Except for general cleaning this multi-coloured slate floor had not been professionally cleaned since installation eleven years prior. Any sealer that had once been applied to the slate had long since worn off and dirt was now ingrained in the pores of the stone causing it to look dull and un-attractive. The property was in the lovely town of Staines Upon Thames, obviously situated on the banks of the River Thames and a popular place to live for London commuters. I visited site to take a closer look at the floor and provide the client with an accurate price for renovating the stone. It turns out that the client had used all sorts of different household cleaners in an attempt to get the floor clean. Unfortunately, they were probably making the situation worse as these strong cleaning products would have actually stripped the sealant off the stone leaving it open to dirt. I carried out a test clean for them and they were very pleased to see how the floor could look. We agreed a price for the work and arranged a suitable date to carry out the work. Cleaning a Multi-Coloured Slate Tiled Kitchen Floor My first task was to strip off what was left of the old sealer and deep clean the stone using a dilution of Tile Doctor Remove and Go mixed 50:50 with Tile Doctor Pro-Clean. This powerful cocktail was applied to the floor and left to soak in for ten minutes before being scrubbed in using a rotary machine fitted with a black scrubbing pad. The grout was hand scrubbed using more of the cleaning solution along the grout lines until I was happy the floor was as clean as it possibly could be. The floor was rinsed with water and the soil extracted by using the wet vacuum. Once the floor was clear the Slate was inspected, and any stubborn areas were spot treated using the same process as before. After a final rinse and extraction, the floor was dried as much as possible using the wet vacuum and left to dry off overnight. Sealing a Multi-Coloured Slate Tiled Kitchen Floor I came back the next day and checked the moisture levels of the tiles using a damp meter. The floor had dried well so I had a green light for applying a new sealer. For this I used four Coats of Tile Doctor Seal and Go, allowing each coat to dry before applying the next. This product works really well on Slate and gave the tiles a nice sheen finish, the fresh sealer will also make maintenance cleaning far easier in the future. The client was very happy with the result, the floor now looks great and the natural colours of the stone is so much more evident. For aftercare I recommended they throw away all those supermarket products and use Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner which is a pH neutral product that won’t prematurely erode the new sealer with use. Jonathan Oldham South Middlesex Tile Doctor

Photo of a mid-sized modern drought-tolerant and full sun backyard gravel and wood fence raised garden bed in Santa Barbara for spring.

This kitchen was fabricated by Lapptops and the cabinets were done by King's Woodwork! http://lapptops.net/ The island in this kitchen features Ice Brown (Alaska White) granite which blends well with the cabinets and floors. Search "bordeaux" granite, see more granite of this family or other stone options: http://www.stoneaction.com Learn more about granite to see if it’s right for you: Granite countertops can last a lifetime. It contains no harmful chemicals and do not emit harmful radiation or gasses. Granite is heat resistant and is one of the most heat-resistant countertops on the market. You can place a hot pan out of the oven directly onto the countertop surface. Experts do recommend the use of a trivet when using appliances that emit heat for long periods of time, such as crockpots. Since the material is so dense, there is a small possibility heating one area of the top and not the entire thing, could cause the countertop to crack. Granite is scratch resistant. You can cut on it, but it will dull your knives! Granite scores a seven on Moh’s hardness scale. Granite countertops are considered to be a low maintenance countertop surface. The likelihood of needing to be repaired or resurfaced is low. Granite is a porous material. Most fabricators will apply a sealer to granite countertops before they are installed which will protect them from absorbing liquids too quickly. Many sealers last more than 10 years before needing to be reapplied. When they do need to be reapplied, it is something that most homeowners can do on their own as the process is similar to cleaning. Darker granites are very dense and sometimes don’t even require a sealer. When it comes to pricing, there are a lot of variables such as edge profile, total square footage, backsplash, etc. Don’t be fooled by the stereotype that all granite is expensive. Lower-range granites will cost less than high-range laminate. Though granite countertops are not considered “low range” in pricing, there are a lot of affordable options. If you are looking for something truly unique, consider an exotic granite. Some quarries are not easily accessible and/or only able to be quarried for short periods of time throughout the year. If these circumstances exist in a quarry with gorgeous stone, the price will be driven upward. You won’t find a lot of solid patterns or bright colors, but both do exist. Also, watch for a large range of color and pattern within the same color of stone. It’s always a good idea to view the exact slab(s) that will be fabricated for your kitchen to make sure they are what you expected to see from the sample. Another factor is that many exotic types of granite have huge flowing waves, and a small sample will not be an accurate representation of the whole slab. Granite countertops are very resistant to chemicals. Acids and bases will not harm the material.

Young urban chic, semi-custom kitchen design with an eclectic mix of boho, farmhouse and industrial features and accents! All prefab cabinets mindfully designed to look custom, custom plaster range hood, reclaimed wood floating shelves and accent trim on hood, hammered brass hardware and sconces, Moravian star pendant light, beveled subway tile, Fireclay farm sink, custom drop leaf service cart that doubles as an island table with industrial bar stools, custom wine bar and iron mirror, custom bifold iron and glass French doors and a Turkish rug.

