Glossop Tile Cleaning Archives - Derbyshire Tile Doctor

White Grout Recoloured Natural Grey Glosso

Porcelain Tiled Floor Grout Colouring Glossop

The tiled floor shown in the photographs below are from a client who lives in Glossop which is a market town in the Derbyshire Peak District between Manchester and Sheffield. I was contacted me to see if it would be possible to recolour the grout, it turns out they had been a little disappointed with the white grout colour they had chosen and preferred the more defined look a darker grout would have given.

I went to survey the floor and could see the tiles were Porcelain which are a good choice for busy common areas as they are very tough, easily cleaned and usually don’t need to be sealed. Grout however is cementous and the top layer is porous which can allows it to be easily stained, a problem which is more evident on white grout which is therefore not the best choice for a kitchen.

Porcelain Tiled Floor Grout Before Colouring Glossop

The tiled floor area was approximately 25 square meters, but big tiles and thin grout lines would make this a reasonably quick job to complete. We agreed a cost and I arranged a date, the job would be done across two days to allow the grout time to dry after deep cleaning on day one.

Cleaning Porcelain Tiled Floor Grout

To get the best results and achieve a superior bond between with the colourant it was important to get the grout as clean as it could be. To this end I gave the grout a good scrub with a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean which is a stripper and degreaser that is safe to use on tile and grout and great for removing dirt from heavily soiled stone or grout.

Floor scrubbing machines can struggle to reach into the grout recess, so I find the best way to clean grout is by hand using a soft steel brush. This action cleaned up the grout well and the now soiled Pro-Clean was rinsed off the floor with clean water and then extracted with a wet vacuum. I then inspected the floor to make sure I was happy and re-treated a few areas that needed more work.

I wanted the grout to be bone dry before applying the grout colourant so after cleaning the grout I left and agreed to come back the next day to complete the job.

Grout Colouring a Porcelain Tiled Floor

When I arrived in the morning I could see the grout was fully dry and ready to be recoloured. Because I needed to recolour from white to natural grey I only needed one thick coat of Natural Grey grout colourant which was carefully applied with a small brush and any excess wiped off the tile as I went along. In fact, even after retouching I found that with such narrow grout lines and large format tiles I only used half a bottle of natural grey colourant to complete the job.

Porcelain Tiled Floor Grout After Colouring Glossop

The job was all complete and the floor looking completely different. The client was over the moon with the finish and we had achieved exactly what they were looking for. The grout colourant also forms a barrier over the grout sealing it in and so they will find this floor is very easy to keep cleaning going forward.

Recolouring White Grout to Natural Grey in Derbyshire

Porcelain Tiled Floor Grout Colouring Glossop Read More »

Yorkstone Floor Before and After Cleaning and Sealing in Deepcar Sheffield

Yorkstone Tiles Rejuvenated in Deepcar near Sheffield

1 Comment / Glossop Tile Cleaning, Sandstone Tile Cleaning, Work History / Kevin Ward

This customer living at a property in Deepcar near Sheffield, experienced problems keeping their twenty year old Yorkstone floor clean and I was asked to take a look and see what could be done to resolve the situation.

After inspection I could see that the sealer had worn off and now dirt had become lodged in the pores of the stone, leaving the floor looked grey and dull to the extent even the customer couldn’t remember that their stone floor had some colour once! Due to all the problems the customer had with experienced with the floor, they had reached the point where they were thinking of ripping the floor up entirely.

Yorkstone floor before cleaning and sealing in Deepcar Sheffield

Luckily they had found Tile Doctor and I was more than happy to see what I could do to resolve the problem. Yorkstone is similar to Sandstone which I was very familiar with, so I assured them the floor could be rejuvenated and conducted a test clean on a patch of the floor. Seeing the result, the customer was happy to go ahead with the work.

Cleaning a Dull and Dirty Yorkstone Tiled Floor

To clean the floor and strip away old sealers, I used a strong dilution of our alkaline cleaner known as Tile Doctor Pro Clean, working it into the stone with a black scrubbing pad fitted to my rotary machine. I followed by removing the dirty and chemical-infused water from the floor with a wet vax machine.

