Home away from home is where we often meet our clients, especially in Bend. They crave a welcoming and approachable, yet luxurious and well curated vacation home. This custom home in Central Oregon’s Caldera Springs neighborhood was no exception. An investment property the owners and their family will use occasionally, the home had to speak to their overall aesthetic, while graciously accommodating rental guests throughout the year. Design for each space was a collaboration with our clients, who selected “inspiration” fabrics and artwork that tell a story and bring warmth and personality to the home. We designed hard-wearing custom furniture, composed layers of luxe bedding, placed photography by local artist and photographer Chris Murray, and added comfortable and low maintenance furniture outside, where everyone wants to be year-round in Bend. Working with the property manager, we checked every item off a comprehensive list to outfit the chef’s kitchen and ensure guests would have all the comforts of home. This home is available for short-term vacation rental through Bennington Properties in Sunriver, OR. Photography by Kayla McKenzie Photography

Home away from home is where we often meet our clients, especially in Bend. They crave a welcoming and approachable, yet luxurious and well curated vacation home. This custom home in Central Oregon’s Caldera Springs neighborhood was no exception. An investment property the owners and their family will use occasionally, the home had to speak to their overall aesthetic, while graciously accommodating rental guests throughout the year. Design for each space was a collaboration with our clients, who selected “inspiration” fabrics and artwork that tell a story and bring warmth and personality to the home. We designed hard-wearing custom furniture, composed layers of luxe bedding, placed photography by local artist and photographer Chris Murray, and added comfortable and low maintenance furniture outside, where everyone wants to be year-round in Bend. Working with the property manager, we checked every item off a comprehensive list to outfit the chef’s kitchen and ensure guests would have all the comforts of home. This home is available for short-term vacation rental through Bennington Properties in Sunriver, OR. Photography by Kayla McKenzie Photography

This client from Nantwich had a beautiful Travertine tiled floor installed in their very large kitchen and utility area. Realising that their tiles didn’t look as good as when they were installed, they got in touch to ask if I could clean and re-seal the tiles and grouting. I went over to survey the floor and could see the grout had darkened (it was originally white) and the travertine was trapping dirt in the natural pits of the stone. I conducted a test clean on the grout and Travertine which responded well, the client was impressed, and I was asked to do the whole floor. Happy with my quote for restoring the tile and grout we scheduled a date to do the work. Nantwich is a medieval market town in Cheshire, well known for its Tudor and Georgian architecture. It has one of the highest concentrations of listed buildings in England and many of these properties have very old floors. We scheduled in a date for the work, and I began by cleaning the floor with a strong solution of Tile Doctor Remove and Go worked into the grout and pitting with hand brushes. I then used a wire brush on the grout to get it really clean. The soiled solution was rinsed off with water and extracted with a wet vacuum. Once done the Travertine was burnished using a series of Tile Doctor burnishing pads from 400 through to 1500-grit attached to the rotary machine, rinsing with water in between to remove the soiling. The pads are encrusted with diamond and after being worked over each pad three times do an amazing job of removing ingrained dirt and bringing up the polish on the stone. The floor needs to be dry before I can apply the sealer so once the burnishing was done, I gave it a final finish and extracted as much moisture as possible with the wet vacuum. The Travertine was left to dry off overnight and I returned the next day to apply a sealer, first checking the floor was dry with a damp meter. The readings were acceptable, so I was able to get on with the sealing. My client had requested a natural finish, so I had recommended Tile Doctor Ultra-Seal which is almost invisible sealer that provides protection but doesn’t change the look of the stone. Only a couple of coats are required and being an impregnating sealer, it works by soaking into stone and occupying the pores so dirt can’t become ingrained there. Once the sealer had dried the floor looked so much cleaner and I had a very happy customer who left the following feedback: “Kamilla has totally transformed our tumbled travertine kitchen floor. It looks like new again, we are so pleased. Kamilla explained the whole process and was a pleasure to deal with. We are delighted with the end result, Kamilla worked so hard, would highly recommend.” For aftercare cleaning and maintenance, I recommended they use Tile Doctor Stone Soap which is pH neutral and mild enough to use every day. You must be careful when choosing a cleaner for sealed floors as many products are too strong and will reduce the lifespan of the sealer. Kamila Logonzy East Cheshire Tile Doctor

Several locations were considered for the pool before deciding on the least assuming place of all - the front yard! The landscape architect worked hard to create a unique plan that checked all the clients boxes and more. Easy care perennials and fade resistant pavers were carefully selected to ensure the overall plan was as low maintenance as possible.

