Remove and Go Archives - South East Wales Tile Doctor

Stone Bathroom Tiling Renovation Cowbridge

Restoring the Appearance of Bleach Damaged Stone Tiling in Cowbridge

Last year we were approached by a customer in the market town of Cowbridge looking for a professional bathroom restorer to renovate their stone tiled bathroom. Apparently, their cleaner had etched the tiles using neat bleach unaware of the damage a strong product like that could have on natural stone.

Stone Bathroom Tiling Before Cleaning Cowbridge

I arranged to call in on the customer the next time I was in the area to discuss the work and take a close look at the tiling. Three different types of stone had been used in the bathroom with Limestone wall tiles in the shower, Black Marble mosaics formed the shower tray and bath panelling, and the floor had been laid with Black Slate.

Having discussed the bathroom at length with the customer it was clear that their main concerns were that the stone had lost its shine, the grout had discoloured, and a lot of the silicone was stained and needed replacing. I worked out a comprehensive plan to revive the bathroom and created a detailed quotation to do the work that listed all the necessary work. My customer was happy with the quote, and I got the go ahead to book the work in.

Black Marble Mosaic and Limestone Shower Tiling Before Cleaning Cowbridge

Black Slate Bathroom Floor Tiling Before Cleaning Cowbridge

Renovating a Stone Bathroom Tiles

Before starting the cleaning, I spent some time protecting the fragile surfaces that didn’t need attention with protective sheeting.

Stone Bathroom Tiling Before Cleaning Cowbridge

Next the shower Tile and grout was scrubbed with a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean and a Black pad that I had cut down so it could be used by hand. The shower walls were then rinsed with water using the shower head which is one of the convenient advantages of working in a shower.

Focus then shifted to the Black Mosaic tiles on the floor of the shower using more Pro-Clean this time mixed with Nanotech HBU for extra cleaning power. This was scrubbed into the grout joints with a brush and a Black pad for the tile surface. I used the same process on the Marble mosaic bath panel. Once done the tiles were rinsed with water.

The next step was to cut out the silicone sealant around the permitter of the shower tiling and spray the area with Tile Doctor Duo Clean which kills mould. Once dry the silicone was replaced with a new anti-mould silicone.

Black Marble Mosaic and Limestone Shower Tiling After Renovation Cowbridge

The shower enclosure tiles were then sealed with Tile Doctor Pro-Seal a durable sealer that doesn’t alter the appearance of the stone. The customer liked the light appearance of the Limestone and wanted to keep it that way.

Limestone Shower Wall Tiling After Renovation Cowbridge

Refreshing Black Slate Bathroom Flooring

The last area to focus on were the Black Slate tiles on the bathroom floor which were also in a similar worn condition. The old sealer had clearly broken down on these and was now letting dirt become ingrained in the stone reducing the vibrant appearance of the Black Slate. I tread this by removing what was left of the original sealer with an application of Remove and Go mixed with Nanotech HBU and Pro-Clean. I left this cleaning cocktail to dwell for about half an hour before scrubbing with a coarse black pad and scrubbing brush.

The floor was then rinsed with water to remove the soiling and now looked much improved. Once dry it was sealed with Tile Doctor Colour Grow which is an impregnating sealer that contains a colour enhancer and provides a durable finish especially in bathrooms. This worked out very well on the Slate helped to add depth to the stone as well as bringing out more of the features in the stone.

Black Slate Bathroom Floor Tiling After Renovation Cowbridge

The customers were delighted with the result and I’m please to say the service, in fact they have since recommended Tile Doctor to their friends, colleagues and family.

Marble Tiled Shower Cubicle Professionally Refinished in South Wales

Restoring the Appearance of Bleach Damaged Stone Tiling in Cowbridge Read More »

Black and White Geometric Victorian Tiled Hallway Floor After Renovation Llantwit Major

Classic Victorian Tiled Geometric Floor Renovated in Llantwit Major

1 Comment / Llantwit Major Tile Cleaning, Victorian Tile Cleaning / Julian Iancono

This client from Llantwit Major contacted Tile Doctor regarding their Victorian tiled hallway floor which was a classic Black and White geometric design but was now stained and in need of renovation. I’m the local Tile Doctor agent covering Cardiff and the surrounding area, so they asked me to pop over and take a look.

