Travertine Kitchen Floor Stripped And Resealed In Wilmslow, Cheshire

Another quick job here in Cheshire, this time in the town of Wilmslow. Much like Alderly Edge, where I recently completed another job, Wilmslow is an affluent area known for its upmarket lifestyle and as a popular option for residence amongst celebrities and famous figures. In fact it is currently, and has previously been, home to several Premier League footballers from the nearby clubs Manchester United and Manchester City.

This job was another case of where a tiled floor had lost its shine due to the sealer wearing away over time. In this instance, my client had a Travertine tiled floor in her kitchen that she wanted to me to restore back to looking at its best.

Travertine Tiled Floor Before Refurbish Wilslow Travertine Tiled Floor Before Refurbish Wilslow

Travertine is a fantastic natural stone which possesses unique features that no other stone can offer. It offers a particularly distinctive design style, making it a popular choice both for commercial and residential use. Many homeowners use Travertine tiles for kitchen flooring, bathroom walls and floors and for external floors, such as patios.

Removing the old sealer

The process of stripping off old sealer can be done effectively and relatively quickly without using a liquid stripper. The best method is to use a series of fine diamond encrusted burnishing pads, which is exactly what I did in this case. The burnishing pads are applied in sequence from coarse, medium, fine and superfine to remove the old sealer without damaging the Travertine and then re-polish to a lovely polished shine.

Applying a new sealer for protection and colour enhancement

One the floor had been burnished, rinsed and dried; I proceeded to re-seal the floor with Tile Doctor Colour Grow. Colour Grow is particularly effective when to seal porous natural stone surfaces such as Travertine and Limestone, whether internal or external. This is because the product is specially formulated to penetrate deep into the pores of the stone, providing durable surface protection from within.

The other key benefit of Colour Grow is that it intensifies the colours within the stone, as you can from the photos. This adds additional character and flair to already impressive household features like this Travertine floor.

Travertine Tiled Floor After Refurbish Wilslow Travertine Tiled Floor After Refurbish Wilslow

The finished results were exactly what my client had hoped for. It goes to show that with the right methods and know-how such a big difference can be made to the appearance of tiled floors. I was very happy to help.
 
 

Maintaining a Polished Stone Floor in Cheshire

Limestone patio stripped and resealed in Alderly Edge

Details below of a Limestone patio I was asked to clean at a property in the affluent neighbourhood of Alderly Edge, Cheshire, famous for being the home of choice for several Premier League footballers. In fact Alderly Edge, which lies not too far south of Manchester and is one of the most sought after places to live in the UK. My client was unhappy with the look of the patio had previously been sealed using a topical sealer, and this had left the tiles looking dull and lifeless.

Limestone Patio Before Cleaning Alderly Edge Limestone Patio Before Cleaning Alderly Edge

Limestone is a fantastic natural stone, popularly used for internal floors as well as patios, it comes in a variety of fantastic colours and shades. What my client really wanted for the patio was a wet look to bring out the character of the Limestone. So, my job was to strip the old sealer off and replace it will one that would achieve the desired finish.

Stripping off the old sealer

To strip the old sealer from the patio, I used a series of fine diamond encrusted burnishing pads which are applied in order from Coarse, Medium, Fine and then Super Fine. The coarse pad is effective at stripping off sealer without damaging the tile, and without the need to use a liquid product. The finer burnishing pads then rebuild the appearance of the Limestone to provide a nice deep shine.

Applying Sealer to a Limestone Patio

The new sealer of choice was Tile Doctor Colour Grow, which can be used on both internal and external natural stone surfaces. Colour Grow is an impregnating sealer which penetrates deep into the pores of the stone, providing both long-lasting resistance and durable protection against ingrained dirt and stains. As you can see from the photos, Colour Grow is also specially formulated to intensify the natural colours in the stone, and it really helped to bring the Limestone back to life again.

Limestone Patio After Cleaning Alderly Edge Limestone Patio After Cleaning Alderly Edge

The finished job left this patio with the wet, polished look my client had requested. She was very pleased with the result and amazed by just how quickly such a marked difference could be made. Another happy client!
 
 

Putting new life into a Limestone Patio in Cheshire

Cleaning a Terracotta Brick floor in Alderly Edge

This is an interesting Terracotta brick tiled floor installed in a house in the village of Alderly Edge. The Terracotta tiles were made in a brick shape which was a popular design found in rural buildings in the 19th century. Although the floor was in good condition the sealer was starting to wear off and being clay Terracotta are porous and trap dirt if not sealed. You can see this in the before photograph below where you can see how the grout and Terracotta has darkened with ingrained dirt.