Home away from home is where we often meet our clients, especially in Bend. They crave a welcoming and approachable, yet luxurious and well curated vacation home. This custom home in Central Oregon’s Caldera Springs neighborhood was no exception. An investment property the owners and their family will use occasionally, the home had to speak to their overall aesthetic, while graciously accommodating rental guests throughout the year. Design for each space was a collaboration with our clients, who selected “inspiration” fabrics and artwork that tell a story and bring warmth and personality to the home. We designed hard-wearing custom furniture, composed layers of luxe bedding, placed photography by local artist and photographer Chris Murray, and added comfortable and low maintenance furniture outside, where everyone wants to be year-round in Bend. Working with the property manager, we checked every item off a comprehensive list to outfit the chef’s kitchen and ensure guests would have all the comforts of home. This home is available for short-term vacation rental through Bennington Properties in Sunriver, OR. Photography by Kayla McKenzie Photography

Home away from home is where we often meet our clients, especially in Bend. They crave a welcoming and approachable, yet luxurious and well curated vacation home. This custom home in Central Oregon’s Caldera Springs neighborhood was no exception. An investment property the owners and their family will use occasionally, the home had to speak to their overall aesthetic, while graciously accommodating rental guests throughout the year. Design for each space was a collaboration with our clients, who selected “inspiration” fabrics and artwork that tell a story and bring warmth and personality to the home. We designed hard-wearing custom furniture, composed layers of luxe bedding, placed photography by local artist and photographer Chris Murray, and added comfortable and low maintenance furniture outside, where everyone wants to be year-round in Bend. Working with the property manager, we checked every item off a comprehensive list to outfit the chef’s kitchen and ensure guests would have all the comforts of home. This home is available for short-term vacation rental through Bennington Properties in Sunriver, OR. Photography by Kayla McKenzie Photography

We were contacted by the owner of a property in Moulton with a problematic Terracotta tiled kitchen floor. She was seriously considering ripping up the entire area of tiling and replacing it as she was having a new kitchen installed. Both her and her husband were concerned that unless I could restore this floor to somewhere near to its original condition, they would need to replace it. I went over to inspect the Terracotta tiles and could see the entire surface was deeply ingrained with soiling and the grout lines were filthy. After carrying out a test it became obvious that the previous sealer had been applied very sparingly and had mostly worn away, leaving the stone prone to staining. Terracotta is a very porous tile and dirt had become ingrained in the pores leaving it looking very dull and difficult to clean. I completed the test on a small part of the floor and the customer could see the results which could be achieved. Happy with the result they agreed my quote and we set a date for my return to complete the floor. The tiles turned out to be made of a fairly soft Terracotta which meant that we were able to deep clean them extremely effectively using a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean. We used Tile Doctor Remove and Go in particularly stubborn areas. The process I use is to spray the Pro-Clean onto the floor and leave it to soak in for about ten minutes before being worked in using a heavy rotary machine fitted with a black scrubbing pad. The resulting slurry is removed using a wet pick up vacuum. All the dirt and virtually all of the old sealer was removed at this stage; the remaining patches around the edges of the area being finished by hand with a 200-grit burnishing block. The grout lines were then cleaned by hand with an angled grout brush. Finally, the deep-seated oil stains in front of the cooker were brought out using Tile Doctor Oxy-Gel which was left to dwell on the marks for an hour before being agitated with a diamond burnishing pad and rinsed away with a wet pick up machine. The floor was rinsed with water and allowed to dry off overnight. The following day I inspected the floor and checked it was ready to be sealed. All was well so I applied an initial coat of Tile Doctor Colour Grow which is an impregnating sealer that occupies the pores in the tile enhancing the natural colours of the Terracotta and provide a base layer of protection from staining. I returned at a convenient time once the kitchen was completely installed to finish the job. This involves carrying out a light maintenance clean with Tile Doctor Neutral Cleaner and once the floor was dry, I applied 5 further coats of Tile Doctor Seal and Go which provides a pleasing satin finish which is really suited to this type of floor. The customer was very happy with the results and has left the following feedback. “We were really pleased with the results, thank you!” Phil Vissian Northamptonshire Tile Doctor

