Author Topic: What kind of tile flooring is this?  (Read 952 times)

jeromedawg

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 5174
  • Age: 2019
  • Location: Orange County, CA
What kind of tile flooring is this?
« on: September 17, 2021, 10:47:08 PM »
At first I thought these were travertine but the lady at one of the flooring places was thinking it might be porcelain.

Or are these ceramic?

Two pics with slightly different lighting/angles:





EDIT: ugh, sorry - I meant for this to go in the DIY section. Will try to get a mod to move it

uniwelder

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1697
  • Age: 44
  • Location: Appalachian Virginia
Re: What kind of tile flooring is this?
« Reply #1 on: September 18, 2021, 05:38:21 AM »
Upload a pic that shows the edge of the tile. I remember from the house pics, so can see them at the steps to the living room.

Dicey

  • Senior Mustachian
  • ********
  • Posts: 22318
  • Age: 66
  • Location: NorCal
Re: What kind of tile flooring is this?
« Reply #2 on: September 18, 2021, 06:48:02 AM »
Definitely not travertine.  Could be porcelain, could be ceramic. Why does it matter?

Papa bear

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1838
  • Location: Ohio
Re: What kind of tile flooring is this?
« Reply #3 on: September 18, 2021, 08:50:38 AM »
I’m going to be a bit pedantic here. Porcelain is a ceramic. 

I’d put money on it being a ceramic product, not a natural stone tile. 


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

iluvzbeach

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1578
Re: What kind of tile flooring is this?
« Reply #4 on: September 18, 2021, 08:51:20 AM »
Looks like ceramic to me.

jeromedawg

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 5174
  • Age: 2019
  • Location: Orange County, CA
Re: What kind of tile flooring is this?
« Reply #5 on: September 18, 2021, 09:20:07 AM »
Definitely not travertine.  Could be porcelain, could be ceramic. Why does it matter?

Just curious in terms of the best way to clean them: was considering using a brass brush to scrub the grout lines. And also wondering if they need to be sealed after cleaning or if I just need to worry about the grout, etc.

Dicey

  • Senior Mustachian
  • ********
  • Posts: 22318
  • Age: 66
  • Location: NorCal
Re: What kind of tile flooring is this?
« Reply #6 on: September 18, 2021, 11:28:53 AM »
Definitely not travertine.  Could be porcelain, could be ceramic. Why does it matter?

Just curious in terms of the best way to clean them: was considering using a brass brush to scrub the grout lines. And also wondering if they need to be sealed after cleaning or if I just need to worry about the grout, etc.
OMG, a brass brush is going to rip the hell out of the grout. Grout is the least durable part of a tile floor. Clean it with a steamer, or a nylon brush. You can also paint over existing grout if you don't like the darkening that happens over time. It's tedious work, but with a little practice, it gets easier. However, you have a LOT of tile.

Ceramic and porcelain are already sealed. Porcelain is a more durable finish and therefore less porous, but the difference between the two isn't huge. Unless someone has done something like scrub them with a wire brush (and I saw no evidence of that in the photos), resealing is completely unnecessary. In my very experienced opinion, you are way over thinking this.

jeromedawg

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 5174
  • Age: 2019
  • Location: Orange County, CA
Re: What kind of tile flooring is this?
« Reply #7 on: September 18, 2021, 11:49:24 AM »
Definitely not travertine.  Could be porcelain, could be ceramic. Why does it matter?

Just curious in terms of the best way to clean them: was considering using a brass brush to scrub the grout lines. And also wondering if they need to be sealed after cleaning or if I just need to worry about the grout, etc.
OMG, a brass brush is going to rip the hell out of the grout. Grout is the least durable part of a tile floor. Clean it with a steamer, or a nylon brush. You can also paint over existing grout if you don't like the darkening that happens over time. It's tedious work, but with a little practice, it gets easier. However, you have a LOT of tile.

Ceramic and porcelain are already sealed. Porcelain is a more durable finish and therefore less porous, but the difference between the two isn't huge. Unless someone has done something like scrub them with a wire brush (and I saw no evidence of that in the photos), resealing is completely unnecessary. In my very experienced opinion, you are way over thinking this.

Haha good to know - I'll stick with the steamer and nylon brushes. No brass. It's good I asked though, otherwise I probably would have used brass and ruined the grout hahaa.

Metalcat

  • Senior Mustachian
  • ********
  • Posts: 17379
Re: What kind of tile flooring is this?
« Reply #8 on: September 18, 2021, 12:02:10 PM »
You literally just bought a steamer to clean the grout.

jeromedawg

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 5174
  • Age: 2019
  • Location: Orange County, CA
Re: What kind of tile flooring is this?
« Reply #9 on: September 18, 2021, 12:08:21 PM »
You literally just bought a steamer to clean the grout.

The steamer has nylon and brass attachments. Hence the question. I should have clarified that at the start. EDIT: I read a few articles Googling around where some recommend brass but I think that's more for really stubborn/concentrated stains if anything.

Metalcat

  • Senior Mustachian
  • ********
  • Posts: 17379
Re: What kind of tile flooring is this?
« Reply #10 on: September 18, 2021, 12:15:57 PM »
You literally just bought a steamer to clean the grout.

The steamer has nylon and brass attachments. Hence the question. I should have clarified that at the start. EDIT: I read a few articles Googling around where some recommend brass but I think that's more for really stubborn/concentrated stains if anything.

