Honing & Polishing service in Kent

[smurf5599]

Hi All,

I'm half way through laying 610 x 406 Travatine floor tiles in my kitchen , lippage is pretty good as I've been using the LASH clips to help on the way.

Now I'm thinking is there value in getting the whole floor honed and polished before the kitchen is installed ?

If so is there anyone on this site that can recommend a contact and do they usually charge by the square metre ?

Any help appreciated.

Regards

Melvin

 

[peckers]

Why do you think you need them honing and polished? are you not happy with the shine depth off lustre colour etc that the tiles are manufactured with? you have said that you are happy with them not having lippage as you have used lash clips? Unless you havent been able to get the grout flush with the top off the tile faces and this is what you wanted and there is nothing else wroung with the tiles or tiling it is an expense that shouldn't be needed.
I only hone and polish a new installation if the customer is expecting a billiard table top finish then i flood poor the floor with grout and then hone and polish but the price for this is always included before i start tiling.

 

[MARBLE_TONY]

I take it you after the hotel look where the floor is perfectly flat and the grout joints become perfectly level with the floor? Our pricing works on diamond wear (every stone is different) so there is no set price per m2.

Anyway to achieve "the hotel look" the floor would first have to be 100% de-lipped (yes I have read you have used lash clips) but the machines are sensitive and pick up on microns. But if you have done a good job in that aspect then the floor will cost less to de-lip as the main cost is the metal sintered diamonds. (these are the one's that de-lip a floor.

Honing the floor would be done using resin bonded diamonds our system works stage system from 3-8 others have a system of grit so could be from 100-3500 this is away a floor is polished naturally. Then to polish if the diamonds have not given enough gloss, then a polishing powder can be added some are acidic some are not.

Other factors would come into mind you said that you have not yet fitted the kitchen well this is a cost saver(masking off). Also is it something you can afford (budget) people don't realize what it costs. Also m2 would also be a cost factor.

My advice overall then if you are going to have it done then is do it before you have kitchen installed. secondly if you have not had it grouted yet then when you grout do not clean it off! (only if you had it ground) this will leave a better finish at the end.

 

[peckers]

If you are trying to remove lippage then the process marble life has given you is the best way to go, although just to add depending on the level off shine you require you could stop using the resin bonded diamonds after 200-400 grit and then polish powder this will save on time and also M2 cost off diamonds used.(depends on level off shine required as to where you change from diamonds to polishing powder)
If you are just looking to improve level off shine then you could go down the twister pad route they work very well and you only need to add water and can be used with a normal speed floor buffer.

 

[Topshop]

I agree that the process Marble Tony is recommending would be best - especially if the grout is not cleaned off. That thing will be a breeze to clean later with level grout joints. Most acid type (5x) powders will kick up a nice polish after 400-600 grit on travertine. The only thing that may be an issue is if some of the fill pops out or you find voids and needs skimming during the honong process. I am sure Tony is used to dealing with that.

I would avoid the twister pads - the results are too unpredictable.

 

[peckers]

I agree that the process Marble Tony is recommending would be best - especially if the grout is not cleaned off. That thing will be a breeze to clean later with level grout joints. Most acid type (5x) powders will kick up a nice polish after 400-600 grit on travertine. The only thing that may be an issue is if some of the fill pops out or you find voids and needs skimming during the honong process. I am sure Tony is used to dealing with that.

I would avoid the twister pads - the results are too unpredictable.

unpredictable in which way???

 

[MARBLE_TONY]

Twister pads are unpredictable in the wrong hands at the end of the day it is a maintenance pad not restoration. Twisters can leave waves in the floor, also on a trav you will be prone to orange peel leaving it with a plastic finish, the finish also will not last as long as a resin hone and polish. They have there place just not in the way what I feel this guy is after.

Topshop would love to be able to get 5x over here but no chance!

 

[Topshop]

Twisters have their place just like any other tool in your box but too often they do not produce consistant results.

Tony, won't any US suppliers ship across the pond? Eastern Marble Supply in New Jersey, US has a very safe 5x.

 

[MARBLE_TONY]

Yeah they will ship but its not cost effective enough am more than happy with the klindex (samich) range and have a view bits from MB Stone.

 

[peckers]

I aint getting into no arguement but twister pads are very easy to use and you would stop using them at the level off shine you require the finish floor to have, the same as if you are using resin bonded diamonds weather they be attached to a klindex machine, htc machine or even a rotary floor polisher or any other machine you prefer using,
You can make any floor look like plastic if you over do it with the shine, but if he is looking to do it himself then the cheaper easier way is to use a standard speed floor buffer with a pad attached, If he is willing to pay a proffesional to do it either using an expensive planetary machine or just with a rotary heavy weight slow speed machine then that too would do the job.
He doesent state that he wants a restoration job done. in fact it isn't explained what he is actually trying to achieve.
Resin bonded diamonds or metals for lippage removal (if this is what is required) can cause more damage in the wroung/ less experienced hands then a twister can.

 

[MARBLE_TONY]

I'm not getting into a debate about pads either been in many of them and read many of them. Yes they are easy to use but as Topshop has said they are not consistent. Will not give you a professional finish and will not last, Also I think they are expensive for what they are. And when you put a resin bonded diamond finish next to a twister pad finish there is no comparison. Many companies have tried to make the "quick fix, cheap solution". Also to add and I know he has said there is very little lippage but he is going to be prone to picture framing with pads.

From reading the initial post I am reading in between the lines well not actually because he requested a contact, which says to me he is after a professional not doing it himself. and my post was to establish from him what exactly what he is looking for. As I do know a couple in that area that I can recommend but on the other side I know there capabilities.

 

[Gazzer]

Only half way through ? Didnt you start on 23-10-2010
http://www.tilersforums.com/tiling-forum/42219-tuscan-levelling-system.html#post430717

 

[Topshop]

No problems here Peckers, I agree about if he wants to do it himself they might be OK.

I have just heard a lot of bad reviews here about the twisters. I have never even tried them myself. I hear they break up pretty good when any lippage is present. They have been marketed mostly in the US as a way for carpet cleaners to become stone floor heroes. They don't have as bad a reputation as crystalization at least.

 

[MARBLE_TONY]

Or he should get the ultimate things ever Cheetah Pads they are the best thing ever to happen to the world of restoration efficient and remove lippage! :incazzatojoke)

 

[smurf5599]

Only half way through ? Didnt you start on 23-10-2010
http://www.tilersforums.com/tiling-forum/42219-tuscan-levelling-system.html#post430717

Hi Sir Ramic,

Quite right Sir , that was the original plan but it was put on hold due to health problems and then on hold again as I was about to retire.

It's all go now tho'