Restoration cleaning
Antique stone, tile, glass, ceramic cleaning
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www.LondonVictorianMosaicRestoration.co.uk
Phone 02087660426 mob.07950960030
© 2008
 

cleaning materials

There are two main types of chemicals that are used; it is water based and solvent based. Solvents- paint thinners, impregnators (sealers), D-Limonene, alcohol. Water based chemicals- neutral cleaners, bleach, ammonia, and acids.

We carry many excellent sealers, cleaners, polish and waxes. We will clean mosaic or stone to its natural appearance; will seal it with appropriate sealers

stripping pads

 

· We offer our services to corporate and private clients. Mosaic, marble, and stone restoration cleaning is a highly skilled job as inexperienced craftsmen can ruin stone and mosaic very easily.

· When you just need a light restoration cleaning, or have a full-scale restoration project in mind, we can handle job expertly. We will repair defects and then proceed to clean, polish and hone it to a high gloss or mate finish.

 

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    Cleaning
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    London
    Reproduction
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    Encaustic
    Original
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    Steps

Cleaning Methods. Ceramic tiles are essentially a practical, low-maintenance flooring material. Yet, even glazed tiles are somewhat porous, and can get dirty and stained, especially in heavy traffic areas or where oil, fat, and grass stains are likely to occur. Although heavily soiled areas may be difficult or impossible to clean completely, in most instances, cleaning ceramic tile floors is relatively easy. Cleaning should always begin with the gentlest means possible, which may be as simple as warm water. Regular maintenance should include sweeping, or preferably dry or damp mopping or vacuuming to reduce grit. Tiles can usually be cleaned with a non-soap-based household floor cleaner, such as one of the commercial products intended for cleaning ceramic tile floors available on the market.

All cleaning and stain-removal products should always be tested on a small, inconspicuous area before using. Abrasive cleaners (including powdered cleansers and even "mildly" abrasive creams) and mechanical equipment can damage and wear away the protective surface, as well as the decorative design on the tiles, and should not be used on ceramic tile floors. Generally, acid-based cleaning solutions should also not be used on ceramic tile floors because they can damage the complex silicates in a glaze. However, there are some acid-based cleaners specially formulated for cleaning and removing coatings from ceramic tile floors that may be acceptable, but even these must be used with caution. Sometimes an acid-based cleaner may, in fact, be needed to remove discoloration or staining caused by lime or cement mortar. But, it should be tested first, used with caution, and applied only to a thoroughly wetted tile floor from which excess water has been removed. Pre-wetting a ceramic tile floor before cleaning is a good policy to observe with all cleaners. The water saturates the porous tile and prevents chemicals or other cleaning agents from penetrating into the tile body. Floor tiles should be always rinsed thoroughly after cleaning.

Plastic pot-scrubbers may be effective in loosening and removing superficial dirt without abrading the glazed or vitrified surface of the tiles. Stubborn asphalt or oil stains, scuff marks, or soiling can sometimes be removed with ammonia or one of the household spray products intended for cleaning kitchen or bathroom tiles. If necessary, a solvent may be applied carefully to pre-wetted tiles, but it should not be left on the surface for an extended amount of time as it may cause discoloration. If possible, a stain should always be identified first in order to select the material best-suited to remove it.

© 2008
Hallway floor cleaner
Hall cleaning
mosaic tile cleaning
mosaic restoration

Cement, carpet glue, varnish, paint, years of ingrained dirt and surface dirt were cleaned, damage fixed, tile base reinforced, floor is waiting to dry, before it can be sealed

 

What sort of finish should I give a tiled floor? The traditional treatment for a Victorian tiled floor after cleaning was to apply warmed linseed oil followed by a coat of wax polish. This gave a stunning, lustrous finish to the floor, but is so labour-intensive to apply and maintain that it is inappropriate in most modern situations. Modern cold wax polishes, for example HG Golvpolish are perfectly adequate. On no account should tiled floors be sealed or varnished with any kind of resin-based or polyurethane finish. Besides their unpleasant plasticky appearance, these may cause long-term problems by sealing in damp under the floor. When you should you apply the sealer? For a new tile surface or re-grout, nearly all grout manufacturers advise that you wait at least 48 hours after grouting before aaplying sealers so the grout has time to finish setting. For maintanence of existing tilling, you should re-apply every year or two.

Victorian Tile Care: Sweep or vacum your Victorian tile floors often. Dirt collecting carpet mats should be placed in frequently used entrances and shaked out weekly. Floors will only need an occasional mop over every 2 weeks or so use HG Superfloor maintenance cleaner in your washing water, or just plain water. We do not recommend the use of floor waxes as they can be difficult to remove from ceramic tile floors. As long as your floor is properly sealed and maintained, you should find no need for these products.