Terracotta brick tiled floor before cleaning in Alderly Edge

Cleaning Terracotta Brick Tiles

To get the Terracotta tiles clean and free of any remaining sealer I soaked tiles in a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean and left it to dwell for twenty minutes, Pro-Clean is an alkaline product and so safe to use on tiled floors. Then using a large 17inch black scrubbing pad fitted to a rotary machine and a stiff grout brush proceeded to work the cleaning solution into the tile and grout. The now dirty cleaning solution was removed using a wet vacuum and the floor rinsed down with hot water. Some stubborn areas were spot treated using the same process and once happy with the overall condition of the floor the tiles were thoroughly rinsed three times using hot water to remove any trace of cleaning product prior to sealing and then left to dry overnight.

Sealing Terracotta Brick Tiles

I returned the next day to seal the floor testing it first with a damp meter to make sure it had dried. I then started to seal the tiles and with Terracotta being a very porous material it took eight coats of sealer to do the job. I used Tile Doctor Seal and Go which is a topical sealer that gives Terracotta a subtle gloss finish, it’s also water based so it doesn’t leave a smell as it dries.

Terracotta brick tiled floor after in Alderly Edge

 
 

Terracotta Tile Cleaning in Cheshire

Troublesome Travertine Tiles in Holmes Chapel

This Travertine tiled floor installed in the kitchen of a house in Holmes Chapel was proving impossible to clean and this was compounded by the fact that black dirt had become trapped in the natural holes in the Travertine.

Travertine tiled kitchen floor Holmes Chapel Before

Cleaning Travertine Floor Tiles

The floor was given a wash with Tile Doctor Neutral Cleaner to remove any surface grit and this was followed by the application of the Tile Doctor burnishing system which involves the use of a set of four Burnishing pads fitted to a rotary machine. There are four pads and you start off with a course stripper pad with a little just water and then carry on with the finer pads until the floor is thoroughly cleaned and any previous sealer removed. The next step was to use Tile Doctor Pro-Clean along the grout lines with a stiff brush to get the grout cleaner and also around the holes in the travertine where dirt had become ingrained. Once the small holes were clean they were then filled with a matching coloured grout.

To bring up the polish on the Travertine tile the last of the four burnishing pads was applied with gives a final polish.

Travertine tiled kitchen floor Holmes Chapel After

Sealing Travertine Floor Tiles

To seal the floor and protect it from staining two coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow was applied; Colour Grow is a colour enhancing sealer which enhanced the natural colours in the stone. Once dry the last step was to buff the floor to a nice shine with a rotary machine fitted with a white pad.
 
 

Travertine Floor Cleaned, Polished and Sealed in Cheshire

Chinese Slate Strip and Seal in Hale Barns Kitchen

I was asked to strip and re-seal these interesting Chinese Slate tiles that were installed in the kitchen floor of a property in Hale Barns, Cheshire. It seems the tiles had been re-sealed over the years without giving them a deep clean first resulting in dirt and grime being sealed in between layers of old sealer making them impossible for the customer to clean.

Chinese slate floor Hale Barns Cheshire before

Cleaning Chinese Slate Floor Tiles

To remove the many layers of sealer and get the tiles clean I let them soak in a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Remove and Go which is a coatings remover for the stripping of sealers from floors that is safe to use on Tile, Stone and Grout. This was worked into the tile and grout using stiff brushes followed by steam cleaning the floor. The resulting soiled solution was removed and the floor washed down with clean water to reveal the bare stone; stubborn areas were re-treated using the same process before leaving the floor to dry before sealing.

Sealing Chinese Slate Floor Tiles

Once I was satisfied the floor was dry it was sealed using Tile Doctor Seal and Go which is a highly recommended sealer for slate that leaves an attractive low sheen finish and smooth surface, it’s also a water based sealer so there is no smell.

Chinese slate floor Hale Barns Cheshire  After

 
 

Over-Sealed Chinese Slate floor tiles stripped and re-sealed in Cheshire

Heavily Soiled Sandstone Tiled Floor in Bramhall

These Sandstone floor tiles installed in the front room of a house in Bramhall were looking grey with no natural colour due to heavy soiling from family pets and muddy boots.

Sandstone Floor Bramhall Before Cleaning

Cleaning Sandstone Floor Tiles

Cleaning the Sandstone was a straightforward process of applying a dilution of
Tile Doctor Pro-Clean which is a commercial grade alkaline tile cleaning product designed for use on natural stone floors such as Sandstone, being an alkaline it doesn’t eat into the stone like acid cleaners. The solution was left to dwell for a while before working it into the stone with a rotary machine fitted with a black scrubbing pad. The resultant soiled solution was removed using wet vacuum and the floor washed down, there were still a few stubborn areas and the grout needed a good clean with more Pro-Clean and a stiff brush run along the grout lines.

Once I was happy with the condition of the floor any remaining cleaning solution was removed from the floor using a wet vacuum and the stone given a thorough rinse and left to dry.

