Tile floors are durable, water-resistant, and cost-effective. That’s not all, they also have a beautiful appearance that can uplift any residential or commercial space. A well-maintained tile floor can last anywhere between twenty to fifty years and adds value to your property.
All it needs is a little bit of advanced thinking and maintenance to make your floors last a lifetime.
Read on to know more.
How can you keep your floors looking like new?
Although tile floors are pretty durable and resistant to a lot of damage, they do get damaged, especially when the impact is long-term. Here are some of the most common floor damages:
· Floor stains from dirt, grime, and grease.
· Dragging heavy furniture over the flooring.
· Untreated mold and mildew.
· Excessive use of acidic cleaners.
· Damage from heat.
Here are some expert tips that will help you keep your tile floors sparkling like new always:
Sweep regularly
We are all guilty of giving our floors a quick vacuum and skipping the sweeping. The result is dust particles and grime sticking to the tiles, especially those that are made of marble or slate. These layers of dirt then eventually get etched into the tiles making them look dirty.
Routine sweeping helps loosen these dirt particles and removes them from the surface of the tile floor.
For deep cleaning, follow the sweep with a vacuum. You can either use an upright vacuum cleaner or one with a canister with a brushed floor. This avoids floor damage and doesn’t scratch the tiles.
Catch the spills immediately
If you often have food or drink spills and don’t clean them quickly enough, your tile flooring is sure to get deep stains. To prevent this, you need to catch the spills the minute you see them without allowing them to soak into your grout. This is especially true for dark-colored liquids like red wine.
So, the next time you see a spill, use a cleaner right away. Just make sure that your cleaner must be gentle on your tiles and doesn’t deglaze them.
Avoid keeping heavy loads on the floor
Are you seeing fine cracks on your tile floor? Usually, the reason is that we place heavy pieces of furniture or large appliances like washing machines and refrigerators on the floor. Over time, this leads to your tile floors cracking.
While most tile floors are designed to meet the 250-pound threshold. To prevent this, make sure that the weight of the object is properly distributed and that there are no hollow pockets of air between the subfloor and the tile. They both should receive the right amount of thin-set even when the weight of the object is within limits.
Use rugs and carpets
Carpets don’t just make your floors look beautiful, but they serve a very practical purpose of keeping your tiles looking like new for a long time. The floors are subject to a lot of traffic. This includes pointed heels, shoes with hard heels, and even pet claws.
Placing rugs over your floors goes a long way in preventing these from causing scratches on your tile floors. Remove your shoes when entering the house and encourage your guests also to do the same. Keep your pet’s nails trimmed at all times to prevent scratches.
Don’t drag furniture
Unknowingly, we often drag furniture like bookcases, heavy chairs, and tables over our tile floors and realize the damage after it has been done. One of the best ways to prevent this from happening is to cover the legs of your furniture.
All you need to do is to place pads on the legs or the edges of the furniture.
If it is not possible to put these pads on the furniture, use moving blankets to cover their surface. Always lift the furniture piece instead of dragging it to keep it in its designated place.
Keep a check on the moisture
Do your tile floors feel damp even when nothing was spilled? This thin layer of moisture is known as sweating and happens because of condensation. It is not just unpleasant but often leads to the growth of harmful mold.
Thankfully, this issue is easy to address. One of the simplest ways to prevent condensation is to improve the ventilation of the area by keeping the windows open to allow cross-ventilation.
Using a dehumidifier also helps by sucking air moisture. You should also keep an eye out for leaks and cracks that allow extra moisture to seep in between the tiles.
Get professional help
The best way to ensure that your tile flooring looks beautiful and is saved from damage is to get professional help for its installation and maintenance. They use specialized methods and equipment to extract dirt from the tiles and grout. Experienced tiling professionals also conduct thorough inspections and perform quality checks to ensure repairs of cracks that we may have missed.
Conclusion
Wondering where to find top-notch professional help for your tile flooring?
JustTileSetters is the place to go for everything related to tiles. You can connect to certified and experienced tile professionals in your area with just a few clicks.