Ceramic tiles going blueish

[Stewart]

Agree with Sir Ramic, there won't be any sealer in the ceramic glaze to remove.

 

[Gazzer]

As a matter of interest can you say what sealer was used ?

 

[TPW]

the builder said he put 2 coats of lithofin stain stop on the tiles.

 

[Gazzer]

Glazed ceramic tiles do not require sealing.

Properties
Lithofin MN Stain-Stop >ECO< penetrates into absorbent
natural stone surfaces and coats the capilliaries with an
extremely thin and invisible film of polymers. This film alters
the surface tension of the surface, causing a repelling effect.
The treatment prevents the immediate penetration of water
based dirt as well as oil and grease, and it provides an
effective protection against staining.
Durability: approx. four years depending on the type and
use of the treated material.
Field of Use
To protect absorbent natural stone against staining and to
render surfaces water and oil repellent. Treatment is
recommended for all stone surfaces, such as: floors in
kitchen, dining and living areas. The surfaces can be
polished, honed, or rough. Lithofin MN Stain-Stop >ECO<
can be used as a grout release and as a pre-treatment.
Suitable for indoor and outdoor use.
Surfaces: absorbent natural stones, especially suitable for
rough and honed limestone, polished and honed hardstone.
Please Note: on siliceous stones with a rough surface (such
as honed or flamed granite), dense limestone and in cases
where the highest level of water repellency is required (eg.
in the shower) we recommend using Lithofin MN Stain-Stop
(solvent based). This also applies to surfaces that have
been pre-treated with other products.
Directions for Use
Check the suitability and effect with a test in an
inconspicuous area or on a spare tile. The surface must be
absorbent, completely dry, clean and free of stains. Shake
bottle before use.
Apply generously and evenly using a lambswool applicator,
roller, lint free cloth or sponge. Ensure even distribution by
wiping over several times. Ensure that all surface residues
is removed within 15 min. by towelling them off, do not allow
residues to dry on the surface. On highly absorbent
surfaces, apply several coats wet-in-wet.
Drying Time: approx. 3 hours. Treatment is fully effective
after 48 hours. Do not cover surface before then and wipe
up any spills immediately.

 

[johnryan]

is it possible that the sealant has trapped moisture in the tiles. if the tiles were grouted and sealed very soon after they were laid then maybe the moisture from the adhesive has gone into the tiles, as there's nowhere else for it to go, due to the tanking process, preventing drying from below, and the sealant from above.

 

[Deleted member 9966]

my best advice is to stop using the shower for a few weeks and see if the blueish hue on the tiles starts to fade.

I have some white bumpy tiles on my bathroom walls which, every time they get wet, start turning grey. Once I stopped using the shower, they dried out and became white again. It's just the make up of the tile unfortunately. When water seeps behind them, sometimes it can soak into the biscuit behind and affect the shade on the glazed side.

the sealer that was use will not have taken to your ceramic tiles if they were originally a shiny gloss like finish, so there is no point trying to strip the sealer as you could end up damaging the gloss cover on the tiles.

let the shower area dry out and see if it changes the colour of tiles.

 

[TPW]

just to let you all know, I have been in touch with lithofin and they have agreeded that the sealer should not of been used in the first place, in there opinion the dicolouration is due to the fact that the sealer would not of been absorbed and has just dried on top of the tiles collectiing all sorts of dirt, they have recommended there cleaner Wexa and have told me if that is the case it should remove it and any other dirt and bring the tiles back to there original colour. i am going to try this and i will let you know the results, thank you for all your input.

 

[Dan]

If they'd have seen the picture they would have seen it's not affected the adjacent tiles in the same way. Which suggests it isn't surface contamination at all, but simply water behind the glaze (so in the biscuit backing of the tile which would soak up moisture). It also looks like that the affected tile in the picture is one that's getting in contact with more water with the corner of the tile sitting in the shower.

I wouldn't have thought it could be wise to remove the sealer, but the product they've sold you will not fix the 'blue' problem.

Wait for the tiles to fully dry out and you'll see that they turn back white as they dry.

To prevent it in the future you could perhaps re-grout with epoxy which is a smaller job than replacing the tiles for sure and water be water tight so the water wouldn't get behind the tiles in the first place (depending on the rest of the tiling job, siliconing, that sort of stuff).

 

[doug boardley]

ceramic tiles aren't fired anywhere near as high a temperature as porcelain tiles, hence less vitrification and more absorbency.I think Sir Ramic has hit the nail on the head by suggesting that water is leeching into the tile biscuit via the grout jonts.

 

[carol]

We also have cream ceramic tiles that now have blueish marks on them. They were laid with no sealant. We have them in our wet room that also had underfloor heating put down.
You would think that any moisture that travels between the grout lines would therefore dry out. Our patches have shown no signs of dissapearing. Has any one got any ideas as to what is going on?

 

[Deleted member 9966]

Yes. ceramic tiles are not suitable for wetroom floors. you would have to leave the wetroom unused for days or even weeks for the water in the grout lines to dry out properly. ceramic tiles absorb water and grout is not waterproof, so hence your tiles are turning a different shade.

 

[Stewart]

As GRR and the thread say.... Ceramic tiles as unsuitable for wetroom floors. The moisture will become trapped behind the glaze of the tile and will probably never dry out properly. I don't know of any easy fix to this problem apart from replace the tiles with something more suitable.

 

[Dan]

Just bumping some of the older popular (sometimes not so popular) threads. Probably wont be current discussion these days but I just need to do it. So just ignore the thread if it's not current for you.