Grout Cleaning Archives - South Middlesex Tile Doctor

Travertine Tiled Kitchen Floor Renovation Feltham

Travertine Tiled Kitchen Floor Deep Cleaned and Sealed in Feltham

This Travertine stone floor had been installed in a property in Feltham eight years ago and hadn’t been professionally cleaned since. The appearance of the stone had slowly degraded during that time with dirt and stains building up in the pores of the stone and especially the grout which had darkened. My client had found it impossible to get it clean and restore the nice original finish. They had tried multiply household cleaners and had finally given in and contacted Tile Doctor.

Travertine Tiled Kitchen Floor Before Cleaning Feltham

I visited the property and after surveying the tile and grout formulated a plan for its recovery. It was clear to me that the sealer that would protect the stone had long since worn off and now dirt was filling the pores making it impossible to clean. Without the use of some specialist products and equipment they were never going to be able to improve that on their own.

I discussed with them the process for deep cleaning and renovating the floor and they agreed to go ahead with my quote. We agreed a date for my return to do the work which would take a couple of days.

Deep Cleaning a Travertine Tiled Kitchen Floor and Grout

I returned the following month and started work by taping up the wooden skirting boards, kitchen plinths and architrave to protect them from splashing during cleaning. To deep clean the stone and grout I set about applying a combination of Tile Doctor Remove and Go and Tile Doctor Pro-Clean diluted with water to break up the soils and greases from the kitchen floor. This was left to soak in for ten minutes before being scrubbed in with a heavy-duty machine scrubber, alongside hand scrubbing the grout lines and deeper cracks.

After this, we low pressure washed and vacuumed the floor, flushing all the cleaning products and soils away. The process was repeated again to deal with a couple of areas that were particularly stubborn. Once this was complete the floor was left to dry out overnight, so it would be ready to receive a sealer the following day.

Sealing a Travertine Tiled Kitchen Floor

The next morning I checked the floor for moisture using a damp meter and confirmed the tile and grout had dried out and was now ready for sealing. For this I applied two coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow sealer allowing time to dry between each coat. Colour Grow is a versatile impregnating sealer that soaks into the pores protecting the stone and grout from within, its colour enhancing formula also helps to bring out the Brown shades in Travertine to improve the overall appearance. Additionally, this sealer leaves a matt finish rather than anything too shiny which the client was keen to avoid.

Travertine Tiled Kitchen Floor After Cleaning Sealing Feltham

Once complete the floor looked clean and the different shades of Travertine tile really contrasted well together. My client had forgotten how beautiful their stone tiles are and were very happy with its improvement. The new sealer will provide a durable barrier from soils and spillages in the future allowing the floor to maintain its appearance for many years to come.

For ongoing maintenance, I recommended the use of Tile Doctor Stone Soap, this product is pH neutral and is suitable for sealed stone floors. Its effective yet mild enough to use daily if needed and goes a long way once diluted. You must be careful when selected a cleaning product for a sealed floor as many stronger products you find in supermarkets can degrade the sealer prematurely.

Professional Restoration of a Travertine Tiled Kitchen in South Middlesex

Travertine Tiled Kitchen Floor Deep Cleaned and Sealed in Feltham Read More »

Abused Slate Tiled Kitchen Floor Renovation Molesey

Builders Clean of a Slate Tiled Kitchen Floor in Molesey

1 Comment / Grout Cleaning, Hampton Court Tile Cleaning, Slate Tile Cleaning / Jonathan Oldham

This Slate tiled kitchen floor in the town of Molesey had been abused by builders doing a renovation on the kitchen and had not covered it up from the start. This resulted in the Slate tiles being splattered with paint, plaster and numerous deposits leaving the stone floor looking very unappealing.

Abused Slate Tiled Kitchen Floor Before Cleaning Molesey

Naturally the owner of the property although pleased with the new kitchen was un-impressed with the state, they had left the tiles in. Having lost confidence in the builder’s ability to resolve the issue I was asked to call in and quote for renovating the floor.

I visited the property to survey the floor and work out which combination of products and methods would work best and I was able to confirm I could renovate the stone back to its original condition if not better.

Removing Paint and Plaster from Slate Floor Tiles

To remove the paint and plaster as well as get the stone and grout clean I decided to combine Tile Doctor Remove and Go which is a coatings remover with Tile Doctor Pro-Clean which is a tile and grout cleaner. I left this to soak into the floor for ten minutes and then worked it into the stone using a heavy duty machine scrubber.

The machine takes a lot of the physical work out of the cleaning process but for best results I go over the grout by hand with a stiff scrubbing brush. machine fitted with a black pad. Once done I rinsed the floor with water to flush out the dirt and contaminates and vacuumed the floor dry.

The floor was then inspected to ensure all the contaminates were gone, and any stubborn areas were then spot treated and scrubbed by hand. Once I was satisfied with the condition of the tile and grout the floor was given another rinse to remove any traces of cleaning product, the water extracted and then left to dry off fully overnight.

Sealing a Slate Tiled Kitchen Floor

I returned the next day to apply a sealer which would enhance the appearance of the stone and most importantly protect it from staining. First, I tested the floor was dry using a moisture meter to ensure it was dry, this is important as applying sealer to a damp floor can affect the result and make the stone appear patchy.

For this floor I chose to apply Tile Doctor Colour Grow, it contains a colour enhancer that bring out the natural colours in the Slate, it’s also an impregnator that works by soaking into the pores of the stone adding long lasting protection from within. Lastly it leaves a matt finish which is exactly what my customer had specified.

Abused Slate Tiled Kitchen Floor After Cleaning Sealing Molesey

Relieved the floor had been restored to its former beauty I spend a little time with them to discuss after care cleaning. The use of harsh cleaning products will reduce the life of the sealer so I always recommend Tile Doctor Neutral Cleaner which is an effective but gentle cleaning agent that has a pH neutral formula and is safe to use of sealed tiles.

