Grout Cleaning Archives - East Surrey Tile Doctor

Limestone Kitchen Floor Cleaning and Polishing Oxted

Large Tiled Floor Cleaned, Polished and Sealed in Oxted

Pictured below is a large Limestone tiled floor in the Kitchen and adjacent living space at a house in Oxted. The tiles were looking quite dull, and the grout had darkened with ground in dirt so I was asked to give them a deep clean and polish to restore the beauty and character to the floor.

Limestone Kitchen Floor Before Cleaning Oxted

Limestone is a very tough stone so to clean the tile and rebuild the polish it needs to be polished using a set of burnishing pads which use different grades of diamond encrusted pads to cut through ingrained dirt and build up the polished appearance. Then I always recommend sealing the tiles to protect them from ingrained dirt and stains.

Secondly, it was a large extensive space and although the tiles were of a standard size it took a large number of them to fill the space resulting in what felt like miles of grout lines, all of which would need scrubbing to get them clean.

Cleaning Limestone Tile and Grout

Before working on the Limestone tiles, I decided to treat the grout to a good old-fashioned scrub with a strong solution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean and stiff wire brush. I knew this was going to take some time so called in my son to provide some extra manpower. He’s young so can scoot around on the floor all day without feeling it later. The grout soon become much cleaner, and the soiled cleaning solution was then rinsed away with water and then extracted with a wet vacuum.

After a well-deserved, lunch we bought in a floor burnishing machine which was fitted with extra iron weights to help it get more traction on the tiles. The first step in burnishing the Limestone tiles involves the use of a coarse 400-grit pad which is designed to deep clean the stone and strip away any remaining sealer. The pad is fitted to the machine and run over each tile several times using only water to lubricate the process.

Once I’d removed any excess residue with the wet-vacuum, I changed to a medium 800-grit pad, repeated the cleaning process, and again extracted the soiled residue. This is followed by a finer 1500-grit using the same process and then finally a super fine 3000-grit pad which really brings up the polish on the tile and is applied using a small amount of water sprayed onto the stone.

By the end of the first day the floor was already looking so much cleaner and lighter.

Sealing Limestone Floor Tiles

After leaving the floor to dry off overnight I returned to the property the next day to apply the sealer. Before starting though I gave the floor a quick skim over with an old pad to make sure it was completely clean before sealing.

To seal the Limestone, I applied two coats of Tile Doctor Ultra Seal which is an impregnating sealer that soaks into the pores of the Limestone to provide durable protection against ingrained dirt without changing the natural look of the tile.

After an hour, I gave the floor a buff with a soft white pad to remove any excess sealer and further bring up the appearance of the stone. Once complete the Limestone had a nice subtle shine and the grout was back to its white colour resulting in the whole floor looking much healthier and attractive.

Limestone Kitchen Floor After Cleaning Polishing Oxted

For aftercare maintenance of polished stone floors, I recommend the use of a cleaning product called Tile Doctor Stone Soap. It’s a gentle but effective floor cleaning product that’s safe to use on sealed floors and helps to maintain the patina on the tile. If looked after correctly this sealer should last three to four years.

Professional Maintenance of a Honed Limestone Floor Tiles in East Surrey

Large Tiled Floor Cleaned, Polished and Sealed in Oxted Read More »

Travertine Tiled Shower Cubicle Renovation Leatherhead

Travertine Tiled Shower Cubicle Refreshed in Leatherhead

1 Comment / Grout Cleaning, Leatherhead Tile Cleaning, Travertine Tile Cleaning / Hugh Mcleod

The pictures below are of a Travertine tiled shower cubicle at a property in Leatherhead. The tiles were mainly stained by the dyes you get in shampoo and soap and I was confident a good scrub would get them clean. The Grout however had darkened with dirt that had become trapped in its porous top later and the silicone sealant around the edges had become stained with mould.

Travertine Shower Tiles Before Refresh Leatherhead

Overall, the shower looked grubby very unappealing so the owner of the property asked that I pop round and renovate it.

