Twickenham Tile Cleaning Archives - South Middlesex Tile Doctor

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 »

Victorian Hallway Floor Cleaned Sealed Twickenham Middlesex

Clean and Seal of a Victorian Tiled Hallway in Twickenham

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

This Victorian tiled hallway floor at a property in Twickenham was in great physical condition considering its age but just hadn’t been cleaned or sealed in quite a few years. Over the years the protective sealer has worn away and dirt tracked in from outside had sunk deep into the pores of the tile. The floor looked dull, and my customer was finding it hard to clean and maintain effectively.

Victorian Hallway Before Restoration Twickenham

Cleaning Victorian Tiles

To remove the ground in dirt from within the pores of the tile I needed to apply a strong cleaning product that would breakdown the dirt and deal with any remaining sealer left on the floor. Usually, I find the sealer down the center of the hallway is worn away with use, but you still find traces towards the wall. To do the renovation effectively I would need to remove all the sealer during cleaning otherwise you risk an uneven appearance.

The best sealer stripper and cleaner for the job is a product called Tile Doctor Remove and Go so I mopped a strong dilution onto the floor and then left it to soak in for around fifteen minutes. To get the best from this product it’s advised to give it a long dwell time thereby allowing it to break down old sealer and dissolve the dirt and contaminants.

The floor was then scrubbed with a rotary floor machine to work the product into the pores of the tile and release the trapped dirt. After the first pass the floor was rinsed with a little water and the soil extracted using a machine. After inspecting the floor some areas were re-treated using the same process to ensure all the sealer and dirt had been removed.

After a final inspection I left the tiles to dry off overnight.

Sealing Victorian Tiles

The following day I returned and started by taking moisture readings from different parts of the floor. Its not a good idea to apply a sealer to a damp tile and damp areas should be dried out with a heat gun first.

My client was keen to have a classic shiny appearance, so I chose Tile Doctor Seal and Go to add protection to the tiles. The sealer will prevent dirt becoming ingrained in the tile and protect the floor from staining caused by spillages whilst making it very easy for our customer to maintain in the future. As you can see from the pictures, it also gives a nice sheen finish to add lustre to the floor as requested by my customer.

Victorian Hallway After Restoration Twickenham

Before leaving we had a quick chat about maintaining the floor and a warning about the use of strong floor cleaning products which can be over strong and prematurely strip the sealer away over time. For this floor I recommend Tile Doctor Neutral cleaner which is an effective cleaner but as its name suggests is pH neutral and mild enough not to harm the sealer.

Professional Victorian Tiled Hallway Restoration in Middlesex

Clean and Seal of a Victorian Tiled Hallway in Twickenham Read More »

Faded Slate Patio Before After Renovation Twickenham

Faded Slate Patio Renovated in Twickenham

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

Our client in Twickenham, Middlesex was about put their house on the market and was concerned about the condition of their Slate patio which was not looking its’ best. Although they felt they had been maintaining it correctly by jet washing it every year, this in fact did help as they had been washing the natural oils out of the stone.

I visited the property and and explained the process needed to get it looking as it should and of course make it more appealing to new house buyers. I provided my quote which they were happy to accept and agreed a date to return and complete the work.

Cleaning a Slate Tiled Patio

The day we had chosen to return, the weather was nice and dry which would make our job easier. Initially a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean was applied and then after ten minutes to allow it to soak into the dirt the cleaner was worked into the stone using a heavy-duty floor scrubbing machine fitted with a black pad.

This process helped loosen the dirt and allowed the removal of deep-seated dirt and grime that had built up over the years. After a rinse with water the soil was extracted, and I moved onto the next stage.

Stage 2 involved removing limescale deposits and improving the appearance of the stone by applying a combination of Tile Doctor Grout Clean-Up and Tile Doctor Acid Gel, again leaving it to soak into the stone for ten minutes before working it in. Limescale and other mineral deposits can build-up over time and leave a white deposit and make the patio look very dull. Tile Doctor Grout Clean-Up is designed to remove light grout smears and mineral deposits such as limescale, when combined with Tile Doctor Acid Gel it is super effective. Finally, a low-pressure rinse and vacuum was then performed, removing all of the cleaning solution and dirt from the patio. By the end of stage 2 the Slate patio was already looking significantly improved.

