Slate floor - is this as good as you should expect?

[cfrclose]

We have just had a slate floor laid. Tiler was pleased with the tiles, looked great, then it was sealed. The main problem is that there are long brushstrokes visible across tiles in a number of areas. Its also patchy in places and there are grey areas where the slate doesn't look clean - where the slate is particular grainy. Tiler has been back with turps and resealed parts - no real impact. Photos attached. Sealant was SealGuard liquid.

I was expecting variations. But should I expect visible lines and brushstrokes?

I'm assuming nothing can be done about the grainy areas?

Many thanks for your views

c

 

[widler]

It looks like he has sealed the grout dust in to me.
Did he seal before grouting?
You should seal before grouting, grout it, clean it then seal again.
Tiling looks good though

 

[beanz]

Maybe he didn't seal it enough. Slate can be very porous, and would probably need a few coats of sealer before grouting (I say probably, because i've never laid Slate. It makes me nervous for this very reason). It looks like grout haze to me too..

 

[EverDon Tiling]

not been cleaned enough before they've been sealed needs to be stripped of and re done have you asked your tiler to rectify the problem?

 

[jlktiling]

Strip the sealant right back, and then re- seal, with a few coats of sealant.

 

[cfrclose]

Thanks everyone. THe quality of the tiling is really good. We're told it was sealed before grouting. He's been back once, used turps(?) and then what sealant was left. My other half has been persuaded that the finish is what you can expect for slate being so porous but I'm not so sure. What would you use to strip it right back?

 

[Colour Republic]

As has been mentioned it looks like its been laid well just the sealer has been applied poorly. You shouldn't expect streaks like that at all. It needs stripping and starting again i'm afraid. (strip the sealer not the tiles I should add!)

 

[John Benton]

Definitely needs to be stripped, grout residue removed, and then resealed with at least 2 coats. Make sure he removes the mark left by the bottom of his bucket in pic2 as well.

Tiling looks to be of a good standard though, he should have just taken a little more care with finishing

 

[Dougs Third Go]

grout residue hasn't been cleaned off properly imo, that's the problem I think with SealGuard, it allows you to seal when it's still not dry. It might have looked okay at the time that sealer was applied, but now it's dried out from the underside the marks are left.

 

[Time's Ran Out]

I don't agree with the well tiled part of the replies!
What's the point of leaving the finished job like that - it people don't know how to treat a product why do they ruin it for those who can produce the goods.
Terracotta used to be a fantastic material to work with and look after many years ago and then 'tilers' and builders decimated the market by completely ruining the installation proceedures.
The OP wants to get the fixer back and get the issue sorted.

 

[Colour Republic]

I don't agree with the well tiled part of the replies!
What's the point of leaving the finished job like that - it people don't know how to treat a product why do they ruin it for those who can produce the goods.

Point taken. I think it's the fact that it appears lip free and consistent just let down at the last hurdle.

 

[True Tiling]

I'm afraid it looks like a bum job. What was he thinking using white grout on slate and Turpentine to strip slate?

 

[DHTiling]

Thanks everyone. THe quality of the tiling is really good. We're told it was sealed before grouting. He's been back once, used turps(?) and then what sealant was left. My other half has been persuaded that the finish is what you can expect for slate being so porous but I'm not so sure. What would you use to strip it right back?

He might have sealed before grouting but if the sealer had not gained it's protection strength ( grouted to early after sealer application ), then it would not help with grout pitting etc..

I agree with others, call your installer back and discuss a remedy .