Home away from home is where we often meet our clients, especially in Bend. They crave a welcoming and approachable, yet luxurious and well curated vacation home. This custom home in Central Oregon’s Caldera Springs neighborhood was no exception. An investment property the owners and their family will use occasionally, the home had to speak to their overall aesthetic, while graciously accommodating rental guests throughout the year. Design for each space was a collaboration with our clients, who selected “inspiration” fabrics and artwork that tell a story and bring warmth and personality to the home. We designed hard-wearing custom furniture, composed layers of luxe bedding, placed photography by local artist and photographer Chris Murray, and added comfortable and low maintenance furniture outside, where everyone wants to be year-round in Bend. Working with the property manager, we checked every item off a comprehensive list to outfit the chef’s kitchen and ensure guests would have all the comforts of home. This home is available for short-term vacation rental through Bennington Properties in Sunriver, OR. Photography by Kayla McKenzie Photography

Victorian tiles are very hard-wearing and historically a popular choice for heavy traffic areas such as hallways. Still popular today they are nonetheless like most tiles and can become ingrained with dirt over time. This particular floor, located in a property in the old market town of Tewkesbury is a good example of a floor that was in good physical condition, but heavily ingrained with dirt due to a lack of regular maintenance. At a loss for how to remedy the situation by themselves, the property owner asked me to pay a visit to restore the tiles back to their best possible condition. In this particular scenario, I opted to mix and apply a solution of different cleaning products from our professional range, each serving a different purpose. These products were Tile Doctor Pro Clean, Tile Doctor Remove and Go, and Tile Doctor NanoTech HBU. Remove and Go serves the purpose of stripping away any old sealer on the tiles, while Pro Clean is an alkaline cleaner that reliably removes dirt and staining. NanoTech HBU is a particularly powerful cleaner which utilises nano-sized particles to penetrate deep into the pores of the stone, get underneath difficult stains and lift them out. I spread this potent solution across the length and width of the tiled hallway and left it to soak for approximately 10 minutes, before using a black scrubbing pad fitted to my buffing machine to give the tiles a deep scrub. Next, I rinsed the soiled solution away and neutralised the chemicals with plain water, before extracting any residue using a wet vacuum. I repeated the cleaning process several times to achieve the best results possible, and I also employed the aid of a steam cleaner to spot clean any particularly stubborn marks. Cleaning the floor took two days in total. At the end of the second day, I gave the floor a thorough and final rinse before leaving it to dry completely overnight. The next day, I returned to the property to seal the floor after checking the floor was dry. Ensuring before sealing that the floor is completely dry is crucial – even the smallest quantity of moisture remaining can potentially cloud the sealer and damage its performance. My choice of sealer was Tile Doctor Colour Grow, an impregnating sealer that penetrates and fills the pores of the tile to prevent trapped dirt and makes regular cleaning much easier. Colour Grow is a great choice of sealer for Victorian tiles because it really enhances the colourful patterns which are characteristic of this type of tile. My customer was very impressed with the service and remarked on the huge improvement to the appearance of the floor. You can see this for yourself – just take a look at the before and after photos! Malcolm Crowther Gloucester Tile Doctor

