Lisa Breakspear, head of sales at Mapei UltraCare, explains how to maintain natural stone tiles and exterior tiles to ensure maximum performance
ALL installations, whether internal or external, natural stone, terrazzo, terracotta or porcelain, require the same level of cleaning and maintenance in terms of post installation clean, ongoing cleaning and periodic deep cleaning, to keep the installed material looking great and performing as it should. Performance not only relates to aesthetics; it also relates to anti-slip requirements and desired PTV (Pendulum Test Value) readings expected of the installed material.
In terms of PTV readings, the two most important processes that can affect this are the Builders Clean and how the tile is maintained going forward. Failure to carry out these two cleaning processes will compromise appearance but, most importantly, the PTV rating will be affected.
Let’s take a closer look at the Builders Clean. For the installed tile to look its best, the correct cleaning product should be used to remove all grout and installation residues. This will ensure the optimal PTV reading is achieved. Leaving behind any residues will track dirt and, over a short period of time, the reading will be compromised, the tile will become difficult to clean and will start to look dirty. When considering which cleaning product to use for the Builders Clean, this will depend upon the material being installed, as well as the grout being used. In terms of natural stone, you’ll also need to consider whether the material is sensitive to acid or acid-resistant and whether the stone has a polished or unpolished finish. Your tile care provider will be able to advise on the correct products to use.
When installing natural stone or surfaces that have a degree of porosity, such as engineered stone, terrazzo or terracotta, then the Builders Cleaner will ensure that all contamination is removed so that any sealing product applied is able to fully absorb into the porosity; here, it will form its chemical bond and perform fully to provide protection against staining and make ongoing cleaning and maintenance easy.
Failure to remove installation residue will limit the ability of the sealer to be properly absorbed. This can cause issues like ‘sealed in footprints’ and it will also compromise the performance of the sealer. As a result, the sealer may need to be stripped off and a thorough Builders Clean undertaken before reapplication; both costly and time-consuming.
When it comes to sealing porous surfaces, there are considerations to make regarding the type of sealer and desired aesthetics. Options include water-based and solvent-based sealers, natural-look finishes and products that enhance natural veining and colouring or offer a gloss or wet-look finish. Before applying a product, test it on an offcut or inconspicuous area to, once again, avoid any costly mistakes.
Water-based sealers offer a significant saving in time, as they can be applied while there’s still moisture in the tile, whereas solvent-based sealers can only be applied when a tile is fully dry. Also, using a sealer that’s breathable is important, so that moisture can pass through the tile, from bottom to top.
When it comes to porcelain, whether installed internally or externally, it won’t need to be sealed unless the tile has a polished finish. Products are available for unpolished porcelain tiles to offer ‘protection’ but as the typical porosity of a porcelain tile is ≤0.5%, the best way to care for the tile is to pay attention to the Builders Clean and ongoing maintenance. However, a temporary sacrificial sealer on heavily textured porcelain tiles can make the removal of grout easier, as any residue will sit on the top of the sacrificial sealer and it can then be washed off after grouting. Periodic deep cleaning will then ensure that any slip rating is maintained. Externally, deep cleaning will remove black spot, algae and organic contamination which may build up. There are also products available for easy removal of rust and stains left by leaves and tree sap.
Internal polished porcelain can benefit from sealing. Although the porosity is still low, the tile’s microscopic surface pores allow for a sealer to be applied to stop staining and make cleaning easy. The same rules apply here though; ensure a Builders Clean is undertaken, so the sealer can be absorbed.
For ongoing cleaning, highly concentrated pH neutral cleaning products are worth the investment, as the coverage rates are generally extremely high, making them great value for money. Using a pH neutral solution will ensure efficient, safe cleaning and will extend the life of the sealer between reapplications. When undertaking any deep cleaning of a sealed tile, reapplication of protection is always recommended.
info@mapei.co.uk
www.mapei.co.uk