Roger Hill/Hill Construction
Example of a huge tuscan exterior home design in San Francisco

Julia Valenti
Example of a cottage dining room design in New York

This kitchen was fabricated by The Beveled Edge! Check out their work: https://bevelededge.net This kitchen's countertops is White Ice granite with a polished finish.. Search "blue fire" granite, see more granite of this family or other stone options: http://www.stoneaction.com Learn more about granite to see if it’s right for you: Granite countertops can last a lifetime. It contains no harmful chemicals and do not emit harmful radiation or gasses. Granite is heat resistant and is one of the most heat-resistant countertops on the market. You can place a hot pan out of the oven directly onto the countertop surface. Experts do recommend the use of a trivet when using appliances that emit heat for long periods of time, such as crockpots. Since the material is so dense, there is a small possibility heating one area of the top and not the entire thing, could cause the countertop to crack. Granite is scratch resistant. You can cut on it, but it will dull your knives! Granite scores a seven on Moh’s hardness scale. Granite countertops are considered to be a low maintenance countertop surface. The likelihood of needing to be repaired or resurfaced is low. Granite is a porous material. Most fabricators will apply a sealer to granite countertops before they are installed which will protect them from absorbing liquids too quickly. Many sealers last more than 10 years before needing to be reapplied. When they do need to be reapplied, it is something that most homeowners can do on their own as the process is similar to cleaning. Darker granites are very dense and sometimes don’t even require a sealer. When it comes to pricing, there are a lot of variables such as edge profile, total square footage, backsplash, etc. Don’t be fooled by the stereotype that all granite is expensive. Lower-range granites will cost less than high-range laminate. Though granite countertops are not considered “low range” in pricing, there are a lot of affordable options. If you are looking for something truly unique, consider an exotic granite. Some quarries are not easily accessible and/or only able to be quarried for short periods of time throughout the year. If these circumstances exist in a quarry with gorgeous stone, the price will be driven upward. You won’t find a lot of solid patterns or bright colors, but both do exist. Also, watch for a large range of color and pattern within the same color of stone. It’s always a good idea to view the exact slab(s) that will be fabricated for your kitchen to make sure they are what you expected to see from the sample. Another factor is that many exotic types of granite have huge flowing waves, and a small sample will not be an accurate representation of the whole slab. Granite countertops are very resistant to chemicals. Acids and bases will not harm the material.

This kitchen was fabricated by The Beveled Edge! Check out their work: https://bevelededge.net This kitchen's countertops have Blue Fire granite with a polished finish.. Search "blue fire" granite, see more granite of this family or other stone options: http://www.stoneaction.com Learn more about granite to see if it’s right for you: Granite countertops can last a lifetime. It contains no harmful chemicals and do not emit harmful radiation or gasses. Granite is heat resistant and is one of the most heat-resistant countertops on the market. You can place a hot pan out of the oven directly onto the countertop surface. Experts do recommend the use of a trivet when using appliances that emit heat for long periods of time, such as crockpots. Since the material is so dense, there is a small possibility heating one area of the top and not the entire thing, could cause the countertop to crack. Granite is scratch resistant. You can cut on it, but it will dull your knives! Granite scores a seven on Moh’s hardness scale. Granite countertops are considered to be a low maintenance countertop surface. The likelihood of needing to be repaired or resurfaced is low. Granite is a porous material. Most fabricators will apply a sealer to granite countertops before they are installed which will protect them from absorbing liquids too quickly. Many sealers last more than 10 years before needing to be reapplied. When they do need to be reapplied, it is something that most homeowners can do on their own as the process is similar to cleaning. Darker granites are very dense and sometimes don’t even require a sealer. When it comes to pricing, there are a lot of variables such as edge profile, total square footage, backsplash, etc. Don’t be fooled by the stereotype that all granite is expensive. Lower-range granites will cost less than high-range laminate. Though granite countertops are not considered “low range” in pricing, there are a lot of affordable options. If you are looking for something truly unique, consider an exotic granite. Some quarries are not easily accessible and/or only able to be quarried for short periods of time throughout the year. If these circumstances exist in a quarry with gorgeous stone, the price will be driven upward. You won’t find a lot of solid patterns or bright colors, but both do exist. Also, watch for a large range of color and pattern within the same color of stone. It’s always a good idea to view the exact slab(s) that will be fabricated for your kitchen to make sure they are what you expected to see from the sample. Another factor is that many exotic types of granite have huge flowing waves, and a small sample will not be an accurate representation of the whole slab. Granite countertops are very resistant to chemicals. Acids and bases will not harm the material.

