What is hard floor restoration?

There are many types of hard floors ranging from natural and man made stone and ceramic tiles to hard wood and vinyl – all of which are good and popular options for certain locations and all of which offers a range of good qualities.  One factor they all have in common is their propensity to deteriorate from an aesthetic point of view if left uncared for or if they are not properly maintained.  There are tips for hard floor maintenance all over the place, but there may come a point when domestic cleaning efforts cease to be effective and the floor will actually need to be professionally restored.

It needs to be made clear that there is no single process for restoring a floor – which basically means returning it to its original state.  Just as the process of caring for a hardwood floor varies to that of a ceramic floor, so the restoration process is also different.  The first thing that needs to be done is to assess the state of the floor.  It is very useful to know what has previously been applied to the floor, if any, in the form of sealants or treatments.  As for the assessment itself, you would need to contact a hard floor restoration specialist.

The process itself can involve a surface clean and buffing if the sealant on the floor is undamaged, and a hard floor cleaning and restoration company would utilize modern equipment such as emulsification, pressure and heat cleaning to do this.  Once the floor is clean, applying or re-applying a sealant is recommended, and the company will also be able to take care of this for you.

On occasions the floor surface itself may have stained or become damage – which will involve an entirely different process.  For example, if a sealed hard wood floor has become damaged and stained, the floor will actually need to be sanded, cleaned and polished and then resealed to make it look like new.  In the case of ceramics, it is possible that previously applied sealants may need to be stripped before the cleaning and sealing process.

A hard floor restoration company will be able to advise you of the best process for each different type of floor available.

An introduction to floor care

There are a wide variety of hard floors chosen for a wide variety of locations and for a variety of reasons.  Choices range from natural slate and stone, fabricated ceramic tiles, hard wood floors and even different types of vinyl.  The different options offer a limitless range of designs, colours, shapes and qualities for aesthetic reasons, but the floor type is also often chosen due to its suitability for the location and the qualities it offers such as durability and ease of maintenance.

Floors require maintenance and no matter how durable or stain resistant a floor is, it will soon lose its visual appeal if not cared for regularly.  As an introduction a few basics can be covered which will, in general, be applicable to all floors – although for specifics of each floor you would be well advised to consult a specialist.

In general the main threats to the floor come from spillages which can cause surface damage and staining, and surface scratching which can expose the surface and allow a place for staining and bacteria to build up over time until there is a stain which is impossible to remove using general cleaning techniques.  The following simple steps should help you to keep your floor looking good.

The first step is to apply a good quality sealant to the floor.  This should be done only when the floor has been properly cleaned otherwise you will be ‘sealing in’ the marks and stains – this happens more often than you would think.  The other important factor to consider is choosing the correct sealant.  Different floor types require different sealants, and even with similar surfaces (such as natural stone) there can be different sealants which are suitable.  You would be well advised to consult a floor care specialist for advice.

A sealant will offer an extra barrier of protection and will help to waterproof the floor against spillages.  Spillages are most common in areas such as bathrooms and kitchens, and usually tiles are used in the floors for these areas.  If that is your case you also need to consider protecting the grout.  Grout is the material used to fill the spaces between the edges of tiles and is a notoriously porous substance which means it will stain easily.  Grout usually requires a separate grout sealer which a hard floor cleaning or restoration company will be able to offer you.

Surface scratching is one of the major problems for all surface types and causes maintenance problems.  Surface scratching can remove sealants or the ‘glaze’ on ceramic tiles and expose the stainable surface below.  Spillages will also affect these unprotected areas – especially with substances such as hard wood and can very quickly leave your floor with an unsatisfactory finish.  Surface scratching and abrasions are generally caused by sand, dirt and grit walked in on the soles of shoes.  If you doubt this – take a quick look at your shoes when you walk in from the streets, you may be surprised.  Regular sweeping and vacuuming will remove the majority of surface grit while the simple step of using doormats should help reduce the amount being introduced into the area.

Regular mopping, depending on the floor type, should be enough to keep the floor looking clean, but read carefully before using a cleaning product to make sure it is suitable.  In general, products with an acidic content will affect some floors such as limestone, but a safe bet is to use warm water with a little detergent or a neutral PH cleaner.  If you have any doubts – contact a floor care consultant.

Advice on commercial floor cleaning

Commercial floors, as with their domestic counterparts, come in a variety of forms including natural stone and slate, fabricated ceramic tiles, hard wood and even vinyl.  The choice of floor type will depend on the type of usage it will be exposed to more so than with a domestic floor which is often chosen for purely aesthetic reasons.

One of the main differences with flooring in a commercial location is the amount of traffic it will experience.  In a business there is often a lot of coming and going, in an office there can be many workers working a considerable part of the day and often employees won’t care for a floor the same way they would in their own house.  The choice on floor in such cases becomes all the more important.

One quality that all floor types share is the need for regular maintenance to keep it clean.  While it is true that some floors require less work than others, all floors will acquire a dull, stained and marker or unsatisfactory finish if left unattended for long enough.  Following some simple steps will allow you to look after the floor and keep it looking good.

The first stage in keeping a floor looking good is the application of a good quality commercial sealant.  Sealants offer an extra layer of protection and aid cleaning efforts and can be applied to any floor type.  It is however important to make sure that, firstly, the floor is properly cleaned before the floor is sealed (it is remarkable how often this does not happen) and, secondly, that the right sealant is chosen.  A highly durable vinyl floor with slip resistant qualities will be adversely affected by a sealant which reduces this slip resistant quality.  If you have any doubts as to which is the right sealant for your floor, you should consult a commercial floor cleaning consultant.