Sealing a Slate Tiled Patio

The warm weather window held and by the second day the Slate had dried, and I was able to move onto the final stage of sealing the stone in order to protect it going forward. For this I applied three coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow sealer which as you can see from the pictures, gave a lovely rich finish to the stone.

Colour Grow is a durable impregnating sealer that works by occupying the small pores in the Slate thus preventing dirt from becoming ingrained there. It will protect the stone from the elements and being a colour enhancer also improves the look of the Slate bringing out its natural colours and beauty.

By the time I had finished the patio looked as good as new; my client was very happy with the work carried out. In fast as soon as the sealer had dried, they wasted no time putting the garden furniture back in place to make a good impression and compliment the lovely garden.

I suggested that they passed on our card to the new occupiers as resealing the patio annually would keep it in great condition and maintain the longevity of the patio. We offer annual maintenance plans for just this, I also suggested that if there were planning on using the jet wash, then use it on a nice low setting.

Professional Restoration of a Slate Tiled Patio in Middlesex

Faded Slate Patio Renovated in Twickenham Read More »

Renovating Victorian Hallway Floor Twickenham Middlesex

Dirty Victorian Floor Tiles Deep Cleaned and Sealed in Twickenham

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

This Victorian floor in Twickenham, Middlesex was in good physical condition for its age but needed a good deep clean. Our customer had informed us that they had never cleaned or sealed the floor in the sixteen years that they had lived there so it was well overdue.

I went over to survey the floor and completed a test clean on a small section of tiling to see which products/techniques would work best. I like to do this as it demonstrates to the client what can be done, and it allows me to come up with an accurate price for doing the work.

Dirty Victorian Floor Before Cleaning Twickenham

As you can see from the pictures, there was quite a difference in the test patch compared to the rest of the floor. Years of foot traffic from the street had taken its’ toll and the floor was very dirty. Luckily, the floor was in very good condition and had not worn too badly.

Once they had seen the test patch, they were confident that it would be worth go ahead with my quote. It would ensure that the period feature was retained for many years to come. The colours on the floor were quite faded so it would be nice to get it restored.

Cleaning a Victorian Tiled Hallway Floor

I started the cleaning process by first taping up the surrounding skirting boards and doors to ensure they were protected from potential splashing. Cleaning involved spraying the Victorian tiles with a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean which is a dedicated Tile and Grout cleaning product. This was left to soak in for about ten minutes and then scrubbed in using a black pad fitted to a heavy-duty rotary scrubber.

This gives the floor a good mechanical scrub and works wonders releasing the ground-in dirt and soil from the tiles. The strong dilution of Pro-Clean will also remove any remaining sealers from the tile, however after sixteen years I doubted there would much trace of sealer left. Once done the floor was rinsed with water and all the soils removed with a wet vacuum.

Following the initial clean the colours were already much stronger. Next step however was to improve on that by giving the floor an acid rinse using Tile Doctor Grout Clean-Up. This removes mineral deposits and generally brightens up the appearance of the tile. After another round of scrubbing the floor was rinsed with our high-pressure washer and then vacuumed, extracting all of the dirty water and dirt away in one go. The floor was looking a lot better and was left to dry overnight.

Dirty Victorian Floor During Cleaning Twickenham

Sealing a Victorian Tiled Hallway Floor

After allowing the floor to dry overnight, we returned the next day to seal the floor. First, checking the floor was dry using the damp meter. Floors of this age can take a little longer to dry as there is no damp-proof membrane so it’s always worth checking as applying a sealer to damp tiles is not a good idea.

Dirty Victorian Floor After Cleaning Twickenham

Once I was satisfied it was dry eight coats of Tile Doctor Seal and Go sheen finish sealer were applied. This takes a while to do as each coat needs to dry before applying the next. The sealer will protect the Victorian tiles for dirt and stains, it also enhanced the colours in the tile and will make it easier to keep the floor clean going forward.