As is often the case in years past and for whatever reason many homeowners covered their decorative Victorian hallway tiles in a variety of products from carpet to laminate flooring. These days the trend has reversed and quite rightly many homeowners now realise the value a tiled floor can bring to a property and look to us to have it restored. Our client had purchased a property in Norfolk seaport of Kings Lynn and, on lifting the dirty old carpet and decaying underlay in the hallway, discovered a beautiful tiled entrance hall. It was obvious that a previous owner had decided to lay carpet over the tiles as an easy way of hiding the result of careless renovation and decorating which had resulted in a thick coating of plaster, paint, carpet tape glue and various other contaminants which had become firmly stuck to the surface. There were also two small rectangular black and brown tiles missing behind the front door which had been damaged during the removal of some old lead pipes. This was clearly a job which would need somewhat more than a scrubbing brush and a bottle of Flash! Our first job was to remove as much of the solid contaminants as possible by hand with floor scrapers and a steamer which softened the more stubborn lumps. We then applied Tile Doctor Remove & Go which is a powerful alkaline stripper to the whole area, left it to dwell on the surface for twenty minutes and then scrubbed it in using a rotary machine fitted with a black scrubbing pad. The resulting slurry was then power rinsed and extracted away using our Ninja machine which is a high-power industrial vacuum. Any remaining patches where the carpet tape had been stuck down were spot treated using Tile Doctor Nanotech HBU which made short work of the hardened glue. The result was a clean floor, but the surface still felt slightly rough and pitted, a problem which we resolved using the rotary machine fitted with a 200-grit diamond burnishing pad followed by a 400-grit pad with a little 400 grit honing powder which left the surface smooth, silky and ready for the application of a sealer. Finally, we acid washed the whole area using Tile Doctor Acid Gel, a slow release product which would neutralise any remaining chemicals, improve new sealer adhesion and inhibit the future production of any efflorescence salts. We had used a fair amount of water during the cleaning process, so we left the floor to dry off thoroughly overnight with assistance from our commercial dehumidifier. On our return the following day, we discussed the sealer options with the client and recommended using microporous Tile Doctor Colour Grow which is an impregnating sealer that seeps into the pores of the stone protecting it from within. It will provide an excellent fluid resistant seal whilst enhancing the natural colours in the stone, additionally it’s fully breathable thereby enabling any moisture trapped under the floor to rise through the floor and evaporate. This is important on old floors like this where no damp-proof membrane was installed. The sealer was applied with a paint pad in tow coats and allowed to dry for an hour before buffing the floor with a hog’s hair pad to give a rich natural-look sheen finish. The Victorian tiles responded well to the treatments which were completed in two consecutive days. My client was extremely pleased with the results and left the following comment: “My floor was in poor condition after being buried under carpet as well as many, many years of paint and muck. I enjoyed the time they spent at my home and wouldn’t hesitate to use (or recommend) the Tile Doctor service in the future.” Nick White Norfolk Tile Doctor

Detailed below is the restoration of a Victorian tiled hallway floor that we started back in June in Preston. Although we started in June there was so much damage to the subfloor and the tiles it took some time to complete, additionally, the client did not like the colour samples of the replacement tiles we had brought along and so decided to source their own which took some time. Three months later with replacement tiles now sourced we were given the go ahead to start the restoration. The first day’s focus was cleaning the original floor using very coarse 100-grit and 200-grit Diamond pads fitted to a rotary buffer machine and applied to the floor using a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Remove and Go to add extra cleaning power. Tile edges were given special attention using a flex machine fitted with small diamond grit pads. The floor was rinsed with water to remove the soil generated and this was followed up with an acid rinse using a 1:3 dilution of Tile Doctor Grout Clean Up. This last step in the cleaning process is especially recommend for old floors like this which don’t have a damp proof membrane and can suffer from efflorescence issues. The next stage focused on repairing the floor and started by carefully knocking out all the broken and chipped tiles. We had previously estimated over 30 tiles needed replacing and so the client had bought two boxes, meaning I had plenty of spares to work with. Before tiling however, the subfloor had suffered over the years and needed attention first. To deal with this the damaged areas were raked out, cleaned up and then back filled with rapid setting self-levelling screed from Mapie adhesives. Once the sub-base was fixed then we put the new tiles back in, they were not an exact match, about 5mm too short and lighter in tone, but the colour was pretty close. Tiling an old Victorian floor like this can be a bit like dominoes as you move one out of place 2 decent ones come loose and then they also need refixing. Some of the tiles had hair line cracks in them and once they were loose, they just cracked in half. As such the 20 spare tiles that I thought were spare came into good use and I actually ended up using all of them. I could have done with a few more so it was decided to reset the last four broken tiles and grout them in. Luckily for me the client was very understanding about the nature of tile restoration and had accepted that there would be some imperfections and they were not expecting a new floor. The Tiles were fixed down using Ultralite Rapid Flex (another product from Mapie) and then grouted using the same adhesive (not a grout, as they did not have grout back in the day, just cement and screed). The floor was left this to cure overnight, and we came back the next day to finish the clean using a 200-grit diamond pad fitted to a buffing machine and lubricated with water, then one last acid rinse to get the tiles as clean as possible and remove any lingering grout haze. This last clean helps to blend the new tiles in with the original. Before applying a protective sealer, the floor was left to dry for a couple of days, the tiles need to be thoroughly dry before sealing or you can end up with a patchy appearance. For this floor with no damp proof membrane, it was important to use a fully breathable sealer that will allow moisture to rise through the tile and evaporate at the surface, so Tile Doctor Colour Grow was chosen. This is a good choice for old floors like this as its fully breathable, head wearing, and it contains a colour enhancer that improves the overall appearance of the tile. Three coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow which is a fully breathable, colour enhancing sealer hat works by soaking into the pores of the tile protecting it from within. It has a matt finish, and it works really well with all clay tiles and is ideal for these types of floors. You can probably spot the lighter coloured tiles in the after photos on this page, however it’s a very subtle difference and I think they have blended in quite well with the original. Certainly, my client was very pleased with the newly restored floor, its completely transformed from when we first visited the client, and the floor has now gained character and history. For aftercare we recommend Tile Doctor Neutral Cleaner, its an effective pH neutral product that is compatible with the new sealer. Russell Taylor Lancashire Tile Doctor

