Tile Care Guide: Maintenance Tips for Tile Flooring

Why choose tile?

Tile offers a variety of colors, textures, shapes, and sizes to fit any design taste. Quality tile can add value to your home.

Where are the best spaces to install tile?

Tile can be installed on all grades, indoors or outdoors, on walls, countertops, and backsplashes. Tile is ideal for high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms.

Tile Care and Maintenance

Tile products, for the most part, require minimal maintenance. Glazed and unglazed tile, under normal residential situations, can be cleaned using clean water and a tile cleaner recommended by the manufacturer such as Resista® Floor Cleaner. Always follow up with a rinse of clean water to completely remove all the cleaning solution. Regular maintenance is recommended to avoid build-up of dirt, residue, grease, soap, detergents, or other external contaminants.

Improper maintenance and improper cleaning products can result in a build-up on the surface, causing the tile to be slippery. Wax cleaners and oil-based detergents may decrease the slip resistance and are not recommended for use on your tile.

For basic cleaning, the following procedures are recommended:

1. 1. 1. Sweep or vacuum surface
      2. Mix water with tile and grout cleaner per manufacturer’s instructions and apply to surface
      3. Allow solution to sit for three to five minutes
      4. Agitate with sponge or mop
      5. Mop up solution
      6. Rinse mop and change cleaning solution at least every 500 square feet
      7. Rinse thoroughly with clean water
      8. Dry mop floor to remove moisture or pick up residue with a wet-vac
      9. Wipe the floor dry

For tile with coarse or abrasive type surfaces, maintenance will need to be performed more frequently. Agitation will need to be more vigorous and water changes more frequent.Proper cleaning of these types of tile is necessary for the slip resistance value to be maintained. Grease or water accumulation may create slippery conditions. Be careful to avoid introduction of grease from dirty mops to your floor surface while cleaning.

Because the grout on your tile needs time to thoroughly dry after installation, we recommend you do not scrub or wash your tile for five days after installation. We also recommend protecting your floor against abrasive dirt with dirt catching floor mats at entrances to buildings.

Exclusive Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® Five-Star Tile Warranties

The Five-Star Selection System is an independent rating system designed to guide you in choosing the right floor for your needs. One to five stars indicate levels of performance and durability to ensure your satisfaction. Look for the Star Rating on all product labels.

Confidence Warranty

All of our Star Rated exclusive tiles carry a 30-Day Confidence Warranty. If at any time during the first 30 days after your flooring is installed you wish to change your new Star Rated tile for a different style or color, your Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® retailer will replace it with a different style or color of equal or lesser value from the same tile display.*

This is a one-time only replacement. Any replacement product cannot be the same style and color as the original purchase. Replacement includes materials only and does not include reinstallation charges. Labor costs to remove and reinstall flooring, move furniture, permanent constructions (built-ins such as cabinets and bookcases), equipment, or electronics are the responsibility of the customer. No replacements will be made with respect to flooring that has been subject to abuse, improper maintenance, vandalism, alteration, or damage caused by smoke, fire, flood, wind, lightning, or any other casualty event.

(See General Terms and Conditions for Tile Warranties on pages 61-62 for other conditions that apply.)

Confidence Plus™ Warranty

All Five-Star and Four-Star flooring carries a Confidence Plus™ Warranty. If, within the time frame of this warranty (90 days after installation for Five-Star floors; 60 days after installation for Four-Star floors) and after 30 days of living on your new floor, you wish to change your floor for any reason, your retailer will replace it with another style or color of flooring of equal value. Should you wish to replace the tile floor with a flooring upgrade, you may do so by paying the difference in price. No monetary compensation will be paid if a lower priced tile floor is selected.

This is a one-time only replacement. Simply call your Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® retailer within the time frame of the warranty and indicate you wish to choose another Star Rated tile under the Confidence Plus™ Warranty. This is a style and color replacement warranty and does not apply to matters covered by other warranties.

Replacement includes material and labor. Labor to move furniture, permanent construction (built-ins such as cabinets and bookcases), equipment, or electronics is the responsibility of the customer. Any replacement product cannot be the same style and color as the original purchase.

No replacement will be made with respect to tile that has been subjected to abuse, improper maintenance, vandalism, alteration; or damage caused by smoke, fire, flood, wind, lightning, or any other casualty event. This warranty applies only to the original purchaser of a Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® style tile that has been professionally installed by a Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® retailer or Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® authorized independent installer.

(See General Terms and Conditions for Tile Warranties on pages 61-62 for other conditions that apply.)

Price Protection Guarantee

Our buying power allows us to buy big and pass volume-purchase savings directly on to you. We feel confident that our prices are the most competitive in the market and assure you that you will not find a lower price at any other floor covering retailer in your area. However, if within 30 days of making your purchase, you should happen to find a lower Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® first quality product of the same brand and styles as the flooring you purchased, we will happily refund your money. It’s our Price Protection Guarantee, and it’s simple. Just present your retailer with the competitor’s advertisement or written estimate for the same floor, and you take home the difference in price! Price Protection applies to materials only.

Price Protection Guarantee applies only to local retail store pricing and/or purchases. Online retailers and wholesalers are excluded. "Local retail store" is defined as a permanent building/structure containing outdoor signage with store name, street address, customer parking, and phone contact information listed in a public phone directory.

(See General Terms and Conditions for Tile Warranties on pages 61-62 for other conditions that apply.)

