How to Use Floor Sealant on Tile

 Using floor sealant on a tile floor can present you with several benefits. Although tile is a very hard floor, it is porous. The grout surrounding the tile is also very porous and can stain easily. Therefore, sealing it all up properly will help you avoid any problems with staining in the future. It will keep your tile look new longer and be easier to clean. Here are the basics of how to seal your tile floor properly.

What You'll Need:

• Tape measure
•  Broom
•  Dust pan
•  Mop
•  Bucket
•  Fans

Step 1 - Determine How Much To Buy

Tile sealant comes in a variety of different sizes. Depending on how big your tile area is, you will need a certain amount of sealant to get the job done. Therefore, you should take your tape measure and get the dimensions of the room first. This will tell you how many square feet you have and help you determine how big of a container to buy.

Step 2 - Buy the Proper Sealant

There are many different kinds of tile out there and as a result, there are different types of sealer. They make grout sealer, ceramic sealer, natural stone sealer, and others. Therefore, you will want to make sure that you buy the proper sealant for the job. If you are unsure, consult someone at a local tile store before you make a purchase. They should be able to direct you to the proper type of sealant for your tile.

Step 3 - Clean the Floor

Before you seal the floor, you should thoroughly clean the tile floor. If there is any dirt or debris on the floor when it is sealed, it will remain under the sealer and look permanently dirty. You will not be able to clean it without stripping off the sealer. You should start out by taking a dustpan and broom and removing the dirt. Any loose dust that is floating around will be removed in this manner. Then you can mop the floor in your usual manner. Allow the water on the floor to dry sufficiently before moving forward.

Step 4 - Apply the Sealant

Applying the sealant to the tile is a very simple process. If you bought a large amount of sealant, you should be able to dump it into a bucket and then mop it onto the floor. Stick your mop into the bucket and allow it to soak up the sealant. Then mop the floor with the sealant until the entire floor is wet with it. Make sure that you distribute the sealant evenly over the surface of the tile.

Step 5 - Allow it to Dry

Once the sealant has been applied to the tile, you need to allow it to dry before anyone steps on it. Set up some fans to blow over the tile and it will help speed up the drying process.

Step 6 - Apply Again

After the first coat is dry, you are free to apply a second coat to the floor. If the tile and grout soaked up the first coat, you might need a second coat to make sure that everything is sealed up.

Source: www.DoItYourself.com

How to Add a Deep Durable Shine to Marble Tiled Flooring

The pictures below are of a Marble tiled floor installed in the hallway of a property at Crakemarsh Hall, near Uttoxeter. The Marble had lost its shine due to several years of wear and was now looking quite flat and uninteresting. This happens with highly polished floors which need to be re-polished every six to 12 months if you want to keep them looking fabulous.

      

Naturally my client had become unhappy with the dull appearance of the stone and I was asked to call round and put the shine back. I viewed the floor and talked them through the polishing process. I left them with a quote which they were happy to accept.

 

Cleaning a Marble Tiled Hallway Floor and Grout

The first job was to clean the floor using a rotary floor machine fitted with a Black pad to scrub in Tile Doctor Pro-Clean which is an effective alkaline tile and grout cleaner. I used a medium dilution of Pro-Clean sprayed onto the tiles and left to soak in for ten minutes before scrubbing.

These pads can struggle to get right into the grout so I used a hand-held scrubbing brush along the grout lines to tackle any stubborn grout stains and dirt hiding in the recesses. The soiling was then rinsed off the floor with water and extracted with a wet vacuum.

Polishing a Marble Tiled Hallway Floor

Work then commenced on polishing the Marble for which I used several grades of diamond burnishing pads starting with a coarse 400-grit. Only water is needed to help lubricate the process and once the pad has been run over each tile at least three times the soiling is rinsed off and extracted with the wet vacuum as before. This process is then repeated with the 800 and 1500-grit pad until you reach the 3000-grit pad which is applied with only a little water sprayed onto the tiles.

Sealing Marble Floor Tiles

To add a deep durable polish to the Marble I then applied Tile Doctor Polishing Powder which is spread over the floor ground into the marble using a White polishing pad. I also went around the edges with a handheld buffing machine fitted with smaller 6" pads.

 

I finished the floor by using a super high speed burnishing machine fitted with a White polishing pad to remove any marks left on the floor. My client was so happy that they have booked in for an annual Maintenance clean for next year to keep the floor in top condition.

 

Before leaving I also encouraged then to clean the floor using Tile Doctor Stone Soap which is a mild but effective cleaning solution that helps maintain the patina on polished stone. Many of the floor cleaning products you find in supermarkets are simply too strong for use on a sealed floor.

Source: Marble Floor Cleaning and Polishing Service in Uttoxeter Staffordshire

Non-Slip Floor Covering

Installing non-slip floor covering can provide you with a much safer flooring surface to walk on. This is essential for many elderly people that are in danger of falling on a slick floor. Here are a few options that you have for non-slip floor covering.

Carpet

Carpet is one of the most basic forms of non-slip floor covering available. You can get in a variety of different styles and colors and it is one of the least expensive options. There is even outdoor carpet that you can use if you are worried about falling in an outdoor space.

Tile

Another great option that you have for non-slip floor covering is to use tile. Many ceramic and porcelain tiles have very rough finishes that would be ideal for a non-slip flooring surface. Some tiles are even made with tiny ridges with this in mind. This is going to be more expensive than carpet.

Rubber Flooring

Another great option for a non-slip flooring surface is rubber flooring. Rubber flooring provide you with great traction and durability. Many people use this in garages and workout rooms. Rubber flooring is very heavy and will be a little more difficult to install than some of your other options that are available.

Source: www.DoItYourself.com 

4 Supplies You Need to Tile

 If you plan on doing it yourself, you will need several supplies to tile a floor. Here are a few of the most commonly used supplies for a tile installation.

1. Wet Saw

One of the most important tools for you to have is a wet saw. A wet saw is a type of saw that is specifically designed to cut tile. It shoots a stream of water onto the tile while you are putting it so it will not chip or break.

2. Trowel

A trowel is another tool that you are going to need for this job. A trowel will be necessary to spread out the tile adhesive on the floor. You can also use a trowel to apply the grout after you are done installing the tile.

3. Adhesive

In order to install tile, you are going to need some adhesive. You could potentially use thinset or mastic depending on your preference. Mastic comes pre-mixed in buckets and most thinset comes in large bags that you have to mix with water. In most cases, thinset is going to be less expensive.

4. Tile Spacers

Tile spacers are something else that you are going to need in order to lay tile. These are used to ensure the proper spacing between the tiles.

Source: www.DoItYourself.com