Cost guide
How much does stone and tile cleaning cost?
Stone and tile cleaning costs £8 to £20 a square metre cleaned and sealed, over a minimum charge of £200 to £300. A small kitchen floor is £250 to £450, a Victorian tiled hallway £300 to £600, and honing and polishing marble is a separate trade at £25 to £60 a square metre.
Typical prices
Ranges, not quotes. A quote depends on the area, the stone it is laid in and whether it needs resealing.
| Work | Typical UK price |
|---|---|
| Per square metre, clean and seal | £8 to £20 |
| Minimum charge, domestic | £200 to £300 |
| Small kitchen floor | £250 to £450 |
| Victorian tiled hallway | £300 to £600 |
| Grout recolouring, per square metre | £10 to £25 |
| Marble honing and polishing, per square metre | £25 to £60 |
| Sealer only, no deep clean, per square metre | £4 to £9 |
Put a drop of water on the floor before you call anybody, and give it five minutes. Water that soaks in and leaves a dark patch behind means the floor is taking up whatever is spilled on it. Water that beads means a topical sealer is still doing its job. An impregnating sealer sits between the two and darkens slightly without absorbing, which is why the test tells you what to ask about rather than what to buy.
What moves the price
- The stone. Limestone, travertine and marble need different chemistry from slate or porcelain.
- Area, and the minimum charge that a small floor will not clear.
- Whether the old sealer has to be stripped, which is the slowest part of the job.
- Grout condition, and whether it is being cleaned or recoloured.
- Etching and scratching, which need honing rather than cleaning.
- Furniture and appliances that have to come out and go back.
Questions about stone and tile cleaning
Is recolouring grout better than cleaning it?
It lasts far longer. Cleaning grout returns it to whatever shade it has worn to; recolouring puts a pigmented coat into it that also seals it, and the difference is usually years.
How long does a seal last?
Two to five years on a domestic floor, less in a doorway or a kitchen in front of a sink. A drop of water that soaks in and leaves a dark patch behind is the sign it has gone.