Black and White Geometric Victorian Tiled Hallway Floor Before Renovation Llantwit Major

Black and White Geometric Victorian Tiled Hallway Floor Before Cleaning Llantwit Major

I contacted the client to arrange a viewing so I could survey the tiles and assess the work involved. The floor had been previously covered in carpet which was glued to the tiled floor. On removal of the carpet, traces of the glue were visible and heavy residues were thick in places. I worked out a quote for re-fixing the loose tiles, deep cleaning the floor and then applying a protective sealer, happy to get the work done the quote was agreed and a date scheduled.

Repairing and Cleaning a Victorian Tiled Hallway Floor

Work started by addressing the loose tiles which were then carefully removed and cleaned up for re use. The gaps left were also cleaned up and the tiles stuck back in place using a quick setting adhesive. I also added new metal trims to the doorway thresholds.

I scraped as much of the glue from the floor surface with a heavy-duty razor blade tool. Then I mixed a solution of Tile Doctor Remove & Go with Tile Doctor Nanotech HBU and a little Tile Doctor Pro-Clean. The combined solution was left to dwell for approximately half an hour before agitating with a course black pad. The dirty solution was then rinsed off with water and removed with a wet vacuum. I repeated this process on a couple of particularly stubborn stains.

The floor was then given an acid wash using neat Tile Doctor Grout Clean-up to remove any old cement residues. Finally, the floor was rinsed again with clean water and dried with a wet vacuum. The floor was then left to dry off fully overnight.

Sealing a Victorian Tiled Hallway Floor

I returned the following morning to check if the floor had dried out. I used a damp meter to take a few moisture readings, which were within the acceptable level. This is particularly important on a floor of this age as there was no damp-proof membrane installed and as a result can take longer to dry out.

The client wanted a low maintenance hard wearing sealer applied, so I selected Tile Doctor Colour Grow which soaks into the pores of the tiles protecting it from within, it also contains a colour enhancer which brought out the contrast in the Black and White tiles. Lastly this sealer is fully breathable and so will allow moisture to rise through the tile and evaporate at the surface; this is an important consideration when selecting a sealer for a floor without a damp proof membrane.

Once complete the floor was transformed, and the client was very happy with the outcome. I recommended for maintenance to use Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner which will ensure the floor keeps its appearance.

Professional Restoration of a Victorian Tiled Hallway in South Wales

Classic Victorian Tiled Geometric Floor Renovated in Llantwit Major Read More »

Victorian Tiled Hallway Floor Restoration Penarth

Restoration of a Classic Victorian Tiled Hallway in Penarth

1 Comment / Penarth Tile Cleaning, Victorian Tile Cleaning / Julian Iancono

Tile Doctor were approached by a homeowner in Penarth hoping something could be done to improve their beautiful Black and White Victorian tiled hallway floor which had been patched up with concrete during the installation of pipework under the floor.

I paid a visit to the property to survey the tiles, recommend a way forward and provide a quote for the restoration of the floor. It was clear the patched section was backfilled with cement and that would need to be cut away and then re-tiled with replacements. Then to ensure the whole floor looked uniform it would need deep cleaning and sealing.

Victorian Tiled Hallway Floor Before Cleaning in Penarth

Keen for the floor to be restored back to its original appearance I was given the go ahead and so I started the search for replacement tiles that would be a good match to the existing. Fortunately, I was able to source some replica tiles from Tile Doctor who had a selection of similar tiles available from other jobs they have done.

Cleaning and Repairing a Victorian Tiled Hallway Floor

Work started by removing the old mat and carefully cutting out the concrete backfill that went across the floor. The floor tile replacements were then cut to shape and fixed in place with rapid setting adhesive and grouted in using a grey grout similar to the original colour. They were a good match and blended in well.