My client was very pleased with the floor and mentioned that they should have called me in sooner! For aftercare cleaning I recommended Tile Doctor Neutral Clean which is an effective cleaner with a neutral pH, its designed for cleaning tiles without degrading the sealer.

Professional Restoration of a Victorian Tiled Hallway in South Middlesex

Dirty Victorian Floor Tiles Deep Cleaned and Sealed in Twickenham 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 »

Victorian Encaustic Cement Floor Tiles Before After Renovation Twickenham

Neglected Victorian Encaustic Cement Hallway Renovated in Twickenham

1 Comment / Encaustic Cement Tile Cleaning, Twickenham Tile Cleaning, Work History / Jonathan Oldham

This Encaustic Cement tiled floor dates to the Victorian period and was found under hallway carpet at a property in Twickenham. The tiles had been covered up for years with carpet and other floor coverings and although structurally intact their appearance had suffered from the neglect.

When the current owners discovered the pattered tiled floor, they were keen to restore it as a period feature, so they set about cleaning the tiles themselves. Unfortunately, they used some very harsh acidic products which badly pitted and etched the surface of the tile. In places, the tile pattern had started to disappear so when they got in contact, they were quite concerned.

Victorian Encaustic Cement Hallway Tiles Before Renovation Twickenham

Being based in Shepperton it wasn’t long before I was able to call in at the property to survey the Encaustic Cement tiles and quote for renovating the floor. The property was in a road with similar age properties, a lot still with lovely tiled Victorian porches and paths in fact we had carried out some work in the same street previously.

We advised the customer that the best course of action would be to deep clean the tiles to remove the years of ingrained dirt and then apply a sealer in order to protect the pores of the Encaustic Cement tiles from trapping ingrained dirt.

Now normally I would clean Encaustic Cement tiles with a set of burnishing pads and then seal with an impregnator like Tile Doctor Colour Grow. However, due to the damage caused by the DIY restoration I didn’t want to risk an abrasive cleaning process such as Burnishing on the tiles. After discussing the options, I recommend the best approach would be to deep clean the tiles with Tile Doctor Pro Clean which I was confident would improve their appearance. I would then seal the tiles to protect them from future damage whilst making the patterns much brighter and defined. We agreed a price and scheduled a date to start the work.

Deep Cleaning Victorian Encaustic Cement Tiles

Arriving on day one I applied a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean, this is a strong alkaline cleaner that is safe to use on Tile and Stone. It was left to dwell for roughly ten minutes so it could soak into the pores of the cement tile and breakdown the ingrained dirt. I then ran over the tiles with a black scrubbing pad fitted to a rotary floor buffer running at slow speed. This action released the dirt from the floor turning the cleaning solution into a slurry that was then extracted from the floor using a wet vacuum. The floor was then rinsed with water, then extracted again to remove remaining dirt.

Once the whole floor had been treated, I repeated the process for a second time to ensure all the dirt had been removed. After the second rinse the floor looked much better and was left overnight to dry off.

Sealing a Victorian Encaustic Cement Tiled Hallway Floor

Returning the following day, I checked the floor for excess moisture and was pleased to find everything was nice and dry. It’s important that the floor is dry before applying a sealer, so I was able to set about sealing the floor. Multiple thin coats of Tile Doctor Seal and Go we applied which adds a lovely subtle sheen to the tiles. Five coats were applied allowing the tile to dry in between.

Victorian Encaustic Cement Hallway Tiles After Renovation Twickenham

As you can see from the pictures, the deep clean and fresh sealer has brought out the best in the floor and given it a new lease of life. The sealer should last for a good few years and there is very little evidence of the damage done previously. Needless to say, the client was very happy and much relieved.

