Advice on those dreaded B&Q porcelain

[davphi338]

Hi,

I've taken delivery of some 600x600 B&Q porcelain tiles, in fact 60m3 worth. I've read quite a few posts on the problems associated with them with respect to sealing etc. and was all prepared to clean them off with LTP Grimex and then seal with LTP porcelain sealer. Having looked at the tiles and reading the back of the box it does state that the tiles must be sealed etc. but it also states no abrasive cleaners must be used. There is also a plastic film on the tiles that is to be peeled off. Does this mean that there is no wax coating and so cleaning with Grimex will not be required and I can simply seal them.

Thanks for any advice

 

[Deleted member 1779]

It sounds like B&Q are doing more and more to the packaging every day!

Version-1 Had no packaging instructions about cleaning / sealing
Verstion-2 Had instructions to use plasplugs products to clean and seal.

Now we have Version-3 with the plastic film!

My suggestion is assume nothing and go for belts and braces. Clean all those tiles with the products suggested here on the forum.

Then seal them with the products suggested here too.

This is what you want to be as your future result:

A few months ago hubby (and I was gopher!) laid polished porcelain tiles through our kitchen, hallway and utility room. We read lots of tips and got a bit of advice. Job done and we are really pleased with it.

Anyway.... last night I emptied the bins into a black bag and left in the utility room to chuck outside this morning. I picked up the bag and to my horror an old jar of pickled beetroot had leaked through the underneath. We had used lithofin sealer (before and after grouting) and mapei ultracolour grout after advice from you guys... and guess what... it all wiped straight off (a gentle rub with cif on the grout) :2thumbsup: Phew!

The point of the re-post above is to highlight that if you follow all steps suggested on this forum you will have a superb job. Remember its really only at the times when thing go wrong during domestic use that problems come back to haunt.

In my opinion dont rely on the addition of a film to guarantee the tiles are free of wax. It probably been put on to help with shipping / scratching during transit.

PS: My neighbour who I also encouraged to followed the forum advice now has a perfect floor and it is without stains!

 

[pete f]

not too sure about the wax coating the plastic film is probably to prevent scratching of the tile surface during transportation definately seal them before laying though

 

[davphi338]

Thanks for the replies, yes definatley going to seal them with LTP MPG, I was just hoping to get away without having to scrub them before hand to remove any possible wax, especially as they have a plastic film on them which I presume is instead of the wax. As previuosly mentioned a belt and braces approach is probably the best option. I take it LTP Grimex is not an abrasive cleaner because it states on the box not to use an abrasive cleaner.