Stainbusters have built a reputation for excellence in hard floor cleaning and restoration in the Harrogate Area
Stainbusters have built a reputation for excellence in hard floor cleaning and restoration. Stainbusters have many years’ experience of cleaning hard floors including stone, slate, travertine, marble, limestone, terracotta, ceramic tiles and others for thousands of domestic and commercial customers, so you can be assured we understand hard floors. Cleaning slate floors and other natural stone floor surfaces and restoring their protective qualities requires specialist knowledge and skill. Take a look at our recent jobs
Is it time to give your hard floors a new lease of life?
Over time flooring such as stone, slate and tiles will attract a build-up of dry debris and / or soft matter causing the floor to deteriorate and look stained, scuffed and distressed. Specilaist hard floor cleaning will prolong your floor’s life, saving you the time and cost of repairing or replacing it. We use the highest quality environmentally friendly products and cleaning methods to safely clean and revive your hard floors – making your investments last longer and saving you the expensive cost of replacing them!
Our stripping, deep cleaning, restoration and sealing services will compliment your regular cleaning and restore your hard floor to its peak performance and presentation. Keep your tile and grout surfaces fresh, clean and with a like new appearance again! Stainbusters have a wealth of experience cleaning and restoring tile and grout surfaces. Stainbuster’s process cleans and restores your tile and grout surfaces to a like new appearance with substantially improved stain resistance. To further protect your tiles and grout we apply special sealers not only leaving your tile and grout surfaces with a fresh, clean, like new appearance but also staying cleaner for longer.
Keep your tile and grout surfaces fresh, clean and with a like new appearance again!
Stainbusters have a wealth of experience cleaning and restoring tile and grout surfaces.
Stainbuster’s process cleans and restores your tile and grout surfaces to a like new appearance with substantially improved stain resistance. To further protect your tiles and grout we apply special sealers not only leaving your tile and grout surfaces with a fresh, clean, like new appearance but also staying cleaner for longer.
Our hard floor cleaning and restoration service
Inspection – we first inspect your hard floors to determine the age and material and condition of the floor, so that we ensure we use the right solution to gain the best results. We clean all types of hard floors including Marble, Limestone, Terracotta, Victorian Tiles, Travertine, Slate, York Stone, Porcelain, Granite, Ceramic and we carry out a number of tests prior to cleaning to ensure we carry out the right process for the best results.
Protect and Prepare – we take care to protect your home or commercial and show the highest respect to your investment. We mask and put protective sheeting over the skirting boards, doors and carpets bordering the floor to protect from any splashing.
Deep clean and Buff
The type of hard floor material will determine the cleaning solution and process we use to clean the floor. Most hard floors are naturally porous and some are acid sensitive. We use a range of deep cleaning products to remove grease, deep down ingrained dirt and layers of wax and sealers to strip the floor back to its original state. Next we use a buffing machine to clean the floor and to hone and polish the floor to bring back the shine and lustre.
Grout Haze, Stain removal & Efflorescence
If grout smears (also known as grout haze) are present following installation of the hard floor we use a proven solution to remove it and if the haze is very stubborn we apply an acid gel.
If the hard floors need stains removed we use specialist products to remove them from the surface or where necessary we use poultice to draw the stain out.
Some hard floors, such as Victorian tiles and Quarry tiles in commonly suffer from efflorescence especially in period residences. Victorian tile floors don’t have the benefit of dpm (damp proof membrane) and therefore moisture gets trapped in the tiles. An acid rinse solution is used to neutralise and treat the tiles. Usually we apply several coats of topical sealer which allows the tiles to breath and protects the floor prolonging its life.
Restore
If the floor has missing or loose tiles we will clean and replace them. We can also carry out re-grouting or re-colouring of the grout to make the floor like new again.
Seal / Finish
Not all hard floors require sealing but if the tiles are textured or highly porous we recommend specialist sealers to protect the floor and colour enhancing sealers to bring out the natural colours and beauty of the floor. Sealing the floor will not only stop dirt from becoming ingrained in the floor but will also make future cleaning and maintenance of the floor easier.
Maintenance
At the end of every job we will give advice on how to maintain your hard floor so that you know which products and processes are right for the floor and so that it prolongs the life of your investment. We also provide maintenance programmes to make sure your floor is always in peak condition.
