Tile Doctor Matthew Lovett

Travertine Tiled Kitchen Floor Before After Renovation Stocksbridge

Dull Travertine Floor Filled, Polished and Sealed in Stocksbridge

Late last year I was called to a property in Stocksbridge, near Sheffield, to survey a Travertine tiled floor which had become dull, grubby and had completely lost its appeal. Over the years the floor had lost its shine, the grout lines were filthy and worse still holes had appeared in the stone which had then filled with dirt making it difficult to clean.

Travertine Floor Before Renovation Stocksbridge

I discussed with the client what we could do to restore the Travertine floor back to its’ former glory. I explained holes or pitting as it’s known is quite common with Travertine and is normally sold with the holes filled with a colour matching resin. In this case it’s possible the filler had come loose, or the Travertine had become eroded due to the constant use acidic cleaning products. To restore the floor, I would re-fill the holes, hone the floor and polish it and then finally seal it. I showed them a small test area and they were suitably impressed and were happy to go ahead with my quote. We arranged a convenient time for the work to be carried out.

Cleaning and Repairing a Travertine Tiled Kitchen Floor

We started by preparing the Kitchen for floor cleaning which involves removing the kick boards under the units and protecting any exposed areas from splashing. Next, I sprayed the stone tile and grout with a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean, left it to soak in for then minutes and then scrubbed the area with a rotary machine fitted with a black pad. This action was designed to get the dirt out of the holes and give the grout lines a good scrub. Once done the floor was rinsed with water and the soil extracted with a wet vacuum.

Travertine Floor Cleaning Grout Lines Stocksbridge

I then set about filling the many holes that had appeared in the floor, a colour matched epoxy resin is used to fill the holes so once filled they’re almost invisible. When the resin had set, we began honing and polishing the floor using the Tile Doctor burnishing system which involves the application of specialist floor pads encrusted with industrial diamonds.

Filling Pitted with Travertine Tile with Resin Stocksbridge

Four burnishing pads are used for this, each of a different grade from coarse to extra fine which slowly refine the stone. The first pad which is coarse 400-grit pad removes old sealers, grime and stains. We then start building the polish of the stone back up with the 800 and 1500-grit pads. You need to lubricate the process with water and then extract the fine slurry that is generated with a wet vacuum after each pad. This always makes a huge overall difference to the look of the floor and by the end of the first day the floor was starting to get its appearance back.

Sealing a Travertine Tiled Kitchen Floor

The floor was then left overnight to dry out and we returned the following morning to finish off polishing the floor with our highest grade 3000-grit diamond pad. This last pad is applied with a little water which is sprayed on to the floor during application. This process leaves the floor dry, polished and ready for sealing.

To seal the floor three coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow were applied to the floor, you have to wait for the sealer to dry (usually 30 minutes) before applying the next so this took some time to complete. Colour Grow is an impregnating sealer that protects the floor from staining from within by soaking into the pores of the stone thereby preventing dirt from becoming ingrained. It contains a colour enhancing formula that improves the colour and tone of the stone, additionally it will protect the floor against grime and stains and will ensure the floor is easier to keep clean.

Travertine Floor During Sealer Application Stocksbridge

For aftercare I recommended they should use Stone Soap for day to day cleaning. Unlike everyday household cleaners it has a pH neutral formula so will not prematurely erode the newly applied seal. It can be used regularly and will also help maintain the patina.

Travertine Floor After Renovation Stocksbridge

My client was over the moon with the new floor, the kitchen area had been transformed and they said they would happily recommend Tile Doctor to their friends.

Professional Restoration of a Travertine Tiled Kitchen in South Yorkshire

Dull Travertine Floor Filled, Polished and Sealed in Stocksbridge Read More »

Shower Cubicle Before After Renovation Bolton-Upon-Dearne

Shower Cubicle Renovation in Bolton Upon Dearne

1 Comment / Barnsley Tile Cleaning, Ceramic Tile Cleaning, Doncaster Tile Cleaning, Grout Cleaning, Rotherham Tile Cleaning, Work History / Matthew Lovett

The pictures below detail the renovation of Ceramic Tiled Shower Cubicle at a property in Bolton Upon Dearne South Yorkshire. I was called in as the homeowners dreaded using the shower due to the state of the tiles, grout and cubicle in general.

Grubby Shower Cubicle Before Cleaning Bolton-Upon-Dearne

As you can see from the photograph the grout was filthy, the silicone was mouldy, and the shower frame was caked in mouldy dirt. Over the years there had been a build-up of hard water and staining from products which leave a residue. They had used everyday cleaning products, but these had not been able to touch the problem as it had been left for too long.

I discussed with the clients how Tile Doctor could help, and how we would be able to deep clean the shower area and replace the mouldy silicone. I was confident we could get the renovate the cubicle and get it looking like new again. They were happy to accept my price and we arranged a time to complete the job. It would certainly be far cheaper than ripping out the shower cubicle and replacing with new.

Bolton Upon Dearne is a small village in the very middle of South Yorkshire, it is almost the same distance away from the centres of Barnsley, Rotherham and Doncaster. It has a rich history of coal mining but like many pit villages it has suffered since the pit closures of the 80’s and 90’s.

Cleaning/Repairing a Ceramic Tiled Shower Cubicle

To start the shower was treated with Tile Doctor Oxy Gel, being a gel this product sticks well to the vertical surfaces giving it time to break down grease and grime, you’ll see from the picture just how much dirt was released.

This was followed with a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Duo Clean which is great for restoring lighter coloured grout back to its original state as well as removing mould. After scrubbing the soiled water was easily drained away using the shower hose. The transformation was amazing, the area already looked so much more inviting!

Grubby Shower Cubicle During Grout Cleaning Bolton-Upon-Dearne

Sealing a Ceramic Tiled Shower Cubicle

Next the old silicone that had gone mouldy was removed with a sharp knife, this is a slow work as you have avoid damaging the tile or the shower tray. Additionally, a clean and dry surface is required for the new silicone to adhere well.

The tiles were Ceramic which are given a glazed surface during manufacture, so they don’t need a specialist sealant like natural stone. However, the surface of grout is cementous and attracts dirt easily so the whole shower wall was sealed using a can of Tile Doctor Wall and Grout Sealer. This gives a layer which will protect the tiles and grout and will ensure the tiles are easier to keep clean.

Grubby Shower Cubicle After Cleaning Bolton-Upon-Dearne

For everyday cleaning I recommended they use Tile Doctor Aqua-Pro which is an effective, yet pH neutral tile and grout cleaner designed for everyday use in Bathrooms and Kitchens. The formula eliminates soap scum build-up and hard water deposits and its neutral formula won’t prematurely degrade the sealer. Used regularly this will prevent the build-up they had previously experienced and will keep the tiles looking good for some time to come.

As you can imagine my client was very happy with the completed work.

Professional Restoration of a Ceramic Tiled Shower Cubicle in South Yorkshire

Shower Cubicle Renovation in Bolton Upon Dearne Read More »

Slate Tiled Floor Before During After Refurb Darfield

Dull and Dirty Slate Floor Stripped, Cleaned and Sealed in Darfield, Barnsley

1 Comment / Barnsley Tile Cleaning, Slate Tile Cleaning, Work History / Matthew Lovett

The new owners of this property in Darfield were disappointed with the state of the Slate tiled kitchen floor which looked like it had never been cleaned. Since moving in they tried lots of different products to get it clean, but nothing had the desired effect.

After discussing the problem over the phone, I visited the house to run some product tests on the floor and discuss the options. After a few tests I could tell the floor had been sealed many times over trapping in layers and layers of dirt each time. It looked as if the floor had not been effectively cleaned prior to the numerous coats of seal being applied.

Slate Floor Before Cleaning Darfield Barnsley

Darfield’s is a village on the outskirts of Barnsley with a history that stretches back to Roman times, quite a few roman artefacts have been found around the village and are now on show at the local museum. But Darfield is most known for the 2 huge collieries that once stood there, below Darfield is a huge seam of coal that supplied the nation with coal for decades. These have long since closed but the mining history of the area remains.

