Infinity edge, Spa, and Pool Coping

   Kaanapali Maui is a beautiful place to have a home. Here is an extreme case of hard water build up on an infinity edge. Here we used our specialized blasting technique to remove the calcium build up to reveal the nice deep blue tiles hidden under all that white. Owner was very excited to see his pools beauty again. 

For a free consultation call 808.877.0222

Project: Pool tile stain removal - glass tiles

 

Glass tile is easily compromised and damaged with any method that is too aggressive. Yet calcium and hard water staining is an ongoing problem.  The answer is media blasting. Despite its name, it's the safest way to restore pool tile. 

Ask for a consultation on your pool or water feature. 

EUROTECH Maui

808-877-0222

Water Feature and Pool Tile - How to Gently Remove Water Stains

This project was a non-salt and non-chlorine pool in Kula, Maui, Hawaii. It used a natural filtration system which led to a darkened film. 

Pool Tiles Before Cleaning by EUROTECH Maui

 

Notice the darkened areas above and the progress picture during cleaning below.  We used a "blasting" procedure to safely and gently remove the staining.  The media used was ph neutral (safe for acid sensistive surfaces like stone) and biodegradable.  The client told us these were natural hand cut glass tiles.  Glass tiles are extremely sensitive to aggressive cleaning.  Methods that are too aggressive may get the job done, but potentially cause damage and can compromise the tiles. 

 

During Cleaning

 



The unique filtration system created  a unique and challenging project for us.  The end results were great and we have another happy client.   

 

After Cleaning

 



Call 808.877.0222 for all your tile and stone care needs!



Grout Cleaning and Stain Removal

Grout Cleaning and Stain Removal for Floors and Showers

Stain removal and/or recoloring stained grout may be achieved on tile floors and showers.  Grout stains may be removable by restorative cleaning methods if they are not so deep or so set that they will not budge.  There are many styles of stain removal that may be attempted on grout. When none of them get satisfactory results, grout recoloring may be an option.

Grout recoloring is not recommended on natural stone.  However, regular porcelain and ceramic tile surfaces may be good candidates for grout staining and recoloring.

Paint and coating style grout recolorants that are not a permanent bond are NOT recommended due to the long term maintenance issues they create.  Most grout recolorants or grout staining systems sit on the surface of the grout as a layer. There is only one product our team has tested that is a cementious bond.   It is the only grout recoloring system we recommend. 

For More Information, call

808.877.0222

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EUROTECH Maui 808.877.0222 Pool Tile Cleaning

Swimming Pool Tile Cleaning in Lahaina by EUROTECH Maui



Special thanks for  Production and Edit by Allgooder   http://vimeo.com/allgooder

Call 808.877.0222 for Service

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Red Dirt and Hard Water Stains Tile Grout Cleaning

Tile and Grout Cleaning - Stain Removal - Red Dirt - Hard Water Stains EUROTECH Maui 877-0222

Before and After

 

Exterior tile can get stained and dirty after exposure to irrigation, sun, salt, red dirt, and pet traffic.  A restorative cleaning process and sealing, helps to give tile flooring a second chance.  Results vary, but our success ratio is high in tile cleaning and restoration.   

Call 877-0222 for Service

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Pool Edge and Tile Coping Cleaning

Pool Tile Coping, Infinity Edge, Water Features:  Removing Hard Water Stains and Water Lines by EUROTECH Maui 877.0222

Pools are beautiful features in a tropical Maui home.  So what is that white line around the pool edge making it look not so pretty? 

Maui water is very hard.  The high calcium content and evaporation cause a buildup along the water line that mars the pool tile coping and leaves that ugly waterline around the pool. 

Pool Tile Coping - Infinity Edge - Water Feature:
How can the water spots and water lines be removed?

Some owners opt to pumice the calcium buildup, but that is an aggressive method that can compromise the tile surfaces or glaze.  The pumice can scratch the surfaces and leave a sanded surface that calcium will accumulate faster and be harder to remove at the next cleaning.   Pumice blocks can crumble during use and if a chunk gets in the pool pump gears, can cause damage.  It is also extremely time and labor intensive to do it yourself by hand.

A better alternative is media blasting, which removes the calcium buildup and is gentler on the tile.  The pool does not need to be drained or emptied, just lowered a bit.  The material is reclaimed and will not damage your pool.  The techs at EUROTECH Maui would be happy to help solve your water stain problems.      

For a free consultation, please call  877-0222 in Maui.  

 

 

 

Project In Progress by EUROTECH Maui 877-0222

 

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Pool Deck Stain Removal

Eurotech AFTER Cleaning

Eurotech BEFORE Cleaning

This pool deck had been cleaned by a professional company and pressure washed by the Owner without success at removing the hardwater stains.  The after photo shows how EUROTECH was able to remove the deep staining and deposits from the quartzite and restore the pool deck to a fresh clean look.