Outdoor Lighting Designer Michael Gotowala Preferred Properties ConnecticutOutdoor LED Lighting Designer Michael Gotowala Preferred Properties Connecticut.Outdoor Lighting Designer Michael Gotowala Preferred Properties Connecticut. Outdoor Lighting Designer Michael Gotowala Preferred Properties Connecticut. AOLP- Association of OUTDOOR LIGHTING PROFESSIONALS. www.OutdoorLightingCt.com Outdoor Lighting Designer and two time Landscape AOLP Lighting award recipient Michael Gotowala Preferred Properties Connecticut shows us here how living beyond the walls of your home outdoors at night can be NIGHT TIME FABULOUS. GO TO WWW.OUTDOORLIGHTINGCT.COM TO FIND OUT MORE. "LET ME show you JUST HOW GOOD YOUR HOUSE LOOKS AT NIGHT" Steve P. offered the following endorsement about Gotowala's Outdoor Lighting talents. Michael is clearly one of the best landscape lighting designers in the country. In my role as a photographer of outdoor lighting, I've visited and photographed many of Michael's projects - not only were the lighting designs creative and effective, they were also installed perfectly with a great attention to detail. My photos of Michael's projects have been published in numerous trade journals and design magazines. Editors are thrilled with these outstanding examples of landscape lighting. Michael has embraced both the art and science of lighting design and applies it to create compelling nighttime environments for his very lucky clients. I wholeheartedly recommend Michael for any kind of outdoor lighting product. You willed be thrilled with the results.AOLP- Association of OUTDOOR LIGHTING PROFESSIONALS. www.OutdoorLightingCt.com Outdoor Lighting Designer and two time Landscape AOLP Lighting award recipient Michael Gotowala Preferred Properties Connecticut shows us here how living beyond the walls of your home outdoors at night can be NIGHT TIME FABULOUS. GO TO WWW.OUTDOORLIGHTINGCT.COM TO FIND OUT MORE. "LET ME show you JUST HOW GOOD YOUR HOUSE LOOKS AT NIGHT" Steve P. offered the following endorsement about Gotowala's Outdoor Lighting talents. Michael is clearly one of the best landscape lighting designers in the country. In my role as a photographer of outdoor lighting, I've visited and photographed many of Michael's projects - not only were the lighting designs creative and effective, they were also installed perfectly with a great attention to detail. My photos of Michael's projects have been published in numerous trade journals and design magazines. Editors are thrilled with these outstanding examples of landscape lighting. Michael has embraced both the art and science of lighting design and applies it to create compelling nighttime environments for his very lucky clients. I wholeheartedly recommend Michael for any kind of outdoor lighting product. You willed be thrilled with the results.

Outdoor Lighting Designer Michael Gotowala Preferred Properties ConnecticutOutdoor LED Lighting Designer Michael Gotowala Preferred Properties Connecticut.Outdoor Lighting Designer Michael Gotowala Preferred Properties Connecticut. Outdoor Lighting Designer Michael Gotowala Preferred Properties Connecticut. AOLP- Association of OUTDOOR LIGHTING PROFESSIONALS. www.OutdoorLightingCt.com Outdoor Lighting Designer and two time Landscape AOLP Lighting award recipient Michael Gotowala Preferred Properties Connecticut shows us here how living beyond the walls of your home outdoors at night can be NIGHT TIME FABULOUS. GO TO WWW.OUTDOORLIGHTINGCT.COM TO FIND OUT MORE. "LET ME show you JUST HOW GOOD YOUR HOUSE LOOKS AT NIGHT" Steve P. offered the following endorsement about Gotowala's Outdoor Lighting talents. Michael is clearly one of the best landscape lighting designers in the country. In my role as a photographer of outdoor lighting, I've visited and photographed many of Michael's projects - not only were the lighting designs creative and effective, they were also installed perfectly with a great attention to detail. My photos of Michael's projects have been published in numerous trade journals and design magazines. Editors are thrilled with these outstanding examples of landscape lighting. Michael has embraced both the art and science of lighting design and applies it to create compelling nighttime environments for his very lucky clients. I wholeheartedly recommend Michael for any kind of outdoor lighting product. You willed be thrilled with the results.AOLP- Association of OUTDOOR LIGHTING PROFESSIONALS. www.OutdoorLightingCt.com Outdoor Lighting Designer and two time Landscape AOLP Lighting award recipient Michael Gotowala Preferred Properties Connecticut shows us here how living beyond the walls of your home outdoors at night can be NIGHT TIME FABULOUS. GO TO WWW.OUTDOORLIGHTINGCT.COM TO FIND OUT MORE. "LET ME show you JUST HOW GOOD YOUR HOUSE LOOKS AT NIGHT" Steve P. offered the following endorsement about Gotowala's Outdoor Lighting talents. Michael is clearly one of the best landscape lighting designers in the country. In my role as a photographer of outdoor lighting, I've visited and photographed many of Michael's projects - not only were the lighting designs creative and effective, they were also installed perfectly with a great attention to detail. My photos of Michael's projects have been published in numerous trade journals and design magazines. Editors are thrilled with these outstanding examples of landscape lighting. Michael has embraced both the art and science of lighting design and applies it to create compelling nighttime environments for his very lucky clients. I wholeheartedly recommend Michael for any kind of outdoor lighting product. You willed be thrilled with the results.

