LTP offers a suite of surface care products, with water-based solutions for all types of tile and stone in residential and commercial settings. Manufactured in the UK, the treatments incorporate research on water-based technology and are said to combine high performance with low odour and low VOC formulations. The range includes intensive cleaners, sealers, aftercare products and tools.
As autumn approaches, the surface maintenance focus switches to indoor areas. Most tiles will benefit from a deep clean to remove a build-up of residue, especially those subjected to heavy traffic and floors that have been cleaned with detergents that contain maintainers – products designed to create a waxy sheen. Residue attracts dirt, making ongoing maintenance more difficult.
LTP’s Grimex alkaline treatment provides what’s described as a safe, effective clean in all settings, removing organic residue including grease and oil. It can be used at different dilutions, depending on the degree of residue/staining, to clean or completely strip a surface. As with any deep cleaner, it’s important to allow the product sufficient surface contact time and to thoroughly rinse tiles with clean water after treatment.
All stone and polished porcelain floors need to be resealed periodically and, if a floor requires a very deep clean or it has been stripped, protection may also need to be reinstated. As the surface is already stripped of dirt and residue, treatment will be quick and straight forward.
LTP’s range includes two water-based impregnating sealers designed to protect surfaces from water, oil and grease. Colour Intensifier & Stainblock H2O treats natural and artificial stone, while MPG Sealer H2O is designed for polished tiles.
Both treatments are said to provide protection without forming a film on the surface of the tile, and can be used indoors and outdoors on wall or floor tiles. The formulations are absorbed into the tile’s porosity while allowing the surface to breathe, the company says, repelling stains and promoting easy maintenance.
LTP Colour Intensifier & Stainblock H2O is an all-in-one sealer and enhancer suitable for natural stone, artificial stone, quarry, brick, concrete and paving, with honed, rough cut and polished finishes. As well as providing protection against water and organic stains, it also helps to reduce efflorescence.
The company’s MPG Sealer H2O is designed for polished marble, polished and semi-polished porcelain or lappato including PGVT (polished glazed vitrified tiles), polished granite and encaustics. The treatment is designed to create a natural finish with minimal change to the original appearance.
As well as protecting new installations, it can be used in renovations; highly polished tiles can be quite vulnerable to scuffs and scratches and the treatment can cover these, helping to make them less visible.
All LTP water-based protectors offer equal performance to their spirit-based solvent equivalents, the company says. “The water or spirit elements within a sealer don’t play a part in the actual protection,” says LTP’s Mark Atkins. “They just facilitate application and evaporate as the treatment dries.”
Water-based formulations also make transportation/shipping and storage easier.
Matte porcelain tiles don’t need to be sealed after deep cleaning, but they will benefit from application of a barrier treatment like LTP Porcelain Tile Protector, the company says. As well as protecting tiles from staining during installation, this protector also creates a barrier against dirt and residue, making ongoing maintenance easier.
Free samples of the company’s products are available upon request, while specification advice can also be accessed at www.ltp-productguide.co.uk.
The diagnostic and specification tool is designed to give instant feedback, identifying the correct treatment according to tile type and symptom. As well as supporting tilers, the product selector is also a retail sales aid and training tool.
www.ltp-online.co.uk
01823 666213