Professional Restoration of a Slate Tiled Kitchen in South Middlesex

Builders Clean of a Slate Tiled Kitchen Floor in Molesey Read More »

Travertine Tiled Floor Renovated Staines

Travertine Tiles Cleaned and Sealed in a Staines Kitchen

1 Comment / Grout Cleaning, Staines Tile Cleaning, Travertine Tile Cleaning / Jonathan Oldham

This client in Staines was unhappy with the appearance of their Travertine tiled kitchen floor and I was asked to pop round and see what could be done to improve their appearance.

After surveying the floor, I could see the grout had become badly stained and the natural pits in the Travertine had trapped a lot of dirt which had accumulated and formed black spots. Kitchen floors are the most hard-working in any house and with a build-up of cooking oils and other soils ingrained into the pores of the Travertine it was clear any sealer that had once protected the stone was no longer effective.

Travertine Stone Floor Before Cleaning Staines-upon-Thames

My proposed solution was to deep clean the floor with a particular focus on the grout and pitting and then replace the sealer to protect it going forward. I presented my quote, and they were happy to go ahead.

Cleaning a Travertine Tiled Kitchen Floor

To get the tile and grout clean I started with the application of a mixture of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean combined with Tile Doctor Remove and Go. Remove and Go is basically a stripper that is very good at breaking down grease and oil, alongside removing old sealer from the stone whilst Pro-Clean is an excellent grout cleaner. This combination makes a powerful cleaning cocktail and was scrubbed into the stone with a Black scrubbing pad fitted to a rotary machine. The scrubbing action gets the cleaning fluid into the pores of the stone and thoroughly flushes out the soiling which is then removed using a low-pressure machine that rinses and extracts using a vacuum.

Once done the floor was inspected and then the process repeated in a couple of stubborn areas, again thoroughly rinsing, and extracting afterwards. All traces of the cleaning products need to be removed as they would undermine the sealer which follows. At this point the floor was looking so much better and I was able to leave it to dry out overnight.

Sealing a Travertine Tiled Kitchen Floor

The following day, work started by testing the moisture levels in the floor with the damp meter. You can’t seal a damp floor so I like to make sure its dry first. The floor was sealed with two coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow sealer which is an impregnating sealer that works by occupying the small pores in the stone thereby ensuring dirt remains on the surface where it can easily be removed. This product also contains an enhancer that lifts the natural colours and contrasts in the Travertine whilst adding excellent protection against soiling and spillages. The perfect choice for this floor.

Travertine Stone Floor After Cleaning Staines-upon-Thames

As you can see from the pictures the floor was much improved, the modern kitchen looked new again, it had given the room a new lease of life. You must be careful what you use to clean a sealed floor as many household products are simply too strong and will break down the sealer. So, for aftercare cleaning I recommended the use of Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner which is a mild pH neutral cleaner that can be used regularly and will not compromise the newly applied sealant

Professional Renovation of a Travertine Tiled Kitchen in Middlesex

Travertine Tiles Cleaned and Sealed in a Staines Kitchen Read More »

Travertine Tiled Floor Renovation Twickenham

Travertine Tiled Kitchen Floor Renovation in Twickenham

1 Comment / Grout Cleaning, Travertine Tile Cleaning, Twickenham Tile Cleaning, Work by Category, Work by Location, Work History / Jonathan Oldham

I recently visited a property in Twickenham to survey their Travertine tiled. kitchen floor. The tiles were installed six years ago but the floor had not been professionally cleaned or sealed since. The kitchen was the busiest room in the house and experienced foot traffic from the garden as well as the hallway. The sealer had worn down over the years and now dirt was becoming ingrained into the pores of the stone and there were stains from cooking oils in the floor around the main cooking area.

Travertine Floor Renovation Before Renovation Twickenham

The stone and grout had darkened with the dirt it now carried so I carried out a small cleaning test to confirm my suspicions. The test went well and gave the stone and grout a much lighter and cleaner appearance and contrasted well against its neighbour.

The homeowner could clearly see just how dirty the floor had become and satisfied that I would be able to do a good job on the floor give me the go ahead to clean the whole floor and then seal it afterwards.

Cleaning and Restoring a Travertine Tiled Kitchen Floor

The Travertine was really dirty so to give the cleaning process a boost I created a potent mix of two strong Tile Doctor cleaning products called Pro-Clean and Remove and Go and left it to dwell on the floor to allow time to start breaking down the dirt. I chose these two as Pro-Clean has a great reputation for cleaning grout and Remove and Go for removing old sealers and coatings.

After fifteen minutes I set about scrubbing the tiles with a rotary floor buffer fitted with a black pad to break up the inground dirt. The pad can struggle to reach into the recesses of the grout line, so this was followed by hand scrubbing the grout lines. Once done the now soiled and dark cleaning solution was extracted using a wet vacuum. The floor was then inspected, and the process completed until I was satisfied and followed up with spot cleaning a few areas with stubborn stains.

Travertine Floor Renovation During Renovation Twickenham

As you can see from the pictures, the difference made it well worth doing. After a final rinse with water and extraction with the wet vacuum the floor was then left overnight to dry out.

Sealing a Travertine Tiled Kitchen Floor

The following day the floor was tested with the damp meter to check its moisture levels and ensure the floor was ready to accept a sealer. The tiles had dried out nicely and so the first of what would be two coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow sealer were applied to the floor. This is a premium colour enhancing sealer that works from within by occupying the tiny pores in the stone where dirt would otherwise reside. The sealer will ensure dirt remains on the surface of the tile and grout where it can be easily removed and help protect the stone from spillages.

Travertine Floor Renovation After Renovation Twickenham

For aftercare cleaning I like to recommend the use of Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner. This is a gentle neutral pH cleaner that can be used frequently. It has a nice fresh fragrance, and as its concentrated a small amount goes a long way. It will also help to protect the newly applied sealant. This is important and most supermarket floor cleaning products are simply too strong for use on a sealed floor and can prematurely degrade the sealer.

The client was delighted with the work we had carried out, the kitchen had been transformed and were now confident they could maintain it. If you would like a no obligation quotation to clean your natural stone or ceramic tiled floor, please get in touch.