Outdoor LED Lighting Designer Michael Gotowala Preferred Properties Connecticut.Outdoor Lighting Designer Michael Gotowala Preferred Properties Connecticut. Outdoor Lighting Designer Michael Gotowala Preferred Properties Connecticut. AOLP- Association of OUTDOOR LIGHTING PROFESSIONALS. www.OutdoorLightingCt.com Outdoor Lighting Designer and two time Landscape AOLP Lighting award recipient Michael Gotowala Preferred Properties Connecticut shows us here how living beyond the walls of your home outdoors at night can be NIGHT TIME FABULOUS. GO TO WWW.OUTDOORLIGHTINGCT.COM TO FIND OUT MORE. "LET ME show you JUST HOW GOOD YOUR HOUSE LOOKS AT NIGHT" Steve P. offered the following endorsement about Gotowala's Outdoor Lighting talents. Michael is clearly one of the best landscape lighting designers in the country. In my role as a photographer of outdoor lighting, I've visited and photographed many of Michael's projects - not only were the lighting designs creative and effective, they were also installed perfectly with a great attention to detail. My photos of Michael's projects have been published in numerous trade journals and design magazines. Editors are thrilled with these outstanding examples of landscape lighting. Michael has embraced both the art and science of lighting design and applies it to create compelling nighttime environments for his very lucky clients. I wholeheartedly recommend Michael for any kind of outdoor lighting product. You willed be thrilled with the results.AOLP- Association of OUTDOOR LIGHTING PROFESSIONALS. www.OutdoorLightingCt.com Outdoor Lighting Designer and two time Landscape AOLP Lighting award recipient Michael Gotowala Preferred Properties Connecticut shows us here how living beyond the walls of your home outdoors at night can be NIGHT TIME FABULOUS. GO TO WWW.OUTDOORLIGHTINGCT.COM TO FIND OUT MORE. "LET ME show you JUST HOW GOOD YOUR HOUSE LOOKS AT NIGHT" Steve P. offered the following endorsement about Gotowala's Outdoor Lighting talents. Michael is clearly one of the best landscape lighting designers in the country. In my role as a photographer of outdoor lighting, I've visited and photographed many of Michael's projects - not only were the lighting designs creative and effective, they were also installed perfectly with a great attention to detail. My photos of Michael's projects have been published in numerous trade journals and design magazines. Editors are thrilled with these outstanding examples of landscape lighting. Michael has embraced both the art and science of lighting design and applies it to create compelling nighttime environments for his very lucky clients. I wholeheartedly recommend Michael for any kind of outdoor lighting product. You willed be thrilled with the results.