Bath mats are vital elements in bathroom decor, beautifully blending style and functionality. These bath rugs offer essential moisture protection, ensuring your floors remain dry while providing slip prevention for safety. When choosing a bath mat, prioritize quality; look for options that are absorbent, comfortable, and add warmth to your space. Consider the size and proportion of the bath mat in relation to your tub and vanity. If you have a double vanity, you can select individual rugs for each sink or opt for a long runner rug for a cohesive appearance. Always measure your bathroom area to ensure a perfect fit, allowing enough space for doors to open freely. Durability is another crucial factor. Since bath mats frequently encounter water and foot traffic, choose rugs with a nonslip surface and rubber backing to enhance safety on wet floors. Many options are crafted from high-quality cotton, providing a soft texture and easy maintenance, as most are machine washable. However, some may require professional cleaning, so checking care instructions is advisable. The choice of bath mat size largely depends on the area you want to cover and the dimensions of your bathroom. Look for a shower mat that is appropriately sized for your tub and vanity, ensuring it provides adequate coverage. If your bathroom features a double vanity, you can opt for either individual rugs for each sink or a long runner rug for a cohesive appearance. Before shopping, take measurements of the spaces to ensure a perfect fit. In smaller bathrooms, remember to leave enough space for the door to swing open without obstructing the rug. Durability should be a top consideration when selecting a bath mat. Since shower mats are frequently exposed to water and heavy foot traffic, it’s important to prioritize quality. Look for options with a nonslip surface and rubber backing to reduce the risk of slipping when the floor or mat is wet. Additionally, pay attention to the cleaning instructions. Most mats are crafted from cotton or chenille and can be machine washed, but some may require professional cleaning, so it’s best to verify before making a purchase. moisture and helping prevent slips. When choosing a bath mat, quality is just as essential as aesthetics; you'll want one that not only looks appealing and is absorbent but also feels comfortable underfoot. As you search for the ideal bath rug, consider these helpful tips to guide your decision. The choice of bath mat size largely depends on the area you want to cover and the dimensions of your bathroom. Look for a shower mat that is appropriately sized for your tub and vanity, ensuring it provides adequate coverage. If your bathroom features a double vanity, you can opt for either individual rugs for each sink or a long runner rug for a cohesive appearance. Before shopping, take measurements of the spaces to ensure a perfect fit. In smaller bathrooms, remember to leave enough space for the door to swing open without obstructing the rug. Durability should be a top consideration when selecting a bath mat. Since shower mats are frequently exposed to water and heavy foot traffic, it’s important to prioritize quality. Look for options with a nonslip surface and rubber backing to reduce the risk of slipping when the floor or mat is wet. Additionally, pay attention to the cleaning instructions. Most mats are crafted from cotton or chenille and can be machine washed, but some may require professional cleaning, so it’s best to verify before making a purchase. Having a bubbly pink color, this polyester footmat from Turkey ensures that it gets noticed by one and all. Its oriental patterns follow a definite sense of standard geometry. Buy it for your house and it will become an inseparable part of it for sure.

Home away from home is where we often meet our clients, especially in Bend. They crave a welcoming and approachable, yet luxurious and well curated vacation home. This custom home in Central Oregon’s Caldera Springs neighborhood was no exception. An investment property the owners and their family will use occasionally, the home had to speak to their overall aesthetic, while graciously accommodating rental guests throughout the year. Design for each space was a collaboration with our clients, who selected “inspiration” fabrics and artwork that tell a story and bring warmth and personality to the home. We designed hard-wearing custom furniture, composed layers of luxe bedding, placed photography by local artist and photographer Chris Murray, and added comfortable and low maintenance furniture outside, where everyone wants to be year-round in Bend. Working with the property manager, we checked every item off a comprehensive list to outfit the chef’s kitchen and ensure guests would have all the comforts of home. This home is available for short-term vacation rental through Bennington Properties in Sunriver, OR. Photography by Kayla McKenzie Photography

Home away from home is where we often meet our clients, especially in Bend. They crave a welcoming and approachable, yet luxurious and well curated vacation home. This custom home in Central Oregon’s Caldera Springs neighborhood was no exception. An investment property the owners and their family will use occasionally, the home had to speak to their overall aesthetic, while graciously accommodating rental guests throughout the year. Design for each space was a collaboration with our clients, who selected “inspiration” fabrics and artwork that tell a story and bring warmth and personality to the home. We designed hard-wearing custom furniture, composed layers of luxe bedding, placed photography by local artist and photographer Chris Murray, and added comfortable and low maintenance furniture outside, where everyone wants to be year-round in Bend. Working with the property manager, we checked every item off a comprehensive list to outfit the chef’s kitchen and ensure guests would have all the comforts of home. This home is available for short-term vacation rental through Bennington Properties in Sunriver, OR. Photography by Kayla McKenzie Photography