The tests enabled me to work out which products would be the most effective and from that I was able to provide an accurate price for completing the work. All that was left was to schedule a date for my return.

Deep Cleaning a Slate Tiled Kitchen Floor in Darfield

With everything agreed I returned a few weeks later and set about stripping the slate of its’ very thick layer of old floor sealers. To do this a combination of Tile Doctor Remove and Go combined with Tile Doctor Pro-Clean was applied to the floor and left to dwell. These two products are powerful solutions that break down sealants and dirt, when used together they make short work of the job.

Slate Floor Cleaning Starts Darfield Barnsley

The slate floor was then scrubbed with a rotary floor machine fitted with a Black scrubbing pad. This abrasive action breaks the sealer down further until the cleaning solution turns black with dirt and old sealants. I kept working the floor in this way until all the old sealer and ingrained dirt was stripped away leaving the bare stone. The floor was then thoroughly rinsed with water, and all the slurry was removed with a wet vacuum. There was an awful lot of this as the floor really was dirty underneath.

Slate Floor During Sealing Removal Darfield Barnsley

Sealing a Slate Tiled Kitchen Floor in Darfield

After leaving the floor to dry off overnight I returned the next day to seal the floor using Tile Doctors High Shine Sealer. This product leaves a high shine almost glossy appearance which was the affect my customer was looking for. High Shine is a specially formulated water-based blend of acrylic polymers that provides durable stain resistance, its ideal for Slate floors and you can see from the photos on this page that it made an incredible difference to the floor and really brought out the beautiful natural colours in the stone.

Slate Floor During Sealing Darfield Barnsley

My client was very happy with the new floor, the natural colours of the floor now shone through, in fact the floor looked as if it had been laid recently, quite the transformation.

Slate Floor After Cleaning Sealing Darfield Barnsley

Before leaving I recommended, they use Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner to clean the floor going forward. This product is pH neutral so it won’t erode the newly applied sealer and will ensure the floor is protected for longer. The same could not be said for most household cleaning products which are not meant for use on natural stone and can remove the sealer over time.

Professional Restoration of a Slate Tiled Kitchen in South Yorkshire

Dull and Dirty Slate Floor Stripped, Cleaned and Sealed in Darfield, Barnsley Read More »

Flagstone Kitchen Floor Before After Cleaning Oughtibridge

400-Year-Old Flagstone Floor Restoration in Oughtibridge

1 Comment / Flagstone Tile Cleaning, Sheffield Tile Cleaning, Work History / Matthew Lovett

Our clients owned a stunning 400-year-old cottage in the village of Oughtibridge, Sheffield with a Flagstone floor in the Kitchen. The floor was original to the building but wasn’t practical, it had 400 years of dirt and grime stuck to it and over the years had turned black.

400-Year Old Flagstones House Plaque Oughtibridge

In an attempt to get the floor clean, they had tried lots of different cleaning products but nothing you could buy from a supermarket was ever going to help when the stone is this dirty. After researching the problem further, they found Tile Doctor and so contacted us for a solution.

I went over to the property to survey the floor and carry out a test clean on small area to work out which products and methods would get the floor clean. The demonstration went well which impressed the client and agreed to our quote.

400-Year Old Flagstones Before Cleaning Oughtibridge

Oughtibridge stands 5 miles north of the centre of Sheffield and is surrounded by beautiful countryside, there are breath-taking views from the village looking down the valley towards Sheffield City Centre.

Cleaning a Flagstone Tiled Hallway Floor

To get the flagstones clean we started by soaking the floor in a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro Clean, this was left to work for 10 minutes before using a rotary floor machine fitted with a selection of diamond pads and brushes to scrub the floor.

400-Year Old Flagstones During Cleaning Oughtibridge

A combination of the Tile Doctor Pro Clean and the machine made short work of the 400 years worth of grime on the stone. The difference was incredible, our clients were shocked at the results we were getting. Once clean we rinsed the floor a couple of times to make sure all the slurry had been removed, this was extracted away with the wet vacuum to keep the mess to a minimum.

