Grout cleaning and sealing
Grout cleaning and sealing
Slate and ceramic tile flooring are very popular choices in both commercial and domestic environments for a variety of reasons. When professionally installed, slate or tile flooring can look aesthetically pleasing as well as being durable, cost effective as well as coming in a variety of designs and colours to give a floor that personalized look.
However, one of the main reasons for the choice of slate or tile is the apparent perception that it is easy to clean and maintain. A quick wipe of a damp cloth would seem to clean the tile and leave the floor looking like new, but over time a tiled floor can become dull and have an unsatisfactory appearance.
The reason for this is the grout used in the installation process.
Grout is a construction material used to fill voids and seal joints, and is composed of a mixture of sand, cement and water. As a substance it is relatively porous meaning that it is susceptible to staining and can lose its colour quickly. A quick look at your shoes will reveal why walk in dirt is a problem, while spillages and general traffic in kitchen and washroom areas, particularly in commercial environments, will give you an idea as to how a floor can lose its previous eye pleasing appearance.
As grout is a porous substance, it stains easily. By the time a stain is noticeable, layer upon layer of bacteria and dirt may have built up to the point where traditional cleaning methods cease to be effective. When this happens you are well advised to consult a professional tile grout cleaning and restoration company which will be able to restore your floor to its original appearance.
Tiled flooring, and grout especially should always have a quality sealer to aid the maintenance of the floor. As unsealed grout is extremely difficult to keep clean, a sealer is always recommended and a professional flooring cleaning company will be able to offer you two different options – to apply a clear floor sealer after the tiles and grout have been cleaned or to apply a colour grout sealer.
A colour grout sealer will restore the look of tile grout and offer long term protection which facilitates future cleaning and maintenance. It is available in a wide range of colours to match the original grout or to change it if desired. This will offer a certain amount of uniformity as grout discoloring certainly isn’t uniform explaining tone and colour variations affecting the aspect of your tile floor.