Ceramic Tile Care
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Ceramic tile is one of the easiest floors to care for, and can provide many years of beauty. Here are things to remember along the way
To help you understand this product, its limitations, precautions, and maintenance procedures, please read the following information.
- The newly installed tile must not be walked on for the first 24 hours. This time is necessary to allow proper curing and bonding of the tile adhesive.
- Finding the grout rough and gritty following installation is not uncommon. Damp water mopping daily for the first week or so will help cure the grout to its full strength. With age and time, all grout will smooth and change color somewhat from its original appearance.
- Furniture, chairs, and appliances should be properly supported and protected at the floor level to reduce possible tile damage. We strongly urge you to evaluate these conditions in your home and take corrective and preventive measures where reason and judgment would dictate.
- Concrete is subject to expansion, contraction, settling, and cracking, which may cause cracks or hollow spots or both in a ceramic tile installation. These conditions can be neither controlled nor warranted by the tile contractor. These conditions may occur and are assumed risks of the homeowner or builder.
- Grout materials cannot be expected to look as even and uniform as a painted color. Grout is color pigmented cement and is subject to shading, mottling, and color drift. Exact color match to samples cannot be guaranteed.
- The use of silicone, or lacquer sealers is considered optional principally because they do not seal to the extent that the word “sealer” might imply and also because they are not permanent and require future reapplication. They can, however, prevent some discoloration and staining of the grout.
Manufacturers of glazed tiles typically do not recommend the use of sealers simply because it is not necessary. Since glazes are made of glass-like materials, they do not take on stains and are easily cleaned. Some glazed tiles, however, do have crazed, or finely pitted surfaces, by the manufacturing process, which may justifiably require a sealer.
Once the job is done and cleaned, the grout joints can be sealed. A once-over with your sealer according to instructions will do the job. If your tile is glazed, these sealers will not harm the surface, as long as they’re wiped clean. Should you elect to use a sealer, allow two weeks from the date of installation before application.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Any product failure or dissatisfaction resulting from the use of a sealer would rest entirely with the customer and /or the sealer manufacturer.
Regular Cleaning Procedures
Ceramic Tile is among the easiest surfaces to keep clean. It is important to regularly vacuum tile floors, particularly glazed ones, to remove gritty particles that might scratch them. Routine cleaning requires only washing with hot water and a mild detergent.
After washing the tile, rinse it thoroughly to remove detergent film. To prevent stains, wipe up spills as soon as they occur. For stubborn dirt, scrub tiles with a white cleansing powder (colored powders may tint the grout) or a concentrated solution of all- purpose cleaner. Always rinse it thoroughly to remove detergent film.
Be sure to always read the directions and precautions on the label before using. Some tile cleaners have harsh acids that will etch glazed tiles if left on the surface too long.
In addition to routine cleaning, you can keep grout looking new by scrubbing it occasionally with a toothbrush and household bleach or tile cleaner. If your grout is colored, test these cleaners in an unobtrusive place before you use them. Predicting how the chemicals will react with the pigment in the grout is difficult.
The previous statements are intended to be general and informative. They are, by no means, inclusive of all possible circumstances. Our hope is that this information will be of assistance to you in the enjoyment and use of your ceramic tile.
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