FAQ
To the right, you have some different areas in which you may have questions. Please feel free to look them over . If you do not find the answer to the question you have, feel free to contact Capstone Tile & Grout Restoration and we will do our best to answer your questions.
Where did you get the name Capstone?
A. Capstone comes from the book of Psalms 118: 22-24 (Capstone is also another word in the bible for conerstone)
22 The stone which the builders rejected has become the capstone. 23 The Lord has done this; and it is marvellous in our eyes. 24 This is the day which the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
I noticed on some of your advertising you have SBHB, what does that stand for?
A. Saved By His Blood. If you want to know more I will be more than happy to share this with you.
Sealer
Q. How can I tell if my floor is sealed?
A. Take a wet rag and touch it to your grout line. If your grout line changes color then your grout sealer is not sealed or your sealer has worn off.
Q. The company that installed my tile says they sealed my floor , why would I need your services?
A. What kind of sealer did they put on your floor? Most likely it was not a color sealer. Some companies in the area are saying they are sealing your floors but in reality they are not. They are using the properties of the ceramic tile to say the floor is sealed and the grout lines are never touched. There is a local company that is spraying a sealer on the grout lines. I tried this, it will not last. I have hundreds of dollars of sealers in my shop I will not use on my customers floors because they will not last and I can not give a warranty on them. Ask for a warranty!
Q. Why is it important to have my Tile and Grout sealed?
A. Sealing your Tile and Grout anywhere is the only way to protect your investment from water based and oil based stains. A sealer prevents a spill from penetrating into the porous surface of the floor, and gives you time to clean it up. Simply blot fresh spills with a clean cloth or paper towel. The sealer continues to protect, even after repeated cleanings.
Q. How does a sealer protect my floor?
A. The penetrating sealer is absorbed by the pores of the Natural Stone of Ceramic Tile and Grout. It fills up the “nooks and crannies” so wet stains can not get below the surface, and soil sits on the surface till swept or wiped away.
Q. How is sealer applied?
A. First, the floor is professionally cleaned, neutralized, and fully dried. Then, the sealer is applied using professional equipment and allowed to soak into the flooring material for five to ten minutes. Finally, the excess sealer is buffed off the surface and allowed to dry.
Q. Why is it necessary for a professional to apply sealer? Can’t I do it myself?
A. We have the training, experience, tools, and a wide varity of sealers for all types of natural stone, tiles, and grout. Professional application ensures complete protection for the entire surface of the floor. Improper sealing can leave a sticky residue on the surface of the floor that is difficult, if not impossible , to remove. Your floor is also gauranteed when done by a professional.
Q. What do sealers protect against?
A. A penetrating Sealer repels water-based and oil-based liquids, prevents stains caused my most food and beverages, and protects the surface from dirt and impurities.
Q. Does the sealer alter the appearance of a Tile and Grout Floor?
A. No. Our sealers protect without changing the original color, texture, feel, or appearance of the surface. However, we also offer color-enhancing sealers for interior natural stone, marble, granite, limestone, slate, brick, and concrete. We can help you select the most suitable sealer.
Q. Is a sealer expensive?
A. Our sealing programs are afforadably priced, and actually SAVE you money in cleaning and replacement costs.
Q. How should I maintain my sealed floor?
A. We will provide you with literature on maintenance, and precautions on choice of cleaning soultions. We offer an excelent line of suitable cleaning products through our company. It is important to use the right cleaning solution, as the wrong type can actually break down the sealer and render it useless.
Q. Will my floor have to be professionally cleaned and sealed again?
A. Yes. We can provide periodic maintenance cleaning and re-sealing to keep your floors in top condition. The frequency will depend on the amount of traffic on them, frequency of spills, etc. Sealers make maintaining your floors much easier and more effective, yet not maintenance free.
