UK Advice needed regarding sealing? Or Are these tiles faulty?

I've recently bought Johnson 'Orkney Stone' ceramic floor tiles from B&Q. Paid to have them professionally laid. At the time I asked if they needed sealing. The tiler told me since they were ceramic (not porcelain or natural stone) they didn't need to be sealed.

B&Q website states these are glazed which put my mind at rest.

They've been down a week and they're terrible. They seem to attract dirt, soak up marks and every shoe print/scuff etc.Worst part is they are un-moppable. I've tried every type of mop/cleaner and they stick like velcro to the tile surface.

I chose these because they best matched the existing floor tiles having had to re-tile half of the kitchen where the tiles had started to crack and lift (where incorrect adhesive had been used on the wooden subfloor area).

But these new tiles are going to look totally different because they're totally impractical and incredibly difficult to clean.

I would like advice with the following please:

1. Despite being described as glazed, would sealing solve the staining problem? Or if they are glazed will it just peel off?
2. What sealer is best to use for a DIY novice?
3. Will sealing them make them less sticky and easier to mop ?
4. Should I complain to the manufacturer or BnQ? - I dont really consider them fit for for the job. The surface feels chalky (but isn't dusty) so I dont think they have been sent out unglazed. But its nearly impossible to pass a mop over the floor. Feels like trying to wipe down paving slabs, and I dont want to be faced with the prospect of having to resort to a scrubbing brush on my knees every day.

Feeling really let down, I've had to wait 5 years to be able to repair this floor.
Any helpful advice or insight would be very much appreciated.

Any actual pics of the tiles ?

Dave said:

Any actual pics of the tiles ?

Click to expand...

First one is unused from the box. Second is part of the floor.
Hope that helps.

To be honest imo. Not suitable for floors. Johnsons do this mistake by saying wall and floor tiles on the box. White biscuit ceramics imho are not suitable for floors.

Hi mate. Just a potential tip re cleaning the blighters.

I had some similarly (no need for sealing BS) stone effect tiles from wickes that had a matt finish, no gloss top coat and so attracted muck like glue. Nothing would get them off. The slight mottled top coat seemed to be inpenetrable to all know householder cleaners, even brick cleaning did sod all.

Until.... I noticed an extremely clean patch of tile near where I had spillt neat Ecover washing machine fluid on the floor. Some 50/50 mix of this applied with hot water applied liberally onto the floor and mopped up half an hour later & for the first time in 5 year I had tiles that didn't look like an army of tradesmen had been through the house.

They would then mop relatively well until the process needed repeating every 6 months or so.

Worth a shot.

Bedfordian said:

Hi mate. Just a potential tip re cleaning the blighters.

I had some similarly (no need for sealing BS) stone effect tiles from wickes that had a matt finish, no gloss top coat and so attracted muck like glue. Nothing would get them off. The slight mottled top coat seemed to be inpenetrable to all know householder cleaners, even brick cleaning did sod all.

Until.... I noticed an extremely clean patch of tile near where I had spillt neat Ecover washing machine fluid on the floor. Some 50/50 mix of this applied with hot water applied liberally onto the floor and mopped up half an hour later & for the first time in 5 year I had tiles that didn't look like an army of tradesmen had been through the house.

They would then mop relatively well until the process needed repeating every 6 months or so.

Worth a shot.

Click to expand...

Excuse my terrible spelling there.... lazy boy

drowninginit said:

I've recently bought Johnson 'Orkney Stone' ceramic floor tiles from B&Q. Paid to have them professionally laid. At the time I asked if they needed sealing. The tiler told me since they were ceramic (not porcelain or natural stone) they didn't need to be sealed.

B&Q website states these are glazed which put my mind at rest.

They've been down a week and they're terrible. They seem to attract dirt, soak up marks and every shoe print/scuff etc.Worst part is they are un-moppable. I've tried every type of mop/cleaner and they stick like velcro to the tile surface.

I chose these because they best matched the existing floor tiles having had to re-tile half of the kitchen where the tiles had started to crack and lift (where incorrect adhesive had been used on the wooden subfloor area).

But these new tiles are going to look totally different because they're totally impractical and incredibly difficult to clean.

I would like advice with the following please:

1. Despite being described as glazed, would sealing solve the staining problem? Or if they are glazed will it just peel off?
2. What sealer is best to use for a DIY novice?
3. Will sealing them make them less sticky and easier to mop ?
4. Should I complain to the manufacturer or BnQ? - I dont really consider them fit for for the job. The surface feels chalky (but isn't dusty) so I dont think they have been sent out unglazed. But its nearly impossible to pass a mop over the floor. Feels like trying to wipe down paving slabs, and I dont want to be faced with the prospect of having to resort to a scrubbing brush on my knees every day.

Feeling really let down, I've had to wait 5 years to be able to repair this floor.
Any helpful advice or insight would be very much appreciated.

Click to expand...

Those matte, satin, non slip floor tiles do mark easy , so long as not scratches they should clean up