Cleaning Vinyl Composition Tile (VCT) Vinyl composition tile (VCT) often found in the corridors of offices, schools and hospitals, can be kept shiny day in and day out by utilizing a professional floor cleaning company. Trying to clean VCT without knowing the proper processes and or using the wrong chemicals or cleaning processes can turn VCT floor coverings into a dull and grimy looking surface. For example, it is important to use a neutral cleaner, with a ph of 7, mixed no more than 1 oz per gallon of water for daily maintenance of the floor. Making the mistake of using a high alkaline cleaner or degreaser will dull the finish. It’s also important to know that new VCT floors must be scrubbed and coated with a minimum of 4 coats of floor finish. Keep in mind that entryways, lobbies, and other high traffic areas especially on entrance levels may require more frequent cleaning than lower traffic areas of the building. These types of areas may require additional maintenance or extra coats of protection. It’s also important to know that VCT manufacturers coat their product with one thin coat of an acrylic finish for protection during shipping and storage. Because this coating provides no gloss and minimal protection from foot traffic, your tile must be scrubbed and coated with an generous amount of floor finish. Be sure to take note that newly installed flooring should not be scrubbed for two weeks to allow the mastic adequate time to bond. Cleaning or polishing too early and you risk damaging the flooring. Keep in mind that entryways, lobbies, and other high traffic areas especially on entrance levels may require more frequent cleaning than lower traffic areas of the building. These types of areas may require additional maintenance or extra coats of protection. Between professional cleanings, VCT maintenance is the key to a long, attractive life for commercial VCT flooring. Be sure to utilize walk off mats and keep up with regular maintenance procedures such as: sweeping and mopping to protect not only the floor but the building owners investment. Floor care is not particularly complicated, but it does demand strict adherence to certain procedures. Hiring an experienced professional floor cleaning company that specializes in VCT cleaning can help you avoid undesirable results and keep your floor covering looking shiny and new. Finding a VCT cleaning expert is easy if you’re located in Orange County CA. A Pacific Carpet & Tile Cleaning is a family owned and operated business who are proud to serve the entire Los Angeles Area and everywhere in between. We are fully insured and are members of the Better Business Bureau, Business Network International and The Orange County Chamber Of Commerce. Pacific’s VCT floor cleaners prides themselves on being on time, providing exceptional service, and doing what we say we will do.   Welcome to Pacific Carpet & Tile Cleaning Orange County  Established in 1987, Pacific Carpet & Tile Cleaning in Orange County Tile Cleaning, Repair, Water Damage is the first and best Environmentally conscious steam cleaning company in Los Angeles, CA. We are fully Licensed, Trained and Certified. From our GREEN-SEAL Certified Premium Cleaning Products to our sustainable dumping practices, Pacific Carpet & Tile Cleaning in Orange County uses ONLY Ultra-Premium cleaning products that possess far superior cleaning capabilities, are non-toxic, Bio-Degradable, non-irritant and safer for environmental disposal. Do you have tile flooring in the hallway, kitchen, foyer, or bathrooms? Has the grout turned dark with grit and grime? Over time grout can become a very dangerous breeding ground for mold, mildew and harmful bacteria.  In general, tile floors in Orange County should be professionally cleaned every two years. At Pacific Carpet & Tile Cleaning Orange County Tile, Grout and Stone Cleaning, we utilize special equipment designed to safely and efficiently remove mold and mildew from grout and floors in Orange County, CA.  Our sophisticated products break right through the grime and grit.

Slate Tile Cleaning Services in Orange County CA

Slate, a very dense but soft and easily scratched material with low porosity, can be used effectively outdoors as well as indoors. Higher absorbency varieties are not suitable for exterior areas in freezing climates. Slate is a fine grained metamorphic rock formed by the metamorphism of shale and clay under lower pressures and temperatures which tends to split into sheet-like (cleavage planes) structures formed in response to differential stress. It comes in a multitude of colors and has two lines of breakability (cleavage & grain).

Composition: Mainly grains of mica and quartz, plus smaller amounts of chlorite, hematite, and other minerals. Most slate is gray to black, but the rock may be red or purple, depending on its mineral content. The surface of slate is generally uneven and cleft planes can spall, due to the cleaving of the stone along its layers. Has low to medium absorption of oils and other liquids. Should be sealed with an oil-repellant penetrating sealer to prevent staining and reduce soiling. Because of the cleft planes and strong possiblility of spalling, it should never be cleaned at pressures above 800 PSI and then only if the grout is in good condition.

