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Cheshire West Tile Doctor
Servicing West Cheshire, Alistair Robb along with his son Andrew are your local specialists for tile cleaning, stone cleaning, grout cleaning and tile, stone and grout sealing covering the restoration of all types of stone and tile
Tile Doctor Stone Soap 1 Litre
Tile Doctor Stone Soap is an after care cleaner for natural stone tiles (Honed or Polished) where a build up of patina is required thus protecting the existing sealer.
£14.40
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Slate Tile Cleaning Information
Category
Help with Tile and Stone  >  Slate Tile Cleaning
Slate Tile Cleaning

Slate is a very popular floor and wall tile due to its low porosity; there are many varieties and textures of Slate available as such Tile Doctor has spent many years researching the best cleaning and sealing methods and products. The semi riven tile is particularly easier to maintain compared to the rough textured slate commonly available due to its cheaper quarrying cost.

These days Slate comes from all over the world including Africa, Brazil and China to name but a few countries; interestingly one of the most expensive Slates comes from the Burlington quarries in Cumbria due to its quality and texture which is actually sold in large quantities to China (akin to shipping coals to Newcastle).

Picture shows slate before cleaning and sealing Picture shows how the sealer has brought out the colour in the slate.
Picture shows how cleaning and sealing has brought out the colour and beauty of this rough Slate floor.

Slate Stone Tile Maintenance

ROUGH/RIVEN SLATE TILES

Riven Slate Tile To remove any excess sealer before cleaning use Tile Doctor Remove & Go Sealer remover which can be applied using a deck/scrubbing brush; you may find using a buffing machine on a heavily riven Slate ineffective due to the heavy texture as the machine will miss where it dips, so hand held cleaning may be the only option open to a non professional tile cleaner. Tile Doctor has agents throughout the UK who can offer to mill your Slate and take up to 80% of the roughness away leaving it akin to a smoother flatter finish with some texture which will be much easier to maintain.

Riven Slate Tile Use Tile Doctor Pro-Clean Tile & Grout cleaner to effectively clean tiles, highly effective against Wax Sealers, Grease, Grime and general dirt build up. Remove any solution using a wet vacuum.

Riven Slate Tile Remove any cleaning solution using a wet vacuum (any cleaning solution left on the surface may impact the performance of the sealer) then neutralise floor with clean water prior to sealing, remove with a wet vacuum and allow to dry for 12 hours or more.

SEMI RIVEN FINISH

Riven Slate Tile To remove any excess sealer before cleaning use Tile Doctor Remove & Go Sealer remover using a buffer machine fitted with a black buffing pad.

Riven Slate Tile Use Tile Doctor Pro-Clean Tile & Grout cleaner to effectively clean tiles, highly effective against Wax Sealers, Grease, Grime and general dirt build up. Remove any solution using a wet vacuum.

Riven Slate Tile Remove any cleaning solution using a wet vacuum machine (any cleaning solution left on the surface may impact the performance of the sealer) then neutralise floor with clean water prior to sealing, remove with a wet vacuum and allow to dry for 12 hours or more.

Slate Floor in a workings mens club in desperate need of a clean and seal Slate Floor restored by Tile Doctor

SLATE WET ROOMS AND SHOWER CUBICLES

Riven Slate Tile For heavy duty cleaning slate on vertical surfaces it is best to use Tile Doctor Oxy-Gel as this can be brushed on lightly and its gel formula will allow it to stick and dwell on the surface. Leave on the surface for ten minutes or more to strip off acrylic and waxed based sealers as well as dirt and grime.

Riven Slate Tile If an impregnating sealer has been applied we recommend Tile Doctor Remove and Go which can be sprayed onto the tile. Scrub then rinse with water several times to remove the cleaning solution and leave to dry before sealing. Please ensure that all product is rinsed away from the bath or shower tray, do not leave to dwell on these surfaces.

Riven Slate Tile Where black Slate has been installed this can be damaged when the sealer breaks down through the usage of shampoos, soaps and body washes as this then releases the oil in the stone. This is often referred to as Black Oil Slate Efflorescence (BOSE) in the trade and this problem is untreatable on rough slate, as such Tile Doctor does not recommend the usage of black rough Slate in shower cubicles and wet room areas unless the sealer is kept up to a high standard. Semi riven smooth slate can be cut out using Burnishing Pads, a process that can be carried out by your local Tile Doctor.

