Patio Cleaning Archives - Bedfordshire Tile Doctor

Renovating a Travertine Patio and Non-Slip Decking in Clophill

We were called by a client in Clophill to renovate a Travertine patio and composite decking. The client explained that the garden had been professionally designed and built however fifteen years had passed since then and it was now looking very weathered and was overdue a deep clean.

Travertine Patio Before Cleaning Clophill

The patio itself was laid with rustic unfilled travertine and the holes had become ingrained with detritus and the stone had become a dull grey colour with algae and blackspot staining.

Another part of the garden was laid with a non-slip composite decking in an Oak style. These modern deck boards are very low maintenance compared to wood and last a very long time however the non-slip surface does trap dirt. Although its not something we usually deal with I was confident I could use a similar technique to clean it.

Composite Deck Before Cleaning Clophill

I worked out a price for deep cleaning both areas and sealing the Travertine to protect it from ingrained dirt going forward. Happy with my quote a date was agreed for the work to start which was weather dependent.

Deep Cleaning a Travertine Patio and Non-Slip Decking

Working outside does have advantages in that there is a lot less preparation to do to protect other surfaces so it wasn’t long before we got to work with the application of Tile Doctor’s Patio and Driveway Cleaner.

This product was allowed to dwell and soak into the stone for a while before being agitated with fine carbide brushes fitted to a rotary machine. The brushes can struggle to reach into the recesses of the grout lines so these were given a good scrub by hand with a stiff brush and more patio cleaner.

Once done the soiled cleaning solution was extracted using a high-powered no mess van mounted machine that deploys water at high pressure through a wand and then simultaneously extracts the dirty water back into a separate tank. This system was an expensive investment however it makes quick work on projects like this.

Travertine Patio During Drying Clophill

Once the Travertine tile and grout was clean a floor fan was deployed onto the stone to speed up drying. Whilst that was happening the same process was applied to the none slip decking which came up like new.

Composite Deck After Cleaning Clophill

Sealing a Travertine Patio

The weather stayed warm and the patio dried off nicely for my return the next day when I returned to seal the Travertine. I used Tile Doctor Ultra-Seal for this, it’s a no-sheen, natural look impregnator that penetrates the stone occupying the pores and preventing dirt from residing there going forward. The sealer provides maximum stain protection and will ensure any contaminates remain on the surface where they can be easily cleaned away.

Travertine Patio After Cleaning Clophill

I think you will agree the patio has been transformed by the renovation and now looks so much more inviting. Certainly, my client was so happy with the results that when we finished the sealing, they presented us with a lovely bottle of red wine.

Travertine Patio Cleaning in Bedfordshire

Renovating a Travertine Patio and Non-Slip Decking in Clophill Read More »

Restoring the Spoiled Appearance of a Sandstone Tiled Patio in Bedford

This is the ideal time of year for property owners to not only think about restoring their internal natural stone floor tiles, but also their external tiles. With it being Summer, the weather is warm and dry enough for patio restorations to take place.

The photographs below show a recent restoration of a two-year old Sandstone tiled patio at a property on a new build development in Bedford, the country town of Bedfordshire. Sandstone is a naturally porous stone, which does make it more vulnerable to the elements when it is used for outside flooring and is not sealed.

Unfortunately, the patio had not been sealed when it was first installed, and during the two years since, the combination of damp weather, a lack of sunlight in shaded areas, and a build-up of green staining from moss spores – together with general dirt and grime – had greatly spoiled the appearance of the beautiful stone.

Cleaning a Spoiled Sandstone Tiled Patio

My first course of action in carrying out the restoration was to lightly coat the patio with Tile Doctor Pro Clean. This is a multi-purpose, alkaline-based cleaner which is suitable for use on most natural stone, including Sandstone, Granite, Limestone, Slate, and Travertine.

The product was subsequently agitated with a scrubbing brush fitted to a rotary machine, before I pressure washed the patio at a medium pressure to avoid damaging the stone. As you can see from the photos below, this cleaning made a great improvement to the condition of the patio – in fact, it appeared almost new again! The customer was very pleased with the outcome.

The customer decided not to have the patio sealed, as he preferred the natural look and would prefer to have it cleaned on a yearly basis. Sealing is less important for external tiles, as compared to internal tiles, however if you do decide not to seal your patio, it’s highly recommended that you establish a routine maintenance plan for the stone. Otherwise, you run the risk – after just a few years – of allowing your tiles to end up in a similar condition to this Sandstone tiled patio before it had been restored.

Patio Cleaning