STONE, CERAMIC & TERRAZZO PROTECT AND PERFECT
Good surface maintenance makes sense from not only an aesthetic and safety perspective but can provide cost-savings and environmental benefits, say the experts at ECOPROTEC.
There are lots of very valid reasons to support good surface protection and maintenance. Retaining a tile’s aesthetic is top of many lists. Ongoing easy maintenance is also a good motive – keeping a surface clean and preventing a build-up of dirt and residue makes ongoing maintenance much easier and less time consuming. There are performance characteristics; a correct regime will also ensure that a tile retains its slip resistance. But have you ever considered the benefits that specifically relate to the environment?
REFURBISHING & DEEP CLEANING When a tile or stone surface isn’t properly protected and maintained, the build-up of dirt and organic residue greatly affects the aesthetic, safety and ease of maintenance. In many cases, neglected surfaces are then treated with toxic chemicals. Whilst this may have the desired effect of removing residue, these types of interventions are damaging to the environment and often costly and time consuming. If solutions are unsuitable, they can also damage the tile, grout joint and any sealer that’s been applied, creating more issues that will need to be addressed.
If a tile needs to be renovated or deep cleaned, choose a safe, non-caustic specialist treatment like alkaline-based intensive cleaner, ECOPROTEC Stone & Tile Intensive Cleaner. Specific residue can also be safely tackled by using a specialist remover. For example, ECOPROTEC Cement, Grout & Salt Residue Remover; ECOPROTEC Rust Stain Remover, ECOPROTEC Black Spot & Algae Remover and ECOPROTEC Joint Residue Remover.
SURFACE PROTECTION Protecting a tile pays real dividends. It retains the surface aesthetic and makes maintenance easier, which is turn safeguards performance. Stone and polished porcelain should
ideally be sealed with a water-based treatment before and after grouting, to protect the tiles from grout residue, stains and ongoing wear and tear. Textured matt porcelain tiles, whilst not requiring treatment with a sealer, will benefit from application of a water-based barrier treatment before grouting – like ECOPROTEC pre-Grout Protection. A further coat after installation will also make ongoing maintenance easier. Tiles that have been intensively cleaned should also be resealed, to protect them going forwards.
Sealing a tile, once again, offers long term eco-benefits. In protecting the tile, the sealer makes maintenance easier, reduces associated waste and water consumption and eliminates the need for more drastic intervention with harsh chemicals.
A CLOSE LOOK AT
WATER-BASED SEALERS There are still some that question whether a water-based product can provide the same level of performance as a solvent. Solvent-based sealers – sometimes referred to as oil-based or spirit-based – contain a significantly higher level of organic solvents than water-based treatments. These solvents create the strong odour that’s evident when a surface has been freshly sealed. If incorrectly used, they can also be potentially hazardous for both human health and for the environment, which is why concerted efforts are being made to reduce or remove their presence in sealing solutions, without negatively impacting on performance.
In essence, solvents facilitate the sealer’s application, its drying and the formation of an even seal below the surface of the tile or stone. During application and drying, the solvent evaporates. A fully cured sealed floor no longer contains solvent. However, when they evaporate, these solvents release volatile organic
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