Professional Restoration of a Travertine Tiled Kitchen in South Middlesex

Travertine Tiled Kitchen Floor Renovation in Twickenham Read More »

Porcelain Tiled Kitchen Floor Before After Cleaning Shepperton

Porcelain Tile & Grout Floor Renovation in a Shepperton Kitchen

1 Comment / Grout Cleaning, Porcelain Tile Cleaning, Shepperton Tile Cleaning, Work by Category, Work by Location / Jonathan Oldham

Our client had decided their Porcelain kitchen tiles were ready for a clean after having extensive work carried out at their home in Shepperton. Everything was now looking new except for the floor which resembled Travertine and was looking rather sorry for itself.

Normally with Porcelain tiles I find it’s mainly the grout that needs attention but, in this case, it was clear the sealer had worn down on the tile and that was also attracting dirt. Most Porcelain tiles won’t accept a sealer, but these were micro-porous which can trap dirt in the pores of the tile and so does need sealing to protect against that.

Porcelain Tile Floor Before Cleaning Shepperton

To resolve the floor would need to be stripped of all remaining sealer, tile and grout cleaned and then resealed. The process is straightforward, so I didn’t anticipate any problems.

Cleaning a Porcelain Tiled Kitchen Floor

I started by spraying the floor with a medium dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean and then left it to soak in for ten minutes. The tiles were then scrubbed using a floor buffing machine fitted with a black pad going over each tile at least three times.

More Tile Doctor Pro-Clean was then applied to the grout lines which were a lot dirtier. These were hand scrubbed to get the grout nice and clean. Pads struggle to reach into the recesses of the grout lines so I find this is the most effective way to do it. The now soiled cleaning solution was then then rinsed away with water and extracted with an industrial wet vacuum. Immediately the floor looked a whole lot cleaner.

Sealing a Porcelain Tiled Kitchen Floor

To protect the now clean Porcelain tile and grout from future staining (especially in a busy Kitchen) the next step was to apply a sealer however the floor would need to be dry first. Fortunately, it was a hot day and after testing with a moisture meter I found the tiles were fully dry in four hours, which was good news as it meant we could seal on the same day as cleaning.

To seal I applied a single coat of Tile Doctor Ultra Seal which is a natural look sealer that doesn’t darken the appearance of the tile. It’s a fine impregnating sealer that works by occupying the minute pores in the porcelain blocking any dirt from becoming ingrained there and subsequently making the floor much easier to clean.

Porcelain Tile Floor After Cleaning Sealing Shepperton

The floor now looks great and the client was very happy that all the kitchen renovation work was 100% complete. For day to day cleaning I recommend the use of Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner as this will keep the floor maintained but without prematurely degrading the sealer. This is a common problem with many household cleaners which are simply too strong for use on a sealed tile.

Professional Cleaning of a Porcelain Tiled Kitchen Floor in Middlesex

Porcelain Tile & Grout Floor Renovation in a Shepperton Kitchen Read More »

Encaustic Cement Floor Tile Grout Before After Renovation Twickenham

Encaustic Tiled Bathroom Floor Renovated Twickenham

1 Comment / Encaustic Cement Tile Cleaning, Grout Cleaning, Twickenham Tile Cleaning, Work by Category, Work by Location, Work History / Jonathan Oldham

The pictures below are of an Encaustic Cement tiled floor that had been installed in the bathroom of a property in Twickenham. At the time the tiles were installed, they did not seal them and had since accumulated dirt, especially in the grout lines.

Encaustic Cement Bathroom Floor Tiles Before Cleaning Twickenham

Encaustic cement tiles have become extremely popular in the last few years with many beautiful artistic often geometric patterns available to choose from. The very nature of the cement-based tile however does make it slightly porous, and if left unsealed dirt will become ingrained in the tile making it difficult to remove and keep clean. Like grout they do therefore need to be sealed in order to keep them looking at their best for longer.

Cleaning Encaustic Cement Tile and Grout

Now we normally recommend using diamond encrusted burnishing pads when renovating Encaustic Cement tiles however in this case the face of the tiles were not too bad and it was really the grout that needed the most attention. So, to cut the cost for customer, I advised a straightforward alkaline scrub clean and seal.

To clean the tile and grout I sprayed the floor with a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean and left it to soak into the dirt for ten minutes. Space in the bathroom was quite tight so instead of using a mechanical floor scrubber I scrubbed the tile and grout by hand working the alkaline cleaning solution into the pores to release the grout in dirt.

After scrubbing the floor was rinsed with a little water and the soil removed with a wet vacuum. Afterwards the floor was inspected, and any stubborn areas retreated with repeat of the process. After a final rinse, the floor was dried as much as possible with the wet vacuum.

Sealing Encaustic Cement Tiles

Fortunately, the weather has been amazing of late and so it did not take long for the floor to dry, being a small space and a little encouragement from a heat gun always helps. Removing excess moisture before sealing is essential as even a small amount can cloud the sealer resulting in an uneven appearance.

Once satisfied that the floor was dry, I proceeded to seal it by applying a couple two coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow across the Encaustic tile and grout. As an impregnating sealer Colour Grow penetrates the pores of the cement occupying the space and thus prevent any dirt from becoming ingrained there. Colour Grow’s colour intensifying properties also helped to deepen the black colour of the tile enhancing the contrast between the tiles and grout.

Encaustic Cement Bathroom Floor Tiles After Cleaning Twickenham

Now the floor has been properly sealed it will be far easier for the customer to keep them clean in future. For maximum longevity of the sealer I recommend maintenance cleaning with Tile Doctor Neutral Cleaner. Don’t be tempted to use supermarket cleaning products without reading the label first, many are simply too strong for cleaning sealed surfaces and will strip off the sealer prematurely leaving the tiles unprotected.

Professional Cleaning and Sealing of Encaustic Cement Tile and Grout in Middlesex

Encaustic Tiled Bathroom Floor Renovated Twickenham Read More »

Porcelain Floor Before After Renovation Twickenham

Grout Haze Removed from Wood Effect Porcelain Tiles in Twickenham

1 Comment / Grout Cleaning, Porcelain Tile Cleaning, Twickenham Tile Cleaning, Work by Category, Work by Location, Work History / Jonathan Oldham

These porcelain wood effect tiles were laid approximately two years ago after a large extension was completed in Twickenham, Middlesex. The customer had pointed out to us that ever since they were laid, they had struggled to keep them clean, even with hand scrubbing on their hands and knees. The pictures they sent over via email didn’t really show up the problem, so I arranged a visit to their property to take a closer look. Famous for being the home of rugby union in England, Twickenham is only 9 miles from our base in Shepperton so I’m often in the area.