Riven Slate TileSpraying Tile Doctor Aqua-Pro on the Slate after showering will eliminate acid build-up from the use of soaps, shampoos and body-washes, this will not damage any sealer or grout colourant that has been applied.

POLISHED SLATE

Riven Slate Tile Polished Slate needs to be maintained using Diamond Segment Burnishing Pads which are very expensive and require machinery and knowledge, please contact your local Tile Doctor should you require this service.

Sealing Slate

Riven Slate Tile If a matt finish is preferred we recommend two or three coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow, this has a colour enhancing agent that will improve the look of the tile. Additionally Colour Grow is a fully breathable solvent based impregnating sealer and provided the floor is dry before the sealer is applied the sealer will fully cure in 24 hours but can be walked on after a few hours of being sealed

Riven Slate Tile If a deep satin finish is required then we recommend Tile Doctor Seal and Go which adds a nice sheen and lift the appearance of the tile, however this is an water based acrylic sealer and like Goldilocks porridge the conditions have to be perfect for this to work, i.e. no damp and no salts. Please note Seal and Go is not recommended for external applications.

Riven Slate Tile Black Slate rough of riven as with all black stones is this colour due to a heavy amount of Oil present in the stone. If heavy cleaning solutions have been applied in the past this can wash out the oil content leaving it an unappealing dark grey. To restore the colour we recommend applying one coat of Tile Doctor Stone Oil after regular cleaning (Slate needs to be fully dry first) but before being sealed, please allow 24 hours before applying atopical sealer such as Seal and Go or Ultra-Seal.
Please note Stone Oil cannot be used in a wet room or shower cubicle, the only sealer we recommend for this situation is Tile Doctor Colour Grow.

PLEASE NOTE: Sealers break down after 2-3 years (depending on usage) and will need to be re-applied.

Maintenance Cleaning

Always use a PH neutral cleaner such as Tile Doctor Concentrated Neutral Cleaner which once diluted with water becomes completely PH neutral unlike bleaches and washing up liquids which are not neutral and can damage the sealer with prolonged usage. 

Sealers will wear down over time depending on use so it is recommended to top up your floor sealer once a year with the original sealer; one coat should be sufficient and by doing this it will save a lot of time and expense in having to deep clean the tiles and re-seal every three to five years. 

Brazilian riven Slate floor before cleaning and sealing The same Brazilian riven Slate floor after being cleaned and sealed by Tile Doctor
A Brazilian riven Slate stone floor restored by Tile Doctor

For many more examples of Slate cleaning and sealing activities carried out by UK Tile Doctors please visit http://Slate.TileCleaning.co.uk

Recommend Products for Slate

When using our products please take time to familiarise yourself with the directions on the back of the bottle first.

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17 inch Buffing Pad Black
Black Buffing pad 17" (44cm), for heavy duty wet scrubbing, use with with Tile Doctor Pro-Clean to remove wax layers and most synthetic sealers, also use on heavily built up grime and dirt.
£12.50

Tile Doctor Aqua-Pro ( with trigger spray )
Tile Doctor Aqua-Pro is an effective yet pH neutral tile and grout cleaner designed for every day use in bathrooms and kitchens. The neutral formula eliminates soap scum build-up and hard water deposits when used regularly.
£11.20

Tile Doctor Colour Grow Sealer 1 Litre
Colour Grow, is a solvent based colour intensifying sealer that provides durable surface protection as well as allowing the surface to breath and enhance colour.
£33.80

Tile Doctor High Shine Sealer 1 litre
Tile Doctor High Shine Sealer is a specially formulated water-based blend of acrylic polymers that provides both a stain resistant surface seal and a durable high-sheen finish eliminating the need for two products.
£18.90

Tile Doctor Nanotech HBU Remover 1 Litre
NanoTech HBU (formerly known as Ultra Clean) is a Heavy Build-Up Remover designed to work where other cleaners won’t. It utilises nano-sized particles to penetrate below tough stains, dissolve and lift them out.
£25.80

Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner 1 litre
Most tile cleaning products sold on the market today are designed for cleaning ceramic rather than stone surfaces, as a result they can slowly etch away at the sealed surface of your stone floor reducing the life of your sealer.
£13.80

Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner 5 Litre
Most tile cleaning products sold on the market today are designed for cleaning ceramic rather than stone surfaces, as a result they can slowly etch away at the sealed surface of your stone floor reducing the life of your sealer.
£52.40

Tile Doctor Oxy-Gel 1 Litre
Tile Doctor Oxy-Gel is a Strong Alkaline Based Gel cleaner and degreaser which works well on Vertical surfaces where a long dwell time is required.
£16.70

Tile Doctor Oxy-Gel 5 Litre
Tile Doctor Oxy-Gel is a Strong Alkaline Based Gel cleaner and degreaser which works well on Vertical surfaces where a long dwell time is required.
£77.20

Tile Doctor Pro-Clean 1 Litre
A concentrated, multi-purpose high-alkaline cleaner, stripper and degreaser. Best for Heavily Soiled & Neglected Tile, Stone or Grout.
£15.20

Tile Doctor Remove & Go 1 Litre
Tile Doctor Remove and Go is a non-flammable, multi-purpose stripper formulated with a long dwell-time to remove most sealers, epoxy grout haze, urethane coatings, synthetic finishes, adhesives and paints.
£20.60

Tile Doctor Seal & Go 1 litre
A specially formulated water-based blend of acrylic polymers that provides both a stain resistant surface seal and a durable low-sheen finish.
£18.90

Tile Doctor Seal & Go Extra 1 Litre
A special acrylic based formula which allows moisture vapour transmission making it partially breathable and ideal for situations where no damp proof membrane has been installed and where there is a low risk of Efflorescence occurring.
£25.20

Tile Doctor Stone Oil 1 Litre
Tile Doctor Stone Oil is an easy to apply pre-polish impregnating sealer, ideal for low porosity stone and terracotta designed to enhance the colour and texture of floors and improve mechanical strength once cured.
£16.90

Tile Doctor Stone Oil 5 Litre
Tile Doctor Stone Oil is an easy to apply pre-polish impregnating sealer, ideal for low porosity stone and terracotta designed to enhance the colour and texture of floors and improve mechanical strength once cured.
£76.10

Tile Doctor Stone Patina Spray 500ml
A spray-and-buff cleaner that is designed to enhance the natural beauty and lustre of polished stone as it cleans. Regular use helps protect factory polish.
£11.20

Tile Doctor Ultra-Seal 1 litre
Premium, no-sheen, natural-look, solvent-based penetrating sealer formulated to provide maximum stain protection, especially in food preparation and serving areas.
£39.40

Tile Doctor Ultra-Seal 5 litre
Premium, no-sheen, natural-look, solvent-based penetrating sealer formulated to provide maximum stain protection, especially in food preparation and serving areas.
£179.20

Tile Doctor X-Tra Seal 1 litre
Breathable impregnating sealer especially formulated to provide strong water and stain repellency making it ideal for outdoor use or areas with damp issues. 1st coat will revive the colour of tile and stone and the 2nd coat will add a subtle sheen.
£83.40

Ask the Tile Doctor
If you have a problem with your Tile and Stone why not ask the Tile Doctor for advice.

Contact us for a personal solution to your tile installation problem by calling us on 0345 512 0122 or e-mail Info@TileDoctor.co.uk. Please include as much detail about your issue as possible and if you feel it will help attach a photograph. Our Tile Doctor have many years of experience of dealing with the typical issues that people experience and were confident we can find the right solution.


Alternately take a look at one of our dedicated sites below where we detail real examples of issues faced by our customers and how they were resolved.

Ceramic Tiles | Church Floors | Encaustic Cement | Stone Fireplaces | Grout | Limestone | Marble | Pamments | Patios | Porcelain Tiles | Quarry Tiles | Sandstone Flagstones | Shower Tiles | Slate Tiles | Swimming Pools | Terracotta Tiles | Terrazzo | Travertine | Victorian Tiles | Vinyl | Stone Worktops



All the information you need to be able to clean and maintain Slate floor and wall tiles.
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