Deep Cleaning Travertine Effect Tile and Grout

First, I sprayed the grout lines with Tile Doctor Duo Clean which is a purpose made shower tile cleaner. This product breaks down the accumulated dirt and grime so it can be removed, I usually leave it to soak in for about ten to fifteen minutes before scrubbing it in but sometimes it needs a lot longer.

Next, I applied Tile Doctor Oxy-Gel to the tiles, this product is a strong gel-based tile cleaner that is great for cleaning wall tiles as the gel stays in place rather than running down the wall. This is key for achieving longer dwell times which is important when cleaning stubborn staining. Then I brushed the grout and tile with a strong wire brush focusing on the stained areas. The soiling was removed with a wet vacuum and the shower wall rinsed down with water.

While waiting for the tile and grout to dry following the cleaning I set about removing the old mastic sealant around the shower base and walls with a sharp knife. This does take some time to do right, it all needs to be gone to ensure the best adhesion for the new silicone.

Once the Travertine tile and grout was totally dry, I was able to apply a protective sealer that will make the tiles easier to clean and ensure any water runs straight off the wall and into the tray. For Travertine I applied Tile Doctor Colour Grow which as its name suggests also enhances the natural colours in the stone.

Once done my final task was to apply new silicone mastic to all verticals and the shower base to ensure the shower cubicle was watertight. I used a mixture of white mastic around the base and a light brown for the verticals and before finishing I cleaned the shower base and glass so the final result was a complete transformation.

Travertine Shower Tiles After Refresh Leatherhead

The mastic takes a while to cure so I advised the clients not to use the shower for 24 hours. I also took time to discuss after care cleaning and be careful what product they should use for future cleaning. The lift of the sealer can be drastically reduced by the use of strong cleaning products so we recommend the use a neutral pH cleaner such as Tile Doctor Aqua-Pro

Travertine Shower Cubicle Professionally Cleaned in Surrey

Travertine Tiled Shower Cubicle Refreshed in Leatherhead Read More »

Cracked Travertine Kitchen Floor Repair in Redhill

Cracked Travertine Tiled Kitchen Floor Renovated in Redhill

1 Comment / Grout Cleaning, Redhill Tile Cleaning, Travertine Tile Cleaning / Hugh Mcleod

This client from Redhill had her kitchen floor tiled with Travertine tiles following a house extension a few years ago. The extension had enabled the kitchen to be made significantly larger however as the new floor settled a crack developed along the line of the join between the old and new concrete floor causing the Travertine tiles to crack along the line.

I was tasked with removing the broken tiles and existing adhesive, fitting replacement tiles, sealing and re-grouting. Fortunately, the floor did not have electric underfloor heating installed, removing tiles with an electric floor matt stuck to it is bound to break the circuit so best avoided.

Cracked Travertine Tiled Kitchen Floor Before Restoration Redhill

I visited the property to get a good understanding of the problems and then prepared a quote for the whole restoration which was accepted. I also had to source new Travertine tiles to replace the cracked ones. Its worth noting that Tile Doctor often gets asked to replace cracked tiles but unless its part of a bigger renovation job like this one we won’t take it on.

Replacing Travertines in a Redhill Kitchen

Removing tile is a noisy, messy operation that can generate dust so I had agreed with the customer that they would clear the room beforehand and remove anything they might need from the cupboards so I could tape them up.

Work started by cutting the grout lines with an oscillating tool and then started removing the tile by knocking out from the centre outwards. Once all tiles where removed this exposed the previous floor adhesive which was carefully removed using a chisel and hammer.

Cracked Travertine Tiled Kitchen Floor During Repair Redhill

After a much need lunch break, I mixed up some fresh quick setting flexible adhesive and laid in the replacement Travertine tiles. Later that day I was then able to apply the grout and left the floor to them to set.

Cracked Travertine Tiled Kitchen Floor After Repair Redhill

Deep Cleaning and Sealing Travertine Kitchen Tiles

A week later, once the tiles had cured and had time to settle, I returned to deep clean and seal the tiles which would blend in the replacement tiles with the original and make the floor look whole again.

