mold on travertine tiles

[flowerdale]

Hello all,
I have travertine tiles in a downstairs bathroom. The window is always opened to allow the tiles to dry out etc. However, my boys have not opened the shower doors afterwards even though the window was.Been away for holiday! We now have black spots growing on the tiles. I have used several products (lakeland ) to clean off, but to no avail. I have read through loads of travertine questions but not found answers out. I have read on the internet and now confused big time. Some say water and vinegar and some say no vinegar ?!?! The wall behind the shower was tanked four weeks prior to tiling, walls behind are dry etc. The tile adhesive was bathroom ready mixed. They have been sealed but a cheapo sealant from topps or somewhere like that.(Had some left over from my bathroom floor, I think I should have bought better quality. They are good quality tiles. My tiler has only just gone away for three weeks, so I can't refer to him. I would like to know what product/method to remove black spots and how to remove sealant so I can put on a better quality one, please.Many thanks and sorry for the babble.

 

[Gazzer]

Travertine with ready mixed adhesive ???? Please no !
What size tiles were they ?
Have you tried LTP Online

 

[flowerdale]

the tiles are small 30x30 and I have just checked tubs and bal grip wet adhesive was used. The shower has been in use all summer with no problems. I am looking at extensive's website at the moment, awaiting callback on products they have. Thanks

 

[flowerdale]

I have just looked up ltp as you suggested and its their sealant used on the tiles. Thanks

 

[Gazzer]

I certainly wouldnt be using that adhesive for fixing stone or any other tile in those condition regardless of what the adhesive manufacturer says....even if it were only for my own peace of mind.
Anyway I dont think the adhesive is the problem here but more down to not enough sealer, LTP is a well known and well regarded product. Do you know which one was used ? And how many coats of sealer were applied ?
Is that 30mm or 30 cm ?

 

[flowerdale]

Hi, sorry its 30cm and the tiles were sealed before and after, so at least three times. I don't have any pots left to check, I recognised the black night.There are only a few black spots that have appeared, so hopefully I can get this sorted. From my research,I am looking at getting a mildew away, sealant remover and a replacement sealant from lithofan. I have ltp sealant in my bathroom and kitchen. Have had no problems in bathroom, but its not too good in the kitchen. I presumed it was due to six dogs and clay soil, whilst we were renovating inside and the garden. I would have bought lithofan, but it was a Sunday and only shops open near me offered ltp, which forced the issue. Tiler was supposed to be on hols, but his daughter was too ill to travel. So he came to us instead, hope they are enjoying it now though. Thanks

 

[flowerdale]

update for info. I have taken advise from specialist stone cleaners and lithofin. Tiles shouldn't be sealed before putting up on walls/floors as I have trapped the moisture in, hence the mildew in the tiles. The sealant was too many layers too early of the incorrect type, I could kick myself for not paying more attention to detail, and will be speaking to the tiler when he is back from hols. Still not too much to rectify, remove sealant, clean up and re-seal, but allowing good few days for drying out before next steps, not to mention more monies on the bathroom costs, but hey only one life......

 

[Alan.P]

The problem isn't in sealing before and aftewr, it's the adhesive that was used, a tubbed adhesive has to have air to cure, know as a dispersion adhesive, given that, and that the size of tile would mean that the middle of the tile might never cure properly, how long after fixing were they grouted ? A bagged, cement based natural stone adhesive would have been the correct choice. It sounds to me, as you almost say, that you have trapped moisture in yes, but not 'just' because of sealing them.

 

[flowerdale]

Hi Alan thanks for the reply, i haven't investigated the adhesive the tiler used as I wanted to rectify without removal of the actual tiles.. The problem occurs when the tiler doesn't want to mark the tiles and seals them before commencing work. I have spoken to many suppliers and so on and soo many different opinions, I go with the guys that actually sold me products that resolved the problem. Cheers and appreciate the time taken to advise me.

 

[jay]

any chance of some pics of problem might help and check up on your adh not one id use

 

[Gazzer]

Tubbed adhesive has bad habit of going mouldy in the wrong conditions