Once set, the floor was thoroughly cleaned with a handheld black pad using a mixture of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean, Tile Doctor Remove & Go, and Tile Doctor HBU Nanotech Cleaner. These cleaning products all have different qualities and together produce a very effective tile cleaner. Afterwards the floor was rinsed thoroughly with water and the soiling extracted using a wet vacuum cleaner.

Next the floor was treated to an acid wash using Tile Doctor Grout Clean-Up which is a mild acid that removes old grout and cement smears bringing up the appearance of the tiles even more. Finally, after another rinse with clean water and the floor was dried as much as possible with the wet vacuum. The floor was then left to dry off overnight.

Sealing a Victorian Tiled Hallway Floor

Retuning the following morning, the floor looked nice and dry, however, to be sure we tested with the damp proof meter. The readings were good, so we were ready to apply the sealer.

Victorian Tiled Hallway Floor After Cleaning in Penarth

The sealer chosen for this floor was Tile Doctor Colour Grow, the is an impregnator which soaks into the surface of the tiles and provides a matt look and a very hard-wearing protective seal. The floor looked great, the bold black and white pattern really stood out. Colour Grow is also a breathable sealer which is an important consideration when dealing with old floors that don’t have a damp proof membrane.

The client was very pleased with the work we had completed. We recommended the use of Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner for ongoing maintenance; this is a pH neutral cleaner which is mild enough to be used daily and will ensure that the sealant is kept in place.

Professional Restoration of a Victorian Tiled Hallway in South Wales

Restoration of a Classic Victorian Tiled Hallway in Penarth Read More »

Victorian Tiled Hallway Floor Restoration Merthyr Tydfil

Damaged Victorian Tiled Hallway Floor Restored in Merthyr Tydfil

1 Comment / Merthyr Tydfil Tile Cleaning, Victorian Tile Cleaning / Julian Iancono

Tile Doctor was approached by a client in Merthyr Tydfil who was hoping something could be done to improve their beautiful Victorian tiled hallway floor which had been patched up with concrete during the installation of pipework under the floor.

Victorian Tiled Hallway Floor Before Restoration Merthyr Tydfil

I paid a visit to the property to run some tests, recommend a way forward and provide a quote for restoring the floor. The restoration would need to start with the patched section by removing the cement backfill and then re-tiling with matching replacements. Then to ensure the whole floor looked uniform it would need deep cleaning and sealing.

Keen for the floor to be repaired I was given the go ahead and so I started a search for replacement tiles that would be a good match for the floor. Fortunately, I was able to source some replica tiles from Tile Doctor who have had a selection of similar tiles available from other jobs they had done.

Repairing a Victorian Tiled Hallway Floor

Work started by removing the old doormat and carefully cutting out the concrete backfill that went across the floor.

The rubble was carefully removed and the newly exposed cleaned up so it could be levelled with self-levelling compound which would provide a new base onto which the replacement tiles could be laid.

Victorian Tiled Hallway Floor During Restoration Merthyr Tydfil

Floor tile replacements were then cut to shape and fixed in place with a rapid setting adhesive and grouted in using a grey grout similar to the original colour.

Deep Cleaning a Victorian Tiled Hallway Floor

The floor was left to set overnight and I came back then next day to begin the cleaning process. For this I created a cocktail of three Tile Doctor cleaning products, namely Tile Doctor Pro-Clean, Remove & Go and Tile Doctor HBU Nanotech Cleaner. The products were mixed, diluted with water, and then sprayed onto the tiles. The floor was left for ten minutes to allow the products to soak into the pores of the tile and digest the dirt and coatings such as old sealers.
The floor was then scrubbed with a black pad fitted to a rotary machine to release the dirt etc from the tiles. Afterwards, the floor was rinsed thoroughly with water and the soiling extracted using a wet vacuum.

Next the floor was treated to an Acid Wash using Tile Doctor Grout Clean-Up which is a mild acid that removes grout haze, cement smears and counters any alkaline salts which may have built-up in the tile and could result in efflorescence later.

Finally, another rinse with clean water and the floor was then dried as much as possible with the wet vacuum. The floor was left to dry overnight.