Firstly, I hand cleaned the grout lines with Tile Doctor Pro-Clean worked in with a wire brush. Its hard work but I find this is the most effective way to get grout clean.

The next job was to remove what remained of the previous sealer and top layer of dirt. This was done with a rotating buffing machine and a set of diamond encrusted burnishing pads. The first one applied is a coarse 400-grit pad followed by 800 and 1500-grit, working through the pads in sequence. You might be familiar with the grit system from sandpaper, rough down to smooth. The process is lubricated with water and the slurry generated is rinsed off with water and extracted using a wet vacuum.

I left the floor to dry off overnight, they can walk on it during this time, but they needed to be careful of any spillages.

Sealing a Travertine Tiled Kitchen Floor

The second day started with and inspection of the Travertine tile and grout looking for any areas that need further attention. I was satisfied that the floor was looking its’ best and once the preparation was complete, I applied the first coat of sealer.

On this occasion I went with Tile Doctor Ultra Seal which is doesn’t change the look of the stone giving a completely natural look. This product soaks into the pores of the stone protecting if from within and should last between three and five years depending on the amount of wear it received and how the floor is cleaned and maintained.

Cracked Travertine Tiled Kitchen Floor After Restoration Redhill

Two coats of sealer were applied and after each coat dried, I polished the floor using a very fine 3000-grit diamond pad. The pad is run across the Travertine dry with only a little water sprayed onto the tile using a process we call a ‘Spray Burnish’. I asked the client to keep off the travertine until it’s cured, usually for a couple of hours which is always a good excuse to go out for the evening!

The client was very happy the floor and relieved that the cracked tiles were gone and their kitchen floor looked amazing again. For aftercare I recommended using Tile Doctor Stone Soap which is ideal for the regular cleaning of sealed natural stone floors, many supermarket products are simply too harsh and will reduce the life of the sealer.

Professional Restoration of a Travertine Tiled Kitchen in Surrey

Cracked Travertine Tiled Kitchen Floor Renovated in Redhill Read More »

Black Slate Tiled Floor Before After Renovation Charlwood

Problematic Black Slate Kitchen Floor Renovated in Charlwood near Gatwick

1 Comment / Gatwick Tile Cleaning, Grout Cleaning, Slate Tile Cleaning / Hugh Mcleod

This client from Charlwood near Gatwick had a couple of problems with his Black Slate tiled kitchen floor. First the washing machine had leaked something onto the tiles and second their son had a habit of scraping his toys across the floor. All of this had taken its toll on the original sealer and the Black Slate was now stained, scratched, and looking washed out.

Stained Black Slate Kitchen Floor Before Cleaning Charlwood

The solution was clear in that both issues could be resolved by replacing the sealer which would take two days. Day one would would focus on removing all the original sealer by deep cleaning the tiles and then on day two a fresh sealer would be added to restore the Black colour of the Slate and protect the stone going forward. Having agreed my quote, a date was scheduled for the work to begin.

Charlwood is a small village in East Surrey on the border of West Sussex, it’s close to Gatwick airport with the perimeter running immediately to the Southwest. There were times when the local government wanted to move the village into West Sussex, but this was unpopular and so it stayed in Surrey.

Deep Cleaning a Black Slate Tiled Kitchen Floor

To remove the sealer, I applied a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean which is our go to tile and grout cleaning product that can also strip sealers off a floor. This was left to soak in for ten minutes before scrubbing it in with a Black pad fitted to a rotary floor buffer. I also gave the grout a good clean using more Tile Doctor Pro-Clean and a handheld scrubbing brush. Once done the soiling was rinsed away with more water and extracted with a wet vacuum.

I then turned my attention to the staining using a fine handheld diamond block. This gently skims a little stone away from the surface taking the stain and scratches along with it. A heat gun was used to speed dry the problem areas so I could quickly see if further work was needed and repeat the process until I was satisfied the Slate was looking at its best. After a final rinse the wet vacuum was used to remove as much moisture as possible and the floor left to dry off overnight.

Sealing Black Slate Kitchen Floor Tiles

The next day I returned and after passing the damp test I was able to seal the floor with Tile Doctor Seal and Go Extra. This leaves a nice sheen for clients who don’t want a very shiny floor but want good protection from the wear and tear caused by the kids.

