Stone and tile floors are becoming increasing popular in homes today. Homeowners can choose between ceramic tile, marble, slate, travertine, and granite, and soapstone among others. While sweeping and mopping is necessary for daily maintenance, professional cleaning and sealing is necessary to keep your floors looking their best. Oil and grease mixes with fine particulate soil to create a thin film on the surface that can not be removed with a mop. Brush agitation and stone-specific detergent cleaners are the necessary tools to do the job. We use Stonetech cleaning products (www.stonetechpro.com) to clean, maintain and protect all hard surface floor types. Below are outlined the basic steps involved in hard surface cleaning.
1. Pre-Condition
First, we apply a pre-conditioner specifically made for the type of surface we are cleaning. For example, for marble we use a mild alkaline-based cleaner since an acid-based cleaner could etch the surface of the tiles. An acid-based cleaner is necessary, however to remove soap buildup on ceramic tiles.
2. Agitation
We scrub the grout and s using a brush to release built-up soils. The main agitation is provided by our high-speed rotary cleaning machine which uses brushes to suspend and release soil.
3. Clean and Rinse
The rotary cleaning machine both agitates and rinses the tiles. It is attached to our truck-mounted steam cleaning unit, providing water at temperatures of 230 degrees and simultaneously removing all soil and water from the floor. The tile dries within a matter of minutes and can be walked on immediately.
4. Seal
All hard surface floors need to be sealed to prevent permanent staining. For ceramic tiles, we use water-based grout sealer. For stone floors, we use either water-based or solvent-based sealers, depending on the type of stone and traffic level.
We strip and wax VCT floors too!
Q. How much does it cost?
A. We offer the cleaning service for $0.50 per square foot. Sealing the floor can ranges between $0.50 and $1.50 per square foot depending on the type of sealer used and the number of coats applied.
Q. Can you clean vinyl or concrete floors?
A. Absolutely! We use cleaning agents and equipment properly suited for the surface to clean. We can seal floors with an acrylic wax or urethane finish.
This process is an excellent way of keeping your tile and stone looking new. You will be amazed at the difference once your floor has been properly cleaned. For high-use VCT or vinyl floors, such as in restaurants and offices, we recommend a pre-scheduled maintenance program to make keeping the floors in the best condition a worry-free procedure. Besides stripping and waxing the floors, we can buff the floors to help maintain their shine.