After closer inspection, it was apparent that whoever had laid the tiles had not cleaned the grout away from the tiles well enough and had left a fine layer of grout haze (aka Grout Smears) across the floor. This explained it was difficult to clean the tiles as the grout was trapping the dirt making it extremely hard to achieve a clean smooth look. It was a shame as the kitchen looked fantastic, but the floor was letting it down.

Wood Effect Porcelain Tiles Before Grout Haze Removal Twickenham

Fortunately, Tile Doctor has a solution for every tile problem, and I explained that we could remove the unwanted grout haze using a product called Grout Clean-Up. The client agreed to my quote and we arranged to pop back later in the week to complete the work.

Cleaning a Porcelain Tiled Kitchen Floor

My method was straight forward and involved applying a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Grout Clean-up to the Porcelain floor tiles and then leaving it to dwell for ten minutes. The with the aid of a heavy-duty floor scrubbing machine fitted with a black pad the solution was worked into the tile. The pads can fail to reach into the recessed grout lines so to ensure they were clean I gave them a scrub by hand.

All the chemical, dirt and grout were then rinsed off the floor and vacuumed away with a wet vacuum. The floor was then inspected, and any stubborn areas spot treated until I was satisfied all the grout haze had been removed.

Once the floor was dry my next step normally would be to seal the tiles but most Porcelain tiles (including this variety) are not porous and therefore won’t accept a sealer

Wood Effect Porcelain Tiles After Grout Haze Removal Twickenham

With the floor dry my work was done and you could see it looked so much lighter and cleaner and will now be a simple case of mopping. My client was incredibly happy with the result and relieved the floor looked clean as it should have been following installation and happy that the there would be no need to scrub it vigorously going forward to keep it clean.

Professional Restoration of a Porcelain Tiled Kitchen in South Middlesex

Grout Haze Removed from Wood Effect Porcelain Tiles in Twickenham Read More »

Wood Effect Porcelain Tiled Floor Before and After Grout Removal Hampton

Post Installation Clean of Wood Effect Porcelain Tiles in Middlesex Hampton

1 Comment / Grout Cleaning, Hampton Court Tile Cleaning, Porcelain Tile Cleaning, Work by Category, Work by Location, Work History / Jonathan Oldham

This kitchen floor at a property in Hampton may look like it is made from wood but is in-fact Porcelain tile in a very convincing wood effect. The tiled floor had been laid well but had not been cleaned off properly afterwards by the tilers. This is a common problem with tile installations and what should happen is the excess grout is polished off the tiles before it sets hard on the surface, a problem we call Grout Haze. This is especially important where the tile has a textured finish which can trap the grout much more easily and this was the case with these wooden plank effect Porcelain tiles. The grout also increased the textured nature of the surface, so it attracted dirt more easily and after a while the customer was finding it impossible to get the floor looking clean.

Wood Effect Porcelain Floor Before Deep Cleaning Hampton

The kitchen had been newly installed, and the state of the tiles were dragging down the overall appearance of the room. Naturally, the owner was not happy and called us in to rectify the situation. The property is in Hampton which is a suburban area on the north bank of the River Thames, it is situated in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, which includes the historic Hampton Court Palace, once the home of Henry VIII.

Removing Grout Haze from a Wood Effect Porcelain Tiled Floor

This work actually took place earlier in the year and after visiting the property to survey the floor it wasn’t long before I was able to return and give the floor a deep clean. I got to work preparing the area first by taping the plinths and woodwork to prevent any damage to them.

Next, I tackled the grout haze by giving the floor a wash and scrub in Tile Doctor Grout Clean-Up. This product is designed for removing grout haze or grout smears as its sometimes referred to. The kitchen area was a little tight for a rotary floor scrubbing machine, so I decided to tackle the problem by scrubbing each tile by hand. The method I used was to apply a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Grout Clean-Up to the tiles and leave it for about ten minutes before scrubbing it in. Once done the floor was rinsed with water and the now released grout haze and dirt is extracted using a wet vacuum. Whilst this was a more time-consuming method than using the rotary machine the overall result was the same.

With the grout haze removed the kitchen now looks stunning as was intended and our client should find the floor much easier to maintain going forward. Most Porcelain tiles are glazed at the factory and so in this case there was no need to apply a sealant to protect them and so the job was completed in a day.

Wood Effect Porcelain Floor After Deep Cleaning Hampton

For aftercare I recommend the use of Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner to ensure the floor was kept in great condition. It won’t leave any residue like some household cleaners and will ensure the Porcelain tiles are maintained and continue to look this great.

Wood Effect Porcelain Tile Cleaning in Middlesex

Post Installation Clean of Wood Effect Porcelain Tiles in Middlesex Hampton Read More »

Slate Tiled Patio Before After Renovation Brentford

Renovation of Slate Tiled Patio in Brentford

1 Comment / Brentford Tile Cleaning, Grout Cleaning, Slate Tile Cleaning, Work History / Jonathan Oldham

This Slate patio that had been installed at a property in Brentford one year prior to our visit last year. It had not been sealed after installation and as you can see from the pictures it was now looking very tired after a very short period. Additionally, the pointing had not been cleaned off the slate entirely leaving a haze over the stone which detracted from its appearance.

I explained the process to tackle the grout haze, clean the Slate then finally seal it. I worked out a quote which was accepted, and a date scheduled for my return to complete the work which would take a couple of days.

Cleaning a Slate Tiled Patio in Brentford

My first task was to sweep up all the detritus that typically builds up on a patio, especially grit and small stones which can get caught in the cleaning pads and scratch the surface of the stone.