Stained Black Slate Kitchen Floor After Cleaning Sealing Charlwood

Once complete the Black Slate looked like a new floor and client was very pleased with the result. Before leaving I took time to discuss on-going cleaning and recommend the use of a Neutral Tile Cleaner. This is important as many of the tile cleaning products you find in supermarkets are simply too strong for use on sealed tiles and can prematurely erode the sealer.

Professional Renovation of a Black Slate Tiled Kitchen in East Surrey

Problematic Black Slate Kitchen Floor Renovated in Charlwood near Gatwick Read More »

Terracotta Tiled Floor Renovated Dormansland

End of Tenancy Terracotta Clean and Seal Kitchen Floor for Dormansland Landlord

1 Comment / Grout Cleaning, Lingfield Tile Cleaning, Terracotta Tile Cleaning / Hugh Mcleod

A landlord contacted to have the Terracotta floor tiles in the Kitchen of a rental property in Dormansland, near Lingfield, cleaned and sealed after Tenants moved out. There are plenty of “end of tenancy cleaning” companies around however they don’t specialise on tile and grout and therefore won’t have the equipment to deep clean them properly.

Terracotta is a porous material so it has to be protected with a sealer to prevent dirt from becoming ingrained in its pores, as once this happens it’s a real struggle to remove. Pitfalls including using the wrong cleaning method which can result in scratching and not allowing the tile to dry before sealing which can result in an uneven finish.

Terracotta Tiled Kitchen Floor Test Cleaning Dormansland

Before quoting for the work, I visited the property and carried out a small test clean. For this I used both a black nylon pad and then a 400-grit diamond pad. The result from the black pad was ok but not exceptional but the result from the 400-grit pad was much better. The diamond pad uses industrial diamonds to cut through and loosen the dirt however the pads are expensive, so I like to try an alternative first. The client was happy for me to go ahead, he just wanted me to ensure the floor was nice and tidy and was easy for the new tenants to keep clean and maintain.

Deep Cleaning Terracotta Tile and Grout

On arrival first I taped up the kitchen plinths and the skirting boards to protect them from the cleaning solutions I would be using which can be quite messy. I started by cleaning the grout first then the tiles. With the grout being recessed it tends to gather dirt easily and is best cleaned by hand using a wire brush and Tile Doctor Pro-Clean.

Terracotta Tiled Kitchen Floor Before Cleaning Dormansland

Terracotta Tiled Kitchen Floor During Cleaning Dormansland

After the grout I turned my attention to the Terracotta tiles which were pre-wetted in Tile Doctor Remove and Go and then scrubbed using the 400-grit diamond pad mentioned earlier. Once the whole floor was treated in this way it was rinsed with water and the soiling removed with a wet vacuum.

Once done the floor was inspected and stubborn areas were retreated until I was satisfied with the condition of the Terracotta and grout. Then after a final rinse and extraction the floor was left to dry off overnight.

Sealing a Terracotta Tiled Kitchen Floor

Returning the next day, I tested the floor with the damp meter to check for remaining moisture. The tests confirmed that the floor was dry enough to seal, I applied three coats of Tile Doctor Seal and Go Extra. The customer wanted a strong sealer but not too glossy. The alternative Tile Doctor Seal and Go can be thought to be too glossy so Tile Doctor Seal and Go Extra is a good compromise.

Terracotta Tiled Kitchen Floor After Cleaning Sealing Dormansland

I suggested leaving a bottle of Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner for the incoming new tenant. Hopefully if they use it regularly, they will keep the floor in good condition. It is pH neutral and mild enough to use every day but will not compromise the newly applied seal. Standard household cleaners tend to be too strong and will break down the sealer which will take the floor back to square one.

He was delighted with the overall finish and agreed encouraging them to use the cleaner would be a good plan.

