Dull Terracotta Floor in Irvington, NY Gets Its Color Restored After a Tile Cleaning Service

November 28, 2018

Terracotta is a kiln-fired clay tile known for its durability and rustic, earthy look. It tends to give a warm, charming sensation that can sweep across any room when it's used as flooring tile. Terracotta is porous, which means it will last longer if it's properly sealed. If not properly maintained, staining, and discoloration, are difficult to reverse for homeowners and will often result in unnecessary and costly expenses to restore.


A resident from Irvington, NY recently contacted Sir Grout to have her once-beautiful terracotta kitchen floor restored. Over the years, the wear and tear stemming from daily traffic began to show on the floor. Both the tiles and the grout lines were discolored and filled with grime. Concerned, the homeowner went online and searched for advice. She found these problems are common when terracotta isn't properly sealed and maintained. Most websites suggest cleaning the surface before sealing to achieve positive results. Since her previous attempts at cleaning were unsuccessful, the homeowner decided it was best to leave it to professionals. She searched for Irvington Tile Cleaning experts and found our website within the top results. After reading some of the reviews left by previous customers and browsing the picture gallery, she called to schedule a free in-home consultation.

On the appointed date, Sir Grout Westchester's expert visited the customer's home to assess the surface. When inspecting the kitchen, he immediately noticed the tiles looked dull and stained and the the grout lines were dark and discolored due to embedded dirt. After asking the homeowner about her cleaning methods, we explained that her habit of mopping the unsealed terracotta floor with over-the-counter products and a string-type mop had contributed to the deterioration of the surface. The floor had been subject to spills substances like oils, citric acids, and alcohols, can severely stain the tiles and grout lines but the biggest issue was the dirty mopwater that dried on the floor every time the floor was mopped.

Fortunately for the customer the floor did not have any wax or finish applied to the tiles which can make the restoration task even more difficult – especially if it's years or even decades of accumulated buildup that is encountered. Sir Grout Westchester assured the customer that deep cleaning the tiles and grout with an aggressive scrubbing machine and sealing the surface with our flagship product, Sir Grout's Enhance & Seal would return the floor to its original beauty. The homeowner agreed to the services and looked forward to seeing her kitchen floor restored.

On the day of the job, our experts began cleaning the tiles and grout lines on the kitchen floor. First they soaked the surface with an aggressive high-alkaline cleaner and individually stick-brushed the grout lines to loosen and remove the heavy embedded grime. Next, they used a high-speed scrubber to remove the dirt from the terracotta tiles and further scrub the grout lines.

After vacuuming up the dirty water residue and drying the floor, our techs began sealing the surface with Sir Grout's Enhance & Seal. This is a solvent-based sealer designed to enhance the natural color of the tiles. It also keeps the floor protected from stains, and discoloration.

When they finished the job, our crew let the homeowner see the kitchen floor. She was thrilled with the results! She told our team how much she appreciated what they had done with the floor and promised to call back for maintenance.

Before leaving, our hard surface restoration experts gave the customer a few care tips to keep the terracotta floor looking great. First, they recommended vacuuming the floor frequently to pick up loose dirt and debris and when necessary to cleaning the surface with a pH-neutral tile-safe cleaner such as Sir Grout's Natural Hard Surface Cleaner. Not only will this cleaner help keep the surfaces in good shape, it will also prolong the lifespan of the sealant. The toughest challenge in keeping a floor looking beautiful is being able to remove 100% of the dirty water off the floor when it is mopped. It can be a near-impossible task. When Sir Grout's technicians clean a floor they always go over that floor with a fresh towel to remove the dirty water left behind. Want to test if you are doing a good job? After you mop the floor get a white towel and go back over the floor and then look at the towel when you have finished. Is the towel dirty? Probably yes. Mopping the floor in manageable sections and going over it with a towel will keep the floor looking beautiful longer.

When looking for a tile cleaning service in Irvington or nearby areas in Westchester County, make sure to contact us. Sir Grout Westchester has the necessary tools and expertise to fulfill your expectations. Call us at (914) 592-5902 or fill out the "Request a Quote" form on this website to schedule a free in-home consultation today. Also, do not forget to subscribe to our newsletter to keep up with our latest news and promotions.

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