Help needed!

[bctiling]

Hi,one of our guys has put some old grout water down an old victorian toilet and it has settled on the bottom and gone rock hard! The customer has stopped payment untill this problem`s sorted out. Has anyone any advice please? I dont want to chip away at it for obvious reasons. Some acid of some sort? How would this be woth the porcelain? Any advice much appreciated
Thanks

Ben

 

[Gazzer]

Naughty !!! What sort of grout was it ? Usually grout that has settled in a bucket will break loose when scraped a little then it generally will all come away.

 

[CJ CERAMICS]

How much grout are we talking? most grout can be washed away using a sponge, warm water and elbow grease. Remember to stroke the grout up the pan and out.

 

[bctiling]

Yes was naughty! Its about 2 cm high sitting all over the bottom of the pan. Its Mapei ultra grout and has set rock hard!

 

[bctiling]

I dont want to use any force as might scratch the pan,they are difficult customers and will find any excuse to not pay!

 

[DHTiling]

Nothing will touch it that won't hurt the pan... just use a small screwdriver and try to break it up in small parts to lift out and dispose of... then if any scratches left then use a sponge to take all water out the pan and then use T-cut to restore..

 

[Stewart]

First of all I would boot whoever did it up and down the street, then I would get them to remove it with a round edge chisel and scrape away at it gently. I had to do it after a subby did the same. I removed the toilet and did it at my workshop. Took me a whole day and then had to polish the base of toilet to remove the marks left by the scraping.

 

[White Room]

I would use a piece of clean pinewood and scrape it with that, it won't damage the pan.

 

[Pebbs]

Hi,one of our guys has put some old grout water down an old victorian toilet and it has settled on the bottom and gone rock hard! The customer has stopped payment untill this problem`s sorted out. Has anyone any advice please? I dont want to chip away at it for obvious reasons. Some acid of some sort? How would this be woth the porcelain? Any advice much appreciated
Thanks

Ben

My lads have also done this in the past....we got the chisel out...well when I say we...I dont mean me personally, but Im wondering if Caustic Soda will disolve the grout, as it eats through most things, so yes I would give the chisel the first try and if not some caustic in hot water and let it do its work.

And no you cant lend my marigolds.

Lynn

 

[tfs]

Havent had to deal with this but as Stewart mentioned I would consider taking out toilet and repairing ofsite. Good tip with t cut dave.

Pressure washer may also remove but care would need to be taken and someone would need to secure the toilet to avoid pan being thrown about.

 

[bctiling]

Thanks everyone,yes a booting is needed lol. Sounds like ive a bit of a job on my hands! It wont happen again!
I spoke with Mapei technical and they advised using keranet in the pan overnight which will soften it.Anyone know if this will stain or damage pan?

 

[Time's Ran Out]

The relationship with the customer is tarnished now so whatever you do may not be enough.
I'd certainly deducted any costs from the culprits wages and possibly get a 'bath doctor' in to make the removal seem professional.
When you get paid a 'thank you' bouquet of air freshner and loo rolls seems appropriate.

 

[Barry bp]

You can get a special rubber to take metal marks off porcellin