Professional Restoration of a Terracotta Tiled Kitchen in West Surrey

End of Tenancy Terracotta Clean and Seal Kitchen Floor for Dormansland Landlord Read More »

Ceramic Metro Bathroom Tiles Rejuvinated Dorking

Rejuvenating White Metro Stye Bathroom Tiles in Dorking

1 Comment / Ceramic Tile Cleaning, Dorking Tile Cleaning, Grout Cleaning, Work by Category, Work by Location, Work History / Hugh Mcleod

These clients from Dorking were selling their house soon but were concerned about the appearance of the tile and grout in their shower room and bath. The tiles were White Ceramic laid in the popular Metro style, whilst the tiles looked fine, they were being let down by the grout which had discoloured and was turning a shade of pink and brown. Also, the white mastic sealant was blackening and mouldy in places. Naturally, my clients were keen to ensure that potential buyers were not put off by the bathroom and wanted to get the maximum price for the house sale.

Ceramic Tiled Bathroom Before Cleaining Dorking

This was a nice straight forward job, the tiles can be easily cleaned, and the mastic removed and reapplied, but it would make a massive difference to the overall look of the room. I gave them a price and they were happy for me to go ahead.

Deep Cleaning a Ceramic Tile and Grout

Firstly, I sprayed the grout with Tile Doctor Duo Clean. This breaks down the accumulated dirt and grime and is left to dwell for 10-15 minutes. Then I brushed the grout with a strong wire brush and showered away the dirt. Permanent discolouration is common so there were places the grout failed to return to its original white colour. To resolve this, I discussed colouring the grout with my customer as removing and re-grouting is a time consuming and expensive option. Additionally, the colourant provides an easy to clean barrier over the grout that will protect it from discolouration going forward.

While waiting for the grout to dry following the cleaning I set about removing the mastic around the shower and walls with a sharp knife.

After an hour of slow cutting the grout was ready for colouring. With a small, stiff paintbrush I painted a White Tile Doctor Grout Colourant into the grout lines, wiping away any excess from the tiles. The colourant dries very quickly so I could apply a second coat where needed soon after.

Once done my final task was to apply the white silicon mastic to all verticals and the bath surround to ensure the bath was watertight. This takes a while to cure so I advised the clients not to use the shower for 24 hours. I should mention the glaze on Ceramic tiles provides adequate protection from dirt, ensuring they are easy to clean and therefore do not require further sealing.

By the end of the day the bathroom looked like a new installation, their trendy Metro style tiles were rejuvenated, and my clients loved the wall of white.

Ceramic Tiled Bathroom After Cleaining Dorking

As my client was selling the property there was little point in discussing aftercare, however for your benefit I would recommend cleaning with Tile Doctor Aqua-Pro. This product will neutralise any acid build up caused by shampoos and shower products in the first place and it is these acids that cause discoloration over time.

Now I don’t want to worry anyone about the word acids, the human skin is slightly acidic so the products we use on our skin are designed for this, but if your eyes sting slightly when they come into contact with the shampoo then that is the acid. Naturally, it washes out with water, but you can imagine what it will do to your grout, tiles, and silicone over a long period of time.

Professional Cleaning of a Ceramic Bathroom Tiles in Surrey

Rejuvenating White Metro Stye Bathroom Tiles in Dorking Read More »

Quarry Tile Floor Before After Cleaning Outwood East Surrey

Quarry Tiled Lounge Floor Renovated in Outwood

1 Comment / Grout Cleaning, Quarry Tile Cleaning, Salfords Tile Cleaning, Work History / Hugh Mcleod

This client who lived in a property in the Village of Outwood had a tired looking Quarry tiled floor in their lounge and asked if we could improve the look of it. I went over to take a look and can see the tiles were situated in front of a brick fireplace and added a nice rustic feel to the room that was well suited to the house.

Quarry Tiled Floor Before Renovation in Outwood

It had clearly been some time however since the Quarry tiles had been given a good clean and seal; the tiles were looking dull and lifeless and the grout was especially bad and had darkened with the ingrained dirt. I could see a deep clean would be required to lift the dirt out so after discussing the process we agreed a date for me to come back and renovate the floor.