Professional Restoration of a Victorian Encaustic Cement Tiled Hallway in Middlesex

Neglected Victorian Encaustic Cement Hallway Renovated in Twickenham Read More »

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

Cream Porcelain Tile and Grout Deep Cleaned in a Twickenham Kitchen Read More »

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

Unpolished Limestone Hallway Deep Cleaned in Twickenham Read More »

Limestone Kitchen Floor Before and After Cleaning and Sealing in Twickenham

Limestone Kitchen Floor Cleaning and Sealing in Twickenham

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

This Limestone tiled floor in Twickenham, Middlesex had only been laid eighteen month earlier. However, due to an in-effectual seal on the floor, the soil had accumulated and embedded into the pores of the stone. Limestone like many types of natural stone is a very porous stone and it doesn’t take much for the dirt to build up and start to discolour the floor.

Limestone Tiled Floor Before Cleaning Twickenham

The tile had been laid through out the Kitchen and adjacent dinning area and the solution was quite straight forward and simply required and a good clean and re-seal as detailed below.

Cleaning Limestone Tiles

We started with an application of a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean which was sprayed onto the floor and allowed to dwell for five to ten minutes. Following this, we used a heavy duty floor scrubbing machine in order to break the soil away and existing sealer from the stone.

Once we were happy that the soil and sealer had been dislodged, we then removed all of the chemical and soil via our extraction machine. This applies pressured water onto the stone whilst vacuuming all of the waste away, leaving the floor as clean and fresh as it could possibly be.

Sealing Limestone Tiles

After allowing the floor to dry out overnight, we returned the next morning to apply the seal. Two coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow sealer were applied to give the best protection possible. Colour Grow penetrates into the pores of the stone protecting it from within whilst also enhancing its natural colours and contrast.

Limestone Tiled Floor After Cleaning Twickenham

Once done the floor looked like it had just been laid and the customer was extremely happy with the end result.

Re-Sealing a Limestone Tiled Kitchen and Dinning Floor in Middlesex

Limestone Kitchen Floor Cleaning and Sealing in Twickenham Read More »

Victorian Tiled Hallway Restored back to Health in Twickenham

1 Comment / Twickenham Tile Cleaning, Victorian Tile Cleaning, Work History / Jonathan Oldham

Apologies in advance but I forgot to take the usual before photograph of this Victorian tiled hallway in Twickenham that I worked on recently. It’s a shame really as it was certainly in need of a good clean and re-seal after years of inadequate maintenance and I’m sure a photo would have helped.

Victorian tiles are porous and do need a sealer to stop dirt becoming ingrained, as once that happens they can be difficult to clean and a Hallway is an especially high traffic area that will see a lot of dirt being tramped in. That activity also wears down the sealer over time so it’s important to keep it topped up.

Cleaning Victorian Tiles

On these tiles, we used a 50:50 combination of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean mixed with Tile Doctor Remove and Go. This combination of products works very well to break down old sealers and also to clean the general soil away from the tile. As usual it was left to soak into the tiles for ten minutes before using a heavy duty scrubbing machine to scrub the floor clean. This achieved a good result and the soil and products were then flushed away using our special flushing tool which fires a jet of water onto the tile whilst vacuuming at the same time (no mess!) to an external tank.

Sealing Victorian Tiles

After allowing the tiles to dry off overnight with some heating on, the floor was ready to accept a new seal the next day. Our customer decided to have a sheen finish so we opted to apply Tile Doctor Seal and Go. These tiles are very porous and so need seven coats to be applied to the floor before it was completely sealed.

Apologies again for not taking a before photo so you can compare the difference however hopefully you can see how health the floor looks following the deep cleaning and application of a fresh sealer which will ensure future maintenance is a lot easier for the customer.

Professional Victorian Tiled Hallway Restoration in Middlesex

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Cleaning and Sealing Tumbled Marble Tiles in Twickenham

1 Comment / Marble Tile Cleaning, Twickenham Tile Cleaning, Work History / Jonathan Oldham

Marble tiles can be tumbled in large drums to achieve an aged and softened effect, and this can look very nice providing that the stone is adequately maintained.

