Keeping the Tiles
Once you have put your time, energy and financial resources into installing or designing your home, restaurant or establishment with quality concrete tiles, there is nothing worse than not making them look. Always put your best effort to keep your cement tiles looking at the best with the following maintenance tips. Take into consideration the spaces between tiles (or grout) when installing cement tiles is tempting not to leave spaces between them, as many people think that tiles without spaces between themselves look better. Although that is a personal preference and design, the truth is that there must be at least a small space (1/16 ") between the tiles to be able to apply the grout. Fortunately, 1/16 "is a very small space, which makes the hole imperceptible to the eye. Our recommendation is to use nozzle or grout without sand to reduce tile spacing.
How to polish and seal your cement tiles?
After installing your cement tiles, make sure to clean them carefully and thoroughly for the best visual results. The following points are key to showcase the new floor of your space: maintain your good physical appearance, receive a number of compliments and help you last for decades and more.
Follow the steps below to polish your cement tiles:
- Use a fine sandpaper (600 grit) disc to lightly sand the tile surface
- Protect with a good quality penetrating sealer
- Buff with a white pad
Sealing your cement tile floor is also an important part of the installation process, as the cement tiles are porous and can absorb unwanted dirt and stains. It has two main options for sealing its cement tiles: penetrating or topical sealants.
Penetrating cement tile sealants are absorbed directly into the cement and make it very difficult for stains to adhere to the tile. On the other hand, topical sealants are deposited on the surface and do not allow stains to pass through. In our experience, we recommend avoiding topical sealants, as the sun can wear them much faster, plus they can make your tiles turn very slippery.
In Granada Tile we recommend Dry-Treat sealants and enhancers, which are specially designed to penetrate much deeper into the tiles and resist more stains. The molecules of the Dry-Treat products are 400 times smaller than those of competitors, allowing the compound to adhere to the tile permanently and provide a more comprehensive protection.
How to clean the cement tiles regularly?
Always avoid using acidic substances or chlorine of any kind to clean your tiles. This is extremely important, as any too acidic substance can wear the sealants faster. Instead, use a neutral pH cleaner and water to clean your tiles.
How to clean stains on cement tiles
One of the first things that comes to mind when it comes to cleaning and maintaining cement tiles, are the spots you will face over the lifespan of these. The first step is to understand what type of stain you are dealing with, to know the best way to remove it and restore the tile to its glorious original state. The types of spots that can be found are biological, organic, inorganic, oil or ink.- Mildew, fungi, algae; These biological stains appear as a result of the contact of your tile with living substances.
- Coffee, tea, tobacco, cosmetics or blood; These organic spots come mainly from food and beverage sources.
- Iron, bronze or rust (rust); These inorganic stains come from raw materials (unprocessed).
- Oil, fat, body oil, different foods; Sealants typically prevent this type of staining.
- Inks These stains are typically caused by markers and pens.
Our recommended cleaning method for all of these stains is to use the Dry-Treat Rejuvenate Active, Rejuvenate Spray, Oxy-Klenza or EFF-Erayza products. These products can be used for mopping and cleaning floors regularly, as well as for deep cleanings and stain removal. These products are also perfect for cleaning the mouthpiece or grout.