Marble tile cleaning
Marble is known for its premium quality, toughness and durability and is the preferred choice for many flooring, walls and counter tops for both domestic and commercial residences. Marble is a sedimentary stone and as such it is very porous and acid sensitive meaning it can be damaged from the use of everyday bathing products and even mildly acidic soaps, body washes and shampoos. Care must be taken where Marble is used in wet rooms, shower cubicles or near swimming pools due to this.
This garden room had a large and expensive Black Carrara Marble Tiled floor and had lost some of its shine and lustre over time. To bring the shine and lustre back we used a buffing machine with a course Red diamond pad to remove the old sealer, ground in grease and dirt and scratches, and after cleaning each tile 3 to 4 times we used a Yellow diamond pad to repeat the process and lastly a fine grit Green diamond pad to restore the floor to a honed finish. When fully polished we applied a sealer to protect the floor and provide a natural look finish. If the stone is very porous a second coat of sealer may be required.
Re-honed Marble Tiled floor
Limestone tile cleaning
Limestone is known for its premium quality, toughness and durability and is the preferred choice for many commercial and domestic interior and exterior flooring and wall claddings. Limestone is a sedimentary stone and as such it is very porous and acid sensitive meaning it can be damaged from the use of everyday bathing products and even mildly acidic soaps, body wash and shampoos. Care must be taken where Limestone is used in wet rooms, shower cubicles or near swimming pools due to this.
This prestigious hotel had a large and expensive Limestone conservatory floor which had become tired and lost some of its shine and lustre over time which happens in high traffic areas. First we gave the floor a deep clean using a high alkaline product to remove grease and build of layers of cleaning products. To bring the shine and lustre back we used a buffing machine with first a course Red diamond pad to remove the old sealer, ground in dirt and scratches, and after cleaning each tile 3 to 4 times we used a less course Yellow diamond pad to restore the floor and bring it back to a honed satin finish. When fully polished we applied a sealer to protect the floor and provide a natural look finish. As Limestone is very porous we applied a second coat of sealer to further protect the floor and prolong the life of the floor.
Terracotta Tile cleaning
Terracotta tiles are thicker than most modern tiles giving them strength and durability and have been used for flooring in homes and businesses for many centuries. The ancient Romans used a variety of terracotta tiles in their villas and palaces for many centuries.
The one big downside to Terracotta is the fact that it has no glaze on the surface and can pick up and store grease and dirt very quickly. Terracotta floors usually require several coats of sealer depending on the amount of traffic they get.
In the example above the Terracotta kitchen floor was looking tired and had several layers of wax and impregnated sealer that needed removing. First we used a wax and sealer remover, followed by a Buffing machine with a Black pad and Polly Brush to deep clean the tiles. Once all of the wax and sealer had been removed the floor was thoroughly rinsed to remove any trace of cleaning solution.
After cleaning the pH level of the floor will be alkaline and needs a neutralising acid rinse process.
Using this process has the following benefits:
- Cleans the grout and removes old grout smears or hazing
- Neutralises any alkaline salts inherent in the floor thus preventing the build-up of efflorescence which can be a problem with older floors
- Neutralises alkaline cleaners used to clean the floor
- Provides for a better bond with the sealer
After cleaning and once the floor was fully dry a sealant was applied. Terracotta is a highly porous material so we recommend that this type of floor has a regular top up sealer at least once a year but in high traffic areas may require every 6 months. Sealers will break down after 2 to 3 years (depending on usage and cleaning products used) so for regular cleaning we recommend a sealer friendly cleaning product which has been specially formulated for cleaning of sealed stone and tile surfaces.
Travertine floor cleaning
Travertine tile is a natural stone material that has unique features and colouring that no other stone can offer. The distinctive design and natural patterns found within Travertine make it very popular as a flooring material and is often used as bathroom wall tiles and table tops. Travertine’s durability makes it ideal for commercial and residential installations and it is often used externally.
This kitchen and hall floor had become tired and lost some of its shine and lustre over time which happens in high traffic areas. First we gave the floor a deep clean using a high alkaline product to remove grease and build of layers of cleaning products. To bring the shine and lustre back we used a buffing machine with a course Red diamond pad to remove the old sealer, ground in dirt and scratches, and after cleaning each tile 3 to 4 times we used a less course Yellow diamond pad to restore the floor and bring it back to a honed satin finish. When fully polished we applied a sealer to protect the floor and provide a natural look finish. As Travertine is very porous we applied a second coat of sealer to further protect the floor and prolong the life of the floor.
