FAQ Page

Tile & Grout Cleaning (floors) FAQs

How much does it cost ?
The price depends on tile size, area and amount of detailing we will have to do. The
more grout line length the more it will cost. Cleaning the grout is the challenge. The tiles
usually clean up easily. The larger area you have the less per sq. ft. price you will pay.

How do you clean the grout on my floor ?
We use two different chemicals. They both have a specific function. We scrub each grout
line with the V- shaped grout line brush. Then use a floor machine with a grit brush over
the whole floor. Most times this will restore your floor to like new condition.

What if my floor doesn't come clean after your cleaning ?
During the quote we will clean a small area to see if you will be satisfied with the
outcome of the cleaning. This is so we can be sure the cleaning will meet your
expectation. If you are not satisfied with the test area, color sealing your grout is the
next best option.

Should I get my grout sealed after cleaning ?
Yes, it is a good idea to get your grout sealed after a cleaning. The sealer will penetrate
the grout, fill the voids and protect it from staining and discoloration.

Grout Color Sealing

What is Color Sealing ?
Grout color sealing is a colored sealer that is applied to your grout lines. It is the highest
level of grout protection available. There are many colors to chose from.

Why would I want to color seal my floor ?
There are two very good reasons for color sealing your floor. Number 1 is that it will
make your floor look fabulous, the other Number 1 reason is less maintenace. Your floor
will stay cleaner longer and be much easier to clean than regular grout. Color seal will
make the grout lines uniform across the whole floor. You can also choose a color that
better matches the tile.

Will the color sealer wear off over time ?
No, it's very tough stuff. It would be very hard to remove it once it is down and dried.
Also, the grout lines are recessed compared to the tile. This way the grout lines are
protected from direct foot traffic. The color sealer is anchored by the gritty surface
texture of sanded grout. It does not easily come off.

Will my grout lines look "painted" after color sealing ?
No, no one will be able to tell it's not grout. Your friends and neighbors will only comment
on how good it looks.

Can I do it myself ?
Yes, you can. But it takes some practice to get good at it and it will be very time
consuming to do. Also, it is all done on your knees. If you are going to do it invest in a
good set of knee pads. If I haven't talked you out of it yet, good luck.

Shower Stall Restoration

How do you restore shower stalls?
All grout and caulking are removed and replaced with new. This is the only way to
restore a shower stall. Cleaning alone will not be enough. Grout is porous and will absorb
soap, minerals. Cleaning does not get deep enough to really get discoloration out.

What tools do you use to remove the grout.
We use a Fein Supercut with diamond blades, grout saws, box cutters,
razor blades and other tools.

Is it expensive ?
Most bath & shower stalls will be between $500 and $1000. We do our best to keep
prices reasonable so people can afford it. What you get in the end is definitely worth it. It
is much more cost effective than replacement. A restoration cleaning will last 5 to 10
years before having to do it again. Best of all, you assured that you won't be ripping it
out and having to replace it. It is a good investment.

I think I may have some water damage. Do you do repairs ?
During the quote we inspect the shower for loose tiles, water damage etc. Yes, we do
repairs. We will replace any damaged areas and replace only what is necessary. This
might include backer board, wooden studs and tile.

Is it necessary to seal the shower ?
We recommend it. Sealing the shower will help keep soap scum and mildew from getting
a foothold in the grout. Sealing the shower stall is an additional cost, and requires
another visit since the grout must cure before sealing

Natural Stone Restoration

My marble/travertine/limestone floor needs to be cleaned, can you do this?
We can just clean but when people say "clean" they usually mean restoring the shine to
the stone. We can clean, polish or restore your floor. It depends on the condition of the
floor and your budget. Usually we can top polish a floor that is in good shape, which
means a floor that has minimal amount of scratches and no topical coating (ie wax, or a
finish) on it.

I have scratches on my floor. Will polishing remove scratches ?
Polishing alone will not remove scratches. If scratch removal is necessary we will use
diamonds of the correct coarseness to remove scratches. Deep scratches will need to be
removed using coarser diamonds. The lower diamond grit we use, the more the
refinishing cost will be.

Example: Using a 200 grit diamond to remove scratches we would then have to go
through the grit progression of 200-400-800-1500 then powder polish for a high polish.
Or 200-400-800 then honing powder for a matte finish. As you see the lower the grit we
start with the more expensive the restoration is.

Should I seal my natural stone floor ?
There are two schools of thought on this topic. A highly polished floor is not very porous
so that it doesn't need sealing. My recommendation is to seal the floor using a high
quality penetrating sealer.

I have a slate floor, can this be cleaned ?
Most slate floors have a finish on them that needs to be stripped off. The finish in many
cases will be very dirty. Our process for slate floors is to first strip off the finish then seal
the floor with a penetrating sealer. Stripping the floor also cleans the stone. If the
customer wants a sheen to the stone we will use an enhancing sealer.