What type of Floor to Choose and more!! From a Las Vegas Tile and Grout Cleaning Professional

What type of Floor to Choose and more!!

from a Las Vegas Tile and Grout cleaning Professional.

Las Vegas Tile and Grout Cleaning has been cleaning and sealing floors, counters, and shower stalls for over 10 years or (3500+ Jobs Personally completed). I have seen everything from new to old, dirty to clean, but sometimes wonder why people choose certain flooring that doesn't fit it’s use or even asked what is the best flooring ceramic, porcelain, natural stone, wood, slate, etc...The obvious would be to choose whatever makes you happy. On the other hand what makes you happy for the moment will make you UN-happy quickly especially if you have a lot of traffic (pets,kids,parties, etc.) or even using the wrong products to care for your floors. Key thought process when buying/choosing flooring material:

1. How much traffic in House? (Mom, Dad, children, pets, parties, etc.)
2. Location of area - relationship of product Kitchen = Heavy Traffic, Living Room = Light Traffic?
3. Tiled Surfaces vs. Wood Surfaces vs. Slate vs. Natural Stone vs. Mexican Tile?
4. Topical Coatings = Sealers - Sanded or Un Sanded grout joints? 1/4” vs 1”?

Proper Places for Proper Surfaces relate due to ease of future appearance and maintenance as well as SAFETY. Evaluate your surfaces regarding how much traffic you’ll have in the area, and where it’s located.

Observations 101

Slate
Decorative Tile. Exterior or Accent only! Not for large open spaces or kitchen areas. Very difficult to maintain as well as material usually breaks up. Certainly not in bath areas either.

Mexican or Saltillo Tiles
Can look beautiful, however difficult in open floors with heavy travel. Shows wear easy. At times difficult to keep clean. Common mistake, sealing with wrong sealer. Very wide grout lines, concrete consistency. Difficult in Kitchen Areas, baths, showers (NO). Material uplifts as well (like skin peeling) This is also a decorative material, difficult to clean (uneven surfaces) spilled products and pet stains can permanently embed fast!

Porcelain Tile
By far the most sense out of all materials. Can be used anywhere. Floors, counters, shower stalls (not basin floors) Kitchens, foyers, living areas. These floors textured or not clean up the easiest out of all materials. Be careful of the “new” recycled layer on top of porcelain tile, not so friendly/easy clean. Porcelain also last the longest as far as appearance, and can be re-grouted easily. (Sanded Grout only)

Ceramic Tile
Not a bad choice, breaks easy when pans drop, or anything that drops with velocity. Great again for kitchens, entry’s, laundry rooms, again, anywhere! Be careful of the high gloss versions as they really are easy to care for, however, can be a real safety hazard especially where kids, pets, and old folks are! These floors clean up easy, sanded grout 99% of the time, and recover from old to new instantly from a professional tile and grout cleaning. Excellent kitchen floor, especially where spills and food are everywhere. Popular as well in shower stalls (not good). The small Dal-Tiles 4” x 4” is not the problem in showers, however, it is the grout. The grout breaks up often, and usually is the main reason for remodel! *See cultured marble below!

Wood (real or laminated)
Back East wood is found everywhere. In the west, Like Las Vegas, NV not such a great idea. First the climate is too hot and dry, second wood in the desert (Fading)? Accent areas only, as well on 2Nd story or higher better. Stairs = OK...Can be serious hazard (slipping). Laminate floors curl or peel rather fast with the smallest drip...Yes they’ll recover back to it’s original form, however, again proper placement is critical. Family rooms, some entryways, upstairs (2Nd floor and higher) great choice. Do not put in kitchens (Real or Laminate). The worst material, and plan on replacement or refinishing fast. Evaluate your traffic before choosing wood.

Concrete
Concrete (sub-floor) typical in Las Vegas is not a bad idea, I have seen some really nice floors with proper textures and coatings. I think the real problem exists when you try to do it yourself. Concrete floors when done properly need to be done by a professional. By the way, if done properly, they clean up real nice. Some common issues I see are, peeling, fading, designation, and scaring (soles of marking shoes). No grout lines! Another downside is cracking from one end of the house to the other especially as the house gets older (settling). Overall pretty nice, somewhat issue for safety, however, not a bad choice for all areas (including kitchen)! Cleans up nice!