Once that was done it was time to tackle the grout haze. This was done by applying Tile Doctor Grout Clean-Up to the slate and scrubbing it in with a heavy-duty scrubbing machine fitted with a black scrubbing pad. This product is specifically designed to remove excess grout and cement from the surface of tile and contains concentrated phosphoric acid. You need to be very careful with the use of acids on stone as it can cause surface etching if left on too long. In addition, I wouldn’t recommend the use of the brick acid products you typically find in DIY stores which are stronger and are likely to cause damage.

Once satisfied all the soil and haze had been released from the stone the patio was rinsed off with water and the soil extracted away with a wet vacuum.

The next step was to seal the stone however it would need to be dry before that could happen. Fortunately, I had managed to find a couple of days where the weather was unseasonably warm and for once it hadn’t rained for a while. So, the next day I was able to return and apply a sealer to help protect the patio.

Sealing a Slate Tiled Patio Floor

I used Tile Doctor Colour Grow for this, it’s an impregnating sealer that works by occupying the pores in the stone which would otherwise become occupied by dirt. Tile Doctor Colour Grow is also rated for external as well as internal use and enhances the dark tones in the Slate. Additionally, It should cope well with the weather in this part of the UK as long as we don’t see a really severe drop in temperatures over the winter.

Two coats of Colour Grow were applied to the slate which restored the floor to a nice dark charcoal colour. The client was extremely pleased with the outcome and were keen to recommend us to their friends.

For aftercare the Patio should be regularly hosed down to keep the grit and debris from accumulating and for cleaning I recommended using Neutral Tile Cleaner which is a pH neutral product which is safe to use on sealed Stone.

Professional Restoration of a Slate Tiled Patio in South Middlesex

Renovation of Slate Tiled Patio in Brentford Read More »

Limestone Kitchen Floor Before After Renovation Shepperton

Cleaning a Limestone floor in Shepperton

1 Comment / Grout Cleaning, Limestone Tile Cleaning and Polishing, Shepperton Tile Cleaning, Work History / Jonathan Oldham

This customer from the south side Shepperton has a galley kitchen installed around twelve years ago with a Limestone floor. Since that time the floor had not been professionally cleaned or the stone re-sealed. The old sealer had long since worn down and was no longer providing any protection to the floor allowing soil and grease from cooking to penetrate the stone and darken the grout. It was now looking permanently dirty and the owner decided it was time to have it renovated.

Limestone Kitchen Floor Before Cleaning Shepperton

Shepperton is a suburban village in the borough of Spelthorne, the Thames river is to the south and much of the east. It is set between the towns of Chertsey and Sunbury-on-Thames. The village has a long history and is even mentioned in a document of 959 AD and in the Domesday Book when it was primary farm land, it’s also my base of operation.

Limestone Kitchen Floor During Cleaning Shepperton

Cleaning a Limestone Tiled Kitchen Floor

To deep clean the stone floor and grout I started with a mixture of Tile Doctor Remove and Go combined 50:50 with Tile Doctor Pro-Clean. This cocktail of sealer remover and cleaning agent was applied to the floor and left to soak in for ten minutes in order to get to work breaking down all the dirt, grease and what was left of the old sealer.

The solution was then worked into the Limestone tiles and grout using a rotary machine fitted with a black scrubbing pad. These pads can struggle to reach into the recesses of the grout lines, so afterwards the grout was scrubbed by hand using a stiff brush along with the more difficult to reach corners that the machine had missed. The floor was then rinsed with water and the products and soil vacuumed off the floor. I repeated the process in a couple of areas where the dirt was a little stubborn. The floor was then clean and after drying out overnight it would be ready for a new seal.

Sealing a Limestone Tiled Kitchen Floor

The following day I returned to apply the sealer first checking the floor was dry using a moisture meter. The readings were good, so I set about applying a colour enhancing impregnator sealer Tile Doctor Colour Grow to the Limestone. Tile Doctor Colour Grow works by seeping into the pores of the stone intensifying natural colour, preventing staining and providing a durable protection. Two coats of sealer were applied to the Limestone tile and grout which was all that was needed to return the floor back to its original condition.

Limestone Kitchen Floor After Cleaning Shepperton

The client was very happy with the finished floor and wanted to know how to keep it looking its best going forward. I explained that the best way to keep it looking good is to get maximum longevity from the sealer which will wear down over time but can be prematurely damaged with strong cleaning products. So, for aftercare I recommended the use of Tile Doctor Stone Soap which is designed for everyday cleaning of sealed stone floors.

Professional Restoration of a Limestone Tiled Kitchen in South Middlesex

Cleaning a Limestone floor in Shepperton Read More »

Ceramic Tiled Shower Before After Renovation Shepperton

Deep Cleaning Grout in a Shepperton Ceramic Tiled Shower Cubicle

1 Comment / Ceramic Tile Cleaning, Grout Cleaning, Shepperton Tile Cleaning, Work History / Jonathan Oldham

I was contacted by a client in Shepperton about refurbishing their Ceramic tiled shower cubicle. They longed for a room that they didn’t dread going into in the mornings and were considering having a new bathroom suite fitted. Their main concern was the shower cubicle where the tile and grout were well past their best and looking rather dated.

Ceramic Tiled Shower Cubicle Before Cleaning Shepperton

I’m based in Shepperton so it wasn’t long before I was able to call in and take a look at the shower cubicle to see if it could be renovated. It turns out the shower cubicle was installed fifteen years prior and had not been professionally cleaned during that time. You can see from the adjacent photographs that the discoloured grout was the main issue which is not unusual as the top layer of grout is slightly porous and does attract dirt. Ceramic tiles on the other hand have a glazed surface which makes them very easy to keep clean

I discussed with the client what could be done, and they were delighted to hear that the problem could be remedied, and that new life could be breathed into the old bathroom. The room had a timeless black and white tiled scheme so I was confident we could get it clean and in much better shape quite quickly. They agreed my price and we booked in a time to carry the work out.

Deep Cleaning of a Ceramic Tiled Shower Cubicle

Much of the Tile Doctor cleaning product range can be used to clean-up grout but probably the most popular is Pro-Clean which is a strong alkaline cleaner. This was my first thought to get the grout clean so using a decanted a strong dilution into a spray bottle and sprayed it onto the tile and grout. It was left to soak in for about ten minutes before being hand scrubbed into the tile wall. Afterwards the shower cubicle was rinsed down with water to remove the soiling and then inspected.