This Quarry tiled kitchen floor was in very good condition, with no cracked or broken tiles. However, my customer, who lives in the town of Tutbury, near Burton-on-Trent, was keen to boost the condition of the tiles further through professional maintenance, including a deep clean and a fresh seal to restore the sheen to the Quarry. NB, did you know it’s estimated that Tutbury has actually been inhabited for 3000 years, having once been the site of an Iron Age hill fort, this house of course was a lot more recent. To clean the tiles, I chose to use our tried and trusted alkaline cleaner, Tile Doctor Pro Clean. We use Pro Clean on most types of natural stone floor, including Quarry, Slate, and Victorian. I applied Pro Clean liberally across the floor and left it to dwell for a short period, giving it time to seep into the tile to get underneath and lift out any ingrained dirt. The cleaner was then agitated using a scrubbing pad fitted to a rotary machine to remove the dirt and other general muck. I then rinsed the floor with cold water and soaked up the resulting slurry with a wet-vac machine. Some areas of the floor proved to be quite stubborn to clean, so in these areas the cleaning process was repeated until satisfactory results were achieved. Finally, the floor was given another rinse and left to dry off overnight. The next day I returned to the property and checked that the floor was ready to seal by running several damp tests, with the results indicating that was no excess moisture remaining on the tiles. We carry out these tests before sealing because moisture can cloud the sealer and prevent it from properly protecting the tiles. My choice of sealer was Tile Doctor Seal & Go, a cost effective topical sealer that builds up a robust layer of protection on the surface of the floor and provides a durable sheen finish that, as you can see from the photographs, really lifts the appearance of the tiles. It’s a fact that any sealed tiled floor will need to be regularly maintained as sealers do wear off over time, especially in the high traffic areas, and this is when the floor starts to lose its appearance as dirt becomes trapped in the pores of the stone. The life of the sealer can be extended however by ensuring you only clean the floor with a PH Neutral cleaner. Trevor Preeece

Home away from home is where we often meet our clients, especially in Bend. They crave a welcoming and approachable, yet luxurious and well curated vacation home. This custom home in Central Oregon’s Caldera Springs neighborhood was no exception. An investment property the owners and their family will use occasionally, the home had to speak to their overall aesthetic, while graciously accommodating rental guests throughout the year. Design for each space was a collaboration with our clients, who selected “inspiration” fabrics and artwork that tell a story and bring warmth and personality to the home. We designed hard-wearing custom furniture, composed layers of luxe bedding, placed photography by local artist and photographer Chris Murray, and added comfortable and low maintenance furniture outside, where everyone wants to be year-round in Bend. Working with the property manager, we checked every item off a comprehensive list to outfit the chef’s kitchen and ensure guests would have all the comforts of home. This home is available for short-term vacation rental through Bennington Properties in Sunriver, OR. Photography by Kayla McKenzie Photography

This customer from the historic city of Cardiff was keen to see what Tile Doctor could do to put some life back into their treasured Limestone kitchen floor that was laid in 2008. My first observations were mainly centred on the horrific condition of the surface which although adequately sealed initially the floor had not received any subsequent maintenance and its condition had deteriorated over time. The light shining in from the patio doors highlighted all the imperfections in the floor caused by surface wear and tear commonly seen in high traffic areas such as a kitchen. Upon closer inspection, there were further problems: the floor was stained and scuffed, and in most places the sealer had worn off completely allowing the dirt to become ingrained into the pores of the Limestone. Additionally the grout was recessed but was now flush with the tile surface due to dirt build-up. There were also areas contaminated with grease and kitchen cooking oil. The Limestone floor tiles were 20mm thick French Limestone, and had been laid very well so there was no requirement to do any tile or grout repairs however to get this floor back to its original condition the surface would need to be reconditioned using the Tile Doctor four stage burnishing system. I started by giving the floor a wash with a medium dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean, focusing mainly on the grout lines in order to remove the muck that had built-up there. I used a special stiff grout brush for this activity; it’s quite narrow and ideal for grout scrubbing. This worked well, but the significant build-up of dirt along some of the grout lines meant more work was required. I tackled this problem with a hand scraper assisted with steam. At the end of this process, the whole floor was then rinsed down with water to remove any soil and the resulting slurry was then extracted using a wet vacuum. The next step was to start the burnishing process, which basically involves applying four diamond encrusted floor pads in sequence over the floor. Each pad is a different grade, starting with the most abrasive coarse pad and moving through to the finer grades using a little water to lubricate and rinsing away any slurry between each pad. I eventually finished with the extra fine pad which builds up shine and lustre on the tile; it had taken two days to clean the grout and burnish the Limestone but the floor was much improved and so after a final rinse down I left the floor to dry off overnight with the aid of the underfloor heating. During this time, I also addressed the stained Limestone in the area of the kitchen where the dustbin was situated. This had been a major upset for the customer and I’m happy to report I managed to deal with it. However, it was quite an involved process, so I’ll write about this in a separate post. On the third day I came back to seal the floor, checking first that it had dried sufficiently with a damp meter. Fortunately, the underfloor heating had done a great job of drying the stone and I was able to seal the floor using three coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow sealant. This sealant not only provides a durable seal but also penetrates deep into the pores of the stone protecting it from within and enhancing the natural colours of the Limestone in the process. After the final layer of sealant, I worked over the floor again with the extra fine burnishing pad both to add shine again following sealing, and to ensure that no smear marks were visible as the lighting conditions were unforgiving and highlighted any imperfections. The customer was delighted with the results: so much so, in fact, that they booked me in to restore their Victorian hallway floor as well but that’s a story for another time! Julian Iancono SE Wales Tile Doctor