400-Year Old Flagstones Before Cleaning width Pro-Clean Oughtibridge

With the floor clean the next stage was to seal the stone however it would need to be dry before we could do that. Old flagstone floors like these don’t have a damp-proof membrane installed beneath the stone so can take longer to dry out; with this in mind we left it a week before returning to make sure it had plenty of time to dry out.

Sealing a 400-Year-Old Flagstone Kitchen Floor

Returning the following week, we used the moisture meter to test the floor and ensure it was fully dried out. The weather had been warm all week so I expected it to be fine which it was.

Our clients chose Tile Doctor Seal & Go Extra to seal the floor, it gives stone a satin finish and makes sure all the pores in the stone can’t be filled with dirt again. We applied three coats leaving each one to dry between coats. This sealer is also breathable so will cope well with any moisture rising through the stone.

400-Year Old Flagstones After Cleaning Oughtibridge

My clients were so happy to have a clean floor and left the following message on the Tile Doctor feedback system.

“Matt has transformed our 1640 sandstone floor from a dark grey colour, which was impossible to keep clean with ingrained dirt over years to an attractive looking sealed floor with beige and rose tints which can now kept clean.”

Before leaving I discussed with them the best way to maintain the floor and recommended that they use Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner. This is pH neutral tile cleaning product which won’t harm the sealer with use. It has a nice minty smell and being concentrated only a small amount it required.

Professional Restoration of a Flagstone Tiled Kitchen in South Yorkshire

400-Year-Old Flagstone Floor Restoration in Oughtibridge Read More »

Dirty Quarry Tile Grout Before After Renovation Royston

Deep Cleaning Kitchen Quarry Tile and Grout in Royston

1 Comment / Barnsley Tile Cleaning, Quarry Tile Cleaning, Work History / Matthew Lovett

We were contacted about this modern quarry tile floor in the kitchen of a farmhouse in Royston, Barnsley. They were fed up of the grout making the floor look grotty and whatever they tried they couldn’t get the grout to look any better. They explained they had used lots of different cleaning products on the market, and had spent a fortune, but the floor still looked the same. Royston is a village right on the border of Barnsley and Wakefield, it’s situated in South Yorkshire but is historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire.

The trouble with Grout is its cementitious texture which traps dirt and I suspect that they were using a single bucket to apply and rinse their mop during cleaning. This results in the mop being rinsed in increasingly dirty water which is put back on the floor where it is brushed into the grout where it gets trapped. Ideally you should use two buckets, one containing the cleaning fluid and the second containing water where you rinse your mop afterwards.

Quarry Tiled Kitchen Floor Before Cleaning

There are several solutions ranging from continual grout cleaning through to replacing the grout which is expensive. In this case the Quarry tiles were the small 6in x 6in format which covered the entire ground floor of this old farmhouse and with the grout lines being 10mm wide replacing the grout would have been a mammoth effort.

My recommendation was to deep clean the Quarry tiles and grout, removing any sealer from the tiles in the process and then reseal the tiles and the grout to protect both from ingrained dirt. I demonstrated the process on a small test area to see how the floor would respond and much to the client’s surprise there was an immediately and dramatic improvement. They were more than happy to go ahead with my quote and get the floor sorted.

Deep Cleaning Quarry Tiled Kitchen Tiles and Grout Floor

We started by soaking manageable areas of the floor in a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean, it was left to work its magic for ten minutes before a rotary machine fitted with a rotary brush was used to scrub the floor. The slurry was then extracted using a wet vac before the floor was thoroughly rinsed with clean water then extracted with the wet vac again.

Quarry Tiled Kitchen Floor During Cleaning

The floor was quite large, so it took most of the day to repeat this process across the entire area scrubbing by hand where necessary to remove stubborn staining. By the end of the day the Quarry tile and grout was looking much cleaner and brighter and I had now doubt that once the floor had been sealed the customer would be really pleased with the result. The floor was left overnight so it would be ready for sealing the next day.

