Stone & Tile Restoration

LIMESTONE

Limestone is reputed in the international market for its premium quality, toughness and durability. It is often the preferred choice for interior and exterior in both commercial and domestic for flooring, wall cladding, paving and facades of buildings, railway stations, pavement, landscaping and garden stone.

Here is a before and after restoration picture of a rare black honed limestone floor.

 

QUARRY TILES

Quarry Tiles are a classic hard wearing tile often utilised in high traffic areas such as reception areas and also often used for outdoor patio areas and porches. Although hard wearing Quarry tiles are often neglected and hidden under years of grime, however all is not lost they can be restored.

FLAGSTONE & SANDSTONE

As Tile Cleaners we see Sandstone 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 that the sealer applied is stripped away by the continuous use of cleaning agents not designed for this type of surface. However this can be solved with the right professional treatment.

SLATE

Slate stone has traditionally been used for centuries as roofing and flooring, the durability of this material ensured its popularity until the introduction of cheaper man made alternatives. Much of the slate used in the UK today comes from China however there are still Slate mines in Cornwall, Wales and Cumbria. This type of tile looks beautiful once it has been correctly treated and sealed.

TERRACOTTA

Terracotta Tiles have been around in certain parts of the world for over two millennia, in fact the word Terracotta means burned earth. The ancient Romans used a variety of terracotta tiles in their villas and palaces for many centuries. Terracotta tiles are thicker than most modern tiles giving them strength and durability.

The one big downside to Terracotta is the fact that it has no glaze on the surface and can pick up and store muck and dirt very quickly. If you have ever owned a Terracotta floor before you will be able to relate to this problem.

The answer of course is to seal them, but which sealants do you use as there are so many of them on the market, the best answer is to get some advice and as any tiler worth his salt will tell you Terracotta tiles are the most problematic to seal . Wax sealants tend not to soak all the way into the tile and some residue is left on the surface which overtime with traffic wear, tends to dis-colour to a darker shade whilst leaving the outside edges clean where they are not walked on that much.

Our trained technicians at Total Cleaning will know exactly how to clean and exactly what sealer is best to use, leaving you with outstanding results.

CERAMIC TILES

Glazed ceramic tiles are a popular option these days due their durability, water and scratch resistance. Originally tiles were hand-made, thus each was a work of art in its own right. Ceramic tile was used almost everywhere – on walls, floors, ceilings, fireplaces, in murals, and as an exterior cladding on buildings. Today of course most ceramic tiles are automatically manufactured. although we can still clean them, leaving a shine as if they were brand new once again.

We often get asked to recommend a sealer for Ceramic Tiles: the simple answer is they don’t need one, however the grout which is porous will. This prevents any stains, dirt, or mould occuring.

NATURAL STONE RESTORATION