Painter Near Me Chicago - Professional Painting Services by Windy City Painters Finding a skilled painter near me in Chicago is easier when you know what to look for, and Windy City Painters delivers the craftsmanship Chicago homeowners trust for greystones, vintage two-flats, classic bungalows, and modern condos throughout the city. Project Overview This project showcases Windy City Painters completing professional interior and exterior painting services for a Chicago-area client. The building's vintage character called for careful color selection and precise application to honor original architectural details while refreshing every surface. Materials and Products Used Windy City Painters selects premium paints from trusted manufacturers including Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore, chosen specifically for Chicago's climate demands. Primers, fillers, and caulks are all professional-grade for lasting adhesion and durability. Our Step-by-Step Process Step 1 - Prep and Repairs: All surfaces are cleaned, sanded, and patched. Cracks in plaster or drywall are filled and feathered smooth before any painting begins. Step 2 - Priming: A quality primer is applied to ensure proper adhesion, uniform sheen, and long-term durability across all surfaces. Step 3 - Paint Application: Multiple coats are applied using the right tools for each surface - brushes, rollers, and sprayers where appropriate. Step 4 - Final Inspection: Windy City Painters conducts a detailed walkthrough with the homeowner to confirm every detail meets our high standard. Chicago-Specific Challenges Older Chicago homes present unique challenges including lead paint layers, aging horsehair plaster, moisture from harsh winters, and intricate vintage millwork. Windy City Painters is trained to handle all of these safely and professionally. Results Clients consistently report dramatic improvements in curb appeal, interior atmosphere, and overall home value after working with Windy City Painters. Pro Tips Before You Start Always test for lead paint in homes built before 1978. Budget for surface prep - it determines final quality. Choose paints rated for Chicago's freeze-thaw cycles for exterior projects. See more work and request a free estimate at windypainters.com. Frequently Asked Questions Q: How do I find a reliable painter near me in Chicago? / A: Look for licensed, insured contractors with strong local reviews. Windy City Painters is a trusted painter near me in Chicago with a proven track record serving greystones, bungalows, and vintage buildings throughout the city. Q: What surfaces can a painter near me in Chicago handle? / A: Windy City Painters handles drywall, plaster, wood trim, cabinets, brick, and metal surfaces, making us a comprehensive painter near me in Chicago for any project large or small. Q: How important is surface preparation? / A: Proper preparation is the foundation of any quality paint job. As your painter near me in Chicago, Windy City Painters dedicates significant time to prep work ensuring flawless, long-lasting results every time. Q: Do you handle lead paint safely in older Chicago homes? / A: Yes, Windy City Painters follows all safety protocols for lead paint in older homes, making us the responsible painter near me in Chicago for vintage and pre-1978 buildings. Q: What paint brands does Windy City Painters recommend? / A: As a professional painter near me in Chicago, Windy City Painters recommends Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore for their durability, color accuracy, and performance in Chicago's demanding climate. Q: Can you paint exterior surfaces in Chicago winters? / A: Exterior painting requires temperatures above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Windy City Painters, your painter near me in Chicago, schedules exterior projects during appropriate seasonal windows for best results. Q: How many coats of paint are typically needed? / A: Most projects require two finish coats over primer. Your painter near me in Chicago at Windy City Painters assesses each surface individually to determine the right number of coats. Q: Do you offer color consultation services? / A: Yes, Windy City Painters provides color guidance as part of our painter near me in Chicago service, helping you select shades that complement your home's architecture and style. Q: Can Windy City Painters match existing paint colors? / A: Absolutely, as your skilled painter near me in Chicago, Windy City Painters uses professional color-matching technology to seamlessly blend new paint with existing finishes throughout your home. Q: How do I get a free estimate from a painter near me in Chicago? / A: Simply visit windypainters.com or call us directly. Windy City Painters makes it easy to connect with a professional painter near me in Chicago for a no-obligation estimate.

I was recently asked to survey an unusual stone floor at a house in in Harrogate comprising of Slate inlaid with Granite. The client advised that it had not been cleaned properly for 20 years and wanted it renovating! It was now definitely overdue a deep clean and professional attention. Fortunately, having worked on these floors for many years I knew I could make a substantial impact and transform its appearance. Fossilized slate is a beautiful stone when cleaned and sealed correctly. The owner confessed they had actually been sealing the floor every two years but without a deep clean first, so they were effectively sealing in the dirt each time. I discussed with them the process I would use to clean and re-seal the floor and we agreed a price to carry to out the work. To remove the layers of old sealer and dirt used a set of Tile Doctor Diamond Burnishing pads. The pads are attached to a rotary floor machine starting with the coarse 400-grit pad which was lubricated with a dilution of Tile Doctor Remove and Go to help strip the floor of dirt and layers of sealer. After rinsing and extracting the soil I worked through the different grades of pads in sequence finishing with the 1500-grit and this time using just water for lubrication. A set of diamond handheld burnishing blocks were then used to clean up the edges and corners where the large 17” pads struggle to reach. This ensures all areas are treated and free of dirt and old sealer. The floor was then rinsed and extracted again to remove the remaining soil. I find a wet vacuum is an invaluable tool for this. The floor was then left to dry out overnight ready for sealing the next day. I returned the next day to seal the floor, first checking with a damp meter that the floor was dry, and the moisture reading was below the acceptable level. These results were fine, so I had a green light to continue and seal the stone. The customer wanted a shine on the floor so rather than apply a satin sealer which I felt wouldn’t adhere to the stone properly I decided to polish the floor further with a the last of the four burnishing pads which is a very fine 3000-grit pad. You don’t need to use a lot of water with this last pad just a small amount sprayed onto the floor using a technique we refer to as a ‘Spray Burnish’. To seal the floor, two coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow were applied. This is an impregnating matt sealer which intensifies the natural colours of this beautiful stone and provides long lasting durable protection. Even I was impressed with the finished result but more importantly the client was over the moon. To keep the floor looking its best I recommended they use Tile Doctor Stone Soap which is pH neutral. You should always read the label in detail when choosing a floor cleaning product as many are too strong and not recommended for sealed stone surfaces as they will prematurely erode the sealer. Nigel Stoker North West Yorkshire Tile Doctor

