Tips on Repairing and Cleaning Grout and Tile

If you are considering repairing or perhaps restoring your bathroom tile and grout, there are a few things to keep in mind.

If you see cracked, broken, chipped or hollow damaged tile and grout on the walls surrounding the shower or bath, it should be repaired immediately. These types of damages will eventually lead to a more serious problem and can cost you a significant amount of money in further repairs.

For cleaning tile and grout, the damaged tile must be carefully removed without damaging the surrounding tiles. The floor must also be thoroughly cleaned and prepared for a solid bond with the new tile. Only then can the new grout be applied and the surface completely and thoroughly cleaned.  If you are not thorough with your preparation, the tile may not bond well and eventually crack or hollow out.

 Here are some tips for cleaning grout and tile:

• Remove existing grout and caulk from shower
• Clean water deposits and other materials from tile
• Spray to kill mold and mildew where possible
• Apply new grout using a quality-fortified grout
• Apply caulking where necessary
• Apply industrial quality sealer in grout lines is suggested

Click here to view before and after pictures of showers that have had their grout and tile cleaned. 

When you see damaged tile and grout in the shower it must also be replaced immediately. These issues may seem menial and insignificant but they can lead to serious problems behind the tile. Shower tile can become damaged from water leaking through to the backer board. Water damage will affect the sheetrock beneath the tile and eventually damage the sheetrock. This can lead to all types of issues including mildew and mold. For wall damage repairs, The Stone Medic uses Wonderboard. Wonderboard has a  concrete backing and fiberglass mesh. The super strong material is perfect for installation in shower and bath environments. It is called Wonderboard because it will never rot or become affected by water.

Broken and cracked tiles can be removed and replaced with new tiles. At Stone Medic professionals can perfectly cut the old tile out and replace it with new pieces. In the process they also repair missing, broken and cracked grout. 

For more tips and information about restoring bathrooms, showers, tile, flooring and all things related to cleaning and repairing tiles and grout visit our site at wantcleangrout.com, or follow us on Twitter and Facebook. At Stone Medic we guarantee our work. Call us for a free estimate at (813) 818-7555 or (727) 530-3555. We service the entire Tampa Bay Area.

The Benefits of Installing Mexican (Saltillo) Tile

Mexican tile has long been a favorite way to capture a rustic, southwest or Spanish look in your home. Professionally known as Saltillo tile, it can add the perfect flavor of a rich outdoor feel. 

Saltillo is compromised mostly, if not completely of clay. It is very porous and therefore very versatile. It can be colored, sealed and finished in infinite ways to create many different looks to suit any decor. Please have a look at The Stone Medic website to see different examples of Saltillo tile in homes and outdoors.

The key to keeping this porous tile looking new is using proper sealer and re-sealing it when needed. Saltillo tile may need more maintenance than other types of tiles depending on foot traffic and abrasive cleaning techniques. If your Saltillo tile has not been maintained properly it may need to be stripped and resealed. Stripping is completed by using a serious of products suitable to remove the specific type of sealer. Once it has been stripped and detailed, it can be treated as though it is a new installation, allowing for beautiful coloring, staining and finishing.

The Stone Medic specializes in making old Saltillo with old grout look brand new again. We hand apply only the best sealer and guarantee our work. If would rather have a professional handle the tedious work of giving your floor a facelift, please contact us at 813-818-7555 or 727-530-3555. We guarantee our work and are locally owned and operated in the greater Tampa Bay area. We also give free estimates.

Please visit our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and have a look at our website for more information and before and after pictures of our work.

Questions and Answers on Staining Concrete

Staining concrete is quickly becoming one of the fastest growing trends in restoration and repair. It is an intelligent way to make a dull drab concrete floor fashionable, while maintaining durability. It is also a very cost effective alternative to installing tile or travertine.

Here are some frequently asked questions and answers from Stone Medic regarding staining concrete floors:

So why should I use decorative concrete, rather than natural stone or pavers on my project?

The primary reason concrete is chosen over natural stone is durability, cost and maintenance. Properly installed concrete has a design life of 30-50 years. Unlike Natural stone, bricks or pavers, concrete requires very little maintenance. Also, stamped concrete can easily be formed to contoured designs, which, unlike pavers, brick and stone, costs nothing extra.

My existing surface is covered with paint, glue and has many cracks. Can it be cleaned up?
The Stone Medic can remove the glue, paint or whatever is on your floor. We can repair the cracks and apply a new Micro Topping on your floor providing a perfect canvas to stain your floor.

What is decorative concrete overlay?
A decorative concrete overlay is just that; it is a highly durable thin set layer of hybrid polymer concrete that overlays an existing patio, floor, foyer, driveway, or sidewalk. The application of an overlay to existing concrete surfaces opens up an entirely new range of possibilities. Suitable for both interior and exterior areas, overlays can be used for covering up defects in an existing floor or, through the use of stamps and staining, a simulated rock surface can be molded directly into the overlay surface, creating a visually appealing effect.

 
How durable is a decorative concrete overlay?
Generally speaking it has twice the strength of concrete. A concrete mixture designed to yield 3,000 psi (pounds per square inch) will yield over 6,000 psi if modified by an acrylic polymer additive.  

What is Stamped Concrete
Stamped Concrete is a low maintenance, cost effective alternative to brick pavers or natural stone. Stamped concrete is concrete that is patterned to resemble brick, slate, flagstone, stone, tile and even wood. Stamped Concrete can be used to beautify pool decks, driveways, entries and courtyards, and patios.

What is scoring?
Scoring is the process of cutting a small groove on the surface of the concrete to create a desired pattern such as squares or diamonds. Normally these patterns are no smaller than 24” x 24” and require a minimum of an 8” border around the room to be scored. Scoring can beautifully accentuate a room by drawing the eye from one pattern to the other and is less expensive than stamped concrete.

What about cracks?
We can fill and close cracks in the concrete; however we cannot guarantee that they won’t return. Cracks in concrete are a given. Normally cracks should be limited to hairline cracking with minimal separation as all structural concrete is reinforced internally. Cracks do not necessarily detract from the appearance of the floor, we often incorporate them in our overlay designs by running grout lines over them and they add “personality” to the floor when we do staining. 

For additional questions you may have, please contact Stone Medic. We GUARANTEE our work and provide free estimates. We are a locally owned and operated company in the Tampa Bay area. Please visit our Facebook page and website to view before and after pictures.