Travertine - removing polish residue?

[Blazin-saddles]

Hi, looking for a little help please

I've started a travertine job today, 40m2 of 600x400 honed and filled supplied by customer.

The tiles have arrived and look nice quality but have residue and marks that look to be left over from the polishing process?? I've tried HG cement and grout film remover with warm water and scrubbing brush. Any other ideas?? Is it just a case of elbow grease or is there another product I can try?

I'm used to slate/terracotta etc and the techniques involved but not had to fit travertine before.

Thanks in advance for any help offered.

 

[Dan]

Re: Travatine - removing polish residue?

Hi,

Checkout LTP Online and use the selection process to find the correct product. Grimex may work but wait for the lads to comment as they know better than I do.

 

[enduro]

Re: Travatine - removing polish residue?

Could re-hone them once laid to get the desired finish.

 

[DHTiling]

Hi, looking for a little help please

I've started a travertine job today, 40m2 of 600x400 honed and filled supplied by customer.

The tiles have arrived and look nice quality but have residue and marks that look to be left over from the polishing process?? I've tried HG cement and grout film remover with warm water and scrubbing brush. Any other ideas?? Is it just a case of elbow grease or is there another product I can try?

I'm used to slate/terracotta etc and the techniques involved but not had to fit travertine before.

Thanks in advance for any help offered.

Marks..? Have you got any pics... Don't gotget though Honed travertine is dull and not a very smooth surface.. it is honed so will feel different.

 

[Blazin-saddles]

Hi, thanks for the replys.

Sorry, not got a photo at mo can try and post one tomorrow.

There is a White residue, I'd call it a bloom on the face of most of the tiles that seems to wash off but some, say 1/4 of them have circular swirl marks on them, I'd assumed from a rotary polisher or cutter. I've since found out he only paid £15 per m2, I guess they could just be poor quality?

Re honed once layed? What does that involve?

Basically I can sort the best ones out but need to use them up obviously... Customer is away on Holiday until Monday.

Will I be ok to lay them and then sort them out afterwards???

Why are jobs never straight forward these days!!

 

[enduro]

I would wait until the customer is back before you lay them, then show him the problem and he can change them if he is not happy...once layed the tile supplier will not be liable for faulty tiles.

 

[DHTiling]

Yes the swirls are poorly finished low grade and what you get when they pay cheap prices, show these tot he customer and get them to change them, you should not have to re-finish them..

 

[kilty55]

seen this before sometimes only 1 or 2 tiles per batch with the swirls it looks awful i would get them changed if you can

 

[Blazin-saddles]

Yes, been through the lot today and like mentioned above is prob 10 tiles out of the batch that are really bad, the rest are usable with a little caution.

Contacted the customer and sent a picture and they've said to carry on regardless. Oh well!

Thanks to all for advice.

 

[DHTiling]

As long as they are informed, what more can you do.. so much low grade stone in the uk at present..

 

[Blazin-saddles]

Like I say, I've not a great deal of Travatine experience. If this is an indicator then I'm not all that keen on doing much more either! guess you get what you pay for!

 

[DHTiling]

It can be yes and large area;s of filler in the surface and a honey comb back of the tile indicates it is probs a lower grade..

The better the grade travertine tile then the less filler and less holes on the back... but some customers like the look of the filler as they say it adds character..:lol: