Ten years ago, in the height of the real estate boom, flipping houses turned a hefty profit. Many flippers knew about the basics of construction and design. What they didn’t know was how important some of the details would be. Kitchen and bathrooms sell homes! That means, your biggest investment should be in the details found in your kitchen and bathrooms and tile typically claims a lot of real estate in these rooms. Let me share some tips on getting the most out of your tile:

1. Seal it.

You already know that tile needs grout. Grout is easy to find and comes in multiple colors to blend or contrast with your tile. Grout fills in the gaps between the tile to produce your pattern. It’s important to note that the grout is exposed to water, moisture and anything else that the tile is exposed to in your bathroom and kitchen (shampoo, dish soap, splashes, you get the idea). Most grout is not waterproof or stain, mold or mildew proof and therefore, it needs to be sealed. The one exception to this is epoxy grout. If you used epoxy grout, skip this tutorial! Home run! It’s more expensive than other types of grout but may save you time in the long run.

2. Sealing is relatively simple.

It may take some time, but you should be able to do it. There are several ways to apply the seal, but most are basic processes that you are probably already familiar with. You can brush or roll on the sealer, choose the one you are more comfortable with. The brush applicator may require a little more finesse and a second coat but is generally easy to apply and even easier to stay within the grout lines. Rollers tend to apply a more even coat and may be more precise in their application without going past the grout line. You can also spray on the sealer. I do not recommend this application for non-professionals because it is too easy to get overspray on your tiles. It takes a lot of time to clean up overspray, even if the spraying takes less time than brushing or rolling.

3. Know when to seal.

If you have finished your tiling and grouting, make sure you wait a minimum of two days, three is even better, to make sure the grout is dry, dry, dry. You cannot seal wet or damp grout. Be sure the grout is completely dry and smooth. Before you seal the grout, make sure you picked the right kind. Penetrating group sealers are water based and penetrate the grout. These types of sealers absorb into the porous grout and are great for bathrooms. Membrane-forming grout sealers do what they say – they create a membrane over the grout. These sealers are great for kitchens. Grout sealers keep the grout stain free and provide a great moisture barrier that can last several years.  

Castles Home Service, family owned and operated, protecting stone and tile since 1982.  Call 831-444-0991 or visit us online at https://www.castleshomeservice.com

For most of us, cleaning a counter-top requires little to no thinking. We simply apply our chosen cleaning agent and wipe! However, you may be unknowingly damaging expensive, beautiful countertops or even putting your own health at risk! Here are several things to consider when choosing a chemical cleaner to use and what surface you’re going to clean with it.

Health Safety

First and foremost, you need to ensure that the cleaning agent you’re using is not going to be toxic to your health, either immediately after cleaning or even long after you’ve wiped down the countertops.  Most cleaners meant for regular human contact or food are nor going to be particularly harmful (not dangerously corrosive like drain-cleaners or oven cleaners), but it’s still a good idea that you know what ingredients they have. For example, were you just cleaning with bleach and for some reason need to clean the area or an area very close with ammonia? You may accidentally end up creating a toxic gas by mixing the two. Be aware!

What ingredients are usually safe to use? Look for simple ingredients like vinegar, lemon juice or another citrus, and even baking soda. These are extremely unlikely to cause you physical harm or cause adverse chemical reactions that may endanger your health.

Safe for YOUR Surfaces

However, just because a cleaning agent is safe for your health doesn’t mean it’s safe for your countertops! You need to be absolutely sure that any cleaning agent you use, regardless of how safe or non-toxic the ingredients are, won’t cause permanent damage to the surface you’re cleaning, especially if those surfaces happen to be made from premium materials.

For example, what cleaning agents can be safely used on granite? Granite has the reputation of being durable and long-lasting so there may be an impulse to assume that any standard cleaning agent would be fine. However, such an assumption may cost you your granite countertops! Granite should never be cleaned with anything acidic for many reasons.

First, acidic cleaners that contain citrus or vinegar are absolutely off limits for granite countertops or any countertops with a sealant. Why? The acid eats away at the sealant, leaving your shiny, beautiful countertops looking bland and dull. However, it’s not just the sealant at stake. Acidic cleaners can harm the actual granite (or any other kind of stone surface) itself.

Tile floors or other tile surfaces are no exception. Harsh cleaners can attack their luster and eventually damage the material, leaving you with ugly floors at best, or a giant remodeling bill at worst.

How can you avoid damaging your stone and tile from cleaning? Generally, warm water and dish soap are more than enough for granite countertops, and an extremely diluted vinegar solution is generally sufficient for tile floors or other tile surfaces.

You should always take the time to learn about how to take care of your expensive, gorgeous home surfaces, be they granite, tile, or other premium material. The small amount of extra time it takes to research and to know for sure what should be used will almost certainly save you a bundle of time and money down the road.