Although this combination worked really well, I still found some light traffic areas where some of the old sealer remained. In order to restore a floor properly you have to strip the floor right back and remove all the old treatments from the floor otherwise the final result can look patchy and you may find the new sealer isn’t compatible with the existing.

To these problem areas I applied Tile Doctor’s Remove & Go, which is a dedicated
stripper and coatings remover, applied with a long dwell-time it can remove sealers, draw out ingrained stains and eliminate heavy grease build-up. I left the Remove & Go to soak into the stone for about ten to fifteen minutes before scrubbing it in with the black scrubbing pad, following again by removing the resulting slurry from the floor with a wet wax machine and rinsing the area with water. After the floor was successfully cleaned I carefully rinsed it again to get any trace of cleaning product off the floor and then dried it as much as possible with the wet vacuum.

Sealing a Yorkstone Tiled Floor

I returned to the property the next day, starting by making sure that the floor was completely dry for sealing. Unfortunately, there were some areas that were still very damp. I worked on these damp areas with my heat gun, but couldn’t get them dry enough, so after consulting with the customer, I decided to leave it to dry for another day with heating on maximum and doors/windows opened.

Upon my return these problem areas were less severe, and I managed to get them dry by applying my heat gun for an hour. When the floor was ready to be sealed I applied six coats of Tile Doctor Seal & Go Sealer, which is a water based sealer (no smell) that provides durable protection and a high quality satin finish.

Yorkstone floor after cleaning and sealing in Deepcar Sheffield

The customer was really happy with the work carried out and left the following feedback:

“Tony has done a fantastic job on our kitchen floor, which I was considering ripping up due to the state of it – but now it looks like new! Tony was punctual and very hard working – excellent customer service. Have already recommended him to a colleague.”

Professional Stone Tiled Floor Restoration in Deepcar

Yorkstone Tiles Rejuvenated in Deepcar near Sheffield Read More »

Deep Cleaning a Shower Cubicle In Ramsbottom Before and After

Grout Cleaning and Recolouring for a Stained Shower Cubicle in Ramsbottom

1 Comment / Ceramic Tile Cleaning, Glossop Tile Cleaning, Grout Cleaning, Work History / Kevin Ward

Many homeowners will be able to relate to this post about tiled shower cubicles which can become mouldy, grubby, and just plainly unappealing to look at. The reality is that dirt, mould, and stains can be quite easily removed with the right products if addressed on a regular basis. However, many busy homeowners simply don’t have the time, and subsequently the mould problems gradually worsen over time. This is what had happened at this property in Ramsbottom (a town known for its annual Chocolate Festival) – the customer’s Ceramic tiled shower cubicle had not been adequately cleaned in a long time, resulting in severe staining that would prove impossible to remove entirely.

Deep Cleaning a Shower Cubicle In Ramsbottom Before

When the customer contacted me after finding Tile Doctor over the internet, I suggested that I could provide the grout with the best clean possible before re-colouring the grout with a white Grout Colourant to hide the staining and it back to looking similar to its original condition. The customer agreed that this would be the best course of action, and booked me in to complete the work.

Cleaning Ceramic Tiled Shower Cubicle Grout

The first step in the restoration was to get the grout ready for the new Grout Colourant to be applied. This involved cleaning the grout with Tile Doctor Pre-Treat Cleaner, which successfully removed the various dirt, soil, soap scum and hard water deposits that had built up after plenty of exposure to acidic shampoos and soaps. Getting the grout joints clean allows the colourant to form a better bond with the grout.

The Pre-Treat Cleaner was sprayed onto the grout and left to dwell for roughly five minutes before being agitated with a grout brush. Next, I rinsed the grout with water and removed the old and mouldy silicone around the shower cubicle.

Colouring Grout and Siliconing for a Ceramic Tiled Shower Cubicle

After running tests I discovered a few damp issues, but these were quickly resolved with the help of my heat gun. With the grout now ready to be coloured, I applied two coats of Tile Doctor’s white Grout Colourant, allowing the first coat to dry before applying the second.

