tile-and-grout-cleaning-sealing

How Should I clean my grout? What are grout sealers? After my tile & grout is cleaned will the grout need to dry before it can be sealed? How do I know if my grout was sealed or needs resealing? Can the color of my grout be restored to its original color or changed to another color? A company color sealed my grout last year, now the color is fading and the grout is staining. I thought a color sealer was supposed to last for years? I have a Travertine floor. Is cleaning travertine the same as cleaning ceramic & grout? The last company that cleaned my ceramic floor sealed my grout AND my tile. Why didn’t you offer to seal my tile as well as my grout? Why do you offer three different tile & grout cleaning options? What causes grout to have variations in color? Can I prevent my grout from staining?

* Discount applies to services or products purchased in combination with tile & grout cleaning only.

Q How Should I clean my grout? BACK TO FAQ A Grout needs to be cleaned periodically to prevent soil build-up. To minimize build-up, sweep, dust-mop or vacuum surfaces regularly to remove loose soil and dust. Damp mop your floor regularly with a neutral no-rinse floor cleaner. Don’t use plain water, it only removes water soluble dirt and may leave streaks. Neutral floor cleaners contain no acids, have a neutral pH, and will not affect existing sealers. When build-up does occur, use a professional strength tile & grout cleaner and lightly scrub the grout lines with a nylon grout brush; rinse with clean water until all residue is gone. Avoid ordinary household cleaners such as: bleach, ammonia, Pine-Sol ®, Murphy ® Oil Soap, Fabuloso ®, ect. Most cleaners commonly found in the home will degrade sealers and discolor grout. Never use any type of acid, such as vinegar, which can drive stains deeper and damage grout. Q What are grout sealers? BACK TO FAQ A Grout sealers, (also known as penetrating sealers or impregnators) are products, when applied properly to dried grout reduce its ability to absorb liquid. They are either water or solvent based, and they work by filling the pores in the grout to produce a water resistant seal. There are different types available and they vary in price and longevity. Some grout sealers can last as long as 15 years under ideal conditions (meaning very light use). Some grout sealers protect against water based stains, while others protect against water and oil based stains. Industry professionals now recognize that grout is best protected with a fluorochemical-based sealer. Even the best grout sealers do not render grout “stain proof”, they simply allow more time for clean-up before permanent staining occurs. Grout sealers need to be re-applied periodically depending on the quality of the sealer, wear, maintenance practices and the effects of the cleaners being used. We recommend re-sealing high-traffic areas every 2 years. High-traffic areas include the entryway to the garage, kitchen floors, and entryway to backyard, front door entryway, around toilets, kitchen counters, bathroom counters, shower floors and walls. Q After my tile & grout is cleaned will the grout need to dry before it can be sealed? BACK TO FAQ A Yes, penetrating grout sealers are designed to soak into the surface. If the grout is not completely dry it will not absorb the grout sealer. Q How do I know if my grout was sealed or needs resealing? BACK TO FAQ A You can use the water test: • Place a few drops of water on your grout. • Wait a few minutes. • Wipe up the water • If the grout did not darken, the grout is sealed. Q Can the color of my grout be restored to its original color or changed to another color? BACK TO FAQ A Yes .... When grout has been badly stained it can be re-colored using a special process called color sealing. Once the grout has been color sealed there is no need to seal it with penetrating sealers. Click here for more information on color sealing. Q A company color sealed my grout last year, now the color is fading and the grout is staining. I thought a color sealer was supposed to last for years? BACK TO FAQ A If the grout was not properly cleaned and dried, the color sealer will not adhere properly. This is one of the most important steps. In most cases, a six step cleaning process, (including pressurized clean water rinse & extraction) is necessary to prepare the grout prior to sealing. Color sealer applied to grout that has been properly cleaned and maintained will last for years. There are also many different products on the market. A colored stain is sometimes added to a penetrating sealer (a method often used by carpet cleaners) to seal grout and add color. These are not to be confused with color sealing. In fact, a penetrating sealer with pigment added can discolor grout, making it look even worse. Colored stains are available in limited colors, whereas color sealers are available in any color. To learn more about color sealing and its benefits click here. Q I have a Travertine floor. Is cleaning travertine the same as cleaning tile & grout? BACK TO FAQ A No .... Travertine is a natural stone, whereas ceramic and porcelain tile are man-made. Most cleaners formulated for tile & grout can seriously damage travertine. There are stone safe cleaners available for everyday cleaning but restoration cleaning, honing and polishing is best left to the experts. Any company possessing the knowledge and experience to safely clean and restore natural stone should be willing to write an estimate detailing exactly what work will be performed. Nearly 25% of our new customer estimates for travertine repairs are the result of improper cleaning, cleaners or sealers applied by well-meaning homeowners or under qualified technicians. If you’re not sure about how travertine should be cleaned, cleaners, or an individuals qualifications, stop and ask questions; doing so can save you thousands of dollars in damage. To learn more about Travertine click here. Q The last company that cleaned my ceramic floor sealed my grout AND my tile. Why didn’t you offer to seal my tile as well as my grout? BACK TO FAQ A If your tile floor is ceramic or porcelain it most likely has a glazed finish that will not accept a sealer. In fact, special care must be taken on glazed tile to remove any sealer remaining after sealing the grout. Penetrating sealers are designed to soak into porous grout and if it’s allowed to dry on top of a glazed finish it will attract dirt. Anyone promising to protect your glazed tile by applying a penetrating sealer is either misinformed or selling you a bill of goods. To be fair, if you think your tile may need sealing you can use the water test. Apply a few drops of water to the top of the tile, if it doesn’t soak in it does not require sealing. Q Why do you offer three different tile & grout cleaning options? BACK TO FAQ A Every customer has different needs. Some may only need a basic clean while others may need a more through, deep restoration cleaning. By offering different packages we allow you, the customer, to choose the level of service that’s right for you. Q What causes grout to have variations in color? BACK TO FAQ A Many things can affect the color of grout. If it’s new grout there are many mistakes that can cause uneven color including improper mixing and installation. If grout is not properly sealed and maintained dirt and liquids can soak in, making it look spotty and dark. To learn more about how to get evenly colored grout click here. Q Can I prevent my grout from staining? BACK TO FAQ A A penetrating grout sealer can be applied to grout to help resist staining but even the best sealer will not make grout stain proof, it only allows more time for clean-up before permanent staining occurs. Our system of color sealing creates a long-lasting, durable layer of protection that prevents dirt and spills from absorbing into your grout. It’s the closest thing to stain proofing available for grout. To learn more about how you can have stain resistant grout click here.

