Q. Why is it important to have my Tile & Grout surface sealed?
A. Sealing your Tile & Grout surface is the only way to protect your investment from water-based and oil-based stains. A sealer prevents a spill from penetrating into the extremely porous surface which gives you time to clean it up. Clean-ups are a snap! Simply blot fresh spills with a clean cloth or paper towel. The sealer continues to protect, even after repeated cleanings. We only use a permanent sealer.

Q. How does a sealer protect my surface?
A. The penetrating sealer is absorbed by the pores of the Natural Stone or Ceramic Tile & Grout. It fills up the "nooks and crannies" so that wet stains cannot get below the surface. Soil sits on the surface until it is swept or wiped away.

Q. How is a sealer applied?
A. First, the floor is professionally cleaned, neutralized, and fully dried. Then, the sealer is applied and allowed to soak into the surface material for ten to thirty minutes. Finally, the excess sealer is buffed off the surface and allowed to dry.

Q. Do you have other sealers to choose from?
A. Sort of, we only use one permanent clear sealer. If a coating is desired on slate, Saltillo or terra cotta there is an assortment to choose from. Coatings should never be put on Ceramic, Porcelain, marble, travertine, etc.

Q. How should I maintain my sealed surface?
A. Our specialty sealer is chemical resistant to cleaners so you can use whatever you regularly use. Unless you put a coating on one of the above.

Q. Will my surfaces ever have to be professionally cleaned and sealed again?
A. Cleaned? Yes, as part of routine maintenance only if needed. But our sealer is so awesome most people are able to take care of their surface for several years.

Q. What do sealers protect against?
A. A penetrating sealer repels water-based and oil-based liquids, prevents stains caused by most food and beverages; and protects the surface from dirt and impurities.

Q. Does a sealer alter the appearance of a surface?
A. Our sealer protects without changing the original color, texture, feel, or appearance of the surface. We also offer color-enhancing sealers for interior natural stone, marble, granite, limestone, and masonry surfaces.

Q. Can I change my grout color?
A. Yes. Our stain/sealing process allows you to change grout from light to dark or dark to light with 100's of colors and shades to choose from. Save thousands by updating an old tile area instead of replacing it. Recolor and protect in one step! But color-staining should NOT be done in a shower for reasons we will discuss.

Q. How long will stain/sealer protection last?
A. If applied and maintained with a neutral cleaner, the stain/seal protection will last longer than if harsh cleaners are used.

Q. How should I maintain my tile?
A. It depends on the tile, Ceramic/Porcelain you can use an alkaline cleaner. Stone surfaces need only to use Stone Safe cleaners. We will offer tips, tricks and products that will help you maintain the clean surface we leave you. If you have knowledge of what to do you should not need to be professionally cleaned often.

Q. Does grout have to be cleaned before stain/sealing?
A. New grout is ready for protection 10 days after installation and does not need to be cleaned first. On older or soiled tile areas, the grout joints must be clean and free of dust, dirt, grease, oil, sealers, or coatings of any kind. We use our 3-Steps for Restoration before stain/sealing.

Q. How is the stain/sealer applied?
A. Using a toothbrush we spread product evenly along grout joint with a scrubbing motion. While Stain/Sealer is still wet, we wipe off excess product from surrounding tile with a damp (not wet) towel or sponge. Take care not to wipe product off grout line. We have to apply in small workable sections. When product has "set" (30 minutes to an hour), we lightly clean the tile with a damp towel or scotch pad and dry the tile to remove any haze or for bigger areas a floor machine is necessary. Changing grout colors, dark to light or light to dark, may require an extra application. Two thin coats are better than on heavy coat.

Q. How long does the stain/sealer take to dry?
A. Light foot traffic is fine right away, just walk on the tile. Keep grout dry for 7-10 days after initial cleanup. Avoid scrubbing grout for 30 days.

Q. What is regrouting?
A. Regrouting is a procedure where all of the grout, between tiles, is removed by hand by individually scraping out each grout line. Grout should NEVER be grouted over. We always have to clean a shower before regrouting. Soap often clogs holes that cannot be seen until it is cleaned by our system. We also remove and replace the caulking.

Q. When should I regrout?
A. Sometimes when grout becomes moldy or filled with mildew, the only way to completely get rid of it is to regrout. If you suspect leakage or see water stains on the ceiling below the bathroom, most often, leakage is due to missing grout or caulk. If we feel you need to have a plumber look at your leak we will let you know. Even tiny holes, or hairline cracks, can cause major problems. Regrouting can save you from having to spend thousands of dollars remodeling your bathroom. Leaks, left unchecked, will eventually result in rotted wallboard behind the tiles. Tiles will fall off. Mildew will become rampant and the wall will have to be replaced. If you cannot get it clean no matter what you do, your best option may be to regrout. If a few tiles are loose, but not all we can repair and then regrout. Some cases the substrate has to be replaced.

Q. Can"floor grout" be regrouted?
A. Floor grout, which is a stronger sanded grout and much more difficult to remove can be regrouted. There can be a few reasons why floor grout is cracking or missing. The situation needs to be assessed closely. It could be determined that the tiles are loose and no longer adhering to the underlayment. When grout comes loose or tiles crack on a floor it is usually the result of improper installation. If we cannot help, we will refer you to a tile installer.

Q. How long will the new grout last?
A. With proper maintenance, it will last a very long time. We show you the proper way to care for grout so it lasts for many, many years. Using heavy bleaching agents, vinegar, is NOT recommended and are NOT good for grout.

Q. How long do I have to wait to use my shower after a regrout?
A. You can usually use your shower the day after we are completed. Regrouting a shower usually takes 3 trips over a 2 week period, including the cleaning. If your home only has one shower, we will tarp off the shower walls so it is still usable.

Q. Do you install floor tile?
A. No, we do not. We only repair and only do that if it makes sense to. But we can refer you to a good installer that we trust.