We know how valuable your time is, because our's is also. That is why Longwood Tile and Marble has a strict policy on punctuallity. If we schedule your job at a certain time we will be there at that time. And we won't leave the job untill it is finished. Weather and unforseen issues may arise from time to time but you, as a partner in every project, will be contacted and the issue will be discussed. No more waiting for days wondering if someone is returning to finish. We are very serious about that committment to you.

Our crews will assist in moving and replacing the furniture in your home. We do request that the homeowner remove all lamps, vases, knickknacks and objects d'art from the tops of furniture; all china and crystal is to be removed by the homeowner and placed in a room not being tiled. We cannot be responsible for moving and/or the replacement of these fragile items.

Bookcases should be emptied by the homeowner, prior to installation day. Damage could occur if bookcases were moved while loaded with books. Sectional furniture such as a buffet with attached hutch must be dismantled prior to our crew arriving.

GAS APPLIANCES: Please contact your gas supplier to disconnect and reconnect these appliances.

If bedrooms are being tiled, please strip the linens from the beds before the crew arrives. This makes it easier to handle and reduces wrinkling or damage to your linens. Waterbeds or sectional beds MUST BE DRAINED AND DISMANTLED BY THE HOMEOWNER PRIOR TO THE CREW ARRIVING.

Everything must be removed from closet floors. We also require that the homeowner be responsible for moving any piano, organ, delicate stereo, computer and electronic equipment, or televisions. (You may wish to notify your computer supplier that this equipment must be moved, in case some special treatment is required.)

Your old flooring will be removed and delivered to the County Dump, unless you request otherwise. If notified in advance, our crew will roll up your old carpet and place it in your garage. You might wish to call Goodwill or the Salvation Army to make a donation of this material.

Your new ceramic tile may be thicker than your existing floor covering. This could result in the need to trim the doors. Our crews do not have the proper tools to cut doors - you will need a carpenter. If you are having tile installed in an area that was originally carpet, you may need a carpet installer to put down new tack strip and stretch the remaining carpet.

If you wish our crews to remove your baseboards, they will do so as carefully as possible. They will number the backs of the baseboards to aid in replacement. There is no guarantee against incidental damage. Our crews do not have the expertise to replace wood baseboards - you will need a carpenter. Be extremely careful when moving appliances, furniture and chairs; unprotected edges can scratch the ceramic glaze. All furniture should have leg protectors to reduce scratching of the glaze. We appreciate the opportunity to be of service to you; we will do our best to complete your installation with the least amount of confusion and disruption to your home.

Ceramic Tile Care and Maintenance

Your ceramic tile can give you many years of beautiful service, with a little care and routine maintenance. The following information will help you accomplish this.

Grout Sealer
Always protect neighboring surfaces including wood, carpet, metal, landscaping and other non-masonry surfaces. Clean surface to be treated and allow to dry for 24 hours prior to treatment. Apply sealer with a MiraSeal Applicator, or bristle brush. Apply only enough to wet the surface (do not over apply). Allow sealer to stand five (5) minutes to assure maximum penetration. Excess sealer must be removed using clean white dry towels. Residue can be removed by re-applying sealer to re-activate residue, then buff off before it dries. Finished area can be used for normal traffic in two (2) - five (5) hours. For optimum result, finished area should be kept dry and free from staining materials for 72 hours.

Caution: 511 Impregnator contains combustable petroleum distallates. All solvents must be considered toxic and must be used in a well ventelated area. Good ventilation means that fresh air is flowing in such a way as to feel a slight breeze. Use open windows and fans to circulate air. Continue ventilation until vapors are eliminated.

Floors
Tile, although very hard and durable, is not indestructible. A heavy or pointed object dropped on the floor can crack or chip a tile. Furniture and appliances can leave marks and scratches if dragged across the tile. A glossy or shiny tile is more susceptible to this kind of damage than a rough textured or matte finish tile. Obviously, it is best to avoid these problems, but accidents can happen. Cracked or chipped tiles can be replaced, but the shade of the grout at the repair will be different from the original installation. Scuff marks can sometimes be removed with a mild abrasive, such as Soft scrub or white automotive polishing compound or a kitchen wax, such as Jubilee. Another potential hazard, especially here in Florida, is sand tracked in at doorways. Although it will take a while, sand is abrasive and will cause premature wearing of the glaze on your tile. Walk-off mats are recommended to help minimize this problem.

For general cleaning, a mild PH neutral cleaner is recommended, and thorough rinsing with clean water (and a clean mop) is very important. Residue from many cleaning products, though not visible itself, will actually attract dirt, resulting in a dull looking floor.

Grout (the filler between the tiles) is the most vulnerable part of a tile floor. Since grout is a cementitious product, it is inherently absorptive to a certain degree. This means it is subject to staining from a number of different substances and an appropriate cleaner should be selected if this should occur. A blotting action, rather than a wiping motion, is best when treating stains to avoid spreading the problem. If you have elected to have your grout sealed, you must remember to periodically test the sealer's effectiveness. Periodic resealing is required to maintain serviceability. If you elected to have us seal your grout, the sealer brand we used is listed below. Should you desire to seal the grout yourself, sealers can be purchased at most home improvement centers, but directions for application must be followed carefully. As sealers are sold with varying warranty periods and must be reapplied periodically, it is important to shop carefully.

Tubs, Showers, Counters and Splashes
Although your counters, splash, shower and tub walls are very durable, they are not indestructible. The soap dish and towel bars are not to be used as handicap pull up rails, towel bars are not designed to hold the weight of shampoo bottles, and neither should be used to rest a foot or arm on when shaving.

For general cleaning, a mild PH neutral cleaner is recommended, and it is important to follow the manufacturerÕs instructions carefully. New daily misting sprays can give your tile a "just cleaned" appearance, reducing, but not eliminating the need for occasional full scale cleaning. Depending on the hardness of your water, soap scum can still develop and build up on your tile. This residue is a great place for mold and mildew to grow. It is our experience that shower gels and liquid bath soaps leave less residual scum.

If your tub, shower, or kitchen splash has a Carrara marble or cultured marble curb or window sill, it important that you read the entire label of any cleaning product you select. Many cleaners are not recommended for use on marble. Carrara marble curbs and sills should be waxed with an automotive paste wax or kitchen wax (such as Jubilee) periodically to help prevent the marble from absorbing water and cleaners. Water left on Carrara marble will absorb into the marble and eventually evaporate, leaving crystal and mineral deposits (such as iron) behind, which will eventually rust, discoloring the marble. Any marble type product is susceptible to scratching; and contact with many items, such as rust (often found on the bottom of shaving cream cans) causes staining.

Routine maintenance will help prevent damage caused by normal expansion and contraction of the walls. Inspect the joints of your counter, splash, tub and shower periodically, and caulk any cracks immediately. Caulk suitable for ceramic tile walls can be found at most home improvement centers.

If you are ready for a better way to get your custom tile work done give us a call at 407-767-1636.