Limited Installation Warranty

Your Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® retailer guarantees the quality of installation workmanship to be professional and in keeping with the standards set by the Tile Council of America. Should further service be required due to deficiencies in the original installation of your tile floor, your Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® retailer will repair or replace the affected area at no cost to you for the life of the floor. "Life of Floor" means the length of the Limited Wear Warranty specified by the warranty level corresponding to the flooring you purchased. See the Exclusive Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® Five-Star Tile Warranties on page 58 for further details. This Limited Installation Warranty applies only to the original purchaser and installation site and is not transferable. This Limited Installation Warranty applies only to Star Rated tile purchased from a Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® retailer and installed by a Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® retailer or Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® authorized independent installer.

Limited Wear Warranty

When your tile floor is used in a residential setting under normal residential traffic conditions, your Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® retailer warrants that from the date of the original installation and with proper care and maintenance (see Tile Care and Maintenance on page 57), your tile floor will not wear-through* for the period specified by the warranty level of the product purchased. See the Exclusive Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® Five-Star Tile Warranties on page 58.

The wear resistance of glazed tile can be measured subjectively by observing the visible surface abrasion of the tile when subjected to the ISO 10545-7 testing procedure. This Limited Wear Warranty applies only to the original purchaser and installation site and is not transferable. This limited warranty excludes chips, scratches, or damage caused by improper care and maintenance; misuse, abuse, use of abrasives, insufficient protection from furniture, or any casualty event.

*Wear-through is defined as loss of surface finish, to the point that the body of the tile shows through, due to normal household use.

Limited Fade Warranty

Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® warrants that with proper care and maintenance (see Tile Care and Maintenance on page 57) your tile will not fade from exposure to sunlight or artificial light for the length of the warranty period determined by the metal level corresponding to the product you purchased. See the Exclusive Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® Five-Star Tile Warranties on page 58.

(See General Terms and Conditions for Tile Warranties on pages 61-62 for other conditions that apply.)

Limited Stain Warranty

With our exclusive tile, you are assured outstanding quality and style. All tile is designed to meet the highest performance standards and is warranted not to permanently stain when used under normal household conditions and properly maintained. (See Tile Care and Maintenance on page 57.)

Excluded from this warranty are stains to your tile caused by exposure to IODINE and/or PERMANENT MARKERS. Also excluded from this Limited Stain Warranty are stains to grout, caulk, or any other material adhering to the tile. The Star Rating corresponding to the product you purchased determines the length of this Limited Stain Warranty. See the Exclusive Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® Five-Star Tile Warranties on page 58.

(See General Terms and Conditions for Tile Warranties on pages 61-62 for other conditions that apply.)

General Terms and Conditions for Tile Warranties

In addition to the requirements specified for each respective limited warranty, the following general terms and conditions apply to each of the limited warranties unless otherwise specified.

1. 1. 1. These limited warranties apply only to tile installed in owner-occupied indoor residential spaces where no commercial activity takes place. For purposes of these limited warranties, the terms "commercial activity" and "commercial application" shall mean an activity or application engaged in for business purposes, regardless of where such activity or application takes place, including but not limited to, such activity or application taking place in a store, office, warehouse, plant, facility, or other place of business, or residential dwelling.
      2. These limited warranties apply only to the original purchaser and installation site and are not transferable.
      3. These limited warranties exclude tile flooring that has been put to abnormal use or conditions or abused in any way. "Abnormal use or conditions" includes, but is not limited to, water damage from plumbing, storm, or flood; damage from smoke or fire; or other casualty event. "Abuse" is any use of the flooring that is unreasonable considering the normal and expected uses of a tile floor in a residence. These limited warranties do not cover chips, scratches, stains, or damage caused by negligence including moving appliances without adequate protection, moisture, erosion, pebbles, sand, or other abrasives. These limited warranties exclude damage from insufficient furniture protection or improper alterations of the original manufactured product.
      4. These limited warranties do not apply to damages from exposure to extreme heat, dryness or water saturation, or stains as a result of chemical or industrial products (other than manufacturer’s recommended cleaning products), including iodine and permanent markers. Nor does this limited warranty cover, in any way, stains to grout, caulk, or any other material adhering to the tile.
      5. These limited warranties exclude any issues related to grout, improper sub floor, floor movement, or slabs as required for tile by the Tile Council of America.
      6. To qualify for repair or replacement, the original sales receipt or other documentation must be supplied to verify date and proof of purchase.
      7. These limited warranties apply only to residential indoor installations performed by a Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® retailer or Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® authorized independent installer.
      8. These limited warranties do not apply to variations in color or shade between products and samples or photographs.
      9. Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® SHALL UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES BASED UPON THE FOREGOING WARRANTIES, CONTRACTS, NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, OR ANY OTHER LEGAL CLAIM. Some states and provinces do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you. The foregoing warranties give you specific legal rights, and you may have other rights which vary from state to state or province to province.
      10. If there is a conflict between these general terms and conditions and the limited warranties as specified, the limited warranties as specified shall control.
      11. The terms of the warranty begin on the date of the installation.
      12. Should you feel that your tile floor is not performing according to the terms in this warranty, contact your Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® retailer. This warranty is conditioned upon your Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® retailer’s receipt of notice in writing of the alleged issue prior to expiration of the limited warranty period and evidence that the floor was properly installed and not subject to any of the conditions herein defined to void the conditions of the warranty. These warranties apply on the condition that installation and regular and preventive maintenance have been carried out as recommended in this guide.

NOTE: Decorative pieces are covered for manufacturing defects only.