and grout were inspected and any stubborn areas re-treated using the same process until I was satisfied the Terracotta, and grout was as clean as possible.

The underfloor heating was switched on and used to dry the floor overnight so it would be dry and ready for sealing the next day. This was a helpful addition and avoided the need for me to get the fan dryers out overnight.

Sealing a Terracotta Tiled Kitchen

Terracotta is made from clay and as a result is a very porous material, because of this it took eight coats sealer before it was fully sealed. I applied Tile Doctor Colour Grow sealer for this, it contains a colour enhancing formula which really brought out the orange and red colours in the tile.

This sealer is an impregnator that works by soaking into the tile, occupying the pores and ensuring dirt remains on the surface where it is easily cleaned away. It will provide long term protection moving forward and it improves the appearance of the floor without the tiles becoming too shiny.

Terracotta Tiled Kitchen Floor After Cleaning Sealing Danbury Chelmsford

I think you will agree from the photographs that the floor was completely transformed, and I’m pleased to say the owner was really happy and shocked to see it so different from before.

For aftercare cleaning I recommended Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner, this is a pH neutral product which will ensure the newly applied sealer retains its integrity. Many household cleaning products are simply too strong and will strip away the sealer with use.

Professional Restoration of a Terracotta Tiled Kitchen in South Essex

Filthy Terracotta Tiled Kitchen Floor Renovated in Danbury Read More »

Multicoloured Slate Floor Renovation Stock Essex

New Sealer adds Life to a Dull Multi Coloured Slate Floor in Stock

1 Comment / Brentwood Tile Cleaning, Chelmsford Tile Cleaning, Slate Tile Cleaning / Matthew Tyler

This multi-coloured Slate kitchen floor had been laid fifteen years prior and although in very good condition the owner was unhappy with the finish. Basically, it looked dull, un-inviting and the owner wanted some life putting back in the stone.

It was clear to me that the sealer that had provided previously provided the sheen finish had simply worn off with use. Without a sealer in place dirt was now becoming ingrained into the pores of the slate making the problem worse.

Multicoloured Slate Floor Before Cleaning Stock Essex

I visited the property to survey the tiles and provide a quote for renovating the floor. The work would take two days and would include removing what remained of the old sealer, deep cleaning the Slate and then re-sealing the tiles with a sheen finish sealer. The quote was accepted, and a date arranged to do the work.

Cleaning a Multi-Coloured Slate Tiled Floor

I started by applying a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Remove and Go and let it soak into the stone for ten minutes. This product is a coatings remover and cleaner that is safe to use on all type of stone or tile. Then using a 200-grit milling pad fitted to a rotary floor buffer the solution was worked into the stone to strip off what remained of the remaining sealer and pull the dirt out of the stone. The floor was then rinsed, and the soiled solution was removed using a wet vacuum.

Next, I treated the floor to an acid wash using another Tile Doctor product called Grout Clean-up. This is great for removing grout smears left over from tiling and neutralises the pH level of the floor after the use of Remove and Go which is alkaline. After scrubbing in the solution with a deck brush the floor was then rinsed and extracted again with the wet vacuum.

Sealing a Multi Coloured Slate Tiled Floor

I left the floor to dry out overnight and returned the next days later to apply the sealer. Before doing so I checked the moisture level of the tiles with a damp meter to ensure they had dried sufficiently. This is always worth doing as applying sealer to a floor that is still damp can lead to an inconsistent finish.

All was well with the readings so I started applying the first coat of sealer which for this floor we used Tile Doctor Seal & Go. This product will protect the stone from ingrained dirt and adds a lovely subtle shine to the floor which matched the customers’ requirements exactly. After about forty minutes of drying time, I applied a second cost and as expected this resulted in a healthy sheen.

Multicoloured Slate Floor After Cleaning Stock Essex

My client was very happy with the result and left 5-star feedback along with the following comment.

