The Most Common Problems With Your Tiles
- Tiles are scratched or cracked – If you need to bend over to the tile to find the scratch, technically, it is not a scratch. It is best to replace scratched or cracked tiles. Alternatively, you can fill the scratch or crack with epoxy and then paint over the epoxy to match the colour of the tile.
- The glaze on tiles is flaking off – Manufacturing should re-tile affected area if a white layer located between the body of the tile and the glaze shows the glaze separates from the tile body). A professional clean and re-seal is needed, if damage is caused by the impact from falling objects or heavy furniture being dragged across tiles.
- Water leaking through the tiles in shower/bathroom – Area smelling musty, the tiles change to darker colour, damp patches may appear on the other side of a wall. The cause can be a leak in the pipe and tap ware, in which case you should call a plumber. Alternatively, it could be the tiling; incorrect waterproofing, pinholes in grout, cut edge of tiles exposed in shower, tiles not bedded into adhesive correctly etc. A professional tiler should repair the grout, silicone joints or other cause of the water leaking. Cleaning and proper sealing is necessary to protect the tiles after repair.
- Tiles are fading/looking dull – The main cause for dull looking tiles is an acid or chemical attack. Once the tiles looks dull, contact a tile cleaning and sealing company to refurbish your tiles. Afterwards it is only necessary to use warm water (sparingly) to clean your tiles.
- Tiles look worn out – Tiles “wear out” If mistreated, subjected to harsh conditions. This happens when you select the wrong tiles for a specific area, especially high traffic areas. It is general practice to replace the tiles is such circumstances. However, Proper sealing provides ease of cleaning, durability and resistance to wear, at a fraction of the cost of replacement. Professionally cleaned and sealed tiles can last nearly a lifetime.
- Grout has gone dark or black – If your grouting has gone dark or black, it is simply dirty and have been cleaned the wrong way. Wrong chemicals or detergents can cause the problem. In addition, improper rinsing after wash causes dirty water to accumulate in grout joints. It is advisable to have your tiles and grout thoroughly cleaned to remove all the built up grime and have the tiles sealed for protection. Once the grout is clean, use clean, warm water sparingly for daily cleaning. You may add a dash of disinfectant or vinegar to the water.
- Stained tiles – All tiles are in some extent porous and can absorb water or grease and soak in stains permanently. It is very difficult and sometimes impossible to remove the stains. Professional tile and grout cleaning is necessary to remove the stains. It is very important to have your tiles sealed with the correct sealer immediately after installation and after cleaning – even for factory pre-sealed tiles.
- Tiles look dirty shortly after they have just been cleaned – The problem can be either that your tiles were not “buffed” after installation (some grout remained on the surface and traps dirt on your tiles), or you used the wrong cleaning methods. Professional tile and grout cleaning is necessary to get your tiles looking beautiful again. Once your tiles are properly clean, have them sealed for protection. After that, keeping your tiles beautiful will be easy. Dusting away loose dirt and washing with a damp mob is all you need and it will last for many years.