Grout Cleaning Archives - North Lincolnshire Tile Doctor

Limestone Floor Renovation Doddington Hall Lincoln

Limestone Floor Renovated at Historic Doddington Hall, Lincoln

I was asked to carry out a deep clean and seal on this Limestone floor at a property which is part of the Doddington Hall Estate outside of Lincoln. Doddington Hall dates to the Elizabethan era and I was informed that the limestone tiles were originally from Lincoln Cathedral, so they had a lot of history. The hall is used commercially to host weddings and other events to the floors at the property do get a lot of use.

Limestone Floor Before Cleaning Doddington Hall Lincoln

Unfortunately, years of use had taken its toll on the Limestone tiles, and they had not been professionally cleaned for some time. With this much history the owner didn’t want to take any risks with the renovation and so Tile Doctor was asked to do the work. We have a good reputation however it felt it was a great testimonial to be asked to renovate such a historical floor. Naturally this does come with a certain amount of pressure to make sure this job was high class.

Before quoting, I paid a visit to the property to survey the floor and run some cleaning tests to work out the best approach. A price was given for the work, and I was given the go ahead to get started.

Cleaning a Limestone Tiled Floor

From the testing I conducted earlier I had worked out that the previous sealer had failed and dirt had accumulated in the stone, so work started with the application of a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean which is our go to Tile and Grout cleaner. The solution was sprayed onto the tile and grout and then left to soak in for at least ten minutes so it can get to work breaking down the dirt and what was left of the old sealer. At this point I also took time to work the Tile Doctor Pro-Clean into the grout using a stiff brush to get it as clean as possible.

The cleaning solution was then worked into the stone using a coarse 100-grit pad fitted to a weighted rotary machine to achieve maximum contact. I started with this pad in order to cut the surface back and remove scratches. The floor was then rinsed with water and the soil extracted with an industrial wet vacuum.

I then followed up with a 200-grit pad lubricated with water making sure to go over each tile three to four times to leave a honed finish. After another round of rinsing and extracting the floor was looking so much cleaner. The whole floor was then checked, and any issues spot treated.

Limestone Floor During Cleaning Doddington Hall Lincoln

It was a large floor, so it took the whole of the first day to get it clean, then once done I left it to dry out fully overnight.

Sealing a Limestone Tiled Floor

When I returned the floor was lovely and dry, so I was able to seal the Limestone tiles with a breathable impregnating sealer. I chose Tile Doctor Ultra Seal for the job as this doesn’t darken the stone and leaves it looking natural all features that matched their requirements, also the product works by soaking into the pores of the stone protecting it from within so will last for many years to come.

Limestone Floor After Cleaning Sealing Doddington Hall Lincoln

I chose a breathable sealer as properties of this age don’t have a damp proof membrane installed and so its important to use a sealer that will let any moisture in the subfloor rise through the stone and evaporate at the surface.

Once finished the Limestone floor looked transformed by the work and I’m happy to say it met the expectations of the owner who was extremely happy with the results. For aftercare cleaning I recommended the use of Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner; this would ensue the newly applied sealer stayed put, most floor cleaning products you find in supermarkets are simply too strong for use on sealed stone and will erode the sealer.

Professional Restoration of a Limestone Tiled Floor in Lincolnshire

Limestone Floor Renovated at Historic Doddington Hall, Lincoln Read More »

Multicoloured Slate Floor After Cleaning Caistor Lincolnshire

Beauty Restored to a Dull Multi Coloured Slate Floor in Caistor

1 Comment / Brigg Tile Cleaning, Grimsby Tile Cleaning, Grout Cleaning, Immingham Tile Cleaning, Market Rasen Tile Cleaning, Slate Tile Cleaning / William

I was contacted by a couple from the Lincolnshire market town of Caistor who had a beautiful multi-coloured Slate floor installed in their Kitchen, Hallway and WC. They had moved into the property a few years ago and during that time they had noticed how the appearance of the slate and grout had slowly degraded, they had tried to deep clean it themselves but gave up and decided to get some help.

Multicoloured Slate Floor Before Cleaning Caistor

I arranged a time to go over to the property, survey the tiles and provide a quote for doing the work. I could see the sealer was wearing off and nothing was in place to stop dirt from becoming trapped in the pores of the slate. I provided a quote for stripping the old sealer off the whole floor, deep cleaning the stone to remove the dirt and then once clean and dry applying a fresh sealer. The quote was accepted, and a date arranged to do the work.

Cleaning a Multi-Coloured Slate Tiled Floor

The job was very straight forward, and the type of job Tile Doctor carries out on a regular basis. On the first day I started by applying a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Remove and Go and let it soak into the tiles for ten minutes. Then using a black scrubbing pad fitted to a rotary floor buffer the solution was worked into the stone to strip off what remained of the remaining sealer and pull the dirt out of the stone. At this point I also ran a stiff brush along the grout lines to get them as clean as possible.

