Tile on tile - lesson learnt!

[robbieraven]

Thought I'd share a bad experience I had today so any of you that come across this won't fall into the same trap. Tiled a kitchen floor, customer wanted me to go over existing tiles which were sound and nice and flat, all well so far. Made the mistake of grouting the next day and even though I'd used BAL SPT rapid set I now have an efflorescence nightmare where the minerals in my Micromax2 "Efflorescence FREE!! Smoke have leeched out to the surface as they had nowhere else to go, apparently if tiling onto tile leave for 2-3 days before grouting! I have some FILA residue remover to try in the morning but I'm not a happy camper.

 

[cam_low]

ive just used universeals grout rescue to with great effect.

 

[foggy34]

i would use grout rescue, good results

 

[Dave]

I think you will find it is polymer residue and not efflorescence .. If you have salt formation on the grout surface then most probs is but a white milky residue is polymers from the grout when washing off .

 

[robbieraven]

I think you will find it is polymer residue and not efflorescence .. If you have salt formation on the grout surface then most phg robs is but a white milky residue is polymers from the grout when washing off .

Thanks Dave, any ideas how to rectify else I might not sleep tonight

 

[Dave]

The longer its left the harder it is to remove , LTP solvex and an emulsifying pad should do the trick .

 

[On one]

The longer its left the harder it is to remove , LTP solvex and an emulsifying pad should do the trick .

Not sure about LTP, but is there not a minimum amount of days you should leave the grout to cure before applying some cleaners?

 

[Dave]

Not sure about LTP, but is there not a minimum amount of days you should leave the grout to cure before applying some cleaners?

If using an acid based cleaner then yes but solvex is fine for even calcium based stone. It is a coating remover and can be used for epoxy residue , so a safer bet for polymers.

 

[Sean Kelly]

Thanks for sharing your bad experience. Grout rescue or Aquamix colorant will do the trick.
Cold weather, porcelain tiles, decoupling membranes, certain substrates will all add to the curing time of adhesive. You live and learn (well..................you learn from the Tilers Forums!).