Tile & Stone Cleaning

  Tile 

Ceramics are inorganic, non-metallic materials that have been subjected to heat treatment. Material used is clay that contains a large amount of silicates. Tiles used in the home are set in thin-set mortar and bordered by a thin mortar-like substance called grout.

Tile may be purchased glazed or unglazed. If it has been glazed, it will be much easier to keep clean. Seal the grout between tiles,  vacuum regularly, and occasionally damp mop with plain water to remove soil. Occasionally for heavier soil use a mild neutral detergent solution, rinse well, and wipe dry for more shine. Professionally clean periodically, to remove residue build up and renew sealer. 

Stone 

Your natural stone can provide you with a lifetime of beauty and pleasure, provided it is  cared for. Stone is unique and unlike any other surface,  it requires special care, and so do the sealers which may be applied to it.

Origin of Natural Stone 

  Natural stone is a creation of nature. Like so many natural formations, every piece is unique and   matchless. Within each piece of stone also lies the history of one particular place on our planet.

  Take a limestone floor for instance, it was once a mass of tiny sea creatures, then an ancient seabed, and after millions of years of uplift, a mountainside where the limestone was discovered in our day.

  Your natural stone was cut out from a mountainside originally in huge 50,000 pound blocks of stone. The  blocks were then sliced into slabs which were then refined to give its natural colors a mirror like depth. Although it is hard to the touch, you may be surprised to know that water can gradually penetrate and pass right through many stones. So yours may both get dirty and also require stain protection.

A Brief Explanation

 of Our Process

Pre-Treatment

First, we apply a specially formulated solution to a section of the floor and allow it to soak for approximately 15 minutes.  We do not use harsh acids as these damage tiles and grout.  This pre-treatment loosens accumulated soil, grease, and contaminants, and prepares the surface for our cleaning process.  The cleaning solution is not toxic and does not produce any harmful fumes, it is completely rinsed and dries within minutes of completion of the job.

Turbo Pressure Wash Extraction

We use a pressure wash-extraction system designed specifically for tile & grout, acrylic, and epoxy surfaces.  Our truck mounted cleaning process power washes the floor to extract soil and grease from the pores of the tile and grout or other hard surface floors.  The system generates water pressure of 1,000 to 1,200 P.S.I. and water temperature of approximately 240 degrees to soften and extract years of soil and contaminants.  The floor tool connects to a powerful vacuum hose, which sucks the cleaning disk to the floor, and confines the water spray inside the 16-inch disk.  There is virtually no splash over to worry about.  The vacuum hose draws away the water, along with the dirt, to a containment tank on our truck, and we dispose of the wastes in accordance with EPA regulations.  You will find that our process restores the tile & grout to 85 to 90 percent of its original appearance.  Some stains, (red wine, mustard, dyes, etc.) will not come out because they dye the grout, but the combination of heat, water pressure, and suction removes most stains.

Sealing

After we clean the floor and allow it to dry, we seal the floor with our impregnating sealer.  The tile & grout floor absorbs the sealer into its pores, creating a barrier against future staining.  The sealer does not change the appearance of the floors by adding a shine or luster.  Instead, it preserves the natural beauty of the surface.

Maintenance

We will provide instructions for you or your in-house or commercial cleaning people in how to take proper care of the floors, and show them what kinds of cleaners will do the best job without breaking down the impregnating sealer.

In addition, we will contact you in a pre-arranged cycle and offer our services to do touch-up cleaning and re-sealing as needed.  A regular maintenance program will keep your floors in top condition and appearance.