Victorian Tile Cleaning
Due to building practice of the time Victorian tiles often suffer damp and salt (efflorescence) problems as a dpm (Damp Proof Membrane) was not used in Victorian times.
A couple in York bought a Victorian terraced house and were renovating it from top to bottom. The hallway had a neglected Victorian floor which they wished to restore to its original beauty to ensure period features of house were maintained.
As the floor had been covered for many years it had developed damp and efflorescence, had several layers of old waxes and polish and some loose tiles that needed fixing back in place.
First we masked and covered all of the skirting boards, doors and carpets bordering the floor to protect from any splashing. The loose tiles were cleaned and secured back in place. Next we cleaned and stripped the floor using a Rotary Buffing machine with a 200-grit diamond pad to remove grease, dirt and grime and old waxes and sealers.
Victorian tile floors don’t have the benefit of damp proof membrane and therefore suffer from efflorescence issues due to moisture being trapped in the tile. The salt staining effect needs an acid rinse solution to neutralise the tiles ready for sealing. Next we left the floor to fully dry and returned a few days later to apply several coats of sealer. The customers preferred a satin finish so we used a topical sealer which allows the floor to breathe whilst also giving a beautiful satin finish. The floor required 6 coats of sealer to protect the floor and allow the beautiful colours of the tiles to shine through. The customer was over the moon with the result and before leaving I gave advice on how to properly maintain the tiles to prolong the life of the floor and the sealer.
Slate Tile Cleaning
These pictures show how cleaning and sealing has brought out the colour and beauty of this rough Slate floor.
Porcelain tiles cleaning
Porcelain tiles are a popular choice for floors due to their durability and water resistance. Harder than ceramic tiles modern production methods have spurred a growth in the availability and design of Porcelain tiles. There are three types of porcelain tile: Single Bodied Porcelain, Full Bodied Porcelain and Micro-Porous Porcelain. It is worth knowing which type of tile you have to ensure the right cleaning solutions and appropriate maintenance process are used.
Polished Porcelain tiles generally only require a light clean. To create a very high shine we use a Green diamond Pad attached to a slow speed buffing machine. Using excessive amounts of cleaning agents on polished porcelain actually creates problems with chemical build-up so care must be taken to avoid this.
Porcelain tiles don’t usually need a sealer but if the tiles are Micro-Porous Porcelain then we recommend the tiles are sealed with a natural finish sealer before grouting to prevent the tiny holes being filled with grout during installation.
Textured Porcelain tiles that simulate the appearance of Slate and Stone also often benefit from one coat of sealer as this stops the dirt trapping itself into the texture of the tile.
The photos below show a massive transformation in the appearance of a shower which is now inviting and appealing to use!
Granite tile cleaning
Granite is a popular choice for kitchen and bathroom worktops and floors as it is a high quality product, is hard to mark and is impervious to almost all chemicals. Granite usually comes with a highly polished finish so it adds a touch of luxury to your home or commercial premises.
When cleaning Granite you can actually make it look worse if you use the wrong products so make sure you ask us for advice first. We recommend Ph Neutral cleaners that as well as cleaning the stone also adds a nice patina to the stone which protects the factory applied polish.
Ceramic tile cleaning
Ceramic tiles are a popular option these days as they are highly durable, water and scratch resistant. Most Ceramic tiles are quite easy to clean however grout is normally recessed and this can act as a dirt trap on floor tiles when they are mopped leading to a build-up of dirt on the grout. We use a solution to deep clean the tiles and then once clean and fully dry, we seal the grout.
Ceramic tiles are fully glazed and if the tiles are textured they will soon trap dirt in the groves (unless sealed) and will soon become dirty and tired looking.
If the grout is patchy after it is cleaned and before it is sealed we recommend instead of grout sealing, a Grout Colourant as this will restore the appearance of the grout which has lost its colour dye from heavy usage of bleaching agents.
To remove rust stains we use a solution which is a gel based product which can be brushed or sponged onto vertical surfaces without drips forming.