In the case of this floor at a property in Twickenham South West London, the Marble tiles that had been laid over five years ago, and in that time the sealer had worn down offering the floor little protection. Dirt had now become ingrained in the pores of the stone and grout, and a deep clean and fresh seal were required to restore the stone’s original colour and lustre. The property owner asked me to complete the job and I was more than happy to oblige.

Tumbled Marble floor in Twickenham Before Cleaning

Cleaning Dirty Tumbled Marble Tiles

To begin the restoration, I applied both Tile Doctor Pro-Clean, which is a high alkaline cleaner, and Tile Doctor Remove and Go, which a heavy-duty stripper and remover, to the floor and scrubbed the products in using a scrubbing pad fitted to a professional rotary machine.

The chemical solvents in the Remove and Go helped to break down any old sealer that remained inside the stone, allowing the Pro Clean to then work its magic on the stubborn ingrained dirt the customer had struggled to remove previously. Some of the deeper veins and grout lines I chose to scrub by hand to ensure the fullest and most meticulous clean possible.

Tumbled Marble floor in Twickenham During Cleaning

The resulting soiled cleaning solution was then pressure rinsed with water and the soil extracted with a wet-vacuum, leaving a completely clean floor that was now ready to be sealed using a new sealant.

Sealing Tumbled Marble Tiles

I returned to the property the following day after allowing the Marble tiles to dry fully. Drying the tiles is a crucial part of the restoration process, since even a small quantity of excess moisture can cloud the sealer and prevent it from working to its fullest capabilities.

I applied two coats of our solvent-based impregnating sealer known as Tile Doctor Colour Grow. As the name of the product suggests, Colour Grow not only protects the tiles against ingrained soil, it also thoroughly lifts and enhances the natural colours in the stone.

The new seal will make it easy for our customer to maintain the floor, making daily cleaning easier. It will also protect the stone against the nasty spillages that are common in kitchens and living rooms.

The customer was thrilled with the much-improved appearance of the Marble tiles and is very reassured that they will now stay in great condition for a long time. Another satisfied client!

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Acid Etched Marble Shower Cubicle Restoration in Twickenham

Marble Shower Tiles Restored After Being Etched With Cillit Bang In Twickenham

1 Comment / Marble Tile Cleaning, Twickenham Tile Cleaning, Work History / Jonathan Oldham

Here at Tile Doctor we can’t stress often enough how careful you have to be when choosing a cleaning product for use on natural stone. Acid bases cleaners in particular can etch the surface so always read the label before buying. Unfortunately, this customer, who lives in Twickenham, learned this the hard way.

Limescale build-up on shower tiles can be an unsightly problem in hard water areas and this customer’s house cleaner had attempted to treat it with Cillit Bang on their Marble tiled shower room floor. Whilst good at removing Limescale on ceramic tiles, the product is acid-based and in this case caused severe etching to the surface of the Marble.

Tiled Marble Shower Floor Before Cleaning Twickenham

This customer is not the first to experience this problem with Cillit Bang and we have looked into this before and I can confirm it does say on the back on the bottle that you should not use it on all natural stone including Marble and Granite.

The mistake had really damaged the appearance of this lovely floor however the good news is etched Marble can be refinished and we do offer this service. Fortunately, this customer found us on-line and called us in to rectify the problem as

Burnishing a Marble Tiled Shower Room Floor

With high quality, acid-sensitive stone we find that rather than cleaning with a liquid product, it is lot effective to use a process known as burnishing. This involves the application of abrasive diamond encrusted pads to cut back through the damaged stone. This removes a layer from the surface to expose the undamaged stone, which in then polished.

Using different grades of small diamond pads fitted to a hand buffer I began burnishing the floor tiles. I started the process with a Coarse pad and worked my way through to Medium, Fine and eventually the Very Fine pad. A small amount of lubrication in the form water is used with each pad, but no chemical products are needed, making this a completely natural process. The floor was rinsed with water afterwards to remove any slurry from the polishing.

Sealing a Marble Tiled Shower Room Floor

After allowing the floor dry out overnight, I returned to apply two coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow, which is a solvent-based, impregnating sealer designed to enhance the variety of natural colours and shades in the stone. It also protects the stone against daily exposure to chemical-based shampoo and soaps.

