How To Maintain Tile Floors
Posted on: 30 July 2015
The kitchen seems to endure more wear and tear than other rooms. This means it is often the most practical room to remodel. Since kitchens are generally smaller than other rooms, remodels can be more affordable. One of the most popular kitchen remodels is to install new tile floors. A new tile floor in your kitchen will completely alter its feel and look without costing too much money. Tile is a very durable and stylish flooring material, but it does require a little bit of maintenance over the years. You should be aware of the necessary maintenance you will have to do every few years to keep your tile floor sealed.
Sealing the Grout and Tile
One of the most important things to do to a tile floor is keep it sealed. While most ceramic tiles are perfectly waterproof, you do need to seal the grout. Stone tiles like granite, travertine, and slate (to name just a few) are not waterproof so they need to be sealed, along with the grout lines. On ceramic floors, the grout is especially subject to water damage since the water often beads up on the glazed surface and settles in the grout. On stone floors the water can absorb into any point of the floor and cause problems.
The process of sealing stone and ceramic tiles is similar. However, you will need to use more sealant on stone tiles because they will absorb more and you need to spread it all over the entire surface, not just the the grout. In most kitchens, you should reseal the floor every 3-4 years. Applying the sealer is easy, but you do need to get down on your hands and knees. The job will be much easier if you wear knee pads. Before you apply the sealant, give your floor a thorough vacuuming.
Simply pour a small amount of the sealant onto the floor and spread it around with a lint-free wet rag. Make sure you get even coverage and then wipe it down with a dry rag. You want to wipe the sealant away within a couple minutes of it hitting the floor. Let the floor dry completely before applying a second coat.
This regular maintenance is easy to do and vital for the long term durability of your tile floor. Before you decide to invest in a new tile floor, you should know what it will take to keep the tile and grout sealed. For more information on this and other home improvement topics, contact a professional like American Building Systems Inc.
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