The floor was then rinsed, and the soiled solution was removed using a wet vacuum.
At this point the floor was inspected and the process repeated on a couple of stubborn areas. The area was quite large, so we worked around methodically and once done the floor was thoroughly rinsed and dried again with the wet vacuum.

Sealing a Multi Coloured Slate Tiled Floor

After rinsing I left the floor to dry out over a few days and returned a couple of days later to seal with 2 coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow. I selected this sealer as it a colour intensifier so will bring out the best in the colours of the multi coloured slate. It has a matt finish so it is not too shiny, but is very hardwearing, giving great protection to these high traffic areas.

Multicoloured Slate Floor After Cleaning Caistor

The household is a busy one, so keeping the floor in good condition will ensure maintenance is easier. With this in mind, I also recommended the use of Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner, this is pH neutral and is mild enough to use daily. A small amount of the product goes a long way, so the bottle will last, and it has a lovely fresh smell.

My client was over the moon with the results and wished she had had it done sooner.

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

Beauty Restored to a Dull Multi Coloured Slate Floor in Caistor Read More »

Cleaning and Sealing Encaustic Kitchen Floor Tiles in Hemswell Cliff

1 Comment / Encaustic Cement Tile Cleaning, Gainsborough Tile Cleaning, Grout Cleaning, Market Rasen Tile Cleaning / William

The photographs below are of an Encaustic Tiled Floor which had been installed some years prior in the kitchen of at a property in the village of Hemswell Cliff which is between Gainsborough and Market Rasen.

I paid a visit to the property initially to survey the floor and discuss the problem with the client. The main issue was the tiles had become dull and she couldn’t keep them clean. I explained that Encaustic tiles are porous and need to be kept sealed to prevent the dirt from becoming ingrained in its pores; over the years since installation the sealer had simply worn down and now dirt was getting into the pores of the tile and once that happens it can be difficult to get it out.

To prove my point, I carried out a demonstration on how I would clean them and explained the different sealer options available and how each sealer can have a different effect. She was pleased with the demonstration and was happy to accept my quote to deep clean the whole floor and then re-seal it.

Encaustic Floor Before and After Cleaning

Deep Cleaning Encaustic Kitchen Floor Tiles

I set about scrubbing the floor using a hot water dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean Tile and Grout cleaner combined 50:50 with NanoTech HBU Remover which adds tiny abrasive particles to the solution to make a more effective cleaning product. The solution was worked into the tiles by scrubbing with a rotary machine fitted with a Black scrubbing pad.

The pads struggle to reach into the recesses between the tiles so to get the grout clean I scrubbed them by hand using a stiff brush. Once done the soiled solution was removed using a wet vacuum and floor inspected to ensure it was as clean as possible. Any stubborn areas were spot treated by hand and then the whole area thoroughly rinsed down with clean water to remove any trace of cleaning product.

Finally, the wet vacuum was used to dry the floor as much as possible with assistance from a Turbo Air blower to help reduce the drying time.

Sealing Encaustic Floor Tiles

It wasn’t a particularly large floor and a warm day so I was able to complete the cleaning process by lunch time and after a few hours later with the assistance of the air blower the floor was dry and ready to be sealed.

Having discussed sealer choice with the client earlier a decision had been made to seal the encaustic tiles with Tile Doctor Seal and Go which adds a nice subtle sheen to the tile. Five coats of Tile Doctor Seal and Go were needed before the tiles were fully sealed, it’s a water based protective sealer so it doesn’t give off any odour whilst it dries and it provided the finish the customer was looking for.

Once completed the colours in the tiles were really vivid and resulted in one happy customer with a clean easy to maintain floor. On the subject of cleaning, I recommended the use of Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner which is a mild but effective tile cleaner. The problem with many of the tile cleaning products you find in supermarkets is they contain bleach which is simply too strong for use on a sealed tile as it will strip off the sealer.

Professional Maintenance Cleaning of Encaustic Floor Tiles in Lincolnshire

Cleaning and Sealing Encaustic Kitchen Floor Tiles in Hemswell Cliff Read More »

Slate Kitchen Floor Renovation Scunthorpe

Slate Tiled Kitchen Floor Stripped, Cleaned and Sealed in Scunthorpe

1 Comment / Grout Cleaning, Scunthorpe Tile Cleaning, Slate Tile Cleaning / William

I was approached by the owner of a property in Scunthorpe, who wanted me to restore the appearance of the Slate tiles in their Kitchen and Hallway. They had previously another company to clean the floor but it was clear that they had little experience of cleaning sealed floors and had struggled to remove what was left of the original seal leaving the floor in a worse state.

Sealer wears in the busiest sections of a floor first, so to achieve a nice even finish its vital to strip off all the original sealer before cleaning and then re-sealing. To prove our ability to restore the floor, I conducted a demonstration on a small test area, which satisfied the owner that we were capable of the job. We scheduled a date for my return to do the work which would take two days, one to strip off the old sealer and deep clean the floor and the second to apply a fresh seal.