Sealing a Quarry Tiled Kitchen Floor

I returned the following morning and started by testing the floor was dry using a moisture meter. Applying a sealer to a damp floor would be counter productive as the seal would not cure. The floor was dry, so we applied an impregnating sealer to the Quarry tile and Grout called Tile Doctor Ultra-Seal. This is a penetrating sealer which doesn’t affect the look of the tile or darken the grout. It’s a natural look sealer which won’t make the floor shiny but is formulated to provide maximum stain protection. It is also an excellent grout sealer so will help keep the grout lines looking great.

Quarry Tiled Kitchen Floor After Cleaning

They were over the moon with the new look floor!

For after I recommended the use of Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner which will keep the floor in the best condition. It is pH balanced so will won’t prematurely erode the sealer like the stronger products you find in supermarkets which can break down sealers with constant use.

Professional Restoration of a Quarry Tiled Kitchen in South Yorkshire

Deep Cleaning Kitchen Quarry Tile and Grout in Royston Read More »

Victorian Tiled Hallway Before After Renovation Dinnington

Renovating a Paint Spotted Victorian Hallway Floor in Dinnington

1 Comment / Grout Cleaning, Rotherham Tile Cleaning, Victorian Tile Cleaning, Work History / Matthew Lovett

The owner of this beautiful Victorian tiled hallway floor in Dinnington had wanted the floor restored for quite some time. The property had many Victorian features, but this floor had an unusual design which made it very special. The owners had researched how to clean it themselves but hadn’t managed to achieve the result they were hoping for. The main problem was that the floor had been spotted with small paint splashes from decades of decorating.

Victorian Tiled Floor Before Cleaning Dinnington

Victorian Tiled Floor During Cleaning Dinnington

Dinnington officially forms part of in Rotherham and is the same distance from Rotherham as it is from Sheffield. The area was a big coal mining and steel producing area and unfortunately suffered huge job losses throughout the 80’s and 90’s so its not surprising that the local housing stock suffered for many years as a result.

Cleaning/Repairing a Victorian Tiled Hallway Floor

We first treated the floor with Tile Doctor Remove and Go, this acts quickly to break down any old sealers still present on the tiles and softens the old paint splashes. After a ten-minute dwell time a coarse 200-grit burnishing pad fitted to rotary floor buffer was applied to the tiles. More water was applied where required to help lubricate the process and make the pad really work its magic. The slurry generated was extracted using a wet vacuum and the floor inspected. The process was the repeated to ensure all the dirt was removed and the floor was as clean as possible.

Once happy the Victorian tiles were as clean as the could be it was time to give the floor an acid wash which would remove any old mineral deposits including grout smears. We also recommended this for old Victorian floors which do not have a damp-proof membrane installed and can suffer from white efflorescent salt deposits as moisture rises through the tile. To do this Tile Doctor Acid Gel was scrubbed into the to the floor using a 200-grit burnishing pad to make the acid gel work hard. Afterwards we rinsed the floor several times removing the slurry with a wet vacuum. This kept the mess to a minimum and the floor was already looking great.

The floor was left to dry over the weekend, and we would return the following week to carry out the sealing process.

Sealing a Victorian Tiled Hallway Floor

The following Monday we returned to seal the floor. First, we used the moisture meter to test the floor, we needed to ensure it was as dry as possible before sealing it. The client wanted a traditional look, so we opted for Tile Doctor Colour Grow which is a colour enhancing sealer that leaves matt finish. This product is perfect for this type of floor as it is fully breathable allowing moisture to pass through the tile and sealer and not become trapped under the floor where it could spread to the walls and cause rising damp.

Four coats of Colour Grow were applied in total allowing each to dry before applying the next. The sealer works by occupying the pores in the tile thereby protecting the floor and preventing dirt from becoming trapped making it much easier to clean.

I was very happy with the result; the floor was now in great condition and was one of the more dramatic in colour and pattern that I had come across. My customer also felt the same and left the following feedback for me.