Here’s a job I recently completed in the heartland of the English pottery industry, Stoke-on-Trent. In this particular instance I was commissioned by my client to restore the appearance of the Quarry tiled floor in her kitchen which as you can see from the photo below was far from looking it’s best. Quarry tiles are typically a very hard wearing stone, but in high traffic areas like a kitchen, even this type of tile will require regular maintenance. My first task, before beginning the restoration, was to remove the kickboards from around the bottom of the kitchen units, to prevent them from being damaged during the process. The next step was to acid wash the tiles using Tile Doctor Grout Clean-Up which was scrubbed into the tiles to remove old grout and plaster that had become stuck to the surface of the tiles at some point in the past. Once this had done its job I rinsed the entire floor with water washing away the excess soiled residue and any trace of acid. The next step was to give the tiles a good clean using Tile Doctor Pro Clean, which is a high alkaline cleaner suitable for use on a range of natural stone floors. This was left to dwell on the tiles for ten minutes, allowing it time to seep into the stone to get underneath – and lift out – the ingrained dirt. I then agitated the solution with a scrubbing brush to remove the muck from the surface of the tiles. The floor was then given another rinse with water, and this was extracted using a wet vacuum. I left the floor to dry after cleaning for more than 24 hours, making sure that it would be ready for sealing the next day. Upon my return to the house I checked the floor was dry and then sealed the floor using four coats of Tile Doctor Seal & Go, which provides a robust surface seal and a durable low-sheen finish. The product is suitable for use on internal, unsealed, porous surfaces. The photographs above bears witness to the massive improvement which has been made to the quarry tiles, which has not only completely transformed the look of the tiles but also the appearance of the kitchen. Trevor Preece Staffordshire Tile Doctor

Home away from home is where we often meet our clients, especially in Bend. They crave a welcoming and approachable, yet luxurious and well curated vacation home. This custom home in Central Oregon’s Caldera Springs neighborhood was no exception. An investment property the owners and their family will use occasionally, the home had to speak to their overall aesthetic, while graciously accommodating rental guests throughout the year. Design for each space was a collaboration with our clients, who selected “inspiration” fabrics and artwork that tell a story and bring warmth and personality to the home. We designed hard-wearing custom furniture, composed layers of luxe bedding, placed photography by local artist and photographer Chris Murray, and added comfortable and low maintenance furniture outside, where everyone wants to be year-round in Bend. Working with the property manager, we checked every item off a comprehensive list to outfit the chef’s kitchen and ensure guests would have all the comforts of home. This home is available for short-term vacation rental through Bennington Properties in Sunriver, OR. Photography by Kayla McKenzie Photography

Home away from home is where we often meet our clients, especially in Bend. They crave a welcoming and approachable, yet luxurious and well curated vacation home. This custom home in Central Oregon’s Caldera Springs neighborhood was no exception. An investment property the owners and their family will use occasionally, the home had to speak to their overall aesthetic, while graciously accommodating rental guests throughout the year. Design for each space was a collaboration with our clients, who selected “inspiration” fabrics and artwork that tell a story and bring warmth and personality to the home. We designed hard-wearing custom furniture, composed layers of luxe bedding, placed photography by local artist and photographer Chris Murray, and added comfortable and low maintenance furniture outside, where everyone wants to be year-round in Bend. Working with the property manager, we checked every item off a comprehensive list to outfit the chef’s kitchen and ensure guests would have all the comforts of home. This home is available for short-term vacation rental through Bennington Properties in Sunriver, OR. Photography by Kayla McKenzie Photography

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