Vermont type slate is typically smoother, denser, one color (red, green, black, blue). Indian and Chinese slates are dense and soft, of all colors and variegated colors. Brazilian slate is typically dense and hard, interesting colors and patterns of color.

Some Indian and Chinese slates will flake and powder from foot traffic. This is not rust or other minerals coming to the surface. These are spots of softer material becoming loose particles. Some slates may be quite hard, but have a soft spot that can powder out. Some black and brown slates (if unsealed) can lose color from aggressive cleaning.

StoneTech™ Professional BulletProof™ is recommended for any slate that tests for sufficient absorbency. (Test slate with water drops. This is a water based sealer that must all penetrate. Therefore, the slate must be able to absorb a water drop in 3 seconds. If the slate is not sufficiently absorbent, use Impregnator Pro™.

Slate is very stain resistant. However, some foods can cause stains. EnhancerPro™ gives slate a beautiful ‘wet’ look that does not cause a glossy built up finish. Many people make the mistake of applying heavy waxes or floor finishes that rob the slate of its natural beauty and slip resistance. High Gloss Stone Sealer can also be used where a glossy finish is desired (interior only).

 

Welcome to Pacific Carpet & Tile Cleaning Orange County  Established in 1987, Pacific Carpet & Tile Cleaning in Orange County Tile Cleaning, Repair, Water Damage is the first and best Environmentally conscious steam cleaning company in Los Angeles, CA. We are fully Licensed, Trained and Certified. From our GREEN-SEAL Certified Premium Cleaning Products to our sustainable dumping practices, Pacific Carpet & Tile Cleaning in Orange County uses ONLY Ultra-Premium cleaning products that possess far superior cleaning capabilities, are non-toxic, Bio-Degradable, non-irritant and safer for environmental disposal.

Do you have tile flooring in the hallway, kitchen, foyer, or bathrooms? Has the grout turned dark with grit and grime? Over time grout can become a very dangerous breeding ground for mold, mildew and harmful bacteria.  In general, tile floors in Orange County should be professionally cleaned every two years. At Pacific Carpet & Tile Cleaning Orange County Tile, Grout and Stone Cleaning, we utilize special equipment designed to safely and efficiently remove mold and mildew from grout and floors in Orange County, CA.  Our sophisticated products break right through the grime and grit.

 

Marble Care, Maintenance, Cleaning, Restoration & Sealing

 

Marble is a “relative” of limestone, having been derived from that particular stone, and having undergone further development while deep in the earth over the course of millions of years. Marble is a metamorphic rock, having been subject to tremendous heat and pressure to the point where various fossilized materials, along with the original limestone and sundry minerals, have become re-crystallized. This process changes the rock from limestone to what we would recognize as marble. This naturally decorative material is characterized by vein-like patterns which vary depending on which minerals, and which quantities of those minerals, were present during the re-crystallization of the original limestone parent rock. These patterns offer the unique appearance known to many, as well as the rich range of colors that are some of the most vibrant available in any natural stone.

Available in a wide range of colors, marble is often used for its beauty, but is more porous, softer, and chemically sensitive than granite. Marble surfaces show wear sooner than granite, but can be restored with honing and polishing more easily. Etched by acids, including soft drinks and juice. Absorbs oils and other liquids and is easily stained. So putting marble in a kitchen or heavily used bathroom is not a good idea. Best use of marble is for powder baths, table tops, tub surrounds, a marble shower, floor tile and stone fireplace surrounds.

Composed of Calcite and Calcium Carbonate. Should be sealed with a penetrating sealer such as BulletProof™ or Impregnator Pro to prevent staining and reduce soiling. Should only be cleaned with neutral pH detergents such as Revitalizer™ or Stone & Tile Cleaner. Because it is soft, it should never be cleaned at pressures above 800 PSI and then only if the grout is in good condition.

Note that almost all Green Marble is actually Serpentine, not Marble. Black Granite is generally Basalt and is charged a higher import duty.

Marble ranges from 1 to 4 on the MOH scale (a scale for determining the relative hardness of a mineral according to its resistance to scratching). The hardest mineral, at 10, is diamond. The softest mineral, at 1, is talc (baby powder).

Black Marble, such as Negro Marquina, is a very soft limestone often mistaken as a marble. Not recommended for interior flooring. Never use a crystallizer on black marble – The stone will blister or spall! If honing or polishing, use extreme care not to leave swirls and do not run until the powder has dried. Check frequently – polishes very quickly!