“Matt did a professional and thorough job: our Victorian hall tiles really ‘pop’ with colour. Highly recommend. Karen T, Dinnington”

Victorian Tiled Floor After Cleaning Dinnington

Victorian Tiled Floor After Cleaning Sealing Dinnington

Professional Renovation of a Victorian Tiled Hallway in Rotherham

Renovating a Paint Spotted Victorian Hallway Floor in Dinnington Read More »

Travertine Tiled Floor Before After Polishing Whirlow

Large Travertine Floor Renovated at Whirlow Rental Property

1 Comment / Grout Cleaning, Sheffield Tile Cleaning, Travertine Tile Cleaning, Work History / Matthew Lovett

Travertine tiled floors are a great feature but do need regular maintenance to keep them looking good. This rarely happens correctly in rental properties and this was certainly the problem at this property in the affluent Sheffield suburb of Whirlow.

My client had rented out their beautiful house for the last ten years but were now moving back in. The property had been given a deep clean following the last rental and they were very disappointed with the Travertine tiled floor which looked dull, dirty and generally un-inviting. They were contemplating have the floor replaced but thought they would contact Tile Doctor first to see if could be improved.

Travertine Tiled Floor Before Cleaning in Whirlow Sheffield

I popped into the property to inspect the floor and work out the best method to clean the floor by completing a test clean. The Travertine responded well to the test and I was confident that the floor could be restored. The client was also pleased with the result and the potential of the floor and agreed our quote. We also agreed a date for the work which would take two days and booked it in for later in the month.

Cleaning a Travertine Tile and Grout

To rejuvenate Travertine, we use a system known as burnishing which gradually cleans and hones the stone to restore its polished appearance. It involves using a set of four diamond encrusted pads of different grits from coarse to fine. Each diamond pad is fitted to a rotary floor buffer and run over the floor with water for lubrication. The resulting slurry is then rinsed away with water and extracted using the wet vacuum.

Travertine Tiled Floor During Cleaning in Whirlow Sheffield

Halfway through the pads I turned my attention to the grout which due to being recessed can be missed by the pads. To get this clean I apply a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean, leave it to soak into the grout for five minutes and then scrub it in by hand with a narrow brush. The soil was then rinsed away with water and extracted with a wet vacuum as before.

Travertine Tiled Floor During Grout Cleaning in Whirlow Sheffield

It was a large area, so the tile and grout cleaning process took some time to complete. Once done the floor was given a final rinse and extraction and then left to dry out overnight.

Sealing a Travertine Tiled Downstairs Floor

The following morning, I returned to site ready to seal the floor first checking with a damp meter that the tiles were dry. We selected to use Tile Doctor Colour Grow to seal the floor, this is a colour enhancing sealer which improved the colour in the stone whilst protecting it from the inside by occupying the pores. It provides durable protection but also allows the floor to breathe. Three coats were applied, each coat is left to dry before applying the next.

Travertine Tiled Floor After Polishing in Whirlow Sheffield

Our client was over the moon with the results and was so thankful they didn’t end up ripping the floor up. Not only had it saved them the additional cost but also the disruption of the work as they were keen to move back in.

I suggested that to keep the floor maintained, they should invest in some Tile Doctor Stone Soap. This product improves patina and is pH neutral so will ensure that the newly applied seal stays in place and the floor remains protected.

Professional Restoration of a Travertine Tiled Downstairs in South Yorkshire

Large Travertine Floor Renovated at Whirlow Rental Property Read More »

Terrazzo Tiled Hallway Before After Renovation Doncaster

Deep Cleaning and Polishing a Terrazzo Hallway Floor in Doncaster

1 Comment / Doncaster Tile Cleaning, Terrazzo Floor Cleaning, Work History / Matthew Lovett

We were working on a Victorian tiled floor at a property in Doncaster and were approached by a neighbour asking if we would look at their Terrazzo hallway to see if anything could be done with it. This often happens, people see our van and come and see what it is we do. Once we have had a chat it often leads to more work.

