Our Cleaning & Sealing Process

Depending on the sealant previously applied to the surface, it may require either water-based stripping or solvent stripping, both of which our technicians can do. The process, cost, and duration differ considerably between them. Generally, there is no need to strip solvent-based sealer that is intact entirely.

Stripping Waterbased Sealer
It is always required before resealing, using a non-toxic waterbased stripper.

Stripping Solvent Sealer
Only required in specific cases. Our technicians can strip solvent coatings back using a non-toxic stripper based on a blend of low odour and low toxicity solvents. After the sealer has been stripped, the surface will be neutralized and cleaned. The stripping products are likely to cause minor damage to paint on skirting boards and adjacent areas, which you will need to get repaired after. e.g., paint can start to peel on the walls/ ceiling, and varnish can peel from cabinets, etc.

This process will likely cause additional expense due to damage caused by the stripping agent; this is why solvent coatings should only be stripped when necessary. Instead, a cut-back and seal would be recommended, where a lighter stripper is used to strip the flaky and loose parts of the sealer and get the surface ready to be sealed again, without stripping the suitable coatings of sealer on the surface, saving you the extra cost of stripping solvent and the damage involved.

Penetrating Sealers

A penetrating impregnating sealer will penetrate through the pores on the surface of your stone/tile without altering its texture, leaving it breathable, moisture repellent, and resistant to staining, without changing the slipperiness and without adding a visible film/coating on the surface. Our technicians can apply a penetrating sealer to provide an invisible transparent finish that retains the natural look of your stone & tile, and can also slightly deepen and enhance the colour of the surface by using a soft sheen/wet look impregnating sealer (colour enhancement does not work on white/yellow surfaces).

Topical Sealers

A topical sealer is a film/coating that sits on top of the surface and is very popular with surfaces such as vinyl/linoleum and even old slate and terracotta flooring. Our technicians can apply a topical sealer to create a high gloss, satin sheen, or matte finish to your surfaces. Topical sealers can also help in situations where the old sealer cannot be removed entirely or when specifically required to hide certain types of damage. Topical sealers can trap moisture in the stone and make the floor slippery when wet, therefore not recommended in wet areas. When a topical sealer wears in high-traffic areas, the entire surface usually needs to be stripped and resealed.

When it comes to sealing natural stone and porous tiles, to maintain the look and slip resistance of your surfaces and prevent damaging moisture from being trapped within the tiles, we recommend sealing with a penetrating sealer. 

• DeepShield Transparent Penetrating Sealer (10 year lifetime)
• DeepShield Colour Enhancing Penetrating Sealer (10 year lifetime)
• DeepShield Gold Transparent Penetrating Sealer (15 year lifetime)
• Topical Sealer with Gloss/Satin/Matte finish options (3-5 year lifetime)

• Stripping solvent sealers can increase the cost of service considerably.
• The price per m2 will also be affected by the type of sealer selected for the surface.

• We require that all cleaning areas are cleared for our arrival and that you have moved away as much of the furniture as possible.
• Our technicians will protect all skirting boards and doors, and adjacent areas by masking them with tape before starting the job.

• Sealed surfaces usually need a minimum of 4 hours to be touch dry before being walked on.
  Sealed surfaces should not get wet until the sealer has fully cured; this can take up to 24 hours after sealing and be considered when sealing outdoor areas.
• You must wait for the sealer to fully cure before testing the sealer or carrying out any cleaning.