Deep Cleaning a Shower Cubicle In Ramsbottom After

The Grout Colourant is an epoxy-based product that seals and rejuvenates the grout, protecting it against future staining and making it easy to clean in the future. After completing the grout colouring I cleaned up the area – including removing any excess product – and then applied fresh silicone in a matching white around the base of the shower cubicle.

As you can see from the photographs, the appearance of the shower cubicle was transformed by the new Colourant. My customer even left the following comment on the Tile Doctor feedback system:

“Tony was polite punctual and efficient. We are very happy with his work!”

Dirty and Stained Ceramic Tiled Shower Cubicle Restoration in Derbyshire

Grout Cleaning and Recolouring for a Stained Shower Cubicle in Ramsbottom Read More »

Revolucion De Cuba Bar Top Before and After Polishing Manchester

Dull Marble Bar Top Rejuvenated at Manchester Club

1 Comment / Glossop Tile Cleaning, Marble Tile Cleaning, Work History / Kevin Ward

Revolucion de Cuba is one of the biggest and busiest bars in Manchester. With the sheer amount of customers that visit the bar, the Marble counter top had become very worn and dull.

Stains and spillages are inevitable in an environment like this, but this can cause long lasting damage to the sensitive natural stone if proper maintenance is not provided. The bar owners hold very high standards for the appearance of the venue and as such were keen to get the Marble bar top back to looking its best. They called the Derbyshire Tile Doctor and I was more than happy to see what I could do.

Revolucion De Cuba Bar Top Before Polishing Manchester

Revolucion De Cuba Bar Top Before Manchester

Burnishing a Marble Bar Top

When it comes to restoring high-end polished stone surfaces, such as Marble and Limestone, we usually opt to use the process known as burnishing. Which involves the use of several different grades of diamond encrusted pads to remove dirt and stains, as well as gradually restoring a smooth and aesthetically pleasing polish to the stone. In our system we use four pads, ranging from Coarse to Very fine grit pads.

I started with 400 grit six-inch Coarse pad on the bar top fitted to a hand buffer with some water added for lubrication, this action removed the old sealer, stains and scratches on the surface. Before moving on to the next pad I made sure to rinse the bar top and then removed the slurry with a wet vacuum. This process was then repeated with the 800 grit Medium pad before moving on to the 1500 grit Fine pad to begin to smooth down the surface ready for the final polishing. This was a long section of Marble so the whole process took some time as you can imagine.

Revolucion De Cuba Bar Top During Polishing Manchester

After finishing with the third pad I carefully filled the visible cracks and holes in the stone using epoxy resin mixed with marble powder, before leaving to dry completely overnight. The next day I returned to the venue and went over the bar top with the final of the four pads, the 3000 grit Very Fine pad (this time without water as lubrication) to achieve the final polish.

Revolucion De Cuba Bar Top After Polishing Manchester

Sealing a Marble Bar Top

After completing the polishing process, I began sealing the Marble. I opted to use Tile Doctor Ultra Seal, which is a premium natural-look penetrating sealer formulated to provide maximum stain protection, making it ideal for use on natural stone bar tops and kitchen counters.

It’s really important to polish off all the excess sealer that doesn’t penetrate into the stone, and to do this I used the Tile Doctor three cloth system. Once the fresh sealer had been applied, I went over the surface once more with the 3000 grit pad to leave an extra smooth and shiny finish.

Revolucion De Cuba Bar Top Before and After Manchester

The bar owners were very pleased with the work, opting to take up our maintenance plan program to ensure this great Marble bar top continues to look as good as it does now in the future!