Whilst the Pro-Clean had removed a lot of the orange staining and accumulated dirt from both the tile and grout it had struggled to lighten up the grout lines which had darkened due to mould build-up, so more work was needed.

To resolve this, I applied another Tile Doctor product called Duo-Clean which is a fast and effective double action grout cleaner and mould remover. I used it as a spot cleaner spraying it onto the affected areas and leaving it to dwell for a few minutes before scrubbing it in. This second product handled the mould well and the grout was much cleaner and consistent.

Replacing Silicone Seal in a Ceramic Tiled Shower Cubicle

Once the cleaning was complete, I cut out the old silicone from around the base of the shower with a sharp knife. This is a job that has to be slowly done to avoid scratching the shower tray. Once the old silicone was removed, I ensured the area was then nice and dry and then replaced with a new mould resistant silicone in white to enhance the fresh new look.

Naturally after 15 years it’s impossible to get the grout back to its original colour but we certainly got very close. I could however have applied a white grout colourant at this stage, but the client was already happy with the result, so it wasn’t really necessary.

Last step was to spray the grout with aerosol Grout sealer which is very quick to apply and will protect the grout from further staining. The excess was wiped off the ceramic tiles which won’t take a sealer and the job was finished.

Ceramic Tiled Shower Cubicle After Cleaning Shepperton

As you can see from the pictures, the transformation turned out very well and the customer was very pleased. For aftercare cleaning I recommended the use of Tile Doctor Aqua-Pro which is pH neutral tile and grout cleaner that will keep on top of future discolouration.

Professional Deep Clean of a Ceramic Tiled Shower Cubicle in South Middlesex

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Travertine Tile Grout Before After Cleaning Sunbury-on-Thames

Professional clean of a Travertine Tiled floor in Sunbury-on-Thames

1 Comment / Grout Cleaning, Sunbury-on-Thames Tile Cleaning, Travertine Tile Cleaning, Work History / Jonathan Oldham

This client got in touch about cleaning their Travertine Tiled floor which they were struggling to get clean. They had been using all the usual household floor cleaners, but nothing was having the desired effect. The property was in the lovely village of Sunbury On Thames within the borough of Spelthorne. I’m based in nearby Shepperton and so it wasn’t long before I was able to pop over and take a look at the problematic floor.

Travertine Tiled Floor Before Cleaning Sunbury-on-Thames

It turns out the Travertine floor which was installed throughout the hallway and kitchen had not been professionally cleaned since its’ installation twelve years prior. As you can see from the pictures, the old sealer that was protecting the Travertine had long since worn off and this in turn had allowed soils and spillages to penetrate deep into the pores of the stone and grout. The sealers demise may have been accelerated with the use of overly strong cleaning products but given it not been professionally cleaned for twelve years it was well overdue a deep clean and reseal.

I discussed with the client what we could do to clean the floor and demonstrated my proposed cleaning process on part of the floor. They were very satisfied with the demonstration and were happy to go ahead with my quote. The work would take two days to complete, one day for cleaning and a second day for sealing.

Deep Cleaning a Travertine Tiled Floor in Sunbury-on-Thames

Working in sections I started by spraying a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean on the floor and left if to soak in while I set up a floor buffing machine with a black scrubbing pad. After about ten minutes I ran the buffing machine over the working area, the machine was set to run at slow speed to reduce splashing. This action broke down the soils and helped lift the marks and stains out of the stone.

Tile Doctor Pro-Clean is a concentrated, multi-purpose high-alkaline cleaner, stripper and degreaser. The strong dilution of one-part cleaner to two parts water would ensure it would clean the floor and strip off any old sealers present on the tiles. Once the Travertine had been cleaned in this way, I ran a narrow brush along the grout lines to ensure they were also scrubbed clean.

Travertine Tiled Floor During Cleaning Sunbury-on-Thames

After scrubbing a low-pressure rinsing machine was used to rinse the floor with water and extract all the dirt and cleaning products off the floor. After a final inspection the floor was then left to dry out overnight to leave the stone ready to receive a new seal the following day.

Sealing a Travertine Tiled Floor in Sunbury-on-Thames

I returned the next morning and tested the floor with a moisture meter to ensure the Travertine was dry. The results were good, so we set about applying two coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow which is a colour enhancing sealer that soaks into the pores of the stone thus preventing dirt from becoming ingrained there. The sealer really brought put the contrast back into the stone by enhancing the colour whilst giving it the protection it needed to prevent future spillages staining the tiles.

Travertine Tiled Floor After Cleaning Sunbury-on-Thames

The client was very happy with the result, the finished floor looked much lighter and 100% cleaner, the beauty of the natural stone was really apparent, and the grout which was once dark and was now white again.

For aftercare I recommended they avoid purchasing supermarket floor cleaners, the majority of which are too strong for sealed stone and let them with a bottle of Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner. This is a pH neutral solution that will not prematurely erode the sealer and is highly concentrated, so a small bottle lasts a long time.

Professional Restoration of a Travertine Tiled Kitchen in South Middlesex

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Limestone Tiled Hallway Floor Renovated in Shepperton

Limestone Kitchen Floor Tile Clean and Seal in Shepperton

2 Comments / Grout Cleaning, Limestone Tile Cleaning and Polishing, Shepperton Tile Cleaning, Work History / Jonathan Oldham

This Limestone kitchen floor in Shepperton was laid new 3 years ago when a new kitchen was installed. The client had called in despair as the floor was just not looking its’ best and they were trying hard to get it clean, using household cleaners which were having no effect. I’m actually based in Shepperton, so it wasn’t long before I was able to pop round and survey the floor. The town has a lot of history and is famous for nearby Shepperton Studios which were built on the grounds of Littleton Park, many famous films have been created here including Attenborough’s Gandhi (1982) and David Lean’s A Passage to India (1984).