Linoleum
Excellent choice for kitchens, baths, and laundry rooms. Not Bad, old schoolish look, however last for a good long time, dirty easily (especially w/grease and grime) cheapest material to lay. Have seen some look a like wood design that really does look fantastic! Can be cleaned with machinery (Las Vegas Tile and Grout Cleaning)as well.

Carpet
Bedrooms, living rooms, game rooms, dens, are what I think are great areas for carpet. Never in bathrooms (mold and mildew) kitchens, hallways, and entrances. Carpet can act as a sound buffer(echo prevent-er), and hide dirt and grime effectively. Don’t forget to have at least twice a year service, especially in the Las Vegas Valley due to the big toilet bowl we live in! Dust and Dirt flying every which way! We live in a desert!

Natural Stone
Beautiful and Rich Look! Require frequent service. Normally people whom install it, just came fro the Bellagio Hotel & Casino, and say to themselves, I love it. Some inherit the floors from someone else and don’t realize what their in for...These floors are the most difficult and need to be laid by professionals! They also need periodic resurfacing as well as lippage removal. High gloss floors look terrific, not great at all in kitchen areas, and talk about a slipping hazard combined with high heels and the elderly, not sure whats worse on this material! Travertine, marble are the most difficult. Limestone, granite (especially found on counter tops in LV) can be deadly as well! Granite is the toughest of all natural stones, and don’t scratch so easy! Granite = A lot of money! In the kitchen, these materials take a beating, as well as showers and tubs!

Cultured Marble
The best material for showers and sinks! Difficult to mark or scar, no grout lines, wipe up and clean beautiful! Great for shower walls (3 - 4’x8’ sheets you got a shower stall) No sealer required! Lasts Forever! Comes in many styles. Molded to fit sinks, and comes in many thickness’s.

Shower Stalls and Baths
Stay away from natural stones, hard water is a killer on this material as well leaving hazed or powderish looking blemish's especially in shower stalls. Slate, talk about a remodel, terrible in baths (looks beautiful when installed) . Travertine another material frequently seen in baths and hate to tell you, floors not exactly the problem, its the showers and tub enclosures that are the worst. Beautiful material that should be accented in areas less traveled as well as accents in rooms like living rooms, dens, entrances, and mosaics. Travertine’s and marble come in many finished appearances, IE: matted, high gloss, finished, pitted, filled, and many more. Did I mention pits? Holy cow, you either love’em or hate’em, can hurt feet when walking barefoot! Fill w/dirt and grime fast! Beautiful however when clean! I see a lot of travertine floors.

Sealers
Water based sealers are the best sealers for interior floors in Las Vegas, NV. No hazing, smearing, consistency change, roughness, and leaves the materials looking natural. I meet many clients whom want a glossy finish, matted finish, and more and tell them these cause more problems than you can imagine. Peeling, dirt embedded by sealers(before I get their), glossy in some areas and not others, as well as many more...Furthermore sealers do not keep your floors clean, they make spills and stains remain on the top of all materials known as “repelling” and “beading”! If Las Vegas Tile and Grout Cleaning cleans your floors, sealer is required. Especially after your floors are at the most immaculate stage (like the day they were installed).



Environments of the interior of Homes

Echo Effect can happen when very high ceilings combine with no sound buffering items like area rugs, paintings or any other material than hard surface. Even on wood surfaces. Be careful as well as slipping or tripping hazards, and furniture (scratching) on materials. These all play an effect on overall cleanliness and appearance. Any hard surface is easier to care for then carpet, however carpet when placed properly still is a great product! Makes your feet stay softer!

Don’t walk in house with bare feet and shoes, wear socks (cotton only) if you like cleaner floors as well as healthier floors! In my house, forget about it! My 81 year old Dad and 71 year old Mom can’t bend over like they used to, as well as friends and family realize I’m in the business. Did I mention pets, need I say any more?

Remember, in Las Vegas, NV we walk to and from tar to concrete to grass to rocks to carpet to tile to everything in our way...MAINTENANCE is your KEY to not only Aesthetically looking beautiful floors but also from the health aspect as well! Most of my clients will call once a year for hard surface cleaning. Especially after I spoil them the first time!

Visít http://www.lasvegastileandgroutcleaning.com for more information as well setting up your tile and grout cleaning and sealing appointment!

Thank you in advance!
Michael Marcus
Owner
Las Vegas Tile and Grout Cleaning
702-595-8178