The existing sandstone wall was met by an unusable, weed-filled slope. The upper retaining wall allowed the construction of a year-round dining patio surrounded by low-maintenance, low-water-using plants. Billy Goodnick

Carex 'Blue Zinger' slowly creeps into empty spaces with running stolons that are easy to control. Carex uses less than half the water as the former lawn, eventually forming a thick mat that can be mowed for a more crisp look. Photo: Billy Goodnick

Acacia cultriformis / Knifeblade Acacia Billy Goodnick
Design ideas for a mediterranean full sun hillside landscaping in Santa Barbara for winter.

Dan Farmer of Seattle Home Tours
Inspiration for a mid-sized craftsman gray two-story mixed siding gable roof remodel in Seattle with a shingle roof

Billy Goodnick
Photo of a mediterranean landscaping in Santa Barbara.

At the Wegerzyn Gardens in Dayton OH, foliage contrast and a dark background draw the eye to the key focal point. Billy Goodnick
Photo of a traditional landscaping in Santa Barbara.

Scott & Catherine Buley, HTT&T, High Tech Turf & Trees, LandscapeMakeover.biz, Rain Garden Nursery. Native beach strawberries and Corsican Mint.
Design ideas for a mid-sized craftsman drought-tolerant stone garden path in Portland for winter.

Color lesson: The blushed tips of Leucadendron 'Safari Sunset' are amplified by the maroon flowers of New Zealand Tea Tree. Billy Goodnick
Inspiration for a mediterranean landscaping in Santa Barbara.

Vegetable gardens can be an exploration in art. Billy Goodnick
This is an example of an eclectic landscaping in Santa Barbara.

Scott & Catherine Buley, HTT&T, High Tech Turf & Trees, LandscapeMakeover.biz, Rain Garden Nursery. MidWinter Fire Shrub Dogwood is gorgeous year round.

Scott & Catherine Buley, HTT&T, High Tech Turf & Trees, LandscapeMakeover.biz, Rain Garden Nursery. Beds and paths are narrow enough to allow for easy reaching into them for both picking fruit, and gardening. Using dense groundcover on the ends, helps hold mulch and river gravel in place, and off the sidewalk and driveway.

Elegant bathroom photo in Portland

Scott & Catherine Buley, HTT&T, High Tech Turf & Trees, Rain Garden Nursery, LandscapeMakeover.biz.
Photo of a mid-sized craftsman drought-tolerant stone garden path in Portland for winter.

Kitchen - transitional kitchen idea in Chicago

Example of a transitional kitchen design in Chicago

Example of a transitional kitchen design in Chicago

Example of a transitional kitchen design in Chicago

Scott & Catherine Buley, HTT&T, High Tech Turf & Trees, Rain Garden Nursery, LandscapeMakeover.biz.
This is an example of a mid-sized craftsman drought-tolerant stone garden path in Portland for winter.

Along with internal tiled floors at residential and commercial properties, we also specialise in the cleaning, restoration and sealing of all types of external tiled floors, including patios. This customer, who lives in the small town of Brackley in Northamptonshire, had made the unfortunate mistake of sealing a brand new Slate tiled patio without removing the layer of grout haze smeared across the surface of the tile first. With the grout trapped between the tile and the new sealant the sealer was unable to fulfil its potential and the entire floor appeared really dull and patchy. The customer contacted me about setting the situation right. My initial course of action was to remove the new sealer using Tile Doctor Remove & Go, which is specially designed to strip away sealant, as well as adhesives and paints in cases where building and decorating works have left the tiles stained. The product was applied liberally across the surface area of the patio and agitated using a rotary machine fitted with a special stripping pad. Of course, this was necessary because the grout haze could not be treated without removing the sealant first. The soiled cleaning solution was promptly soaked up using a wet-vac machine. Once the tiles were exposed I applied Tile Doctor Acid Gel, which is a blend of phosphoric and hydrochloric acids in more manageable gel form, all over the patio and allowed it to dwell for ten minutes to begin neutralising the grout haze. I then added a little water and worked the product into the patio with a stiff scrubbing brush and a rotary machine to ensure all grout haze was removed from the surface of the tiles. The remaining slurry was then removed using the wet vacuum, and I rinsed the area twice with plain water to ensure all cleaning products had been removed. It was them left to dry completely. I returned to the property several days later to give the patio a fresh seal now that it was free from grout haze. First, I gave the patio a vacuum and light mop to remove any dust and debris. The customer wanted the tiles as dark as possible, therefore I suggested we use Tile Doctor Stone Oil before sealing, as this would darken the Slate significantly. Once this was agreed, I applied one coat of Stone Oil, allowed an hour for the product to dry, and then followed this applying two coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow sealer. This is our impregnating, colour enhancing sealant which provides maximum protection against ingrained dirt and stains, as well as a durable no-sheen finish. As you can see from the photographs, the Slate tiles experienced an impressive transformation. The fresh sealant, combined with the Stone Oil, really took the appearance of the tiles to a new level and, what’s more, it will be easier for the happy customer to keep it clean in the future. Phil Vissian Northamptonshire Tile Doctor