Limestone Kitchen Floor Before Clean and Seal Shepperton

As you can see from the pictures, the soil had penetrated the stone as the sealer had broken down over time. The grout lines were particularly bad but also, the small veins and pores had accumulated dirt, mainly due to pets and kids coming in from the garden. It’s worth noting that the use of supermarket cleaning products will have escalated the decline of the sealer, most are simply too strong for sealed surfaces and you should always read the label to ensure its suitable before using it on your floor.

This problem is quite common, and the solution is straight forward. Restoring the look of the floor requires removing the soiling with a deep clean and then when the floor is dry apply a new sealer to protect it. I talked the process over with the customer and agreed a quotation for completing the work which was accepted and arranged a convenient date. The work would be carried out over two days.

Cleaning a Limestone Tiled Kitchen Floor

A strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean was sprayed on to the floor and after leaving it to soak in for about ten minutes, we mechanically scrubbed the solution into the Limestone using a rotary floor buffer fitted with a black scrubbing pad. The pads can struggle to reach into the recessed grout however to that was manually scrubbed using more Pro-Clean. This process broke down the soil and released it from the stone and grout. Following this, we used a low-pressure rinsing machine and vacuumed all the soil and remaining cleaning product away from the floor.

Whilst I was working on the floor, I got the shock of my life as a bird hit the kitchen window resulting in a loud bang. I rushed outside to find a beautiful Green Woodpecker lying dazed on the floor, the poor thing had knocked itself unconscious. I put him in a cardboard box until he eventually recovered and flew off. I guess being able to drill into trees makes Woodpeckers tough birds who can withstand a knock or two. In this job no two days are the same, you never know what’s going to happen!

Sealing a Limestone Tiled Kitchen Floor

After allowing 24 hours for the floor to dry, we returned the following morning to apply a new seal. The best sealer for this type of stone is Tile Doctor Colour Grow. It is a colour enhancing impregnator that soaks into the pores of the stone protecting it from within whilst enhancing the natural colours in the process. Impregnating sealers work by occupying the pores in the stone thus preventing dirt from becoming ingrained there.

The client was delighted with the floor which now looked cleaner and fresher. We had managed to restore it back to it looking as it did when it was new, and the new sealer will keep it looking that way for some time to come.

Limestone Kitchen Floor After Clean and Seal Shepperton

For a free, no obligation quote for cleaning and sealing your stone or tiled floors in Shepperton, Middlesex, please call us on 0345 512 0122

Professional Restoration of Limestone Tiled Kitchen Floor in Middlesex

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Porcelain Tiled Kitchen Floor Before and After Cleaning Twickenham

Cream Porcelain Tile and Grout Deep Cleaned in a Twickenham Kitchen

1 Comment / Grout Cleaning, Porcelain Tile Cleaning, Twickenham Tile Cleaning, Work History / Jonathan Oldham

The owner of this Porcelain tiled Kitchen floor in Twickenham was struggling to keep it clean and it was now in need of a deep clean. Twickenham famous for being the home of Rugby Union is only 9 miles away from my base in Shepperton, so it wasn’t long before I was able to pop over and survey the floor.

Porcelain Tiled Floor Before Cleaning Twickenham

The tiles were a little grubby, but it was the grout that was most affected; its hard to believe but the now black grout was originally cream in colour and chosen to match to tile. Having visited the client, we discussed what needed to be done to get the floor looking back up to scratch and looking clean again. We agreed a price for the work to be carried out the following week.

Although this wasn’t the case its worth knowing that some types of Porcelain tile on the market today are Micro-Porous and contain small holes in the tile. These tiles need to be sealed to prevent dirt becoming ingrained as this can be very difficult to remove with a mop. Incidentally on the topic of mops I have noticed clients tend to rinse their mop in the same bucket containing the detergent. This results in the detergent being contaminated with dirt and being put back on the floor. If you are going to use this method to clean your floor it is best to have two buckets, one containing your detergent and the second where you rinse your mop.

Deep Cleaning a Porcelain Tile and Grout

To get the tiles clean I used a heavy-duty rotary buffer fitted with a black scrubbing pad and ran that over the floor along with a medium dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean. Tile Doctor Pro-Clean is a versatile tile and grout cleaning product designed for this purpose, so it wasn’t long before the solution went dark as the dirt was released from the tile. The now soiled cleaning solution was then extracted from the tiles using a wet vacuum.

Porcelain Tiled Floor During Cleaning Twickenham

To get the grout lines really clean they had to be hand scrubbed using more Tile Doctor Pro-Clean and a hand-held scrubbing brush. The rotary pads struggle to get into the recesses of the grout lines, so this really is the best method and I find you get a better finish with this extra effort.

After sufficient scrubbing, we were satisfied that all of the soil was broken up, we then machine flushed and vacuumed the cleaning product and dirt away from the floor. As these tiles are factory sealed there is no need to apply a sealant.

One hour later, the floor was ready to be used again.

Porcelain Tiled Floor After Cleaning Twickenham

Professional Cleaning of Porcelain Tile and Grout in South Middlesex

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Limestone Tiled Hallway Floor Before After Cleaning Twickenham

Unpolished Limestone Hallway Deep Cleaned in Twickenham

1 Comment / Grout Cleaning, Limestone Tile Cleaning and Polishing, Twickenham Tile Cleaning, Work History / Jonathan Oldham

These unpolished Limestone tiles were installed in the hallway of a property in Twickenham, Middlesex. The stone had not been cleaned or sealed for six years and being the main entrance to the house it was subject to a lot of foot traffic which had taken its toll on the stone over the years. As you can see from the photos, dirt was ingrained in the stone which happens when the protective sealer wears off with use. They had chosen to cover the floor with some rugs to improve the appearance and make the hall more inviting and as you can see especially where the rugs had been protecting the Limestone there was a visible difference in colour.

Limestone Tiled Hallway Before Cleaning Twickenham

Twickenham is a suburb of London and of course most famous for being the home of Rugby Union in England and a short distance from by base in Shepperton so it wasn’t long before I was able to pop in and survey the floor.

