plaster board on green slate floor tiles

[Unregistered]

Hi there
6 months ago we had beautiful green slate floor tiles laid in our kitchen. A couple of weeks ago a decorator came round to re decorate the kitchen and he sanded down the walls and ceiling. Everyone (decorator, tiler, tile shop) all said the dust would come off the floor but it hasn't. I've scrubbed it 4 times with a scrubbing brush and normal floor cleaner (flash, I think) and most of it did come away but I'm left with a white ingrained residue that won't shift.
Does anyone have any ideas about what I should do? I've shed a tear two over it this week...

 

[Olz]

Had the floor been sealed after it was layed?

 

[DHTiling]

Hi...

Can you tell us what the slate is sealed with please..?

 

[DHTiling]

Also if you Join the forum we can advise quicker...as then your posts will not have to be approved each time before members can see them..

It is free to join..

 

[MacyM]

ok, have joined!

Yes, the floor was sealed properly. I think the tiler used FILA all in one protection slate impregnator sealer (because there was 1/2 a bottle left on the side after he went). It was absolutely fine for the 6 months before the decorator came. Everything that was spilled came off with a wipe.

 

[DHTiling]

Ok cheers for joining it makes it quicker and easier..


What tile stores do you have near by..?

 

[MacyM]

A few of the usual Topps and clearance type ones and a couple of specialists.

I called the tiler and he suggested I go over it with something called golv polish, but when I went back to the store we bought the tiles from and explained, they said we'd just be sealing the dirt in and gave me something called lithofin wax off. This looks very serious stuff and now I'm worried that I'll make the problem worse, seeing as I haven't a clue about what I'm doing?

 

[DHTiling]

The shop was right.. do not use the golv on the dirty floor.

You do need a more intense cleaner though..

And seen as it is 6 months or so then it might be time to spring clean and re-seal the floor to get it looking new again.

Are you wanting the matt look or slight gloss..?

 

[MacyM]

matt please?

 

[DHTiling]

Do you have a tile giant near you..or a CTD..?

 

[MacyM]

yes, we have a tile giant..

 

[DHTiling]

Nice one..

Ok... It isn't hard to do what you need... but maybe it worth getting the painter to cough up for this... just a thought..

You need to clean the floor with LTP grimex... follow the directions on the bottle.. this will clean the dirt and old sealer off...A scrubbing brush will aid.

Then rinse the floor with clean water a couple times to neutralise the cleaner and you must leave it to dry..48 hrs min

Then you need LTP mattstone to seal with... again follow the instructions.. 2 coats is ample for slate.

If you are unsure about any this then maybe we could get a member to come and do this for you..

 

[MacyM]

So it is fixable? Is the lithofin wax off stuff the shop gave me different to grimex?

The decorator is due round here next week and I'll chat to him and see if he will do it. If not, I think it might be better if we got an expert to do it. I couldn't bear it if I tried it myself and made it worse.

 

[DHTiling]

THe wax off will remove old layers of wax...acrylic etc but i prefer the Grimex.. as it is an alround cleaner..

You haven't opened the lithofin one . so just take it back and get a refund...

But if you do go down the get a tiler into do it then weait on the products as they might want to use another brand..

 

[MacyM]

Thank you so much for your help, Dave! You're a star! x