Very Professional

For the aftercare cleaning of sealed slate floors, I recommend the use of Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner which is a gentle but effective product that won’t upset the sealer like many of the bleach based products you find in supermarkets.

Professional Restoration of a Multi Coloured Slate Tiled Kitchen, Hallway and WC Floor in North Lincolnshire

New Sealer adds Life to a Dull Multi Coloured Slate Floor in Stock Read More »

Flagstone Tiled Kitchen Floor Cleaned and Sealed in Maldon

1 Comment / Chelmsford Tile Cleaning, Flagstone Tile Cleaning, Work History / TileProf

Here’s a job I completed not too long ago in the town of Maldon, which sits alongside the Blackwater estuary in South Essex. Although the Flagstone tiled floor in my client’s kitchen was – generally speaking – in good physical condition, the surface seal had worn down over time, leaving the tiles looking dull and lifeless.

Flagstone is quite a hard wearing stone that is commonly used for both internal and external surfaces, whether this is something as simple as a kitchen floor, or something more complex like a public monument. I was commissioned to restore the floor back to looking it best, by way of a thorough clean and a new seal.

Cleaning a Flagstone tiled floor

My go to cleaner for most kinds of natural stone tile is Tile Doctor Pro-Clean, a high alkaline product which contains both cleaning and stripping properties depending on the dilution ratio. In this case I wanted a strong solution so I could strip off any remaining sealer and so it was diluted one part Pro-Clean to three parts clean water. The solution was left to dwell for 10 minutes, allowing it to soak into the stone and get to work breaking down any remaining sealer.

I then attached a black scrubbing pad to my rotary machine, and used this to agitate the solution into the tiles. This helped to lift out any ingrained dirt and remove the stubborn marks blemishing the floor. Once the initial clean had been completed, I turned my attention to the grout between the tiles, using Pro-Clean in combination with a stiff grout brush to clean up the grout as much as possible. I cleaned the floor twice in total before rinsing the entire area with water and leaving the house for a few days, giving the surface time to dry.

Sealing a Flagstone tiled floor

Upon my return to the house, I ran some damp tests to double check that the floor had dried completely. This is important as any residual moisture can potentially damage the performance of the sealer. Once I was satisfied that the tiles were able to take the seal, I applied two coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow sealant.

Colour Grow is an impregnating sealer that seeps into the pores of the stone provides durable stain protection from within, along with a nice finish. It’s also specially designed to intensify the natural shades and colours in the stone, turning dull floors into characterful household features. Colour Grow is suitable for use most stone surfaces, including Flagstone, Limestone, Marble, Quarry, Sandstone and Slate.

My customer was very pleased with the result, with marked differences in condition and appearance achieved in the space of a few short days.

Tile cleaning and sealing for Flagstone tiled kitchen floor restoration in Maldon, South Essex

Flagstone Tiled Kitchen Floor Cleaned and Sealed in Maldon Read More »

=================================

Basildon Tile Cleaning, Brentwood Tile Cleaning, Ceramic Tile Cleaning, Chelmsford Tile Cleaning, Chigwell Tile Cleaning, Colchester Tile Cleaning, Encaustic Cement Tile Cleaning, Fireplace Cleaning, Flagstone Tile Cleaning, Grout Cleaning, Ilford Tile Cleaning, Limestone Tile Cleaning and Polishing, Marble Tile Cleaning, Ockendon Tile Cleaning, Porcelain Tile Cleaning, Quarry Tile Cleaning, Romford Tile Cleaning, Sandstone Tile Cleaning, Slate Tile Cleaning, Southend-on-Sea Tile Cleaning, Stanstead Tile Cleaning, Terracotta Tile Cleaning, Terrazzo Floor Cleaning, Thurrock Tile Cleaning, Travertine Tile Cleaning, Upminster Tile Cleaning, Victorian Tile Cleaning, Vinyl Tile Cleaning, Work by Category, Work by Location, Work History / TileProf

South Essex Tile Doctor

================================= Read More »