DON’T STOP AT THE DOOR!
Mark Atkins, technical director at LTP, advises on how to care for outdoor tiles to maintain a seamless transition from inside to out.
Remember the wall-to-wall shag pile? That heady mix of avocado greens, browns and oranges laid from front to back door, and everywhere in between. Nowadays, our homes have a more eclectic mix of surfaces and, increasingly, consumers are opting for floor-to-patio tiled finishes, often installed through bi-fold doors. Each decade brings with it a specific look – and there’s no doubt that this one creates a fabulous aesthetic and lots of practical features – but issues often arise because of poor maintenance.
While indoor tiles are sealed and regularly cleaned, patio tiles are generally ignored, apart from an occasional jet wash and sweep. Very quickly, they become darker and dirtier and the seamless look is lost. But it doesn’t need to be. It’s simply a case of not stopping at the door.
The idea of adopting a regular cleaning regime for outdoor tiles may seem a little strange here in the UK, but elsewhere in Europe regular mopping and cleaning of outside spaces is commonplace. As our weather can be rather unpredictable, there’s perhaps an even greater need to keep on top of outdoor surfaces; it makes a massive difference to general appearance and helps reduce the need for intensive cleaning and re-sealing down the line.
Just like internal stone, external stone tiles will benefit from a protective seal. Treatments designed for outdoor surfaces tend to be slightly different; rather than just protecting against water and stains, they’ll also protect against weather and efflorescence, and help prevent the formation of moss and mould, etc. Water-based treatments, like our own LTP External Stone Sealer, now offer even greater performance than traditional spirit-based products. They’re also much safer to use, more eco-friendly and can be applied over residual moisture, rather than having to wait until a surface
34 | FLOOR FINISHES & SEALS
is completely bone dry. Before applying a sealer, we always recommend a first wash with a dilute solution deep cleaner, like LTP Grimex, to remove any fixing residues.
Matt porcelain tiles, which are normally used outside, don’t need to be sealed in the traditional way. However, because they’re generally textured they can be prone to grout staining. Fixing residues and dirt become trapped in the ‘high-low’ surface, creating unsightly white marks which are hard to remove. This residue makes ongoing maintenance more difficult and potentially creates a slip hazard. To reduce the risk of staining, we recommend a barrier treatment like LTP Porcelain Tile Protector, to prevent grout and resins from taking hold and to make removal easier. The protector also helps to keep tiles wet during installation, which improves and increases grout working times and supports the other benefits. A further coat after installation will make ongoing maintenance easier too. As with stone, tiles should be clean and dry before the protector is applied. It might be necessary to give the surface a first wash, before rinsing and leaving overnight to dry.
While it may not be practical to mop a patio as often as indoor tiles, it’s worth giving it a thorough clean with a suitable detergent every couple of months or so – ideally, three times during late spring/summer and a couple of times during the winter. Surfaces that are regularly cleaned will be easier to keep clean – and it will help to maintain that aesthetic. A blast with a jet wash may seem like the best method but it will only wash dirt off the tile surface and can potentially damage the joints, whereas as a specialist cleaner will react with stubborn, ingrained residues of dirt and organic matter and help break them down.
www.ltp-online.co.uk
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