The customer was worried that the floor could not be restored, but she can now rest assured knowing not only knowing that the floor is back into top condition, but that professional help is at hand in case mistakes happen again in the future! Another happy customer for the Middlesex Tile Doctor.

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Terracotta Floor Before After Deep Clean in Twickenham

Badly Maintained Terracotta Professionally Restored in Twickenham

1 Comment / Terracotta Tile Cleaning, Twickenham Tile Cleaning, Work History / Jonathan Oldham

In our experience there is a general lack of good maintenance advice given when new tiled floors are installed which results in floors that looked fantastic following installation losing their appearance of the years that follow. Naturally Tile Doctor aims to fill this gap and this Terracotta tiled floor at a property in Twickenham, Middlesex is a good example. It had not been professionally cleaned since it was installed 18 years prior and due to a multitude of advice over the year’s various oils and sealers had been erroneously applied, leaving a build up of routine maintenance residues in the tile.

Terracotta Floor Before Deep Clean in Twickenham

Furthermore, due to its natural porosity, Terracotta tends to allow dirt and stains to become ingrained, making the tiles even more difficult to clean – and keep clean, for that matter. These types of floors need regular maintenance or the only remedy is to strip and deep clean the tiles followed by the application of a fresh seal which is exactly what we had to do in this case.

Deep Cleaning a Dirty Terracotta Tiled Floor

To restore the appearance of this floor I would need to strip off the old coatings; fortunately, we have a strong product just for that purpose so to start with I liberally covered the tiles in our heavy duty coatings remover, Tile Doctor Remove and Go. It helps break down old sealers and oils and I left it to soak in for ten minutes so it could get a good start. I then machine scrubbed the floor with a 17″ scrubbing pad fitted to a rotary machine which takes a lot of the hard work out of the job, although I still need to hand scrub in the corners and along the grout lines with a stiff brush.

Terracotta Floor Deep Clean During Grout Scrubbing in Twickenham

All of the resulting cleaning chemicals and soiled residue were then flushed and vacuumed away with our pressure rinsing system. This method leaves the Terracotta tiles completely fresh and clean, ready to receive a new sealer.

Sealing a Terracotta Tiled a Floor

I left the property overnight, giving the floor a full 24 hours to dry completely. As most who read my posts will already know, a floor with outstanding damp issues cannot be sealed as even the slightest quantity of moisture can cloud the sealer and damage its performance.

Terracotta Floor Deep Clean after grout scrubbing in Twickenham

Upon my return to the property I ran a few damp tests as a matter of precaution. Once satisfied that the floor was completely dry, I proceeded to seal the tiles using seven coats of Tile Doctor Seal and Go, which works really well on Terracotta providing an aesthetically pleasing sheen finish and forms a stain resistant layer on the surface of the tiles to protect them from dirt and stains. I should mention it’s also a water based sealer so there’s no solvent smell given off as it dries which is always a bonus.

Terracotta Floor After Deep Clean and seal in Twickenham

As you can see from the pictures, the restoration has restored the lustre and colour of the Terracotta and the grout looks much cleaner; the very happy customer can be assured that maintaining the condition of the Terracotta will be much easier in the future.

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Slate Floor Before After Cleaning in Twickenham

Lustre Restored on a Dull Slate Tiled Floor in Twickenham

1 Comment / Slate Tile Cleaning, Twickenham Tile Cleaning, Work History / Jonathan Oldham

Slate is a popular choice for tiled kitchen floors and when properly maintained looks fantastic, however like all natural stone products without an effective cleaning plan dirt will become ingrained in the stone and will start to lose its appearance.

Slate Floor Before Cleaning in Twickenham

This was the case with this fantastic Slate tiled kitchen floor in Twickenham which had the potential to look really nice, but hadn’t received the proper maintenance for a long while, leaving it looking very tired. It now needed what was left of its old surface sealer stripped off, followed by a deep cleaning of the tile and grout before having a fresh seal applied.