Color Sealer
Q. How long will the Color Sealing process take place?
A. Color Sealing, also known as Stain Sealing, can usually be applied in 3-6 hours.
Q. How long do I have to wait, after the Color Seal has been applied, to walk on the Tile Floors?
A. The floor is ready for light foot traffic in approximately 20-30 minutes. Of course, walking on the tile and avoiding the grout joints allows every one to access every treated room right away.
Q. What is the curing time for the Color Seal?
A. The Color Seal will cure over a 14 day period. Try to keep the grout dry until that time for the best results.
Q. What type of grout can be colored sealed?
A. We primarily use the Color Sealer for interior ceramic tile installations on sanded grout only. The Color Sealer is formulated for use in interior and exterior grout, although periodic touch-ups may be required in exterior applications to maintain uniform color and protection.
Q. How long does the grout need to dry before the Color Seal is applied?
A. If it was dry prior to our cleaning, 24-48 hours. If it was wet prior to our cleaning then 48-72 hours.
Q. How is Color Seal applied to the grout?
A. We brush the Color Seal protection into each grout joint by hand and remove all of the excess from the tile. Next, we carefully inspect the floor and buff the tile to ensure the quality of our work and that we have left a streak free surface.
Q. How long does the Color Seal Protection last?
A. If the Tile and Grout are maintained properly, the protection will typically last 8-10 years or more.
Q. Does Capstone Tile & Grout restoration offer a warranty?
A. We guarantee all of our work for 3 years against any defects in the materials and or craftsmanship.
Q. Can you match any grout color?
A. Our color Seal is tinted to match nearly every grout manufactures color palate.
Tile Cleaning
Q. How are you going to clean my floors?
A. We have a Trailer mounted machine which preheats the water and has a water delivery system as well as a water retrieveal system attached to it. We run some hoses to your house along with our cleaning heads to clean your floor.
Q. What kind of chemicals do you use?
A. We first apply a mild alkaline solution to your floor and allow it to soak for 15 minutes. We do not use harsh acids as these can acutally cause damage to your tiles and grout. This pre-treating loosens the accumulates, soil, grease, and contaminants. This prepares the surface for the cleaning process with the tools mentioned above. There are no harmful fumes associated with the alkaline solution; ordinary ventilation removes the order within minutes of completion of the job.
Q. Can you get every stain out of my grout?
A. Although we utilize the most advanced cleaning system on the market for grout cleaning, we will be able to restore your Tile and Grout to about 85%-95% of its original appearance. Some stains are permanent and beyond our control.
Q. Can you tell me what stains will stay and what will come out?
A. Please be aware that most grout is is uniformly discolored from dirt and grease, we are limited to the results we can obtain, as we can not tell exactly what can come out and what can’t.
Q. What happens if we have some loose tile on our floor?
A. We are not responsible for any possible loose , dried out, or improperly installed Tile and Grout. We will make every attempt to point this out to you and give you some options. It is reccomended that you have your Tile and Grout cleaned before any repairs are made.
Q. If you are not able to get out all of the stains, then what?
A. We have a process called Color Sealing. It is a sealing process which you can pick the color you want to put on your grout lines and we will seal in that color. For further information click on the Colored Sealer link to the right.
Q. Ok, you cleaned my floors now what?
A. Your floors look great and are clean once again. Now, lets keep them that way. The only way to do this is to apply a sealer. If you do not apply a sealer then you are leaving the pores and little “nooks and crannies” open for dirt and stains. For more information on clear sealing please click on the Sealer link to the right.
Concrete Polishing
Q. What is Polished Concrete?
A. Polished Concrete has become a low cost solution to decorating your home or business verses the more expensive materials such as polished granite, marble or even tarrazo. These componites make beautiful countertops, decrorative tables, floors and staircases seen in public buildings and “upper class” homes. Polished concrete can do the same for your home. Existing slabs just about anywhere from your home, business, or even your pool and driveway can be polished using simple machinery. This machinery utilizes progressively finer grit diamonds to hone the hardened concrete into a highly reflective, beautiful surface.
Q. Can all concrete be polished?
A. Generally speaking, yes. Extremely damaged concrete may not be a good candidate. If you are unsure, call us and we will come out, inspect the concrete so you can be sure and give you a free quote to polish it.
