Ceramic tile

[ganluin]

Hi all,
I have a bid I am gonna turn in on Friday and was wondering if any of you would mind helping with a few things. First a description of the job. This is a vetrinary clinic, total sq. ft. is 1013 sq ft. not overly big. This is divided up into several small treatment rooms, a lobby(400 sq ft), a small surgery room, a larger surgical recovery area (300 sq ft). This is all covered with ceramic tile.

They want me to give them a quote for once a month cleaning and another for two times per month cleaning. This is my first time doing tile this way. I am bidding it at $300.00 per visit. If they go with 2 x per month I am willing to drop it to $250.00 per visit. I am figuring 4 to 5 hours to do the work.

Ok, first question. Does this sound reasonable?

Is there anything I should do other than scrub the tile and grout?

I will be using a (175rpm) rotary floor machine.

Should I lay down a sealer?
Or a finish?

Thanks for any input here, I am wide open to suggestion.

Gene

[ECBS Clean Team]

I say no sealer no finish on ceraamic tile.

what are your specifications for cleaning. I dont see 4-5 hours cleaning such a small clinic. Also push for at least twice per month. Once per month is silly its like an initial cleaning each time?

This is in the floor care forum so I guess I got confused? Are you saying the want you to quote scrubbing the floor twice per month? Sorry.

[Kevin]

I would say your price is competitive and fair. I would also recommend sealer only. NO finish/never on ceramic. Sealer- Especially with the possibility of cat urine, dogs, blood etc. After your initial cleaning and seal, you should be whipping through their monthly in about 1 1/2 -2 hours

[J4K Cleaning]

I would not put any finish or sealer on it myself. Just scrub it as needed. I have found that a magna grit brush with my buffer and a degreaser works well on ceramic tile.

[Kevin]

Hmmm. Are we the only ones that seal ceramic. It sure makes the maintenance so much easier.
doityourself.com/brick/ceramictile.htm

[monayuki]

Help Tips and Information about Ceramic Tile

Ceramic tile has been around for centuries and with today's technology manufacturers have created new design and application possibilities that were not available a couple of decades ago. If you have never used ceramic tile before or it has been a long time since you have done so, you will be amazed at the wide selection of colors, sizes, shapes and new textures that are now available.

Ceramic tile is a natural product made up of clay, a number of other naturally-occurring minerals and water. Glazed ceramic tile has a ceramic coating applied to the tile body which gives the tile its color and finish. Glazed ceramic tile is a popular choice for your interior floors and walls and offers unlimited decorating possibilities.

Some characteristics of glazed ceramic tile are:

Durable - a properly installed ceramic tile will outperform and outlast nearly any other floor covering product created for the same application.
Easy care - glazed ceramic tile resists stains, odors, and dirt and can be cleaned up with a damp mop or sponge or common household cleaners such as Mr. Clean, Top Job or Spic and Span.
Scratch resistant - Grade III and Grade IV glazed ceramic tiles are extremely resistant to scratching and you never have to worry about a cut or tear like you do with some other types of floors.
Environmentally friendly - ceramic tile is manufactured using natural materials and does not retain odors, allergens, or bacteria.
Beautiful and Versatile - modern ceramic manufacturing technology has created virtually an unlimited number of colors, sizes, styles, shapes, and textures that will add rich beauty and character to any room decor.
Fire Resistant - ceramic tile doesn't burn nor emit toxic fumes. A lighted cigarette, when dropped on the floor, even if allowed to sit, will not do any damage to ceramic tile. Even hot kitchen pans or skillets will not scorch or melt the surface of glazed ceramic tile.
Water Resistant - most glazed ceramic tile has a dense body that permits little or no accumulation of moisture. This means spills from common liquids found in a kitchen are not a big concern.

Unglazed Floor Tile
There is no glazing or any other coating applied to unglazed floor tiles. Because these tiles are porous it is recommended that a special penetrating sealant be applied to these tiles floors to help prevent stains from seeping into the pores of the tile. Their color is the same on the face of the tile as it is on the back resulting in very durable tiles that do not show the effects of heavy traffic.

Marble – Marble is a natural product and is not made in a factory. For this reason no two pieces of marble look the same and the veining is a natural characteristic in all marble. There are special marble sealants to help protect from staining of the face. Extra care should be used when cleaning and all abrasives and acidic cleaners should never be used when cleaning. Even colas, some juices, and possibly ammonia may destroy the marble finish.

Granite – This is another natural stone and is not manufactured in a factory. Granite can be used indoors or outdoors and is less porous than marble. It is still recommended that you use a sealant to protect the finish from staining.

Grout – Grout is a mixture of cement and a color additive. For tile floors with wider spaces between each tile sand is added to the grout. Also, a liquid latex additive can be added to the grout to give better resiliency to the grouted areas. For ease of maintenance a penetrating sealant should be used on the grout. It should be noted you may see a change in color of your grout over time.

Some of the other important things we can help with when selecting a tile floor is the slip-resistance, the size and color of the grout joints, the thickness of the tile, height variations from room to room, size of the tile, suitability of the subfloor, and cleaning of the tile.

Caring for Ceramic Tiles

I find it Best to Seal Ceramic Tiles.
Here are my Tile Maintenance Tips Provided by RJ Cleaning and Restoration

Glazed Ceramic Tile General Care
Although glazed ceramic tile requires less floor care than most of the other flooring types there are certains things you still need to do to maintain the beauty of the tile floor.

Wash Regularly - Wash the floor regularly to remove any dirt or grit. Use a mild, diluted detergent solution, such as Mr. Clean or Spic & Span. If in doubt, call us to get the tile manufacturer's cleaning recommendations.
Vacuum Regularly - Sweep, or vacuum your glazed tile regularly.
Avoid Ammonia-based Cleaners - ammonia-based cleaners may discolor some types of colored grout.
Always Rinse - After washing with a mild detergent you should thoroughly rinse the floor with clean, warm water.
Never Wax a Tile - The glazed ceramic finish should never be waxed.
Wipe Spills Immediately - Liquids spills may be wiped up with an all-purpose cleaners, such as Fantastic, or Top Job. This will also help the grout joints from becoming discolored from spilled liquids.
Grout Sealers - Non-epoxy grout joints should be treated with a silicone grout sealer twice a year to help preserve the grout color and to prevent discoloration from spilled liquids.

[ganluin]

Thanks for the input. Yes, this bid is just for doing the floors. The 4 to 5 hours estimate was more a gues than anything else. I m not sure what I was thinking there. I can see based on the input above I am looking at more like 2 to 3 hours for this first cleaning.

When I am scrubbing the tile, is there anything I should watch out for? Should I get a special brush for the machine?

Thanks,
Gene