One stupid naive tiler needs help!

[Chilli123]

We bought tiles from B&Q procelain 45ers in cream, my frind who used to be a tiles sale woman :smilewinkgrin: took one look at them and said "you've got your work cut out there" we have tiled the whole of our kitchen into the dining room- not sure of the size but it's pretty large. She gave us some names of cleaners and sealers, which we did straight away, we then today decided to grout in black......yes I hear the cries or "STOOOPPPP" you guessed it they have stained

Please help proffessional people before I storm into B&Q and start shouting or crying....

 

[doug boardley]

I'm guessing they were polished porcelain that should've been sealed before grouting

 

[Gazzer]

B&Q wont help you at all , dont waste your breath :mad2:

 

[Chilli123]

I don't know! We assumed by sealing thm first the grouting part wouldn't matter.

Are they messed up now? no return?

 

[Chilli123]

Sorry yes they are polished!

I already have kitchen issues with B&Q and I can shout really LOUD!

makes me so mad that they sell these things yet don't advise you properly

 

[aqua blue]

A bit late now but,

Tip- always do a test piece when working with anything you are unfamiliar with between working stages..... It has saved my bacon a few times.

I'm sure someone will be here later for you Chilli. :welcome:

 

[Chilli123]

Thank you for the nice welcome :smilewinkgrin:

Ok I will keep checking in

 

[Gazzer]

I am sure we have had the same problem on here before and if you just hang around someone with 1st hand experience will come along.

The only advice i will offer at the moment is DONT BUY ANY CLEANERS ETC FROM B&Q, they are only after another sale and their products will not be as good as some that professionals use and you will end up paying all over again.

 

[enduro]

Did you remove the wax that's normally on polished Porcelain before sealing? You could try Aqua mix Sealer & coating remover.

 

[mikethetile]

Hi chilli :welcome:

I get so angry when ever i hear the letters b&q even the colour orange sends my blood pressure through the roof

if i was made prime minister my first job would be to shut down the diy sheds, they have no interest in helping people improve their homes, they are only interested in pushing products out the door

you can do it when you b&q it:mad2:

rant over

someone on here may have the answer and be able to advise you

venting your spleen on them may make you feel better but wont make a jot of difference to them

 

[suave]

:welcome:

 

[Chilli123]

We cleaned off the wax yes

 

[Gazzer]

Ok so the guys in the know can answer correctly can we have a run down of products used and in what order please.

 

[Bolter]

Need pics please Chilli mate

Oh and :welcome:

 

[aqua blue]

Chilli if you have got any T-cut in the back of the car, black stain a spare tile with the said grout and give it a try by rubbing the tile with a tea cloth.

You never know, I can't help beyond that. Good luck!

 

[Chilli123]

Not got t-cut but can buy some if it works!

First of all the tiles were covered in a plastic stuff and wax, so we took the plastic stuff off before we layed them, we then got a tile cleaner from Topps tiles called FILA, then we sealed them with the FILA sealant.

Then grouted.

 

[mikethetile]

t cut is a mild abrasive and works by cutting the dirty layer off the paint revealing fresh paint which can be polished

im not sure it will work on polished porc

I use wd 40 for cleaning stubborn stains and lifing stains out of worktops

but ive never tried it in this situation

you wont be the first or the last to do this and someone here may well have the solution so hang in there chilli

 

[aqua blue]

Chilli if it is surface stain it should come off. However, if it has penetrated you will need a deeper specialist cleaner. I would hold fire for a while longer untill you get further replies. 'Dave' I'm sure will hit the nail on the head.

 

[Gazzer]

What ever method you use i would do this on a spare tile.
As for the T Cut i would be careful that the T Cut doesnt penetrate the tile and make matters worse. Never tried it so i dont know but best test on a spare tile 1st.

 

[The Legend; Phil Hobson RIP]

Sorry to hear your dilemma, did you seal them before fixing edges as well as face? some of this stuff can take in a stain from the joint, if edges are not sealed, causing a picture frame effect. there are some products that could help. Maybe some pics for more detail

 

[Chilli123]

Okay I will do in about an hour, thanks so much everyone for replying I really appreicate it.

I am sure it hasn't come in through the edges as the stains are where he poured the grout in and left it so dry off.

 

[kilty55]

Okay I will do in about an hour, thanks so much everyone for replying I really appreicate it.

I am sure it hasn't come in through the edges as the stains are where he poured the grout in and left it so dry off.

poured in the grout? how was the grout applied chilli?

 

[DHTiling]

Hi chilli123...

The plastic on the top is designed to be left it situ and only removed after grouting....

Ok... Firstly you need to use a very mild abrasive cleaner like Lithofin Abra clean or Aqua mix Nano-scrub..

Those 2 links will explain how they are used and work..

You will get the lithifin Abra clean from CTD and the Aqua mix nano scrub from Tradetiler..

One of those should sort out the grout that has grabbed into the surface pores on the porcelain.

Another point is that not all sealers are suitable for polished porcelain, so please do check that the fila one is suitable..

 

[Chilli123]

Cheers Dave will do, just trying to put pictures on via photo bucket what code do you use on here?

 

[DHTiling]

Just paste it in..

 

[Chilli123]

 

[Chilli123]

ah that's easier than my site!

Ok the pouring of grout was because we used a squiggy (sp??) can you advise another way please as we still have 3/4 of the floor to finish....

 

[DHTiling]

As i thought.. Try one of the products above and then come back to us after you have tried it..

 

[DHTiling]

ah that's easier than my site!

Ok the pouring of grout was because we used a squiggy (sp??) can you advise another way please as we still have 3/4 of the floor to finish....

By pouring the grout you have the pigment stood longer... mix the grout to a fairly thick cream mixture and then use a grout float to work into the joints, work in small area's and clean the tile surface as you go trying to leave the joints... then when the joints are firming up follow on and clean those..

Working clean is a must with those tiles.

 

[Chilli123]

Thanks very much Dave I will go first thing tomorrow we have a CTD down the road, and I will use lino in future...... :yikes: joke! Never knew this tiling malarky was so complicated! thanks again for helping everyone 🙂

 

[DHTiling]

Thanks very much Dave I will go first thing tomorrow we have a CTD down the road, and I will use lino in future...... :yikes: joke! Never knew this tiling malarky was so complicated! thanks again for helping everyone 🙂

A lot of DIY'rs say that after trying to tile with sort of specialised products..:lol:

Let us know if that works.., you will need some scotch pads as well...