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Based in Rushden, Phil is the Northamptonshire Tile Doctor providing specialist for tile, stone and grout cleaning, sealing and restoration services across of all types of tile and stone.
Rob and his team of specialists cover Hertfordshire providing specialist tile, stone and grout cleaning, sealing and restoration services across all types of stone and tile.
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Sandstone Tile Cleaning
At Tile Doctor we see Sandstone/flagstones used at lot as Kitchen flooring, however as with any natural stone it needs to be sealed to protect it and bring out its beauty and colour. One of the biggest problems we find with stone flooring in a kitchen is with the sealer becoming stripped away by the continuous use of cleaning agents not designed for this type of surface; without its protective sealer porous stone quickly becomes ingrained with dirt making it increasingly difficult to clean effectively. Sandstone/Flagstone Tile MaintenanceROUGH/RIVEN SANDSTONE/FLAGSTONE TILESRough Sandstone will shred most types of Buffing Pads, so to effectively remove dirt and cope with the textured surface we recommend the use of Diamond encrusted pads that are a lot stronger.
To remove stubborn marks and sealers a stronger product maybe required such as Nanotech HBU remover (Heavy Build-Up), use as directed on the bottle. Remove any cleaning solution and soiling using a wet vacuum (any cleaning solution left on the surface may impact the performance of the sealer) then neutralise floor by rinsing with clean water. Extract as much water and moisture from the floor as possible with a wet vacuum and allow to dry for 12 hours or more. Once fully dry you can applying a sealer, we find topical sealers like Seal & Go Extra work well on rough stone. If you're finding that your Sandstone is just too rough to clean and its shredding your mops (such as Indian Sandstone) then consider having it fully Milled by one of our Tile Doctors. This process requires a specialist buffing machine to cut the stone back, standard hire machines are not heavy enough for this line of work and it needs to be heavy to cut the stone. Milling reduces the rough texture by about 85 to 90% thus making it much more easier to maintain, and clean and seal in the future and your mops will not be shredded anymore after it has been milled. Milling can change the look of the stone though, click the links below to see some examples how your stone might look after it has been milled.
SMOOTH MATT FINISHTo remove any excess sealer before cleaning use Tile Doctor Remove & Go Sealer remover using a buffer machine fitted with a black buffing pad. 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. 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.
Sealing SandstoneIf 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 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. PLEASE NOTE: Sealers break down after 2-3 years (depending on usage) and will need to be re-applied. Maintenance CleaningAlways 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. For many more examples of Sandstone Flagstone cleaning and sealing activities carried out by UK Tile Doctors please visit http://Sandstone.TileCleaning.co.uk
Recommend Products for SandstoneWhen using our products please take time to familiarise yourself with the directions on the back of the bottle first.
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
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 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
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
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 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 is a Strong Alkaline Based Gel cleaner and degreaser which works well on Vertical surfaces where a long dwell time is required.
£77.20
A concentrated, multi-purpose high-alkaline cleaner, stripper and degreaser. Best for Heavily Soiled & Neglected Tile, Stone or Grout.
£15.20
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
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
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
Premium, no-sheen, natural-look, solvent-based penetrating sealer formulated to provide maximum stain protection, especially in food preparation and serving areas.
£39.40
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 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 |
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