A sealant needs to be protected once it has been applied and this involves nothing more than keeping it scratch free through regular sweeping and vacuuming, followed by surface cleaning.  Depending on the floor type you may need to clean in different ways – for example avoid water on wooden floors, but in general you are advised to avoid cleaning products containing any acidic qualities (go for a neutral PH cleaner) or simply use water if in any doubts.

Sealants will need to be periodically re-applied as they will, over time, wear out due to general usage.  If you notice a stain you cannot shift, it is possible that the sealant has worn off exposing the surface of the floor itself, or that lack of cleaning has led to a build-up of grime or bacteria on the surface which has become a stain which is difficult to shift.  A commercial floor cleaning specialist will be able to advise you as to the best course of action to take.

Tile cleaning – The effect of pets

Tile floors come in many forms such as slate and other natural stones as well as a wide range of fabricated tiles which come in a variety of finishes.  Many people choose tiles due to the wide range of designs, shapes and colours available – but many choose this type of floor due to the comparative ease in keeping the floor clean, it is relatively low maintenance compared to other types of floors.  This can be particularly the case when the floor in question is located in an area where spillages are likely, such as kitchens or wash rooms – and also when the location has a pet.

One of the problems with the maintenance of tiled floors is dealing with spillages and keeping the floor looking good subsequently.  Although tiled floors are relatively low maintenance, without due care a floor can quickly become dulled and acquire an uneven or unsatisfactory appearance, usually as a result of some sort of staining from spillages.  Spilled drinks are a common occurrence, but are usually wiped up and cleaned immediately, which is not the case with pets.  

Animals such as cats and dogs can, over time, be trained to go where they need to go – but it is often the case that young puppies and kittens, and older animals often relieve themselves where and when they need to.  Even if your pet is house trained, accidents can still occur and the major problem here is when urine or a pet’s spilled drink stays on the floor for many hours.  Pets will not advise when something occurs and with people spending the day at work, or sleeping at night an ‘accident’ can affect the floor for several hours before it is cleaned up.  The longer the stain is on the floor, the higher the probability that the tile surface, or the grout, will be stained or acquire a nasty odor.

There are several ways to deal with this but the main thing that can be done to prevent staining or a build-up of bacteria is the application of a good sealant.  Sealants act as an extra layer of protection and still the filtration of liquids into porous materials such as tile grout.  You would be advised to apply a special grout sealer, clear or colour, and then apply a separate sealer for the surface of the tiles which will aid cleaning efforts.  If you need any advice as to the type of sealer to choose you would be advised to consult a tile cleaning specialist who will be able to recommend one for you.

If, despite the application of a sealant, the floor acquires an unsatisfactory, uneven or dull appearance, it is probable that the sealer has either worn off, been scratched or that your general maintenance has not been sufficient.  If either case, a tile cleaning company will be able to take advantage of modern techniques and technology to restore your floor to its original condition.

Wood floor cleaning – Protect against spillages

Hard wood has been used as flooring for hundreds of years and is often described as ‘classy’, ‘elegant’ and ‘sophisticated’ which offers a great finish and will enhance any environment.  These types of words are probably used as a result of past usage, where hard wood floors were only available to upper middle class and rich families and were as much an indicator of social status as anything else.  Even nowadays hard wood is not a cheap option but when properly installed provides a fantastic finish and will, if properly looked after, look good for many years to come.

Hard wood is, compared to alternative types of flooring, relatively difficult to maintain and that is one of the problems with the surface.  Wood can stain, scratch and mark easily and careful and regular maintenance is needed to keep it looking good.  One of the factors that can cause problems is spillages, as water not only affects the surface, but can also seek into spaces between floor boards and actually ruin the material over time.  For this reason it is not common to find (nor is it recommended to have) hardwood floors in areas where spillages are common – such as wash rooms and kitchens.

In some cases spillages are inevitable, an accidental spilt drink at dinner, inevitable spillages with children in the house and the ‘accidents’ with pets especially when a young puppy or kitten, or an older pet is involved.  Spillages can cause a problem if they are not cleaned up immediately, and a pet or young child certainly won’t advise when and where a spillage has occurred.  Even if cleaned immediately, a spillage such as wine or coffee can cause instant staining to an unprotected floor – so your first step in caring for your floor is to seal it.

Before sealing it is useful to know what has previously been applied to a floor in terms of a sealant.  To check if your floor has a sealant you can pour a few drops of water on the surface.  If they ‘float’ on the surface and do not seep at all into the wood, you probably have a floor that has been sealed at some point.  It is a very good idea to have a floor periodically sealed and if you need to assess the state of your floor you would be well advised to contact a wood floor cleaning specialist who will be able to advise you.

A good commercial sealant will offer an extra layer of protection against spillages – effectively ‘water-proofing’ the surface and reducing the risk posed by liquids.  Spillages should still be cleaned up immediately and care should be taken to protect the sealant from scratches and abrasions (regular sweeping and vacuuming is recommended) so that your sealant remains effective for longer.  If you need your floor re-sealed (highly recommended) or cleaned if it has become stained – then you will probably need to contact a wood floor cleaning company to do this for you.