Q. What about finishes? Will it be high gloss?
A. No, there are different finishes available. When we arrive to give you a free quote we can discuss how you envision the finished product. We will then tailor a sealer combination suited to your situation. Areas such as pool and driveways can be made slip and UV resistant.
Q. Are concrete floors cold and damp?
A. Polished Concrete will feel the same under foot as tile. In properly constructed newer homes, today’s building codes typically require instillation of a vapor barrier under concrete slabs to block moisture migration and to stop that feeling of dampness. If the home is built to take advantage of solar radiation entering through windows, concrete floors will absorb the heat from the sun to keep rooms warmer in the winter. In summer and in hot climates, a cooler floor can be an advantage and can actually help lower A/C costs.
Q. Are concrete floors loud and hard on the feet?
A. The Truth: Yes, concrete is a hard material and won’t cushion or “give” under bare feet. Concrete floors can be loud and produce an echo effect, but no more than ceramic tile, natural stone flooring, and some hardwood or bamboo floors.
Q. Are decorative concrete floors expensive?
A. The Truth: The inital outlay for decorative concrete may exceed the cost of a low to mid-priced floor covering, such as carpeting, vinyl tile and wood laminates. The Reality: When compared to high end floor coverings, such as ceramic tile, slate and marble, decorative concrete is often an economical alternative. Plus, skilled concrete artisans can duplicate the look of these pricier materials. The life expectancy of a concrete floor will far surpass that of most floor covering materials. That means in the long run you can save money because you’ll never need to rip out and replace worn or damaged flooring.
Q. Are there any advantages to Polished Concrete?
A. Yes, Polished Concrete floors are more hygienic than other flooring options because there is no grout, joints or areas where dirt can gather. This also makes it much easier to keep clean and looking great.
Q. What is the difference between Polished Concrete and a painted epoxy coating?
A.
Polished Concrete Epoxy Coating
Peeling Does not Peel or Flake- There is Nothing to Peel Frequently Peels and Flakes
Dusting Dusting is Usually Eliminated Dusting Often Causes Failure of the Coating
Slip Resistance Inherent Slip Resistance Can be Slippery Unless Sand or Other Aggregate is Added
Maintenance Does Not Require Waxing Frequent Waxing Recommended on Decorative Applications
Environmental Uses the Existing Floor, No Noticeable VOCs Often Have High VOCs and Oftern Require Frequent Recoating
Down Time Polished Concrete Requires No Cur Time Ofter Requires Cure Time of Several Days After Completion
Longevity Normally 10-15 Years Often Requires Recoating in 2-5 Years
Cost Comparable to Epoxy Coatings Comparable to Concrete Polishing
Q. Can a color topping be laid in a garage?
A. Yes, it can. However, a color topping has to be at least 65mm tick to help prevent it from cracking. Therefore, in most cases a lip will be present where the concrete meets the driveway and internal door.
Q. How regularly do Polished Concrete floors need maintenance?
A. Depending on the amout of traffic on the floors will determine how frequently they need maintenance. In a residence, with the corrcet combination of selaers, your floors may need resealing and rebuffing every 5-10 years. In a buiseness environment we recommend the floors be resealed and rebuffed every 12 months do to the high traffic. This is done by us at a minimal cost.
Q. When is the best time in the construction process to start polishing the concrete?
A. Preferably the first cut should be done when the frame is just erected. This way it is possible to get right up to the edges. Then a final cut and polish is done after the walls are complete but not painted. The concrete will need to be covered during the building process to prevent staining from plaster or any other elements.
Q. What is the cost of Polished Concrete?
A. The cost will vary depending on the job size, access to the site and the finish you require. Existing work will cost up to 25% more than new construction work.
Q. Do you provide free quotes?
A. Yes, our company is able to schedule a time to meet with you and disscuss your options and provide you with a free quote. We can also do qoutes off a set of new construction plans.
