Maintenance & Care FAQs

The Tile Shop recommends using a non-acidic, anti-bacterial cleaner for man-made materials like ceramic and porcelain as well as natural stone materials. Our Grout and Tile Neutral Cleaner and/or Anti-Bacterial Cleaner are safe options for everyday use for both categories of tile. Should your natural stone require deep cleaning or special attention, we advise contacting your local The Tile Shop representative for more information, as some stones are sensitive to certain cleaning agents.

For unexpected situations such as this, we always consider saving at least one box of tile depending on the size of your project; this is because tile dye lots change and may not be available if you need a replacement. Always use proper safety equipment including eye protection. We suggest removing all grout around the damaged tile before removing it. Using a hammer, strike the tile in the middle, fracturing into small pieces. Utilizing a power scraper, strike tile from the sides. Be careful not to damage any tile surround the damaged piece. Click here for a complete how-to guide.

Backbuttering during the installation process will fill in the holes on the backside of travertine stone and is highly recommended.

Holes can be filled on the surface of travertine tile with Tenax Natural Stone Filler. Tenax Natural Stone Filler is a two-part resin that comes in a wide array of colors to match your stone. Depending on which travertine you have, talk with a sales representative to color match with one of our fillers.

Yes, we highly recommend sealing your grout. Unsealed grout is more vulnerable to stains and will most likely need to be replaced overtime. Be careful not to clean your grout with harsh acidic cleaners to avoid stripping the sealer on the grout.

The first step to protecting your investment is to seal the stone with the right sealer. Once this has been done, remember to use a PH balanced cleaner, such as Grout and Tile Neutral Cleaner and/or Anti-bacterial cleaner. Never clean with any type of acidic cleaner as this could strip the sealer over time. Acid can also etch polished natural stone. We also suggest using these neutral products to maintain the grout joints on any ceramic, porcelain, or glass tiles.

When properly maintained, the sealer should have a lifespan similar to what is stated on the label, however, this will vary depending on the traffic and use of the space where the tile is installed. For a general idea, Premium Gold and Enhance & Seal can last up to 15 years with proper care. The easiest way to determine if your stone or grout needs to be re-sealed is to lightly spray it with water. If the water beads on the surface, the stone and/or grout is still in good condition. If the water is absorbed, sealer should be reapplied properly.

Sealing and/or enhancing your product will determine its appearance after it's been sealed. Our natural look sealers, such as our Premium Gold sealer and Penetrating Sealer, simply seal your stone or grout product without altering the appearance of the material. Enhancers will "enhance" the appearance of the material, giving it a "wet look" in addition to sealing it. To test out the enhanced look before making it permanent, take a damp cloth or lightly mist your stone and blot/buff dry to remove the shine. If the enhanced look is something you prefer, protect and maintain your stone with our Enhance & Seal product. Enhance & Seal is not recommended to apply to grout joints.

Grout, like stone, is a porous material. Maintaining a sealed product is important to keep your product looking new for a longer period of time. The Tile Shop offers two great neutral pH cleaners for general upkeep. Neutral pH cleaners are non-acidic and are important because acid could potentially etch polished stone and/or strip sealers. Our Grout and Tile Neutral Cleaner and Anti-Bacterial Cleaner are considered safe for daily use on your grout surfaces. The Tile Shop offers several additional products if your grout requires more heavy-duty cleaning. Consult with a Tile Shop representative to determine the best product for your application since some tile products may be acid/chemical-sensitive.

There are a few methods for removing grout haze depending on when the grout was applied. Click here for a full how-to guide on how to remove grout haze

You will need a few different products to repair cracked grout. Click here for step-by-step guides and a complete list of products available at The Tile Shop.

Yes, we have various How To Guides available for your reference. Click here to see our How To Guides.