If you would like to test your floor or sample of Absolute Black Granite you can use both StoneTech™ Professional Restore™ and StoneTech™ Professional KlenzAll™ as testing liquids. We recommend you apply each of these cleaners in separate inconspicuous areas, let them stand for 30 minutes, rinse the surface and allow to dry. If the surface turns light gray you should avoid purchasing or using the material.

 

Welcome to Pacific Carpet & Tile Cleaning Orange County  Established in 1987, Pacific Carpet & Tile Cleaning in Orange County Tile Cleaning, Repair, Water Damage is the first and best Environmentally conscious steam cleaning company in Los Angeles, CA. We are fully Licensed, Trained and Certified. From our GREEN-SEAL Certified Premium Cleaning Products to our sustainable dumping practices, Pacific Carpet & Tile Cleaning in Orange County uses ONLY Ultra-Premium cleaning products that possess far superior cleaning capabilities, are non-toxic, Bio-Degradable, non-irritant and safer for environmental disposal.

Do you have tile flooring in the hallway, kitchen, foyer, or bathrooms? Has the grout turned dark with grit and grime? Over time grout can become a very dangerous breeding ground for mold, mildew and harmful bacteria.  In general, tile floors in Orange County should be professionally cleaned every two years. At Pacific Carpet & Tile Cleaning Orange County Tile, Grout and Stone Cleaning, we utilize special equipment designed to safely and efficiently remove mold and mildew from grout and floors in Orange County, CA.  Our sophisticated products break right through the grime and grit.

 

Porcelain Tile: Cleaning, Maintenance, Protection and Sealing

Most types of tiles that are made from clay or a mixture of clay and other materials and then kiln-fired, are considered to be a part of the larger classification called “Ceramic Tiles”. These tiles can be split into two groups, porcelain tiles and non-porcelain tiles. These non-porcelain tiles are frequently referred to as ceramic tiles by themselves, separate from porcelain tiles – confusing!

Non-porcelain ceramic tiles are generally made from red or white clay fired in a kiln. They are almost always finished with a durable glaze, which carries the color and pattern. These tiles are used in both wall and floor applications. Non-porcelain ceramic tiles are usually suitable for very light to moderate traffic and generally have a relatively high water absorption rating making them less frost resistant and they are more prone to wear and chipping than porcelain tiles. Porcelain tile is more scratch resistant than ceramic tile. Also, porcelain tile is fired at higher temperatures than ceramic, resulting in superior durability and stain resistance.

Porcelain unglazed tile is generally made by the dust pressed method from porcelain clays which result in a tile that is dense, impervious, fine grained and smooth, with a sharply formed face. Porcelain tiles usually have a much lower water absorption rate (less than 0.5%) than non-porcelain ceramic tiles making them frost resistant. Full body porcelain tiles carry the color and pattern through the entire thickness of the tile making them virtually impervious to wear and are suitable for any application from residential to the highest traffic commercial or industrial applications. Because porcelain tile is fire-hardened and quite hard, it can be cleaned at pressures up to 1,450 PSI if the grout is in good condition.

Porcelain unglazed tiles are similar to glazed tile, except that their surface is not coated. Full-body porcelain unglazed tiles do not show wear because their color extends throughout the tile, making them ideal for commercial applications.

Sealing Ceramic and Porcelain Tile & Grout

Glazed tiles are coated with a liquid glass, which is then baked into the surface of the clay. The glaze provides an unlimited array of colors and designs as well as protects the tile from staining. A glazed tile is already stain proof, so there is no purpose to putting on a sealer. However, the grout joint between the tiles is usually very porous and generally made of a cement-based material. Therefore, grout joints typically will need to be sealed and maintained properly to prevent stains and discoloration. Impregnating sealers such as All-Purpose Grout Sealer go into the grout joint and protect against water and oil-based stains. Most industry professionals recognize that grout is best protected with a fluorochemical-based sealer, such as Impregnator Pro or All-Purpose Grout Sealer. If the grout joint is epoxy, a sealer is not necessary.

     

       Before                   After                   Before                    After

           

        Ceramic Tile                          Limestone Floor

 Before                   After                   Before                    After

         

                                                       Marble Floor Polishing                  Bathroom Shower

                                        

We offer professional tile & grout cleaning services. Our company can make sure that your tile and grout stays clean. We can also handle marble/travertine floor polishing. If you have porcelain or ceramic tile, we can make sure that is is cleaned properly too. Contact us if you are interested in Limestone cleaning and polishing, vinyl floor stripping and waxing, or wood floor refinishing.