Cleaning a Dull Slate Tiled Floor

To begin the restoration, I mixed a 50:50 solution of Tile Doctor Remove and Go and Tile Doctor Pro Clean. This was applied to the floor and allowed to dwell. Remove and Go functions as a stripper that breaks down the old sealer, while Pro Clean is a versatile, high alkaline cleaner that is safe to use on all types of natural stone flooring.

To use it to full effect, I machine scrubbed this solution into the floor to completely remove all dirt, stains, and old sealer. I also ran a stiff brush along the grout lines to remove the particularly stubborn dirt ingrained in the grout. The resulting cleaning slurry was then rinsed with water and extracted using a wet vacuum and the floor checked for stubborn marks which were retreated using the same process.

Sealing a Slate Tiled Floor

The floor was left to dry overnight and I came back the next day to apply a new seal. It’s important to leave a tiled floor to dry completely before sealing and at this time of year 24 hours is usually enough. This is necessary to ensures there is no excess moisture in the tile as this has the potential to cloud the sealer and affect its effectiveness.

The customer required a low sheen finish and a floor that was easy to maintain. I opted to use Seal & Go, which provides exactly that. It is a water-based with a high sheen blend of acrylic polymers that offers a both a stain resistant surface seal and a durable low sheen finish, also being water based it doesn’t leave a smell as it dries. Seal and Go is also a breathable sealer that will allow moisture to rise up through the tile and allow the floor to breathe.

Slate Floor After Cleaning in Twickenham

As you can see from the pictures, the lustre has been completely restored to the Slate tiles and the sealer will allow for easy maintenance for the customer in the future.

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Edwardian Style Floor Cleaned and Repaired in Twickenham, Middlesex

1 Comment / Twickenham Tile Cleaning, Victorian Tile Cleaning, Work History / Jonathan Oldham

This Edwardian style floor had been installed in a house in Twickenham around five years prior. The floor had a number of damaged tiles which needed replacing and that it had not been professionally cleaned since being installed and the original sealer had either worn off or turned yellow.

Edwardian style tiled floor twickenham before cleaning

Cleaning Edwardian Style Tiles

Before cleaning the broken tiles, adjacent grout and tile adhesive was carefully chipped out of the floor using a hammer and chisel. Once this was done the floor was soaked with a dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean which was applied with a mop and left it to dwell before being scrubbed into the tile using a rotary machine fitted with a scrubbing pad. The machine saves a lot of time however it struggles to get into the edges and corners and so it was necessary scrub those area by hand. The now soiled cleaning solution did a good job removing the dirt and old sealer and was washed away using fresh water and a wet vacuum. The tile and grout was inspected and the process repeated where required before giving the floor a final rinse to remove any trace of cleaning product. At this point the broken tiles were replaced with spares and grouted into place; the floor was then left for 48 hours so it could dry out thoroughly before sealing.

Edwardian style tiled floor twickenham after cleaning

Sealing Edwardian Style Tiles

On our return the floor was checked and then sealed with five coats of Tile Doctor Seal and Go which is a topical high sheen sealer highly recommended for these types of tiles that will enhances the look of the tile and creates a barrier against dirt and spillages.

As you can see from the picture, the floor has been restored to its original condition and with the correct maintenance; it should last for years to come.

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Terracotta Kitchen Floor Twickenham After Cleaning

Terracotta Kitchen Floor Deep Cleaned in Twickenham

1 Comment / Terracotta Tile Cleaning, Twickenham Tile Cleaning, Work History / Jonathan Oldham

This Terracotta tiled kitchen floor in Twickenham had accumulated a high amount of soil over the years. Spots and spills from kitchen activity had also proved impossible to remove by the owner which was due to the sealer breaking down; the floor was now in need of a deep clean, stripping off the old sealer and then re-sealing to ensure easy maintenance in the future.

