Designing Kitchens and Bathrooms - Slate Flooring...Problems Encountered
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djchrishart
12-12-07, 12:10 AM
Slate tiling...probably picked the hardest for my first tiling job! Help!!!!
About 1 week ago, we installed multi-colored 12x12 slate tiles in our kitchen that we picked up from Lowes. This past sunday, we decided to grout. Due to the tiles being a bit dirty from the tile saw, we decided not to seal the tiles before grouting thinking we'd seal in the dirt. So, onto grouting we went. After grouting the entire floor, we noticed the expected haze that is left on the floor from the grout. We let the floor set for 2 days and now are attempting to clean off the haze and once that's done, then seal the floor. Here are the issues that we're running into.
1. We can't really get all of the haze off to get the rich color of the tile that we originally had
2. Some of the colors from the tile are now bleeding into the grout, discoloring it.
Here's what we've tried to clean off the haze. We've bought a 'grout cleanup kit' from the local Lowes that consists of some nylon pads with different roughnesses to them and a handle to use with them. We've scrubbed the flooring with the most abrasive pad that comes in the kit, dry, and then vaccumed up the debris that gets left. It looked better, but still no where near what we had. Then we took a sponge and tried scrubbing/wiping the tile clean and I beleive this is were the color bleeding starts. Although I also notice that just scrubbing, dry, also fades the grout a bit with the haze residue.
What I am hoping someone can help me with is:
1. How to get the haze off and ultimately get my slate back to a beautiful rich color
2. How to clean some of the stained grout and get it back to its original color
All help is greatly apprecaited. This is my first time tiling and feel really good at what I've accomplished. These issues has just really put me down and takes away the excitement.
About 1 week ago, we installed multi-colored 12x12 slate tiles in our kitchen that we picked up from Lowes. This past sunday, we decided to grout. Due to the tiles being a bit dirty from the tile saw, we decided not to seal the tiles before grouting thinking we'd seal in the dirt. So, onto grouting we went. After grouting the entire floor, we noticed the expected haze that is left on the floor from the grout. We let the floor set for 2 days and now are attempting to clean off the haze and once that's done, then seal the floor. Here are the issues that we're running into.
1. We can't really get all of the haze off to get the rich color of the tile that we originally had
2. Some of the colors from the tile are now bleeding into the grout, discoloring it.
Here's what we've tried to clean off the haze. We've bought a 'grout cleanup kit' from the local Lowes that consists of some nylon pads with different roughnesses to them and a handle to use with them. We've scrubbed the flooring with the most abrasive pad that comes in the kit, dry, and then vaccumed up the debris that gets left. It looked better, but still no where near what we had. Then we took a sponge and tried scrubbing/wiping the tile clean and I beleive this is were the color bleeding starts. Although I also notice that just scrubbing, dry, also fades the grout a bit with the haze residue.
What I am hoping someone can help me with is:
1. How to get the haze off and ultimately get my slate back to a beautiful rich color
2. How to clean some of the stained grout and get it back to its original color
All help is greatly apprecaited. This is my first time tiling and feel really good at what I've accomplished. These issues has just really put me down and takes away the excitement.
johny2050
12-12-07, 06:21 AM
Some natural stone tiles should be sealed before grouting. So trying to get the grout back to the original color might be a problem. I think you might have to remove the stained grout and re-grout. Maybe someone else will have a solution? As for the haze issue you can try a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water. However, I would clean a small area first to make sure it has no adverse affect on the stone.
caleyg
12-12-07, 06:56 AM
It's too late to help now, but I think you should have sealed the tiles before you even started laying them, or at least cleaned and sealed them before grouting.
Perhaps the meaning for your life is simply to serve as a warning to others. Just kidding, dude. All of us have done :wall: things. '
One of the big benefits of this forum is seeing others' struggles.
I would suggest doing the best you can to clean the grout off the tile faces and then seal. I think the seal will restore some of the richness even if it still looks hazy unsealed.
Here's a thought: Take some spare tile in different colors, muck it up with grout, clean it in the same way you've cleaned the floor, try a sealer to see what it looks like. You may be surprised. I think there are different kinds of sealers too--some that give a darker/wetter look. Those may work better for you.
Perhaps the meaning for your life is simply to serve as a warning to others. Just kidding, dude. All of us have done :wall: things. '
One of the big benefits of this forum is seeing others' struggles.
I would suggest doing the best you can to clean the grout off the tile faces and then seal. I think the seal will restore some of the richness even if it still looks hazy unsealed.
Here's a thought: Take some spare tile in different colors, muck it up with grout, clean it in the same way you've cleaned the floor, try a sealer to see what it looks like. You may be surprised. I think there are different kinds of sealers too--some that give a darker/wetter look. Those may work better for you.