Use and Care Guide

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Fairmont Beach FM07 tile shown

TILE CARE & MAINTENANCE PAGE 1 OF 6

TILE CARE &

MAINTENANCE

CERAMIC TILE

Routine Care

Tile, whether glazed ceramic or porcelain, should be maintained on a

regular and frequent basis to prevent build-up of soil, grease, residue,

soap detergents, sealers, dampness, liquids, etc., to keep the surface

clean and lessen slippery conditions.

Glazed ceramic and porcelain tiles require minimal maintenance.

Either can be cleaned with clear water and/or a pH neutral liquid

cleaner (soapless). Follow with a clear water rinse and wipe dry to

prevent ﬁlm formation. As with most porcelains, spilled liquids may

stain light-colored products if not promptly removed. Neither sealing

nor acid cleaning is recommended for any of American Olean glazed

ceramic or porcelain tile.

Removal of Sealers/Waxes/Floor Finishes

If you need to remove a topical sealer or ﬂoor wax from a ceramic

tile you should use a Tile Sealer & Adhesive Remover. Always test a

small area ﬁrst. Apply a liberal amount of undiluted sealer & adhesive

remover to a manageable area.

Allow setting without drying until coating or residue softens. Reapply

if necessary until sealer softens and can be removed. If necessary,

agitate with white nylon scrub pad. Wipe up the residue with a cotton

towel or sponge. Rinse thoroughly with clean water.

NOTE: Do not use on Natural Stone products.

CERAMIC TILE GROUT CARE

Penetrating/Impregnating Sealer

Most tile installations use cementitious grouts. This type of grout

should be sealed after installation to prevent the color from staining.

The grout should be sealed with a penetrating/impregnating sealer

(often called grout sealers) which does not contain silicone, as

silicone can shorten the useful life of the sealer.

Epoxy grouts, conversely, are chemically cured and acid resistant

and, as a result, do not require a sealer. The application of a good

quality penetrating/impregnating sealer into the grout joints of a

cementitious grout will not change the natural color of the grout,

but will prevent the penetration of moisture, simplify maintenance,

and help prevent staining or discoloration.

Only the grout needs to be sealed, not glazed ﬂoor or wall tiles.

Grout can be sealed 72 hours after installation. There are dierent

grades of penetrating/impregnating sealers, therefore the useful life

and price will dier between a low quality and high quality sealer.

You may need to reapply the sealer on an annual basis depending

on the sealer quality, trac patterns, and maintenance routine.

Some sealers have multiple year warranties for useful life. Refer

to the manufacturer’s warranty, technical & product information

for speciﬁc details on product installation, useful life, and product

applications (including any warnings) before use.

Grout Maintenance

Neither sealing the grout nor using a 100% Epoxy Grout will

guarantee against surface buildup or discoloration of the grout.

Grout needs to be cleaned on a periodic basis to remove any

surface buildup. Routine grout cleaning can be done with a daily

concentrated household or commercial cleaner depending on

the application.

When heavy duty grout cleaning is required, you will need to use

a professional strength Tile & Grout Cleaner that is capable of

removing grease, soap scum, body oil, mildew stains, algae, and

synthetic or acrylic waxes from the grout joints. However, such a

product should contain non-polluting chemicals and low volatile

organic compound (VOC) levels.

Summary of content (6 pages)

PAGE 1
TILE CARE & MAINTENANCE Fairmont Beach FM07 tile shown CERAMIC TILE Routine Care Tile, whether glazed ceramic or porcelain, should be maintained on a regular and frequent basis to prevent build-up of soil, grease, residue, soap detergents, sealers, dampness, liquids, etc., to keep the surface clean and lessen slippery conditions. Removal of Sealers/Waxes/Floor Finishes If you need to remove a topical sealer or floor wax from a ceramic tile you should use a Tile Sealer & Adhesive Remover.
PAGE 2
TILE CARE & MAINTENANCE Fairmont Beach FM07 tile shown CERAMIC TILE GROUT CARE (continued) Grout Color Restoration When grout has been stained to the point that it cannot be maintained or returned to its natural color, you can return the grout back to its original color or any other color through the use of a “grout stain”. Grout Stains are epoxy-based products that are specifically designed to penetrate into the grout and seal the surface with a permanent color.
PAGE 3
TILE CARE & MAINTENANCE Fairmont Beach FM07 tile shown NATURAL STONE (continued) Once the stone has been cleaned, you can periodically apply a spray-buff wax-type floor finish to enhance the beauty and luster of polished stone (including countertops). Apply the finish with a spray applicator and buff immediately with a white nylon pad. Reapply as often as needed, depending on volume of surface traffic and consistency of routine maintenance program.
PAGE 4
TILE CARE & MAINTENANCE Fairmont Beach FM07 tile shown NATURAL STONE NEW INSTALLATIONS (continued) Sealing A premium natural look penetrating/impregnating sealer is the normal choice on polished or honed marble, limestone, granite, or where the natural color of a slate is desired. A stone enhancer sealer is often used on tumbled, antique stones or on slate where a darker, enriched or highlighted character is desired.
PAGE 5
TILE CARE & MAINTENANCE Fairmont Beach FM07 tile shown POLISHED PORCELAIN General Cleaning Tile, whether glazed ceramic or porcelain, should be maintained on a regular and frequent basis to prevent build-up of soil, grease, residue, soap detergents, sealers, dampness, liquids, etc., to keep the surface clean and lessen slippery conditions. Glazed ceramic and porcelain tiles require minimal maintenance. Either can be cleaned with clear water and/or a pH neutral liquid cleaner (soapless).
PAGE 6
TILE CARE & MAINTENANCE Fairmont Beach FM07 tile shown MOSAIC (GLASS AND MIXED MATERIALS) General Cleaning Tile, whether glazed ceramic or porcelain, should be maintained on a regular and frequent basis to prevent build-up of soil, grease, residue, soap detergents, sealers, dampness, liquids, etc., to keep the surface clean and lessen slippery conditions. Glazed ceramic and porcelain tiles require minimal maintenance. Either can be cleaned with clear water and/or a pH neutral liquid cleaner (soapless).