Our Thorough Tile Sealing in Seattle, WA Successfully Restored a Polyurethane-covered Ceramic Tile Kitchen Floor

April 19, 2021

Kitchens are one of the few areas in a home that are under high foot traffic. As such, not using the right cleaning products and methods to maintain the floors can have devastating results. Upon seeing their kitchen floors deteriorate, many homeowners turn to quick fixes that promise outstanding outcomes. What they don't know is that more often than not, these fixes tend to cause problems long-term. For that reason, it's better to let professional Seattle Tile Sealing experts restore your kitchen floor instead.


We were recently contacted by a homeowner in Seattle who had been living in her home for five years. She always strived to keep the hard surfaces in her home in good condition because she regularly invited her family over. A few months ago, she noticed the ceramic tile floor in the kitchen had become harder to maintain. No matter how hard she tried, the floor would quickly return to poor condition. Concerned, the homeowner asked one of her friends for advice. The friend recommended cleaning the floor and sealing it with a polyurethane-based product.

Following her friend's advice, she went to the store and purchased the sealant. Once she was home, she cleaned the kitchen floor and applied the sealer to the tiles and grout lines. At first, her friend's suggestion seemed to work. Months passed, and the kitchen floor remained clean. It wasn't until a week ago that something caught her eye. Strange stains had begun forming on the tiles, making the kitchen floor appear dirty once again.


Feeling frustrated, the homeowner went online and searched for advice. The websites she found explained that coating ceramic tile with polyurethane-based products isn't something that's usually done or recommended. At most, ceramic tile floors require a light application of an impregnating sealant to fill the small pores on the surface of the tile. The homeowner also learned that store-bought polyurethane products don't always have the best quality. That explained why the sealer wore out unevenly across the kitchen floor.

Now that she knew what the problem was, the homeowner realized she needed professional help. With this in mind, she searched online for a reputable company that could help her solve the problem. Fortunately, she found Sir Grout Seattle in the top search results. Browsing our picture gallery and watching a few video testimonials was all she needed to know we were the right choice. She called and scheduled a free assessment.

On the appointed date, we visited the client's home to inspect the kitchen floor. We quickly determined why the floor looked the way it did and proposed to the client a solution to the problem. First, we would strip the polyurethane from the tiles and grout lines. Next, we would clean the floor and seal it using our proprietary products. The homeowner was relieved to find that there was a solution to her problem. She agreed to the service and set up a date for the job.

We returned to the client's home later in the week to perform the service. We first prepared the floor for the stripping procedure. To do this, we soaked the surface with a high-quality polyurethane solvent. After letting it sit for a few minutes, we scraped out the leftover sealant from the tiles and grout lines. When we finished stripping the polyurethane, we washed the floor using a pH-neutral cleaner and a high-speed scrubber.

Next, we dried the floor to perform the sealing procedure. We first sealed the grout lines using our flagship sealant ColorSeal. That is an acrylic-based sealant that shuts off the grout's pores, protecting it against water, stains, dirt, spills, mold, and mildew. It also facilitates maintenance and comes in a variety of colors. The client chose white to give the floor a clean appearance. To finish, we coated the tiles with Tile Armor. That is an impregnating sealing solution that fills the micro-pores found in ceramic tile and grout. On top of giving the tiles a beautiful glossy finish, it has the same protective features as ColorSeal.

The client was amazed by the results. She couldn't believe it was the same stained floor she used to have. Polyurethane-free tiles and grout lines now decorated her kitchen beautifully. She thanked us for the job and said she would recommend our services to her friends and family.

Before leaving, we gave the homeowner a few tips to help her avoid problems in the future. We first recommended cleaning the kitchen floor once a week using a damp mop and pH-neutral cleaner like Sir Grout's Natural Hard Surface Cleaner. On top of being safe for tile and grout, this cleaner doesn't contain acidic substances or soap. It also has an enhanced formula that helps inhibit the growth of common household bacteria, mold, and mildew. We also suggested leaving sealing procedures to professionals. Despite being beneficial to some types of flooring, polyurethane-based sealers shouldn't be used lightly. It's best to contact professionals in the field of hard surface restoration before making any decisions. The client thanked us for the tips and promised to follow them moving forward.

Are the ceramic tiles in your kitchen dirty and stained? Prevent that from ever happening again with Sir Grout Seattle's expert tile sealing services. We have the necessary tools and expertise to deliver the best hard surface restoration services in the industry. Call us at (206) 809-8083 or fill out the "Request a Quote" form on this page to schedule a free assessment today. Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter to keep up with our latest news and promotions.

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