steam cleaning stone tiles! same as sx 15?? - TilersForums.com

[Lcfclcfc]

Yes a travertine tile with holes can be filled with a resin but it needs to be cleaned out first thats what I am trying to find out why a steam cleaner is so bad compared to the sx 15.

 

[Blunt Tool]

Which statement? The heading for this section is cleaning and restoration! Im not saying post has been ignored maybe some members have not seen it yet?? Im 100% sure that someone will know what a sx 15 is.
Lowly installers? like i said on my first post i'm a tiler who has been tiling 13 years so i'm also a lowly installer who is trying to expand my knowledge on tile restoration and I thought a tile cleaning and restoration forum maybe able to help.

I do know what it is!

 

[Lcfclcfc]

See i told you so

 

[Blunt Tool]

Cleaned out first? You get specialist cleaners, brushes to gently clean out dirt and then you are going to scab it (poke and prepare) then Hoover out holes before filling as anymore loose material will come out don't need heavy machinery you would be better to invest in a good set of diamond pads.

 

[Lcfclcfc]

Ive got diamond pads they wont touch a hole in trav? Im sure you know some trav has hundreds of holes with ingained dirt in thats why restoration companies use the sx 15, ive tested a steam cleaner and extracted and this cleans out holes well but less aggressively, my original question was will it damage the tile.

 

[Old Mod]

Try cutting the bristles of your scrubbing pads down so that they're not squashed by weight of the machine. They will ride over holes.
If they're short enough to bare weight of the machine they'll get in the holes of the Trav.

 

[Lcfclcfc]

Cheers but can't see that working some holes are only a few mm wide and deep, really wanted some advice from a restoration guy maybe lithofin bob about the adverse effects of steam into stone?

 

[Old Mod]

One of the reasons you don't use steam or pressurised water systems is because it'll remove impregnators and then you're left with extended drying times before re sealing.
And if it has a topical dealer, it'll get behind it and bloom.

 

[Lcfclcfc]

Ok thanks yes was planning to just clean trav holes out with steam not face of tile so in theory would only be done every 4 to 5 years with steam not regular cleaning, then would be resealed, like you said about pressure water systems that's what a sx 15 is with hot water and high psi that's why I was questioning how suitable they are but lots of people use them.