I discussed with the client what could be done to clean the floor and demonstrated the products and technique I would use on a test patch. They were suitably impressed, and we agreed a price for the work and booked a time to complete the job. The job was scheduled for two days, one day to clean and the second to seal the floor.

Cleaning a Limestone Tiled Hallway Floor

To start with, we pre-sprayed the tiles with Tile Doctor Remove and Go and left it to soak in for ten minutes, this allows the product to break down any remaining sealant and greasy soils. Then we machine scrubbed the floor with our rotary cleaner fitted with a black scrubbing pad lubricated with another Tile Doctor product, Pro-Clean. This strong alkaline chemical breaks down the dirt and leaves it ready to be rinsed away.

The grout lines were also cleaned using Tile Doctor Pro-Clean but not with a machine as the pad struggles to reach down into the grout lines, so it was scrubbed by hand to give the best result.

Following the clean, we low pressure rinsed the floor with water and vacuumed all the residue away, leaving the floor ready for sealing. The Limestone tiles and grout looked much better already after cleaning and it was left to dry overnight.

Sealing a Limestone Tiled Hallway Floor

Returning to the property the next day our first action was to check the moisture levels in the floor with a damp meter. All was well so we to apply three coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow. This is an impregnating sealer that protects the stone from within by occupying the pores in the stone, so dirt can’t become lodged there. The sealer will make the floor much easier to keep clean in future and as the name of the product suggests it also enhances the natural colours in the tile.

For the aftercare of unpolished Limestone, I recommend Tile Doctor Neutral Cleaner which is designed for the cleaning of sealed Tile and Stone. If using a different product always read the label first as many cleaners are too strong for use on sealed surfaces and will strip off the sealer over time.

Limestone Tiled Hallway After Cleaning Twickenham

The client was very happy with the result and felt they could now keep on top of keeping it clean and looking fresh moving forward. They could now remove the rugs too! If you require a free quotation to clean and seal your stone floors do get in touch.

Professional Restoration of Limestone Floor Tiles in South Middlesex

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Porcelain Tiled Floor in Hampton Acid Scrubbed

Removing Grout Haze from semi porous Porcelain Tiles in Hampton

1 Comment / Grout Cleaning, Hampton Court Tile Cleaning, Porcelain Tile Cleaning, Work History / Jonathan Oldham

This Porcelain tiled floor was located in Hampton, Middlesex. The floor had been newly laid a year ago and had not been sealed. The Porcelain was of the semi porous variety and this type of Porcelain needs to be sealed to maintain its appearance and make maintenance easier. To make things worse the tiler had left a lot of grout residue on the surface of the tile which made the tile rougher, trapping the dirt and making it difficult to clean effectively.

Cleaning Porcelain Tile and Grout

To remove the grout haze it was necessary to give the tile and wash with an acid product known as Tile Doctor Grout Clean-up, which is very effective at removing grout haze. Working in sections the product was diluted and then applied to the floor letting it soak in for a short while before being scrubbed in with a scrubbing pad fitted to a rotary machine. This action had the added bonus of cleaning the floor but you do have to be careful with acids no to leave them on the tile too long.

The soiled solution was removed using a wet vacuum and the tile rinsed down with clean water. This process was repeated until I was satisfied the tile and grout was clear of grout residue.

Sealing Semi-Porous Porcelain Tiles

After allowing the floor to dry for 24 hours, we returned to seal the tiles with Tile Doctor Ultra-Seal which is a solvent based impregnating sealer that’s ideally suited for semi porous Porcelain and provides a natural look.

I took the photograph above between sections so you could see the difference between the before and after and I think you will agree the treated tiles look much cleaner.

Porcelain Tiles Cleaned and Sealed in Hampton

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Porcelain Tile and Grout Clean in Teddington

1 Comment / Grout Cleaning, Porcelain Tile Cleaning, Teddington Tile Cleaning, Work History / Jonathan Oldham

This Porcelain hallway and kitchen floor in Teddington, Middlesex, had extensive soiling in the grout lines and some staining on some of the Porcelain tiles from drink spillages. Porcelain is very robust material but like any surface the sooner you clean-up a spillage the less staining you are likely to experience.

Porcelain Tile and Grout Before Cleaning

Cleaning Porcelain Tile and Grout

To clean the tile and grout I applied a dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean, which is an effective Tile and Grout cleaner, with a mop and left it to soak in for a while before working it into the floor using a rotary machine fitted with a black scrubbing pad and a stiff brush along the grout lines. The soiled cleaning solution was removed using a wet vacuum and rinsed down with clean water. This process was repeated until I was satisfied the tile and grout was clean.

I then waited for the floor to dry before applying a coat of Tile Doctor Grout Sealer to the grout lines in order to help make future maintenance easier, this type of Porcelain did not need sealing so only the grout would benefit from this preventative measure. The process is very straightforward and can be sprayed onto the grout line wiping off the excess from the adjacent tile within a few minutes.

I think you will agree from the photographs that the grout which was very prominent has now almost disappeared restoring the floor to its original appearance.

Porcelain Tile and Grout Cleaned and Sealed in Middlesex

Porcelain Tile and Grout Clean in Teddington Read More »

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Ashford Tile Cleaning, Brentford Tile Cleaning, Ceramic Tile Cleaning, Encaustic Cement Tile Cleaning, Fireplace Cleaning, Flagstone Tile Cleaning, Grout Cleaning, Hampton Court Tile Cleaning, Hayes Tile Cleaning, Heathrow Tile Cleaning, Hounslow Tile Cleaning, Limestone Tile Cleaning and Polishing, Marble Tile Cleaning, Porcelain Tile Cleaning, Quarry Tile Cleaning, Richmond Tile Cleaning, Sandstone Tile Cleaning, Shepperton Tile Cleaning, Slate Tile Cleaning, Staines Tile Cleaning, Sunbury-on-Thames Tile Cleaning, Teddington Tile Cleaning, Terracotta Tile Cleaning, Terrazzo Floor Cleaning, Travertine Tile Cleaning, Twickenham Tile Cleaning, Victorian Tile Cleaning, Vinyl Tile Cleaning, Work by Category, Work by Location, Work History / Jonathan Oldham

South Middlesex Tile Doctor

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