Quarry Tiled Floor Before Renovation in Outwood Close Up

Deep Cleaning Quarry Tile and Grout

When I returned to clean the floor my first task was to protect any areas that may be impacted by the cleaning process which in this case related to the adjacent carpet.

To be able to reach into the pores of the tile and grout and lift out the dirt I needed to remove any remaining sealer. To do this I applied a medium dilution of Tile Doctor Remove and Go which is a strong coatings remover and cleaner that’s ideal for these situations. The product is left to dwell for ten minutes, so it can get to work breaking down the old sealer and dirt and is then scrubbed into the floor. Normally I use a black scrubbing pad fitted to a rotary machine running on slow speed to do this however given the size of the floor I decided to use a deck brush to scrub the tiles and a narrow grout brush along the grout lines.

The soiled cleaning solution was rinsed off the floor with water and extracted using a wet vacuum. I then inspected the floor and spot treated any areas that needed further attention with a repeat of the same process. Once I was satisfied the Quarry tile and grout was as clean as it could be, I left for the night so the floor cold dry off.

Sealing Quarry Tiles

Returning the next day, I sealed the Quarry tiles with several coats of Tile Doctor Seal and Go which adds a nice subtle sheen finish to the tiles and will provide the tiles with long lasting protection. Seal and Go is a water-based sealer so doesn’t leave a smell as it dries which is always a plus.

My client was impressed with the transformation and as I think you will agree the Quarry tiles now look much brighter and the grout has returned to a much lighter shade.

Quarry Tiled Floor After Renovation in Outwood

Professional Renovation of a Quarry Tiled Floor in Surrey

Quarry Tiled Lounge Floor Renovated in Outwood Read More »

Marble Tiled Floor Before After Polishing Reigate East Surrey

Achieving a Deep Polish on Marble Floor Tiles at a Reigate Cottage

1 Comment / Grout Cleaning, Marble Tile Cleaning, Reigate Tile Cleaning, Work History / Hugh Mcleod

The photographs below are of a Marbled Tiled floor that was installed over much of the ground floor of a cottage that formed part of a large county estate near Reigate.

Marble Tiled Floor Before Polishing Reigate

The Marble floor tiles were lovely however the polish and sealer had worn off some time ago and the were now looking much worse for wear, additionally the once white grout had turned dark with dirt and I`m not sure even the owner realised its full potential. I provided a quote for cleaning and applying a deep polishing to the floor which was agreed and set a date to do the work.

Marble Tile and Grout Cleaning in Reigate

After protecting the wooden skirting with tape, I started the cleaning process by applying a medium dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean which was scrubbed into the tiles using a stiff brush to remove any loose dirt and debris from the floor but primarily along the grout lines. The soiled cleaning solution was then rinsed off with water and then extracted with a wet vacuum.

Next step was to deep clean the tiles and bring back the polish using a set of four Tile Doctor diamond encrusted honing pads which fit a weighted rotary floor buffer and are applied in sequence starting with the 400-grit pad lubricated with water. This is followed with the 800-grit and then the 1500-grit pads rinsing with water after each pad and removing the soil generated by the burnishing process with the wet vacuum as before.

This work took much of the day so after applying the 1500-grit pad and rinsing I left the floor to dry out overnight.

Sealing and Polishing Marble Tiles with Shine Powder

The next day I started by applying the 3000-grit pad which is the final pad in the polishing process and really helps bring up the polished appearance of the Marble. The pad is applied to the floor dry using a little water sprayed onto the floor using a process we call a spray burnish.

The last step was to seal the Marble tiles and build the polish even further by applying Tile Doctor Shine Powder which is diluted with water and buffed into the Marble tiles using a white buffing pad. The shine powder did an excellent job of building the shine on the floor and provides a tough durable finish that should last.

Marble Tiled Floor After Polishing Reigate

After two days work the Marble tiled floor looked transformed and I was especially pleased with the deep level of shine and restored white grout that I had managed to achieve.

