Cant get grout off porcelain matt tiles

[Nichola]

I saw a product demo'd last night at the Topps roadshow. TBH if Lithofin hasn't touched it this might not either.
It was called strong grout residue remover.
Maybe they could supply you a sample sized pot for you to try out......

Thanks for that,,,, they have been up there all day using different stuff and nothing has touched it so I will see if I can get hold of some of this once I've spoken to uncle bob

 

[p4ulo]

Oh blimey, fingers crossed!!

 

[SJPurdy]

Do you know what brand/type of grout was used?
Why isn't your tiler sorting this out and why has he missed some of the grout joints?

 

[Nichola]

He's been here too trying to get it off, he hasn't finished the bottom half of the tiles yet...or started the floor,,I will go and have a look at the grout now and get back

 

[Nichola]

The grout is granfix flexible in white

 

[Dan]

Name and shame the tiler. That's dodgy that.

Perhaps not. Don't want change the tone of the thread maybe.

 

[Nichola]

He obviously hasn't realised that this type of tile needed to be washed and washed straight away , instead it seems to have sunk into the tile...
it's like it on every wall. We have washed and washed it today so I will wait for uncle bob and if he doesn't know how to fix it we think it all has to come off

 

[Dan]

An actual genuine tiler would have known that the grout was starting to set, especially with it being warmer, and he'd have changed his method accordingly.

(Basically just washed the damn things off properly)

 

[SJPurdy]

it looks looks a pain of a job to me. I've had to clean off the odd small area in the past when I'd missed patches due to not seeing the wet grout colour when washing off. You have to be patient and give the grout film remover (usually acid based to dissolve the cement content of the grout) time to act and then scrub with an appropriate abrasive pad to dislodge/clean off the residues. It will probably take more than one clean over each area to get it all off as you can't see what's left until it dries! I have read on other posts (older on this forum or possibly somewhere else) that where there is a thicker layer of polymer modified (flexi) grout to remove then you may also have to use something to dissolve the polymer so that the acid can get to the cement but I'd try without first and see how you go.

 

[Nichola]

it looks looks a pain of a job to me. I've had to clean off the odd small area in the past when I'd missed patches due to not seeing the wet grout colour when washing off. You have to be patient and give the grout film remover (usually acid based to dissolve the cement content of the grout) time to act and then scrub with an appropriate abrasive pad to dislodge/clean off the residues. It will probably take more than one clean over each area to get it all off as you can't see what's left until it dries! I have read on other posts (older on this forum or possibly somewhere else) that where there is a thicker layer of polymer modified (flexi) grout to remove then you may also have to use something to dissolve the polymer so that the acid can get to the cement but I'd try without first and see how you go.

Ok thank you....he has got another grout cleaner now and is trying that and like you said you cant see if it's gone until it dries which is taking forever but fingers crossed we will get it off eventually. Thanks tho

 

[Dan]

It'll be worth it when it's done. And there will be something that works I promise you.

 

[Nichola]

I think we've done it,,, believe it or not we used patio cleaner!!!!! And it bubbled on the thick bits of grout and came off straight away...we have been watching it dry for the last hour and it seems to of done the trick....we may wake up in the morning and the tiles have disintegrated haha but they seem ok at the moment...I will let you all know tmrw, but in the meantime thanks for all your help ..

 

[Dan]

Yay.

The "tiler" wants to stick the brand name on the back of his cards.

 

[Nichola]

Well I don't think he will do it again in a hurry dan ,, stressful day to say the least

 

[Dan]

He needs some training by the sounds of it.