Call EUROTECH Maui for your Natural Stone, Grout, Tile and Glass Care Needs

808.877.0222

Granite Counters - What kind of care?

One of the best things you can do for your granite countertop is getting a professional grade sealer applied.

Granite counters are acid resistant, dense and durable. In our stone care experience, they are the best choice for kitchen counters for these reasons.

What are the things to watch out for?

Your Installer or Contractor probably put a medium to high grade sealer on the counters when it was installed. Ask what the product is and how long it is expected to last.

Within two years of installation, many Granite Counter Owners will opt to have a polish and reseal or at least a clean and reseal. The reason is this, if your sealer fails, oil can be literally sucked into the millions of microscopic pores and capillaries of granite and leave an oil stain that may not be removable. This is the most common type of granite damage besides spalling. One greasy jar of cooking oil left on the counter overnight could be a very expensive mistake. Regular resealing will prevent this type of damage to the countertops.

If your counter top darkens when a wet cloth sits on the surface for a couple hours, get it resealed right away.  The granite is susceptible to oil and water based staining.

What else can I do to help my granite last longer and look better?

The water in Maui leaves quite a bit of scaly white deposits around faucets. This can be removed and the sink edges sealed at the same time. Eurotech Maui offers an affordable maintenance program that includes an annual inspection, bead test, deposit (white stains) removal at the faucets and resealing of the 4" around the sink edge.

Professional Sealing Article.

Why Use a Professional Stone Care Expert?.

Recommended Service and Maintenance.

CALL 808.877.0222 for Service by EUROTECH Marble - Stone - Tile Care Maui

Limestone Pool Deck Stain Removal

This pool deck had stains caused by banana sap. The area covered a dozen tiles. We were able to remove the stains and seal the tile with a penetrating high quality sealer to protect the floor from the salt, sun and water that are relentless on the exterior natural stone tile.



Article: Professional Stone Care - An Investment that Pays http://eurotechmaui.blogspot.com/2010/11/professional-tile-and-stone-care.html

Article: Should I Use Bleach? http://eurotechmaui.blogspot.com/2010/11/floor-cleaning-to-bleach-or-not-to.html


For Service, call Eurotech Maui 808.877.0222

Waterspot and Hard Water Stain Removal

Hard Water Stain - Waterspot Removal - Glass and Fixtures by EUROTECH Maui 808.877.0222

Maui water is very  hard and often causes problems with calcium buildup.  Using abrasive methods to remove it can compromise the surface and cause faster buildup over time. 

The processes for removing calcium buildup, hard water stains, water lines and waterspots are determined by what kind of material it is:  glass, glass blocks, tile, or natural stone and where the surface is located: window, shower, pool, floor, or counter.   The method chosen can vary from media blasting, diamond sanding, to machine polishing.   Ask a professional for recommendations.

Glass         
Pool and Tile

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This outdoor shower head located at a luxury vacation rental in Wailea, Maui, Hawaii had excessive hard water stains and deposits on it. It appeared to have been scrubbed or abraded in the past so we weren't sure what kind of results we'd be able to get. The areas that still have discoloration are actually areas where the finish was compromised and had started to deteriorate away. With professional water spot removal, there will be no damage to the fixtures, surfaces or finish. It was a pleasant surprise to see a major improvement to the fixture and handles appearance as pictured above.

Tip: Abrasives can cause damage to areas with tough deposits.

Call 808.877.0222 to schedule Waterspot and Hard Water Stain Removal in Maui, Hawaii.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tile Cleaning Stain Removal Kihei, Maui

One of the problems with exterior tile flooring, whether its stone or tile is standing water stains. These deposits can be particularly difficult to remove. Many people have tried pressure washing these kinds of stains off their tile, but it usually is too stubborn to pick up. A tile or stone professional will use the correct restoration process. See below: Why Use a Pro?

This particular service (See before and after video) was performed after the client had done pressure washing cleaning. So the before photo is basically an after pressure washing picture. The after photo reflects a restoration level cleaning to remove the staining and deposits.

Tips:
Design drainage away from tile surfaces
Adjust irrigation to avoid overspray onto tile and flooring
Broom standing water daily

The lanai floor was even and clean when the service was complete and the grout was resealed to protect it.




Why Use a Pro?
Trained tile and stone professionals will use the correct agents, sealers, and process. For example, marble, ceramic tile, and granite have differing limits for withstanding pressure cleaning. Too much pressure can cause damage. Porcelain tile, marble and granite would each require different products and methods. The wrong cleaner may not clean or could cause damage to the surface. Also, using too much pressure on unsanded grout can cause grout erosion.