Restoring Polish to Marble Floor Tiles in East Surrey

Achieving a Deep Polish on Marble Floor Tiles at a Reigate Cottage Read More »

Removing Limescale from Porcelain Swimming Pool tiles in Oxshott

1 Comment / Grout Cleaning, Leatherhead Tile Cleaning, Porcelain Tile Cleaning / TileProf

The owner of this swimming pool at a large residence in the suburban village of Oxshott had put the property on the market and naturally wanted the pool area to look its best. The pool was surrounded by Porcelain tiles which are very resilient and generally a good choice for a swimming pool surround, additionally the slate effect tiles in this post had a riven surface which would make them less slippery than the highly polished variety. The chemicals used in swimming pools however are quite strong and I suspect this has contributed to the build-up of Limescale on the surface of the tiles.

Cleaning Porcelain Tiles

The first job was to give the tiles a deep clean and this was done by scrubbing in Tile Doctor Pro-Clean diluted 1 part cleaner to four parts hot water using a black scrubbing pad fitted to a rotary machine. Once scrubbed the soiled cleaning solution was removed using a wet vacuum and the tiles given a thorough rinse. There were a lot of tiles to clean and naturally care has to be taken to avoid getting any cleaning solution in the pool.

Porcelain Pool Surround Oxshott Before Cleaning

After rinsing the tiles were dried with the assistance of an air mover so we could get an idea of what other remedial work would be required and in this case it became clear where the areas with Limescale staining were.

Porcelain Pool Surround Oxshott During Cleaning

Removing Limescale from Porcelain Tiles

To remove the Limescale each stain was spot treated using Tile Doctor Grout Clean-up which is a strong acid based cleaning product normally used to remove grout smears from tiles but also equally useful at dealing with mineral deposits such as Limescale. You have to be very careful with acids on tiles, especially natural stone so once it had done its job the tiles were thoroughly rinsed and the whole floor rinsed again once we have completed everything.

Porcelain Pool Surround Oxshott After Cleaning

When we had finished the client couldn’t believe the transformation we have managed to achieve.

Deep cleaning Porcelain pool surround tiles in OxShott, Surrey

Removing Limescale from Porcelain Swimming Pool tiles in Oxshott Read More »

Marble Tiled Hallway Cleaned and Polished in Farnborough

Dorking Tile Cleaning, Grout Cleaning, Marble Tile Cleaning / TileProf

It’s not our local area but following a recommendation to this client by another customer we were asked to have clean and seal these Marble tiles in the hallway of a house in Farnborough.

Marble Tile Cleaning and Polishing

There was no sealer present on the Marble tiled floor so gave the floor a clean with a dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean which is safe to use on stone floors, Pro-Clean is also very effective on grout so we took the opportunity to get into the grout lines as well. Once we were happy with the tile and grout we removed the soiled cleaning solution using a wet vacuum and washed the floor down with clean water.

The next step was to use a set of diamond encrusted burnishing Pads fitted to a rotary buffing machine to polish the floor. The pads come in a set and are very effective at restoring the shine back on Marble, Limestone and Travertine etc.

Sealing Marble Tiles

Once the floor was polished we applied two coats of Tile Doctor Ultra-Seal which provides a high level of surface protection whilst maintaining the natural look of the Marble tiles. Once the sealer had dried we buffed the floor again using a white polishing pad.

I’m, afraid I forgot to take any photographs before we started cleaning so you can see the difference we made to the floor, needless to say however the customer was very happy with the results

Marble Floor Tiles and Grout Refreshed in Farnborough

Marble Tiled Hallway Cleaned and Polished in Farnborough Read More »

Quarry Tiled Kitchen Floor Cleaned in Leatherhead

Grout Cleaning, Leatherhead Tile Cleaning, Quarry Tile Cleaning, Work History / Bill Bailey

Details below of a Quarry Tiled kitchen floor that were cleaned and sealed for a lady in Leatherhead. As you can see it was quite a large area and the quarry tiles were looking dull and tired, there was some staining to the grout.

Cleaning Kitchen Quarry Tiles

A solution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean was applied to the floor and left to soak for a short while before being scrubbed in with a rotary machine fitted with a black scrubbing pad. The grout also need attention, unfortunately we don’t have a machine that will get into the grout lines so this had to be manually scrubbed by hand using a grout brush, which as you can imagine took some time to do. The soiled cleaning solution was then removed using a wet vacuum and the floor thoroughly rinsed with water and then left to dry overnight.