Sealing a Victorian Tiled Hallway Floor

The following day I returned and first used the damp meter to check that the floor was dry enough to seal. Satisfied with the reading I chose to use Tile Doctor Colour Grow to seal the floor. This is an impregnator which soaks into the surface of the tiles and provides a matt look with a very hard-wearing protective seal, perfect for a high traffic area. It allows for the lovely colours of the tiles to shine through.

Victorian Tiled Hallway Floor After Restoration Merthyr Tydfil

The floor responded very well to the treatment and it was impossible to tell where the repair work had taken place. For aftercare cleaning I recommended the use of Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner, this is a gentle but effective tile cleaning product designed for use on sealed floors that will ensure easy maintenance and keep the floor in great condition.

Professional Restoration of a Victorian Tiled Hallway in South Wales

Damaged Victorian Tiled Hallway Floor Restored in Merthyr Tydfil Read More »

Terracotta Floor Deep Cleaned and Sealed Cardiff

Terracotta Tiled Kitchen Floor Cleaned and Sealed in Cardiff

1 Comment / Cardiff Tile Cleaning, Grout Cleaning, Terracotta Tile Cleaning / Julian Iancono

This Terracotta tiled floor was installed at a property in Cardiff around twenty years ago. It hadn’t been professional cleaned since installation and in that time any sealer that was once present had worn off and dirt had built up in the pores of the tile. Terracotta works very well in a Kitchen but you do need to maintain the sealer otherwise the tiles will start to absorb dirt which is very difficult to remove with standard equipment.

Terracotta Flooring Before Cleaning Cardiff

After speaking to the owner on the phone we arranged a time for me to pop over, survey the floor and test clean the tile and grout to work out the best method for cleaning it. The test went very well and proved the floor could be restored to an almost new condition, impressed with the result I was booked in to complete the job.

Terracotta Floor Before Cleaning Cardiff

Deep Cleaning a Terracotta Tiled Kitchen Floor

The test clean I conducted earlier enabled me to work out which Tile Doctor products had worked best to bring the floor back to life. With this in mind I was able to start work with a clear plan which in this case involved applying a combination of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean, Nanotech HBU and Tile Doctor Remove and Go. These are all tile cleaning products and have different properties. HBU for instance stands for Heavy Build-Up and is good for handling a large amount of dirt and Remove and Go is a stripper that can remove paint stains and old sealers.

Terracotta Floor During Cleaning Cardiff

This mixture was applied to the floor and left to soak in for about fifteen minutes before being scrubbed into the floor. Scrubbing started with the grout which was done manually with a hand-held scrubbing brush. This was followed up with a Black Scrubbing pad fitted to a rotary floor buffer.

Once done the floor was rinsed with water and the soiling extracted using a wet vacuum. The Terracotta tile and grout was then inspected and the whole process repeated multiple times until I was satisfied all the ingrained dirt was gone and the floor was as clean as it possibly could be.

The next step would be to seal the floor but it would need it to be dry first. The trouble with Terracotta however is it’s a porous material and retains water during the cleaning process. So, to assist with drying a fan was placed on the floor after I finished the cleaning of a section.

Sealing a Terracotta Tiled Floor

I returned the next morning and tested the tiles with a damp meter to ensure the tiles were dry before applying the sealer. All was well, so I started with the application of the first coat Tile Doctor Seal and Go which is a water-based sealer that works well on clay tiles and adds a lovely sheen finish to the floor. Due to the porous nature of Terracotta, it took eight coats of Seal and Go before it was completely sealed.

The clean and new sealer really lifted the appearance of the kitchen much to the delight of my customer who was very happy with their new floor. For aftercare cleaning I recommended Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner which is a mild but effective cleaning product designed for use on sealed tiles.

It’s also worth knowing that the life of a sealer greatly depends on what you use to clean it as most tile cleaning products you find in a supermarket are only designed for use on Ceramic or Vinyl flooring and are simply too strong for use on a sealed tile (always read the label!).

Terracotta Floor After Cleaning Sealing Cardiff

Professional Cleaning of a Terracotta Tiled Floor in Cheshire

Terracotta Tiled Kitchen Floor Cleaned and Sealed in Cardiff Read More »