This beautiful Limestone kitchen tiled floor at a property in Peel Green was only a year old and, while it wasn’t in too bad of a state, the customer told me the floor had not been sealed properly due to issues with retaining moisture. The lack of an adequate sealer had allowed the Limestone to become duller over time after exposure to dirt and muck. It also had some more obvious marks and stains in some place and needed some grouting to be done around the corners and edges of the room. I travelled to the property in Peel Green, which is within the Greater City of Salford in Greater Manchester, to see what could be done to restore the condition of the tiles. Upon closer inspection of the tiles, I recommended to the customer that we proceed with the process known as burnishing, which we use primarily on Limestone, Marble, and Travertine. Burnishing, which involves the application of diamond encrusted burnishing pads, breaks down old sealers, gets rid of marks, stains and ingrained dirt, and gradually builds and evens out the polish on the tiles. I started burnishing the Limestone kitchen tiles straight away when I arrived at the property as it was a big area and would require lots of hard work to achieve the desired results within the space of a day. Our burnishing system consists of four diamond encrusted pads: Coarse, Medium, a Fine and Very Fine. Each pad was applied to the Limestone in sequence in tandem with a small amount of water to act as lubrication, gradually smoothing and polishing the surface of the tiles. After every pad, I also used my wet vac machine to remove any dirty water left on the floor and, after the Fine pad I rinsed the floor thoroughly to remove any dirt left on floor. I then left it to dry. When I was satisfied that the floor was completely dry, it was time to seal the Limestone tiles. However, I first went over the floor with Very Fine grit pad to provide a final polish before sealing. My choice of sealer was the impregnating Tile Doctor Colour Grow, a product which enhances the natural colours in the stone whilst also offering robust protection against dirt and stains. Remembering that the tiles had never been properly sealed, I applied plenty of sealer and left it to dry for 10 minutes. Following this, I carefully removed any excess sealer left on the surface with a dry cotton cloth. After sealing I went over the floor once final time with the Very Fine pad, just to smoothen things down and leave an exceptionally neat finish. When the job was finished, I gave the owner some tips and recommendations on the cleaning of the floor going forward and a complimentary bottle of neutral cleaner to get them started. The customer was very pleased with the finish, so much so that she opted and take up the Tile Doctor Maintenance Plan to keep the floor looking good for years to come! This involves popping round every 6-12 months to top up the sealer and give the floor a quick polish. Tony Olmet Greater Manchester Tile Doctor

Outdoor Lighting Designer Michael Gotowala Preferred Properties ConnecticutOutdoor LED Lighting Designer Michael Gotowala Preferred Properties Connecticut.Outdoor Lighting Designer Michael Gotowala Preferred Properties Connecticut. Outdoor Lighting Designer Michael Gotowala Preferred Properties Connecticut. AOLP- Association of OUTDOOR LIGHTING PROFESSIONALS. www.OutdoorLightingCt.com Outdoor Lighting Designer and two time Landscape AOLP Lighting award recipient Michael Gotowala Preferred Properties Connecticut shows us here how living beyond the walls of your home outdoors at night can be NIGHT TIME FABULOUS. GO TO WWW.OUTDOORLIGHTINGCT.COM TO FIND OUT MORE. "LET ME show you JUST HOW GOOD YOUR HOUSE LOOKS AT NIGHT" Steve P. offered the following endorsement about Gotowala's Outdoor Lighting talents. Michael is clearly one of the best landscape lighting designers in the country. In my role as a photographer of outdoor lighting, I've visited and photographed many of Michael's projects - not only were the lighting designs creative and effective, they were also installed perfectly with a great attention to detail. My photos of Michael's projects have been published in numerous trade journals and design magazines. Editors are thrilled with these outstanding examples of landscape lighting. Michael has embraced both the art and science of lighting design and applies it to create compelling nighttime environments for his very lucky clients. I wholeheartedly recommend Michael for any kind of outdoor lighting product. You willed be thrilled with the results.AOLP- Association of OUTDOOR LIGHTING PROFESSIONALS. www.OutdoorLightingCt.com Outdoor Lighting Designer and two time Landscape AOLP Lighting award recipient Michael Gotowala Preferred Properties Connecticut shows us here how living beyond the walls of your home outdoors at night can be NIGHT TIME FABULOUS. GO TO WWW.OUTDOORLIGHTINGCT.COM TO FIND OUT MORE. "LET ME show you JUST HOW GOOD YOUR HOUSE LOOKS AT NIGHT" Steve P. offered the following endorsement about Gotowala's Outdoor Lighting talents. Michael is clearly one of the best landscape lighting designers in the country. In my role as a photographer of outdoor lighting, I've visited and photographed many of Michael's projects - not only were the lighting designs creative and effective, they were also installed perfectly with a great attention to detail. My photos of Michael's projects have been published in numerous trade journals and design magazines. Editors are thrilled with these outstanding examples of landscape lighting. Michael has embraced both the art and science of lighting design and applies it to create compelling nighttime environments for his very lucky clients. I wholeheartedly recommend Michael for any kind of outdoor lighting product. You willed be thrilled with the results.