Sealing Kitchen Quarry Tiles

When we returned the next day we could see there were some grout lines that we had missed the day before so we set about cleaning those up. Once we were happy with the floor it and it had managed to dry off we sealed the floor using six coats of Tile Doctor Seal and Go which provides surface stain protection to the quarry tile and grout and also leaves a nice deep low sheen on the tile surface. The lady was over the moon with the results and her husband was even happier because it meant he didn’t have to pay out for a new kitchen.

Cleaning a Quarry Tiled Kitchen Floor in Leatherhead

Quarry Tiled Kitchen Floor Cleaned in Leatherhead Read More »

Marble Tiled Floor Polish and Grout Refresh near Croydon

Grout Cleaning, Marble Tile Cleaning, Merstham Tile Cleaning / TileProf

These photographs were taken at a house in Forestdale near Croydon in Surrey where we were engaged to clean and buff a dull Marble tiled floor; we were also asked to re-colour the grout which had become stained.

Marble Tiled Floor Polishing

We used a set of diamond encrusted Twister Burnishing Pads fitted to a rotary buffing machine to polish the floor. The pads come in a set of four; you start with the Red pad together with plain water and this cuts through and removes surface grime and any surface seal. You then progress through one by one until you get to the final Green polishing pad which provides a high polish.

After this I mixed some Tile Doctor Shine crystallising powder with water, the Shine product provides a very high shine and tough durable finish. I used a White |Buffing pad to work the Shine powder into the tiles. After five minutes the residue was removed using a wet vacuum and I used the opposite side of the white pad and some plain water and carried on for another five minutes. Once complete I vacuumed the remaining water off and then with a clean dry white pad buffed up the floor to leave a deep lasting shine.

Recolouring the Grout

The last step was to refresh the grout using a tube of White Grout Colour applied with a toothbrush and then left for a couple of hours before using a white scrubbing pad and a little water spray to remove excess colourant. When I had finished the owner of the house said the floor looked better than it did when it was first laid.

Marble Floor After Polishing and Grout Refresh

Marble Tile Floor Polish and Grout Refresh in Forestdale, Surrey

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Slate Floor Cleaning at a Central London Office

Grout Cleaning, Leatherhead Tile Cleaning, Slate Tile Cleaning / TileProf

I was asked by a building company to look at some slate flooring that was laid during a refurbishment to the offices of a German television station based in central London.
The architect was not happy because there appeared to be some grout haze and some grout along the ridges that you get in slate. I carried out a demonstration to the building manager and she was pleased with the result and we were awarded the job.

Because of the nature of the business I had to do the job out of hours, which suited me because there were 4 toilet areas to do over 6 floors and I was able to get on with the job without any interruption.

Slate Tile Cleaning

On my arrival I laid a coating of Tile Doctor Remove and Go mixed 50/50 with NanoTech Ultra-Clean to 2 toilets and left it to dwell while I brought all my equipment in and set up. These two products together create a very powerful stripper cleaning solution ideal for the job in hand. I left the products to soak into the tiled slate floor of the first toilet for an hour before scrubbing it in using water and a hand scrubbing brush. The soiled solution was then removed using a wet vacuum and then rinsed and sprayed with Tile Doctor Grout Clean-Up to remove any remaining grout haze off the surface of the tile. The slate was the given two mores rinses with clean water before being left to dry.

Before starting on the next floor I left a mixture of Remove and Go and NanoTech Ultra-Clean to dwell on the next floor. I then carried on with this process described above until all the floors were cleaned.

Slate Tile Sealing

Once the floors were dry I put a single coat of Tile Doctor Colour Grow sealer down on each floor which is a sealer which really brings out the natural colour of the stone.
The client had requested a shiny final finish so the sealing was completed using two coats of Tile Doctor Seal and Go on each floor.

When I had finished the site manager said that he couldn’t believe how nice they had come out and was looking forward to the reaction of the clients.

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East Surrey Tile Doctor

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