The floor looked much improved however the customer on this occasion didn’t want the floor sealed which is a shame as a sealer really adds life to a floor and makes it easier to clean as a result this floor will soon discolour.

Sandstone Floor Bramhall After Cleaning

 
 

Bramhall deep cleaning Sandstone floor tiles

Victorian Tiled Hallway Restored in Chester

You can’t beat a Victorian Tiled Hallway it’s such a practical and obvious choice, unfortunately however this floor at a house in Chester had been neglected over the years and covered up with carpet that had been glued to the tile.

Victorian floor Tiles Chester before cleaning

Restoring Victorian Floor Tiles

To remove the dirt, paint and carpet glue it was necessary to coat the floor in a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Remove and Go which as the name suggests is a powerful coatings remover that’s safe to use on tiles.

The solution was left to soak into the tiles in order to break down the glue and paint etc. before being scrubbed in using a rotary machine fitted with a black pad. This cleaned up most of the problems however there were a few stubborn areas on which we used a steamer to penetrate deep into the pores of the tile and lift out the stains. We then removed the soiled cleaning solution using a wet vacuum and give the floor a really thorough rinse.

Due to the age of the floor and house there was no damp proof installed under the floor and there was concern that even with a breathable sealer damp would become trapped under the tile, so we decided not to seal the tiles which is a shame as sealers do lift the appearance that much more. I think you will agree though the floor looks much improved.

Victorian floor Tiles Chester after cleaning

 
 

Stained Victorian Tiled hallway floor cleaned and sealed in Cheshire

Maintaining an Indian Sandstone Floor Tiles in Macclesfield

These beautiful Indian Sandstone tiles were installed on the ground floor of a house near Macclesfield and as you can see from the photographs had become heavily soiled which was masking the true natural colours in the stone resulting in a dark grey appearance.

Indian Sandstone Floor Macclesfield Before Cleaning

Cleaning Indian Sandstone Floor Tiles

To get the tiles clean I let them soak in a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean for a while before working the cleaning agent in with a rotary machine fitted with a black scrubbing pad. The Pro-Clean also acts as a stripper so this process will remove any remaining sealer on the surface of the tile as well as the dirt.

Additionally all the grout lines were scrubbed by hand using more Pro-Clean and stiff scrubbing brushes. The remaining soiled solution was then removed from the floor using a wet vacuum and the tiles given a thorough rinse rinsed and left to dry completely with any stubborn marks re-treated using the same process.

Sealing Indian Sandstone Floor Tiles

Once I was satisfied the floor was dry it was sealed using Tile Doctor Seal and Go which is a topical sealer that leaves an attractive low sheen finish and smooth surface, it’s also a water based sealer so there is no smell.

Indian Sandstone Floor Macclesfield After Cleaining

 
 

Soiled Indian Sandstone floor tiles cleaned and sealed in Macclesfield

Ceramic Tiled Bathroom Refreshed in Wilmslow

This Ceramic tiled bathroom with shower was installed at house Wilmslow and was overdue a refresh. You can see from the photographs below that the bathroom was looking tired and the tile and grout was discoloured with mould and acid build-up from washing products.

Ceramic Bathroom Tiles Wilmslow Before Ceramic Bathroom Tiles Wilmslow Before

Cleaning Ceramic Tile and Grout

The Ceramic tiles and grout were treated using a strong 2:1 dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean which is a strong alkaline Tile and Grout cleaning product. The solution was decanted into a bottle with a trigger spray attachment which when sprayed onto the wall allows the cleaner to mix with air making it lighter and allowing it to stick better. The solution was then worked in using a stiff scrubbing brush by hand before being rinsed off with water; this process was repeated a number of times until we had managed to clean all the areas and then left to dry.

Grout Colouring

The grout looked better but I was unable to shift some of the staining so we decided to apply a white Grout Colourant, it’s a time consuming process but I think you will agree it made a big difference. Additionally the grout colourant product we use also forms a barrier over the surface making the grout much easier to clean going forward.

The last step was to remove the silicone sealant from along the top of bath and replace with new.

Ceramic Bathroom Tiles Wilmslow After Ceramic Bathroom Tiles Wilmslow After

 
 

Refreshing a Ceramic Tiled Bathroom Wilmslow

Stained Victorian Tiles restored in Kingswood, Cheshire

This classic Victorian tiled floor in Kingswood Kitchen; Cheshire was quite dirty and in need of a deep clean. Cleaning this type of floor is bread and butter for a Tile Doctor and so I had every confidence we could clean in and then re-seal it without any complications.

Victorian Floor Kingswood Before Cleaning 006 Victorian Floor Kingswood Before Cleaning 005

Cleaning a Stained Victorian Floor

In order to tack the ingrained dirt and I decided the best course of action would be to cover the Victorian Floor tiles with a 50/50 mix of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean and Nano-Tech UltraClean and leave it to work on the tile allowing the cleaner to break down any remaining previous sealer and in-grained dirt.