I visited this property in Lytham St Annes to survey a small Victorian tiled lobby which was in a sorry state. The client was keen to have it restored and wanted to know if it was possible. I discussed with them what we could do, and I gave them a quote for the work. Although it was only a small lobby, I could see the job could be quite involved and would be subject to the replacement tiles which I was confident we could source. This is one of those jobs you wish you hadn’t started as there were a lot more tiles to remove than anticipated and it mushroomed into replacing half the floor. Once the area was cleaned up, I applied a self-levelling compound to bring up the height of the base. Once the levelling compound had set, I was able relay the Victorian tiles using a combination of original tiles and replacements which had to be cut to shape. Cutting tiles to fit is quite intricate and time-consuming work especially when you consider new tiles are all metric in size and a 2mm difference becomes very telling after a foot or so! My solution was to use 150 mm tiles which are the biggest the stockist offers and then cut them down on my Rubi cutter using a template made from the original tiles. This the only way I could get it to look tight, it takes longer but it makes for a thorough job and a better finish. I always use flexible floor adhesive when laying tiles, my preference is Keraquick Grey from Mapei. There are other brands off course but this one is quite easy to get hold of and as the term grouting is a relatively modern invention (in the past it was called pointing ) I find it looks right with this type of tile and similar to the screed cement the Victorians used in the past. After the tiling had been completed, I left the floor to cure and fully dry and returned at a later date to give the floor an overall clean. For this I ran a coarse 200-grit diamond floor pad across the floor lubricated with water and used handheld diamond blocks for the edges where the pad can’t reach. The slurry was rinsed off with water and extracted with a wet vacuum. With old floors like this, which don’t have a damp-proof membrane installed under the floor, efflorescence is always a concern and can lead to white salts appearing on the surface of the tile as moisture rises through the floor. To counter this, I finished cleaning the floor by scrubbing it with Tile Doctor Acid Gel. This was then rinsed off with water and the soil extracted using a wet vacuum. The client was happy to seal the floor themselves (they wanted to save some money and it wasn’t a big area) so I supplied them with a bottle of Tile Doctor Colour Grow. I recommended this sealer as it will enhance the dark colours and being fully breathable it will cope with any moisture rising through the base. I recommended they apply two coats to start leaving time to allow the first coast to dry they could also then decide to leave it at that if they were happy with the finish. Russell Taylor Lancashire Tile Doctor

Outdoor Lighting Designer Michael Gotowala Preferred Properties ConnecticutOutdoor LED Lighting Designer Michael Gotowala Preferred Properties Connecticut.Outdoor Lighting Designer Michael Gotowala Preferred Properties Connecticut. Outdoor Lighting Designer Michael Gotowala Preferred Properties Connecticut. AOLP- Association of OUTDOOR LIGHTING PROFESSIONALS. www.OutdoorLightingCt.com Outdoor Lighting Designer and two time Landscape AOLP Lighting award recipient Michael Gotowala Preferred Properties Connecticut shows us here how living beyond the walls of your home outdoors at night can be NIGHT TIME FABULOUS. GO TO WWW.OUTDOORLIGHTINGCT.COM TO FIND OUT MORE. "LET ME show you JUST HOW GOOD YOUR HOUSE LOOKS AT NIGHT" Steve P. offered the following endorsement about Gotowala's Outdoor Lighting talents. Michael is clearly one of the best landscape lighting designers in the country. In my role as a photographer of outdoor lighting, I've visited and photographed many of Michael's projects - not only were the lighting designs creative and effective, they were also installed perfectly with a great attention to detail. My photos of Michael's projects have been published in numerous trade journals and design magazines. Editors are thrilled with these outstanding examples of landscape lighting. Michael has embraced both the art and science of lighting design and applies it to create compelling nighttime environments for his very lucky clients. I wholeheartedly recommend Michael for any kind of outdoor lighting product. You willed be thrilled with the results.AOLP- Association of OUTDOOR LIGHTING PROFESSIONALS. www.OutdoorLightingCt.com Outdoor Lighting Designer and two time Landscape AOLP Lighting award recipient Michael Gotowala Preferred Properties Connecticut shows us here how living beyond the walls of your home outdoors at night can be NIGHT TIME FABULOUS. GO TO WWW.OUTDOORLIGHTINGCT.COM TO FIND OUT MORE. "LET ME show you JUST HOW GOOD YOUR HOUSE LOOKS AT NIGHT" Steve P. offered the following endorsement about Gotowala's Outdoor Lighting talents. Michael is clearly one of the best landscape lighting designers in the country. In my role as a photographer of outdoor lighting, I've visited and photographed many of Michael's projects - not only were the lighting designs creative and effective, they were also installed perfectly with a great attention to detail. My photos of Michael's projects have been published in numerous trade journals and design magazines. Editors are thrilled with these outstanding examples of landscape lighting. Michael has embraced both the art and science of lighting design and applies it to create compelling nighttime environments for his very lucky clients. I wholeheartedly recommend Michael for any kind of outdoor lighting product. You willed be thrilled with the results.