Terrazzo Hallway Floor Before Cleaning Doncaster

The neighbour had tried everything to make their unusual floor look more presentable even resorting to wire wool and a vast selection of cleaning products. I could see immediately that any sealer that was once present had long since worn off allowing dirt to become trapped in the pores of the Terrazzo. It would need a deep clean and polish to get it looking good again and so I reassured them and arranged to return in a few weeks to do the work. We see a variety of floor types in this job and each one presents a different challenge.

Deep Cleaning a Terrazzo Tiled Hallway Floor

We started by taping up the surrounding areas, skirting boards and doors to ensure they were protected. A strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean was sprayed onto the Terrazzo and allowed to soak in for ten minutes so it could breakdown and soften the decades of dirt that had been ground into the floor. This is a multi-purpose high-alkaline cleaner, stripper and degreaser. It can be diluted to suit the requirement and it is a very effective cleaner that removes grease, mildew and algae from areas that have been neglected or subjected to heavy use.

With the Pro-Clean still in place the Terrazzo was then honed and polished using a set of Tile Doctor 17in diamond encrusted burnishing pads starting with a coarse 400-grit. This coarse pad removed dirt and old sealers from the stone, its applied with water to lubricate the process and it wasn’t long before this turned into a dark slurry. The floor was then rinsed with more water and the slurry extracted with a wet vacuum. This process was repeated with the 800, 1500 and finally the 3000-grit pad which really brings up the appearance of the stone. The floor was then left to dry off overnight.

Sealing a Terrazzo Tiled Hallway Floor

Returning the following day, I first checked the floor was dry using the moisture meter. Satisfied that all was in order I moved on to sealing, this would ensure the floor was protected and would help to prevent the built up they had experienced.

We sealed the lighter areas with an impregnating sealer called Tile Doctor Ultra Seal, this is a no-sheen, natural-look, solvent-based penetrating sealer which is formulated to provide maximum stain protection. To restore the colour and add protection to the black border Tile Doctor Stone Oil was applied.

Terrazzo Hallway Floor After Cleaning Doncaster

The floors appearance was massively improved, and the client was delighted and very pleased that they had bumped into me. For aftercare I recommended the use of Tile Doctor Stone Soap which is designed for the regulate cleaning of sealed and polished floors.

Professional Deep Clean of a Terrazzo Tiled Hallway in South Yorkshire

Deep Cleaning and Polishing a Terrazzo Hallway Floor in Doncaster Read More »

Travertine Tiled Shower Before After Restoration Totley Sheffield

Troublesome Travertine Tiled Shower Enclosure Renovated in Totley

1 Comment / Sheffield Tile Cleaning, Travertine Tile Cleaning, Work History / Matthew Lovett

I was asked to call into a property in the Sheffield suburb of Totley to renovate a troublesome Travertine tiled shower enclosure. The customer simply couldn’t keep the shower clean and the travertine was just getting dirtier and dirtier. I could see from the pictures that the stone tiles were becoming stained with the use of shampoo and soaps, also there was evidence of mould build-up which had led to some of the grout turning black.

Once I was on site, I could see that any sealant that may have been present on the Travertine had broken down and worn off leaving the pores in the stone vulnerable to dirt etc. Once dirt has become ingrained you will find it very difficult to get rid of it using normal household cleaners. I discussed with the client the best course of action, we chatted about the cost and they were happy to go ahead with the work. The work would take less than a day to complete.

Travertine Tiled Shower Enclosure Before Cleaning Totley

Cleaning a Travertine Tiled Shower Enclosure

I started by applying Tile Doctors Oxy-Gel which is a Tile and Grout cleaning product in a Gel form that allows it to cling to walls without running off. This means you can leave it working on the Tile and Grout for as long as you want. Thirty minutes is normally enough to clean most stone and lift the underlying dirt. The Oxy-Gel was then scrubbed in by hand and rinsed off with water. The first clean, removed most of the dirt and grime, however the really stained areas were treated twice.

Once the stone was clean, I turned my attention to the mould stained silicone seal between the tile and shower tray. I worked carefully to remove the existing silicone with a sharp knife to ensure neither the tile or shower tray was damaged. After cleaning up the area and making sure it was dry new Limestone coloured silicone was inserted to match the grout. It’s important to use good quality silicone as the cheaper ones tend to discolour fast.