Recommended for home owners who want clean evenly colored stain resistant grout that never needs sealing. Also recommended for people suffering from allergies who require a “greener” option for cleaning. Recommended for active families with pets or homes that need deep restoration cleaning. A thorough cleaning process, including proprietary cleaners and high pressure hot water rinse and extraction to remove stubborn dirt and grease. Recommended for moderate to lightly soiled tile & grout that has been professionally cleaned and sealed or color sealed. Includes: • Complete pre-inspection • Heavy degreaser pre-spray • Power scrub surfaces • Edges and corners cleaned with special tool • Heated clean water rinse • Baseboard wipe • Cleanup & post inspection • FREE Reminder Service • 10 % OFF Care Products or other services * Includes: • Complete Pre-Inspection • Move & replace most furniture • Heavy degreaser pre-spray • Power scrub surfaces • Edges and corners cleaned with special tool • Heated clean water rinse • Grout restorer pre-spray • 2nd Power Scrub • Baseboard wipe • Apply premium quality Flourochemical Sealer • Final buff • Cleanup & post inspection • FREE Reminder Service • 10 % OFF care products or other services * • 25% OFF annual maintenance cleaning Includes: • Complete Pre-Inspection • Move & replace most furniture • Heavy degreaser pre-spray • Power scrub surfaces • Edges and corners cleaned with special tool • Heated clean water rinse • Grout restorer pre-spray • 2nd Power Scrub • Baseboard wipe • Apply Color Sealer • Final buff • Cleanup & post inspection • 3 Year Warranty or 10 Year with annual maintenance cleaning • FREE Reminder Service • 10 % OFF care products or other services * • 25% OFF annual maintenance cleaning Our method deep cleans grout surfaces without eroding or damaging the surface. This leaves the surface smoother, the grout stays cleaner longer and makes cleaning easier. Using the wrong cleaning method or products can leave grout surface jaged, allowing dirt to collect more quickly and makes cleaning more difficult.

Have your Tile & Grout Cleaned and Sealed Properly at the best possible price ... Stone & Grout Meister is the number one source in the Albuquerque all your tile and grout cleaning and restoration needs. Stone & Grout Meister specializes in restoring and maintaining tile and grout surfaces making our company uniquely qualified to get the results you want and expect for your home or business. Your grout can be permanently damaged and soil faster .... Grout is primarily a mixture of cement and sand. The cement in the grout can be weakened by products with a high pH (acids) used by many cleaning companies to clean grout - needing to replace the grout is sometimes the result. Using the wrong cleaning method or products can open the pores of the grout thus trapping more dirt and making it even harder to clean. Using an experienced company reduces the risk of damage to your tile and grout surfaces and protects your investment. How do you know you’re getting the right cleaning method... You don’t ... That why you need a professional tile & grout company like Stone & Grout Meister. Call us today for a FREE in home consultations and demo and we will help you choose one of our three tile & grout cleaning packages that best meets your needs. You will get honest pricing, no sales gimmicks or hidden costs. Three tile & grout cleaning packages specifically designed to keep your tile & grout looking its best...