Tile Stripping in the San Francisco Bay Area

Tile Cleaning Solutions strips old sealers, waxes, and coatings from tile and stone floors in the Bay Area. When a finish turns yellow, peels, or traps dirt, stripping it off is the only way to get the floor truly clean and ready for a fresh seal. For a free quote, call 888-294-0404 or fill out the quote form on this page.

Signs Your Floor Needs Stripping

Coatings break down over time. Stripping is usually the fix when you see:

  • Yellow or amber discoloration. Old topical sealers and waxes often yellow with age and sunlight.
  • Peeling, flaking, or patchy finish. Worn traffic paths next to shiny edges mean the coating is failing.
  • Dirt trapped under the coating. If cleaning doesn’t help, the dirt may be sealed in under the finish.
  • Cloudy or hazy tile. Layers of wax and polish products leave a milky film.
  • Saltillo and terracotta that look dark and dull. These floors are often coated, and old layers build up over the years.
Close-up of stripped tile surface in the Bay Area

Our Tile Stripping Process

  1. Inspection and test spot. We identify the tile and the type of coating and test a small area to choose the right stripping method.
  2. Preparation. We protect baseboards, walls, and adjoining floors. Our technicians can move small, light furniture. We don’t move heavy or fragile items, so please clear those before we arrive.
  3. Stripper application. We apply a stripping solution suited to the coating and the tile and let it break down the old finish.
  4. Agitation and removal. We work the old finish loose and remove it, along with dirt that was trapped under it.
  5. Neutralize and rinse. We rinse and neutralize the floor so no residue interferes with the new sealer.
  6. Drying. The floor has to dry fully before resealing.
  7. Resealing. We apply a new sealer or finish suited to the tile. If we seal, allow 24 to 48 hours for the sealer to cure before normal use and mopping.
Tile Cleaning Solutions technician explaining a free quote to a homeowner

What's Included

  • Coating identification and test spot
  • Removal of old sealer, wax, and finish
  • Removal of dirt trapped under the coating
  • Rinse and neutralization
  • Resealing, if you choose
Technician stripping outdoor Saltillo tile in the Bay Area

Surfaces and Related Services

Stripping is common on saltillo, quarry tile, slate, terrazzo, and vinyl tile. After stripping, see tile sealing or, for natural stone, stone polishing.

Areas We Serve in the Bay Area

We provide tile stripping for homes and businesses throughout the Bay Area, including San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda, San Mateo, Burlingame, Redwood City, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, San Jose, Fremont, Pleasanton, Walnut Creek, Lafayette, Danville, San Rafael, Mill Valley, and Sausalito. Not sure whether we cover your neighborhood? See the full list on our Bay Area page or call us.

Aftercare After Stripping and Resealing

  • Let the new sealer cure. Allow 24 to 48 hours before normal use and mopping.
  • Use a pH-neutral cleaner. It protects the new finish and the tile under it.
  • Avoid wax and shine products. They build up again and can bring back the same problems.
  • Put mats at entries. Grit from outside wears down finishes fastest.

How long a new finish lasts depends on traffic and maintenance. Plan on resealing about every 2 years.

request a free quote

OR CALL 888 294 0404

other services

Find out about the wide range of services provided at Tile Cleaning Solutions in the San Francisco Bay Area. Whether you need cleaning, sealing, or restoration, we’re the experts in tile care. Contact us today for details on how we can help you keep your surfaces looking great.


Tile & Grout Cleaning

Extend the life of your tile floor and surface with secure tile and grout cleaning, suitable for all kinds of tiles in both commercial and residential settings.

Tile Sealing

Specialized tile sealing service meets all your maintenance needs for tile surface and makes your daily tile cleaning easy.

Tile Stripping

Give your tile floor a fresh look that seems as new with specialized tile stripping. We offer tile stripping for all kinds of tiles.

Stone Restoration

Re-establish the natural glow of your stone tile surfaces and floors with the stone polishing service

Make your stone floors less prone to wear and scratches with specialized stone honing service

Stone Polishing

Enhance the durability and appearance of your stone floors with our specialized stone polishing service

Frequently Asked Questions

Call 888-294-0404 or use the quote form on this page. Tell us about the size of the area, the surface, and its condition, and we’ll give you a free quote.

It removes old topical sealers, waxes, acrylic finishes, and polish buildup, along with dirt that has been trapped under them.

On most porous floors, yes. Stripping leaves the tile unprotected, so we recommend resealing. Allow 24 to 48 hours for the sealer to cure.

Yes. Saltillo is one of the most common floors we strip. It’s soft, so we use gentler methods suited to it.

Many older topical sealers and waxes yellow over time, especially in sunlit areas. Stripping removes the yellowed layer, and a fresh sealer suited to the tile gives a cleaner look.

Yes, the floor needs to be clear. Our technicians can move small, light furniture, but we don’t move heavy or fragile items, so please clear those before we arrive.