Ceramic Tile San Diego

This is a great primer from Shaw Floors on caring for ceramic tile in your San Diego home.

Maintenance

Proper maintenance is the key to a trouble-free ceramic tile & stone floor in San Diego.

Damp mop weekly

Wipe down your ceramic floor with a damp mop at least once a week (or more often for heavy traffic areas and location) with R2X Hard Surfaces Flooring Cleaner from Shaw’s line of Floor Covering Care Products, avialable from Express Floors To Go. If R2X Hard Surfaces Flooring Cleaner is not available, a mixture of 1 cup of white vinegar to 2 gallons of clean tap water can be used. Never use a detergent or soap, because it can dull the surface or promote the growth of mildew.

Caution: Wait at least 72 hours after installation (to allow new ceramic tile and grout to dry) before damp mopping.

Use protective mats

Good quality entry and exit mats will help protect your ceramic tile from premature wear. They trap the dirt, sand, grit, and other substances such as oil, asphalt, or driveway sealer that would otherwise be tracked onto your floor. Mats are also suggested at heavy pivot locations, such as in front of your kitchen sink or stove. Homes in beach communities like Del Mar, La Jolla, Solana Beach and Encinitas might require more protection against sand and moisture than homes in central San Diego.

Add protective pads to furniture

Protect your tile by affixing felt or similar pads to the legs of any metal, iron, wood, or plastic furniture that will be placed on it. Exterior metal furniture, which rests on tile floors or patios, may rust and cause staining.

Use recommended sealers and cleaners only

We do not recommend cleaners other than Shaw’s own line of floor care products or the vinegar solution described above. They may cause unwarranted damage to your tile and/or grout.

Check cure time before adding grout sealer

Unless noted otherwise on its packaging, grout should cure for at least 28 days before applying a sealer.

Use a penetrating sealer on quarry tiles

Shaw’s quarry tiles are the only Shaw tiles that need a penetrating sealer. These sealers are absorbed into the tile, forming a stain resistant shield just below the surface. Most sealers will darken or change the appearance of the tile, and resealing is usually required every 12 to 18 months. None of Shaw’s other tiles will need a sealer, as they are not porous enough to absorb it.

Comment from a happy customer:

“With so many choices out there, I was happy to take the advice of the flooring experts at Express Floors To Go. They helped me find the best ceramic tile floor I could afford, and I’ve been showing it off to all of my friends and neighbors ever since it was installed. Not only did they really listen to what I wanted, they made sure to show me and my wife different styles and patterns until we knew for sure which one was perfect for us. Thanks Express Floors To Go, our condo has never looked better!”

T. Robinson, Scripps Ranch