Professional Marble Bar Top Restoration at Manchester Nightclub

Dull Marble Bar Top Rejuvenated at Manchester Club Read More »

Shower Cubicle Before and After Restoration in Glossop

Ceramic Tiled Shower Cubicle Cleaned and Recoloured in Glossop

Ceramic Tile Cleaning, Glossop Tile Cleaning, Work History / TileProf

Keeping shower cubicles clean can be extremely tough, especially as they constantly come into contact with shampoos and soaps containing acids that can damage the tiles. This was the case with this Ceramic shower cubicle at a property in Glossop, a small town in the High Peak area of Derbyshire, famous for its buildings constructed of locally produced Sandstone.

The property owner had attempted to clean the cubicle tiles on a regular basis using supermarket standard cleaners, but had never achieved the results they had hoped for. While the owner might have been able to complete a basic clean, they weren’t able to provide the tiles with any long lasting protection and thus, after a few months, they reverted to a dire state. Looking for some professional help, the owner called me down to see what could be done to improve the condition of the cubicle long term.

Shower Cubicle Before Restoration in Glossop

Cleaning a Dirty Ceramic Tiled Shower Cubicle

My main focus on cleaning the cubicle tiles was the grout, which was suffering from visible soap scum and soil build-up. I cleaned the grout firstly using Tile Doctor Grout Colourant Pre-Treat Cleaner, which successfully removes dirt, soil, soap scum and hard water deposits from grout joints.

The product was sprayed on to the grout and left to dwell and seep into the pores for approximately five minutes to break down the soap scum, before being scrubbed in using a grout brush. Following this, I rinsed the entire area with clean water and carefully removed the mouldy silicone around the shower cubicle.

Colouring and Siliconing a Ceramic Tiled Shower Cubicle

With the cleaning complete, my next task was to prepare the grout for colouring. To do this I completed a few damp tests on the grout and in the areas where I detected excess moisture I applied my heat gun to evaporate it. With the area dry, I recoloured the grout by applying two coats of the Tile Doctor Grout Colourant. This is an epoxy based paint that rejuvenated the appearance of the grout and sealed it, making it easier to clean in the future, and therefore resolving the customer’s cleaning difficulties.

Shower Cubicle After Restoration in Glossop

After colouring the grout, I cleared the area and then siliconed all around the shower cubicle using high quality anti-mould silicone designed to last for several years to come. Once the restoration was finished, I advised the customer to start rinsing the
shower cubicle walls with clean water after every shower to get remove of all the acids produced by shampoos and soaps. This will keep the shower cubicle fresh by preventing the buildup of soap scum.

Shower Cubicle After Restoration in Glossop 14882 — Shower Cubicle After Restoration in Glossop

The customer was surprised how good the outcome of the restoration was, especially considering that she previously had so much trouble getting the shower cubicle clean. Some pleased was she with the work that she said she and her partner will recommend me to all of their friends.

Professional Grout Cleaning and Colouring of a Dirty Ceramic Tiled Shower Cubicle Derbyshire

Ceramic Tiled Shower Cubicle Cleaned and Recoloured in Glossop Read More »

=================================

Alferton Tile Cleaning, Ashbourne Tile Cleaning, Bakewell Tile Cleaning, Belper Tile Cleaning, Buxton Tile Cleaning, Ceramic Tile Cleaning, Chesterfield Tile Cleaning, Derby Tile Cleaning, Duffield Tile Cleaning, Encaustic Cement Tile Cleaning, Fireplace Cleaning, Flagstone Tile Cleaning, Glossop Tile Cleaning, Grout Cleaning, Ilkeston Tile Cleaning, Limestone Tile Cleaning and Polishing, Marble Tile Cleaning, Matlock Tile Cleaning, Porcelain Tile Cleaning, Quarry Tile Cleaning, Ripley Tile Cleaning, Sandstone Tile Cleaning, Shirebrook Tile Cleaning, Slate Tile Cleaning, Swadlingcote Tile Cleaning, Terracotta Tile Cleaning, Terrazzo Floor Cleaning, Travertine Tile Cleaning, Victorian Tile Cleaning, Vinyl Tile Cleaning, Whaley Bridge Tile Cleaning, Work by Category, Work by Location, Work History / Kevin Ward

Derbyshire Tile Doctor

================================= Read More »