Don't use attachments, just point the steam nozzle at the grout and spray, then wipe with a rag.

Dicey

  • Senior Mustachian
  • ********
  • Posts: 22318
  • Age: 66
  • Location: NorCal
Re: What kind of tile flooring is this?
« Reply #11 on: September 18, 2021, 12:19:32 PM »
No brass on grout, unless you want to end up replacing it. I've replaced grout, because it was beyond repair in a house I bought and it's a pain in the ass. You really, really don't want to create that kind of work for yourself.

Brass brushes are for cleaning BBQ grills and perhaps machine parts, but not much of anything else, IMO.

And +1 to Malcat's cross-post.

jeromedawg

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 5174
  • Age: 2019
  • Location: Orange County, CA
Re: What kind of tile flooring is this?
« Reply #12 on: September 18, 2021, 12:25:12 PM »
You literally just bought a steamer to clean the grout.

The steamer has nylon and brass attachments. Hence the question. I should have clarified that at the start. EDIT: I read a few articles Googling around where some recommend brass but I think that's more for really stubborn/concentrated stains if anything.

Don't use attachments, just point the steam nozzle at the grout and spray, then wipe with a rag.

I tested the steamer out on some surfaces here at the apartment (but without the jet tip nozzle because the one that came in the box is defective - I'm having a new one sent out) - particularly areas with pink mold and also some darker spots. It didn't seem to blast them away so not sure how well it would handle blasting grout lines. I wish I had some way to test/try it (on grout) beforehand. Using the nylon brush helped of course. Maybe with the replacement/working jet tip attachment it will work better to blast the crap away.

No brass on grout, unless you want to end up replacing it. I've replaced grout, because it was beyond repair in a house I bought and it's a pain in the ass. You really, really don't want to create that kind of work for yourself.

Brass brushes are for cleaning BBQ grills and perhaps machine parts, but not much of anything else, IMO.

And +1 to Malcat's cross-post.

Ah, I think I saw pics or vids of people using the brass brush attachment on grills... and ovens too.
« Last Edit: September 18, 2021, 12:29:10 PM by jeromedawg »

former player

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 8822
  • Location: Avalon
Re: What kind of tile flooring is this?
« Reply #13 on: September 18, 2021, 12:31:40 PM »
Any sort of wire brush (steel, brass, etc.) is only for use on metals. Great for getting rid of rust.

Metalcat

  • Senior Mustachian
  • ********
  • Posts: 17379
Re: What kind of tile flooring is this?
« Reply #14 on: September 18, 2021, 12:32:48 PM »
You literally just bought a steamer to clean the grout.

The steamer has nylon and brass attachments. Hence the question. I should have clarified that at the start. EDIT: I read a few articles Googling around where some recommend brass but I think that's more for really stubborn/concentrated stains if anything.

Don't use attachments, just point the steam nozzle at the grout and spray, then wipe with a rag.

I tested the steamer out on some surfaces here at the apartment (but without the jet tip nozzle because the one that came in the box is defective - I'm having a new one sent out) - particularly areas with pink mold and also some darker spots. It didn't seem to blast them away so not sure how well it would handle blasting grout lines. I wish I had some way to test/try it (on grout) beforehand. Using the nylon brush helped of course. Maybe with the replacement/working jet tip attachment it will work better to blast the crap away.

No brass on grout, unless you want to end up replacing it. I've replaced grout, because it was beyond repair in a house I bought and it's a pain in the ass. You really, really don't want to create that kind of work for yourself.

Brass brushes are for cleaning BBQ grills and perhaps machine parts, but not much of anything else, IMO.

And +1 to Malcat's cross-post.

Ah, I think I saw pics or vids of people using the brass brush attachment on grills... and ovens too.

If the new tip doesn't work very very easily, then rent a professional unit like I originally recommended.

You should not need to scrub if you use the right machine for the job.


jeromedawg

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 5174
  • Age: 2019
  • Location: Orange County, CA
Re: What kind of tile flooring is this?
« Reply #15 on: September 18, 2021, 12:49:50 PM »
You literally just bought a steamer to clean the grout.

The steamer has nylon and brass attachments. Hence the question. I should have clarified that at the start. EDIT: I read a few articles Googling around where some recommend brass but I think that's more for really stubborn/concentrated stains if anything.

Don't use attachments, just point the steam nozzle at the grout and spray, then wipe with a rag.

I tested the steamer out on some surfaces here at the apartment (but without the jet tip nozzle because the one that came in the box is defective - I'm having a new one sent out) - particularly areas with pink mold and also some darker spots. It didn't seem to blast them away so not sure how well it would handle blasting grout lines. I wish I had some way to test/try it (on grout) beforehand. Using the nylon brush helped of course. Maybe with the replacement/working jet tip attachment it will work better to blast the crap away.

No brass on grout, unless you want to end up replacing it. I've replaced grout, because it was beyond repair in a house I bought and it's a pain in the ass. You really, really don't want to create that kind of work for yourself.

Brass brushes are for cleaning BBQ grills and perhaps machine parts, but not much of anything else, IMO.

And +1 to Malcat's cross-post.

Ah, I think I saw pics or vids of people using the brass brush attachment on grills... and ovens too.

If the new tip doesn't work very very easily, then rent a professional unit like I originally recommended.

You should not need to scrub if you use the right machine for the job.

Yep, I have a machine reserved to rent from Home Depot just in case.

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!