Using the best sealer for the material and area of use is also very important. Visit our FAQs section http://eurotechmaui.blogspot.com/p/faqs.html for an article on types of sealers

and our blog post: http://eurotechmaui.blogspot.com/2010/11/professional-tile-and-stone-care.html

BEFORE PHOTO: Tile after pressure wash by client
AFTER PHOTO: Tile after restorative cleaning and stain removal by Eurotech

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Professional Tile and Stone Care - An Investment that pays

Why is Professionally Maintaining your Natural Stone and Tile Cost Effective?

1. Preserves and Extends the lifespan of the material

• Proper preparation and sealing will prevent staining

2. Prevents future costly repairs and restorations

• Much like auto maintenance, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Regular cleanings and sealings are like doing your oil changes. Maybe you can get away with skipping it, but that may cost much more in the long run.
• Trained tile and stone professionals will use the correct agents, sealers, and process. For example, marble, ceramic tile, and granite have differing limits for withstanding pressure cleaning. To much pressure can cause damage. Porcelain tile, marble and granite would require different products and methods. The wrong cleaner may not clean or could cause damage. Use a stone and tile professional.
• Using too much pressure on unsanded grout can cause grout erosion.

3. Saves time and labor - makes cleaning easier

• Unsealed surfaces hold deposits differently than properly sealed surfaces. Treated stone and grout makes daily cleaning quicker and easier.

4. Prevents purchasing unnecessary cleaning products


5. Makes your rental property more desirable and may have tax benefits (see below).*

• May Provide Tax Benefits: "A repair keeps your rental property in good condition and is a deductible expense in the year that you pay for it. Repairs include painting, fixing a broken toilet and replacing a faulty light switch. Improvements on the other hand, add value to your property and are not deductible when you pay for them. You must recover the cost of improvements by depreciating the expense over your property's life expectancy. Therefore, from a tax standpoint, you should make repairs as the problems arise instead of waiting until they multiply and require renovations."* See FULL article by George D. Lambert at http://www.investopedia.com/articles/pf/06/rentalowner.asp *We do not provide tax advice. Ask your accountant about qualifying repairs and tax benefits.

Floor Cleaning - To Bleach or Not to Bleach

The question of what to clean floors with comes up on almost every floor service we do. Whether or not to use bleach is another FAQ. Here are some basic guidelines to keeping stone and tile floors clean:

Keep doormats inside and outside of doorways if possible to trap dirt.

Daily Cleaning
Sweep and vacuum a lot more often than mopping.

If and when you mop, keep a bucket of clean rinse water and use a clean mop head. Dirty mops and dirty mopwater are the leading culprit of dirty grout and stone.

Use the right floor cleaning products: When you are doing daily cleaning, bleach is NOT recommended. Whether it is natural stone or ceramic tile, you'll want to avoid bleach and bleach based products. The constant exposure to bleach will damage stone and break down grout over time. Bleach also destroys most penetrating sealers that are used on grout and stone. We recommend using a neutral stone and tile cleaner for daily cleaning. We like Rinseless Cleaner because it doesn't leave behind a soapy residue. Residue buildup can make the floors look worse over time than they should.

Deep Cleaning and Stain Removal
NEVER use bleach on natural stone as it could leave a permanent mark that needs professional restoration. When you have a one time stain removal, bleach is okay for ceramic tile. But, be sure the material is really ceramic tile and not a natural stone. If you are going to use bleach on ceramic tile and grout, we strongly recommend triple rinsing the bleach to prevent any damage and to preserve the sealer as much as possible. Bead test the grout after cleaning to see if the sealer is still in tact. If water quickly soaks into the grout, we recommend a professional sealing. On natural stone, you should always contact a professional to address stains. The risk of damaging natural stone with do it yourself stain removal is too high to make it worthwhile.

So, use a non-residue stone and tile cleaning product for daily cleaning. And get professional recommendations when you're dealing with stain removal and setting up a floor maintenance program. We want to help you make your floor lifespan and clean appearance last as long as possible.

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Travertine Cleaning - Tile and Grout Stain Removal

This is a sample cleaning performed in Kaanapali, Maui, Hawaii. The red dirt on the patio was baked on and required special cleaning processes to remove the staining. The owner had attempted to pressure wash with high pressure as you can see in the grout lines in the sample cleaning area. It minimally reduced the discoloration and so we did a profession deep cleaning.

This would be a great candidate for stain proofing the stone with a permanent sealer. Stain proofing would make future cleanings much easier and prevent the deep staining that occurred here. I'll be blogging some of the stain proofing information here soon.