Terracotta Kitchen Floor Twickenham Before Cleaning

Cleaning Terracotta Tiles

The first step was to use a rotary scrubbing machine together with Tile Doctor Pro-Clean which is a high alkaline cleaner for use with tile and stone. This action breaks down the soil in the tile and releases it along with the remaining old sealer. The floor was then pressure rinsed to ensure all of the dirt was removed from the pores of the tile and grout lines scrubbed by hand with a stiff brush. Once I was happy the floor was clean it was given a thorough rinse to remove any remaining chemical and left it to dry.

Terracotta Kitchen Floor Twickenham During Cleaning

Sealing Terracotta Tiles

The floor was left to dry for a period of twenty four hours before sealing which was done by applying five coats of Tile Doctor Seal and Go. This is a water based topical sealer that leaves no smell and will repel liquid and soil allowing the tile to keep its appearance and making it easier to maintain in the future. The sealer also gives a high sheen finish which reflects the light and enhances the colours of the stone. As you can see from the pictures, the restored floor brought the kitchen back to life and made the room look brighter.

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Tumbled Travertine in Twickenham After Cleaning

Tumbled Travertine Tiled Floor Maintained in Twickenham

1 Comment / Travertine Tile Cleaning, Twickenham Tile Cleaning, Work History / Jonathan Oldham

This Tumbled Travertine kitchen floor in Twickenham, Middlesex was in need of a deep clean including stripping out the old sealer and re-sealing to ensure easy maintenance in the future. The floor had not been professionally cleaned and re-sealed for over 10 years and being in a high traffic area, the tiles had accumulated a high amount of soil over the years. There were also holes in the Travertine where the filler had broken out.

Tumbled Travertine in Twickenham Before Cleaning

Cleaning Tumbled Travertine Tiles

The first job was to scrub a concentrated solution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean in to the floor using a rotary machine fitted with a scrubbing pad; unlike some acidic cleaners Pro-Clean is a powerful alkaline cleaner that is safe to use on tile and stone. This broke down the soil and released it along with the remaining old sealer which was then pressure rinsed to ensure all of the dirt was removed from the pores. Following the cleaning, I then filled the holes that were visible with flexible filler.

Sealing Tumbled Travertine Tiles

The floor was then left fir 24 hours to allow the floor to dry and then sealed by applying two coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow. This is an impregnating sealer which will repel liquid and soil going forward making it easier to maintain.

Hopefully you can appreciate from the pictures the difference this has made to the floor; if you live in the Middlesex area and need help with your stone, tile or grout please ask us to pop round for a free quote.

Maintaining Tumbled Travertine Tiles in Middlesex

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Victorian Tiled Porch in Twickenham After Cleaning

Victorian Tiled Porch cleaned in Twickenham

1 Comment / Twickenham Tile Cleaning, Victorian Tile Cleaning, Work History / Jonathan Oldham

Details below of a Victorian tiled porch in Twickenham which was ingrained with dirt and in need of a deep clean, there was also evidence of paint splashes from decorating work which would also need to be removed.

Victorian Tiled Porch in Twickenham Before Cleaning

Cleaning Victorian Tiles

We set about cleaning the Victorian tile using a steamer in conjunction with Tile Doctor Pro-Clean which is a very effective Tile Cleaning product worked. It was a small space so the tile and grout were scrubbed by hand wand using a stiff brush, it wasn’t long before we could see the dirt coming out of the floor. The soiled cleaning solution was picked up with a wet and dry vacuum and then Tile Doctor Remove and Go was applied to the paint spots leaving it to dwell for a while before further scrubbing. Once I was happy the tiles were now clean the floor was given a thorough rinse with fresh water to remove any leftover chemical and then left to dry.

Sealing Victorian Tiles

Once the floor had dried four coats of Tile Doctor Seal and Go was applied to the tile and this gave it a high sheen and durable finish. Seal and Go will provides good stain protection and really enhances the appearance and colour of Victorian tile.

I think you will agree from the photographs that the appearance of this beautiful tiled floor had been much improved. If you have a similar issue with your floor do get in touch for a free quotation, Tile Doctor can service all types of natural and man-made stone flooring covering most of the UK.

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South Middlesex Tile Doctor

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