Slate Kitchen Floor Before Cleaning Scunthorpe

Cleaning slate Floor Tiles in Scunthorpe

To strip off the sealer and deep clean the tile and grout I used a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Remove and Go which is an alkaline product safe to use on natural stone such as Slate. We primarily use this product for removing coatings such as sealers, adhesives, and paint splashes however it’s also a good tile cleaner as well.

The product is applied by diluting it into an industrial sprayer and then spraying the solution onto the floor. It’s then left to soak in for ten minutes so it can get to work breaking down the coatings etc. The solution is then scrubbed into the tile and grout using a Black pad fitted to a rotary machine which is run over each tile several times.

The pads can struggle to reach into the recesses of the grout lines so to get the grout clean Tile Doctor Pro-Clean is applied to the grout line and scrubbed in by hand with a stiff brush.

Finally, I gave the floor a through rinse with water and then extracted the soiling with a wet vacuum. The Slate tile and grout was then inspected and the process repeated where required until I was satisfied all the old sealer was gone and the floor was as clean as it could be.

Sealing Slate Floor Tiles in Scunthorpe

The next day I checked the floor was dry using a moister meter which thankfully it was and so I was able to apply the sealer which for this floor I had chosen Tile Doctor Colour Grow.

This product was chosen due its matt finish and its colour enhancing formula which brought out the deep rich tones in the dark Slate. This product is an impregnator which works by seeping into the stone, occupying the small pores and thereby preventing dirt from becoming ingrained there. Its hard wearing, ideal for use in a Kitchen and will provide maximum stain protection for many years to come.

Slate Kitchen Floor After Cleaning Sealing Scunthorpe

My customer was happy to finally have the floor looking they way it was when it was installed and relieved to have found a local company that could maintain the floor for her in the future.

For aftercare I advised the use of Tile Doctor Neutral Cleaner, part of the problem with stone floors is the use of strong cleaning products which are not designed for use on sealed floors and will cause the sealer to erode prematurely.

Professional Slate Floor Renovation in Scunthorpe Lincolnshire

Slate Tiled Kitchen Floor Stripped, Cleaned and Sealed in Scunthorpe Read More »

Quarry Tiled Kitchen Floor Cleaning Grimsby

Quarry Tiled Kitchen Floor Deep Cleaned and Sealed in Grimsby

1 Comment / Grimsby Tile Cleaning, Grout Cleaning, Quarry Tile Cleaning / William

Details below of a Quarry Tiled kitchen floor we were asked to deep clean in the town of Grimsby which is well known as a fishing port. The Quarry tiles were looking dull and tired, there was some staining to the grout all of which is quite typical of the wear and tear you would expect in a kitchen.

Quarry Tiled Kitchen Floor Before Cleaning Grimsby

Quarry tiles are made from clay, which is porous, so unless protected by a sealer they will start to absorb dirt into the pores and once that happens, they will discolour and become difficult to clean easily. Grout is a similar story, being cementitious the top layer is rough and attracts dirt which over time causes it to go dark.

Cleaning Kitchen Quarry Tile and Grout

Sealers wear down in the busiest parts of the floor first and adding a new sealer on top of an old sealer can result in a very patchy appearance. As a result, it’s always best to strip off the original sealer first.

My method for renovating the floor started with the application of a strong solution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean which was sprayed onto the Quarry tile and Grout and left to soak in for about ten minutes. The solution was then scrubbed into the tile with a rotary machine fitted with a black scrubbing pad.

The grout also need attention, unfortunately we don’t have a machine that will get into the grout lines so this had to be manually scrubbed by hand using a grout brush, which as you can imagine took some time to do. The soiled cleaning solution was then rinsed off the floor and removed using a wet vacuum.

The Quarry tile and grout was then inspected and further spot cleaning performed where needed until I was satisfied the floor was as clean as it could be. Once done,
the floor was rinsed thoroughly, dried as much as possible using the wet vacuum and then left to dry off overnight.

Sealing Kitchen Quarry Tile and Grout

The next day work started by checking the moisture readings in the tile using a damp meter. It’s not a good idea to apply a sealer to a damp floor so it’s always a good idea to check first.

The readings were good so I started with the application of the first coat of what would be six coats of sealer. I find Tile Doctor Seal and Go is the best choice for sealing Quarry tiles which provides stain protection to the quarry tile and grout and leaves a nice deep low sheen on the tile surface. Additionally, being water based it doesn’t give off an odour as it dries.

Quarry Tiled Kitchen Floor After Cleaning Grimsby

The result was a complete transformation, the colour of the Quarry tiles was improved enormously and the grout lost its dark appearance. The floor looked like a new installation and my client was very happy with the result as you can imagine.

For aftercare cleaning I recommend the use of Tile Doctor Neutral Cleaner, it’s a gentle but effective tile and grout cleaner that won’t impact the sealer which is the problem with most of the products you find in supermarkets which are simply too strong for use on a sealed floor.

Professional Quarry Tiled and Grout Renovation in Grimsby

Quarry Tiled Kitchen Floor Deep Cleaned and Sealed in Grimsby Read More »