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.

Using Metallic Epoxy to Create a Designer Concrete Floor

Floors are the walkway to your environment. If you wish to make a lasting impression in your home, workspace or business you should take a look at adding a metallic epoxy to your concrete floors. 

Metallic Epoxy Flooring is the most exciting technology breakthrough in the concrete flooring industry in years. There is no other system that has the appeal, depth, luster and three dimensional visual effect. It helps create a unique one-of-a-kind look and brilliant finish to any concrete surface. Customers seeking an exceptional look for their floor will be captivated by the ability of Metallic Epoxy to transform any area into one of distinction. 

It is the most luxurious concrete coating available today. Originally designed for the Casino Industry where appearance and durability is priority, these floors are now available to all commercial and residential customers.

Not only are Metallic Epoxy Floors beautiful and versatile, they are seamless, highly durable and environmentally friendly flooring option for commercial and residential applications. The appearance of Metallic Flooring can be enhanced by several application methods creating a floor that can never be duplicated. Contact Stone Medic for a free estimate at 813-818-7555  or 727-530-3555. For more information on concrete flooring follow us on Twitter and Facebook. At Stone Medic we guarantee our work and have plenty of decorative flooring examples for customers. We also provide concrete staining and sealing and have designer pictures available. Please visit our website at TampaConcreteStaining for pictures and information on all things concrete flooring related.

Why Stain Concrete Floors?

It boils down to one word: character. 

Concrete stain does more than simply add color. Rather than produce a solid, opaque effect like paint or colored coatings, stains permeate the concrete to infuse it with rich, deep, translucent tones.

It is important to keep in mind even when treated with the same staining product in the same shade, no two concrete floors, walls, or countertops will look alike due to factors such as the composition and age of the concrete, surface porosity, texture, and environmental conditions. Some stain manufacturers use adjectives such as “antiqued,” “variegated,” or “mottled” to describe the distinctive look. It’s this variability, rather than uniformity, that gives stained concrete its broad appeal and permits an infinite array of special effects.

Concrete staining is less expensive than you think!

Are you located in Tampa Bay?  Contact us today for a free estimate.

It's Almost Summer, Is Your Pool Deck Ready?

Your patio and pool deck are the focal points of your backyard.

We can refinish your patio, driveway or revitalize your pool deck. Using decorative concrete, we can transform your patio and pool deck into an oasis where you can entertain friends or simply relax with your family. In the past landscaping was the only way to enhance your outdoor living space, but now with the use of Stamped Concrete, Stenciled Concrete, Decorate Concrete Overlays, Scored and Stained Concrete, your Patio and Pool Deck can be a showplace.

Decorative concrete surfaces are the perfect decorative flooring surface for outdoor Patios, Pool Decks, Walkways and Entryways

This "outdoor floor" provides you with unlimited design options. When enhanced by stains and integral colors, concrete patios can be color coordinated to match a home’s exterior or landscape. They can also be stamped or engraved in patterns that mimic other popular paving materials, such as brick, flagstone, slate and tile. As an investment, concrete patios typically cost less than patios made of brick or natural stone because they are less labor-intensive to install. The lower price tag combined with the wide array of patterns and colors available make concrete an economical choice for most budgets. Plus, concrete is easily formed into any shape to accommodate backyard space restrictions.

Why Wait? Contact Us Today for a Free Estimate!

Are you wondering what it will take to refinish your concrete surfaces? Contact us today! Give us a call at 813-818-7555 / 727-530-3555 or just click here to request your Free Estimate

Why We Use the Dry Restoration Process to Restore Terrazzo Floors

Terrazzo can be restored using either a wet or dry process. Wet grinding uses water to eliminate the dust created by grinding. Dry restoration uses sophisticated dust collectors to collect the dust without the use of water.

Wet Restoration creates messy slurry that must be collected and disposed of. This dirty slurry can seep underneath walls, cabinets, doors and adjoining surfaces creating problems that might not be noticed for years.

Dry Restoration is the newest advancement in surface restoration. With dry restoration no water is required. Instead, the grinding equipment is connected to a HEPA dust containment system where virtually all of the dust particles are collected. No water is used so you don’t have to be concerned with dirty slurry seeping under walls, cabinets and adjoining areas.

Concrete Patios vs Natural Stone Patios

The Benefits of Concrete Patios over Natural Stone Patios

As an investment, concrete patios typically cost less than patios made of brick or natural stone because they are less labor-intensive to install. The lower price tag combined with the wide array of patterns and colors available make concrete an economical choice for most budgets. Plus, concrete is easily formed into any shape to accommodate backyard space restrictions.

Stained Concrete by Stone-Medic

A concrete outdoor floor offers unlimited design options. When enhanced by stains and integral colors, concrete patios can be color coordinated to match a home’s exterior or landscape. They can also be stamped or engraved in patterns that mimic other popular paving materials, such as brick, flagstone, slate and tile.  The patio and pool deck are the focal points of any backyard. Your Decorative Concrete Patio and Pool Deck will be an oasis where you can entertain friends or simply relax with your family. Concrete is also a durable choice and requires very little maintenance.

The Stone Medic can refinish your patio, driveway or refinish your pool deck. In the past Landscaping was the only way to enhance your outdoor living space, but now with the use of either Stamped concrete, or Stenciled Concrete, Overlays, Epoxy, Scored and Stained Concrete, your Patio and Pool Deck can be a showplace. For a free estimate call Stone Medic in Tampa: 813-818-7555 or Clearwater: 727-530-3555. We guarantee all our work. For all things stone and concrete related follow us on Twitter or Facebook. You can also check out many of our before and after pictures for outdoor patio ideas at our website.

Tampa Concrete Staining: Enhance the Natural Beauty of Your Concrete

Concrete Staining enhances the natural beauty of your concrete. Tampa Concrete Floor Staining can transform your concrete floors into oceans of color using stained and stamped concrete techniques. Our process will produce a eco-friendly, high shine, attractive, durable finish to your existing concrete floor.

Home owners, restaurants, retail stores, schools and business offices looking for a beautiful, durable and cost effective alternative to carpet, tile or other flooring materials will find stained concrete floors as the best alternative.  Staining Concrete floors and other surfaces  is a very popular application for transforming concrete because of the unique and beautiful outcome that can be achieved by combining colors with techniques as scoring, stamping and other designs. Concrete Staining is a beautiful, permanent and economical approach for finished floors in both residential and commercial applications.

Without exception,  a stained concrete floor is an excellent value, a strong,  and environmentally-friendly material that can bring value to your business or home environment. A concrete floor finished by Tampa Concrete Polishing and Staining will produce a durable, functional, eco-friendly, economical, amazing floor.

What are Concrete Stains?

There are two categories of concrete stains – reactive (acid based) and nonreactive (water based). Reactive stains are acidic solutions containing metallic salts that react with the concrete’s lime content. Once the chemical reaction takes place, the stain forms a permanent bond with the concrete and won’t chip away.

Nonreactive stains are water based stains that don’t rely on a chemical reaction to impart color. Instead they are formulated to penetrate the concrete and impart their pigment into the open pores.

Why use a Concrete Stain?

Concrete Stain does more than to simply add color. Rather than produce a solid, opaque look like paint or colored coatings, stains penetrate the concrete to infuse it with rich, deep translucent tones. Keep in mind that no two concrete stained surface will look a like. Each floor is unique and one of a kind.

Why Wait? Contact Us Today for a Free Estimate!

Are you wondering what it will take to transform your concrete floors? Contact us today! Give us a call at 813-818-7555 / 727-530-3555 or just click here to request your Free Estimate.