This client from Whitechapel E1 asked me to pop round to see if anything could be done to improve the Encaustic Cement tiles in the bathroom in the bathroom along with the grout which was also in need of renovation. They thought the tiles were ceramic however I suspected they were in fact a modern Encaustic cement tile which do need more maintenance and should be sealed.
As requested, I popped round to take a look and was able to confirm they were not ceramic but encaustic cement which were very popular in Victorian days but with new manufacturing processes and designs are back in fashion.
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Having inspected the tiles and discussing the issues with the owner I discovered they had been using an acid based cleaner to remove the calcium staining from hard water that was evident on the tiles and shower screen. This will have stripped off any sealer that will have been applied leaving them vulnerable to ingrained dirt.
I was able to re-assure my client that the tiles could be renovated, and I worked out a plan and a quote for doing the renovation. Happy with the price, a date was agreed to start the work.
Renovating an Encaustic Tiled Bathroom
To remove the hard water staining, the tiles were scrubbed with a coarse six-inch 400-grit Tile Doctor burnishing pad fitted to a hand buffer using only water for lubrication. This did a good job of cleaning up the tiles and removing all the calcium and etching caused by the acidic cleaning product. The soiling was rinsed off and then I followed up with finer 800 and 1500 grit pads following the same process. These finer pads re-finish the tiles and build up a bit of a polish in the process.
I left the shower to dry out overnight and returned the next day to apply a sealer which for this installation we used Tile Doctor X-Tra Seal which is rated for use in wet areas. It’s a impregnating sealer that soaks into the tile, occupying the pores and preventing dirt from becoming ingrained there.
The last step was to replace the old silicone sealant which is impossible to get clean once its badly stained. The sealant was cut out with a sharp knife and replaced with new leaving the bathroom looking like a new installation.
The job went very well, and my client was very pleased with the difference, so much so they left the following feedback:
Before leaving we discussed on-going cleaning, and I re-iterated the need to avoid using strong cleaning products on sealed tiles. I also suggested mopping up any pools where water was collecting and using a Tile Doctor Aqua Pro for daily cleaning.
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Source: Shower Tile Cleaning and Renovation Service near Whitechapel East London