Sealing a Travertine Tiled Shower

Once the tiles were fully dry, I set about sealing the Travertine and Grout using two coats of Tile Doctor Ultra Seal. This is a premium, no-sheen, natural-look, sealer which is formulated to provide maximum stain protection, it is also an excellent grout sealer. The natural colours of the now clean Travertine tiles were able to shine through and any water now runs off the wall instead of collecting in the pores of the stone.

Travertine Tiled Shower Enclosure After Cleaning Totley

As you can imagine my client was delighted with the result. To ensure they stopped using the household cleaners applied previously we left them with some free Tile Doctor Aqua-Pro shower cleaner and instruction on how to keep the shower area looking great. This product is pH neutral so will not prematurely erode the sealer which happens with stronger supermarket products.

Professional Renovation of a Travertine Tiled Shower in South Yorkshire

Troublesome Travertine Tiled Shower Enclosure Renovated in Totley Read More »

Deep Cleaning and Sealing Yorkstone Flooring in Norton

Stained Yorkstone Floor Renovated After Leak in Norton Office

1 Comment / Aldwick le Street Tile Cleaning, Flagstone Tile Cleaning, Work History / Matthew Lovett

We were called in by a hygiene supplies company after one of their delivery drivers had delivered some hand wash to one of their clients in Norton, Sheffield and unfortunately during delivery one of the bottles had leaked all over this York Stone floor. It had caused some staining and removed some of the sealant, so the floor now required a complete deep clean and seal.

Office Yorkstone Floor Before Cleaning Norton Sheffield

The modern building in the Yorkshire Hills close to Sheffield is the headquarters of a Bar & Pub dispensing equipment suppliers and the York Stone runs right throughout the main reception area. As it is the first impression for visitors, it was important that the floor was cleaned and restored and obviously the company were keen to put right their drivers’ accident. After visiting the property to survey the floor we arranged to carry the work out over a weekend while the employees were out of the way and no clients would be visiting.

Cleaning a Yorkstone Office Floor in Sheffield

Firstly, we protected the skirting boards, carpets and adjoining rooms so any splashes from cleaning would not damage or stain anything. Then we set about applying Tile Doctor Pro Clean diluted 1:5 with water. This was left to soak into the stone for ten minutes to lift the grime, dirt and previous sealer out of the stone. Once it had been given time to soak in the solution was scrubbed into the stone with a 40kg weighted floor buffer fitted with a 17in black scrubbing pad running at medium speed. Immediately you could see a huge change in the appearance of the stone as the natural colours of the stone were revealed.

Office Yorkstone Floor During Cleaning Norton Sheffield

When one area had been scrubbed, we vacuumed up the resulting slurry and gave the floor a thorough rinse with fresh water. The rinsed water was also extracted with the wet vacuum before moving onto another area of floor. It took a full day to clean the whole floor and then we left it to dry off fully overnight.

Sealing a Yorkstone Office Floor in Sheffield

We returned the following morning, the floor was checked with the damp meter to ensure it was dry enough, it was within the correct parameters, so we were good to go ahead and apply the seal.

Office Yorkstone Floor After Cleaning Damp Test Norton Sheffield

The floor was given two coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow; this is an impregnating sealer that seeps into the pores of the stone, intensifying the natural colours in the stone whilst providing the durable surface protection needed for such a high traffic area. Each coat is left to dry before applying the next.

Office Yorkstone Floor After Cleaning Norton Sheffield

Office Yorkstone Floor After Sealing Norton Sheffield

Once complete the floor looked much cleaner, the colours in the stone were much more evident and any evidence of the staining was gone. The new sealer is set to keep the floor protected from ingrained dirt for some time to come. The owners of the company were over the moon, and the driver was relieved too, as you can see from the pictures the change was dramatic. In fact, the feedback I got from the customer was.

“What a transformation!!!”

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Author name: Matthew Lovett