quarry tile cleaning help please

[barcabod]

Hi folks
I have just bought some reclaimed Red and Black with a few brindle colour quarry tiles from ebay good condition,but i would like to clean them.

Some seem to be glazed and pretty clean others seem a little dirty and not glazed or if are glazed i think its wore off(if thats possible).I have jet washed them to a certain degree of success
Is there a good product that will get them looking really good?
I have access to a buffing machine (either with pads or brushwhich is best?)

Please help me out as i am starting to lay the path at the weekend

i am laying them in a diamond pattern is there anything i should be careful with laying them in this way
Also can anyone reccomend a good sealer and polish for the tiles and rope edging ( i have cleaned these as good as they are going to get i think) once laid and cleaned

Thanks

Billy

 

[DHTiling]

Hi Billy..

Glazed..?? you got any pics..?

 

[White Room]

LTP Online | Pick Finish

 

[barcabod]

Sorry dave no pics ( takes me half the time to switch the computer on)
The glazed ones are Platts i think ,blue and red(when i say glazed i think i really mean shinier)
Unglazed or not as shiny are a different make
I have used QEP heavy duty tile cleaner from B and Q with a little success
I have cleaned the rope edging with brick cleaner and they are pretty good actually,could i use the brick cleaner(acid) on the quarry tiles?

Thanks for the reply

I may become a nightmare as i usually need to know the ins and outs haha
So your help is really appreciated

Thanks

Billy

 

[DHTiling]

The tiles might just be coated with some sort of Topical sealer or maybe waxed..

LTP Grimex will be a good one to clean them with.. use a coarse scotch pad as well..

LTP Online | Cleaning Products

 

[barcabod]

Whitebeam
Thanks for reply,can you buy this product at any shops or is it just online?

 

[DHTiling]

All Tile giant stores sell LTP products.

 

[White Room]

It can be purchased from outlets, tilegiant sell it if you have one near you

 

[barcabod]

Is that the best product then?
Think i can get it a floors to go

Can you throw ant light on the sealing and polish for them
by the way its an outside path

I have looked at Golvpolish (think thats its name) from walls and floors website

Thanks

 

[DHTiling]

Quarry's don't normally need sealing but some peeps wax them when used in doors.

I wouldn't use anything outside as it will not last... and with quarry's being vitrified they don't always absorb normal impregnating type sealer's.

Best bet is get them clean and then do a water test on them to determine water porosity .

 

[MARBLE_TONY]

Agree with Dave on this one if they are outside but if i did seal them Enrich'N'Seal Aqua mix but this shall darken them but give it a wet look bit of a ***** to apply though as for cleaning them Sealing and coating remover is an option also aqua mix if it does have a topical sealer on them

 

[barcabod]

Thanks for the continued help

Any opinions on HG Golvpolish?

 

[Spud]

Thanks for the continued help

Any opinions on HG Golvpolish?

It wont last 5 minutes on a tile thats outside exposed to the elements

 

[barcabod]

Gary

would you just clean the tiles and leave them ?
Or is there a product that makes them look shiny?( would like them shiny if i can)

I have laid the tiles today and pretty chuffed with the outcome even if im aching like mad (good job its bank holiday)

I am planning to use LTPGrimex tomorrow with a buffer machine is this a good way to go

 

[Spud]

The tiles will look great once cleaned well, any thing you put on them will sit on the surface and will wear off quickly so that is why you have been advised not to put on topical sealers such as golv polish , I am not familar with grimex but by all accounts its a good product ,do you have heavy cement staining or light grout residue? are these reclaimed tiles ?

 

[barcabod]

Cheers Gary

Reclaimed tiles

No really dirty tiles just look like they need a bit of a shine,
I will leave alone which seems to be the way most peole go

I just wanted to maybe get a bit of a lustre with them

Thanks

 

[rich hand]

The tiles will look great once cleaned well, any thing you put on them will sit on the surface and will wear off quickly so that is why you have been advised not to put on topical sealers such as golv polish , I am not familar with grimex but by all accounts its a good product ,do you have heavy cement staining or light grout residue? are these reclaimed tiles ?

Why would topical sealers wear off the surface quickly?

I have a quarry tile job coming up and the home owner does not want the tradtional wax finishing due to the maintenance issues. Instead he would like a modern topical seal approach. I am hoping there is no problem with this.

 

[DHTiling]

Because it just sits on the surface and depending on foot traffic it eventually wears off.

Typically a floor done with a topical sealer can be re-done once a year if used quite a lot.

 

[Spud]

Why would topical sealers wear off the surface quickly?

I have a quarry tile job coming up and the home owner does not want the tradtional wax finishing due to the maintenance issues. Instead he would like a modern topical seal approach. I am hoping there is no problem with this.

The job in question is for external laid quarry tiles, floor tiling outside as opposed inside has different foot traffic issues and the weather has its part to play