Victorian Floor Kingswood During Cleaning 007 Victorian Floor Kingswood During Cleaning 008

After about 30 minutes I steam cleaned the whole area multiple times to lift the ingrained dirt and grime out of the floor and then give the floor a thorough rinse removing the soiled solution using a wet vacuum. The floor was quite damp at this stage and needs to be dry to seal so we left it to dry overnight, we also left behind a dehumidifier to assist with the drying process.

Sealing a Victorian Floor

The next day we came back and tested the floor using a damp meter to make sure it was dry. Once we were satisfied we sealed the tiles using five coats of Tile Doctor Seal and Go which is ideal for Victorian tiles as it leaves an attractive low sheen finish, it’s also a water based sealer so there is no smell.

Victorian Floor Kingswood After Cleaning 012 Victorian Floor Kingswood After Cleaning 013

 
 

Soiled Victorian Tiled hallway floor cleaned and sealed in Cheshire

Victorian Tiled Floor Deep Cleaned in Hale, Cheshire

Details below of a Victorian tiled floor that we cleaned and sealed at a house in Hale, Cheshire, you can see from the photographs below how poor a condition it was in however the tiles were structurally sound so we set about restoring it.

Victorian Tiled Floor Before Victorian Tiled Floor Before

Victorian Floor Deep Cleaning

The tiles were covered with thick layer of old resin, glue, trapped dirt, possibly wax as well, so the best system for this on Victorian Floor Tiles is to cover the Tiles with a 50/50 mix of Tile Doctor Remove and Go and NanoTech Ultra-Clean; the Remove and Go breaks down the wax, glues etc. while the Nano-Clean works deeper in to the tiles and encapsulates the trapped dirt. It does take time for this process to work however so to help the process along we soak the area with these products, cover over with a plastic sheet and then leave it. The plastic sheet this stops the products from drying out and also makes the floor sweat which works like a sauna to open up the pores of the Tiles. We then cover the plastic with Cotton Dust sheets and leave it like that overnight, the customer can still walk on the Floor area while the Treatment is in place.

The next day we lifted the plastic and steamed the whole area to help release the old trapped dirt and grime etc., the floor is then given a good rinse with clean water and we use a wet vacuum to remove the resultant slurry. We couldn’t seal the floor that day as it was still wet so the cotton sheets were put back on and switched on a dehumidifier to help speed up the drying process.

Victorian Tile Blanket Cleaning

Victorian Floor Sealing

We came back the nextday and after testing the floor with a damp meter to ensure it was dry we began to seal it using five coats of Tile Doctor Seal and Go. Seal and Go is a sealer for Victorian floor tiles as it provides stain resistance as well as a low sheen finish.

Victorian Tiled Floor After Victorian Tiled Floor After

The customer was very happy with the results and as you can see from the photographs we have managed to completely transform the floor.
 
 

Victorian Tiled floor cleaned and sealed in Cheshire

Cleaning and Sealing an Indian Sandstone Floor in Prestbury

This Indian Sandstone floor was laid in a large Kitchen, utility and WC in a house in Prestbury, Cheshire. It was cleaned professionally five years earlier and in that time the sealer had started to wear down and the floor had become dirty again. On top of that the rough nature of the Sandstone flagstones were shredding cleaning mops used to clean the floor so the customer decided it was time for a spring clean and arranged with us to have the floor cleaned and re-sealed.

Indian Sandstone Kitchen Before Indian Sandstone WC Before

Cleaning a Sandstone Tiled Floor

We cleaned the floor using Tile Doctor Pro-Clean diluted with 5 parts warm water and worked into the stone surface using a rotary machine fitted with a black scrubbing pad. The soiled solution was removed with a wet vacuum and floor rinsed with clean water using a spinning tool which applies water under high pressure and removes it at the same time. There were a few paint splashes evident so Tile Doctor Remove and Go was applied and left on the problem areas for about an hour which dealt with the problem and the floor washed down again with clean water applied with the spinner tool. This process had taken most of the day so we then left for the evening allowing the floor to dry overnight.

TileDoctor Kevin Ward Cleaning Sandstone

Sealing a Sandstone Tiled Floor

We came back the next day and tested the floor with a Stanley damp meter in a few different locations to make sure no dampness remained in the stone. The sandstone was dry so we proceeded to seal the floor with Tile Doctor Seal and Go which offers a good level of protection as well as giving a nice low sheen finish. Sandstone is fairly porous so it took five coats of sealer to fully seal the floor, also Seal and Go is a topical coating so this has also taken the roughness out of the stone and resolved their mop shredding issue. The floor was good to walk on several hours later.

Indian Sandstone Kitchen After Indian Sandstone WC After

 
 

Sandstone Floor Cleaned and Sealed in Cheshire