What has gone wrong?

[parchy99]

Guys could really do with some advice.

Ive laid some chinese natural slate, cleaned and sealed for grouting. No problems.

Today ive grouted (or tried to) and the grout is sticking to the floor . I cant clean it off properly and it seems embedded in. Ive cleaned and cleaned and cleaned, but to no avail. Ive sacked it off pending advice so my 3 questions i have are:

1) what have i done wrong? Obviously something. I appreciate this is difficult to say without pictures, but any guesses would be appreciated.

2) What can i do so the second half of the kitchen doesnt go the same way?

3) what is the best way to remove this grout safely without ruining the tiles?

thanks guys

 

[Rookery]

I'd give the slate several more coats of sealer before grouting, allowing it to dry between coats. I'd mix the grout slightly drier than normal too. Only grout a small area at a time and wash off fairly soon. Change your water regularly.

 

[kilty55]

hello parchy,can you tell us the type of grout you have used please and how you applied it and the process etc you went through to remove/wash down please thanks

is it getting stuck in the clefts of the slate ? is the slate calibrated

 

[parchy99]

Hi,

The grout is bal micromax gun metal.

I applied the grout in the usual fashion, pressing into the grouting spaces, left for 15 minutes, then tried to wash off with a damp sponge. It was like the damage was immediately done. I couldnt get it out. I decided to leave it for less, and less time, but the same thing happened.

The slate is some stuff that the customer bulk bought from ebay. It comes in a cardboard box with "made in china" stamped on it. It really isnt like any slate i have ever seen before. Ultra brittle, very porous, with orange streaks that bleed when it comes into contact with liquid, even after sealing.

any further advice on removal would be helpful

 

[DHTiling]

What did you seal the slate with.?

 

[parchy99]

hi,

it was from an ebay company called chemicals online.

labelled stone care sealer

pete

 

[DHTiling]

Morning Pete , did you remove any sealer residue before it dried.

Also is it a surface sealer or impregnator?

 

[afright]

You might have the same problem I had, the customer got everything of the internet the sealer did not dry and stayed very tacky,ended up getting the Rep in and he said it was a bad batch of sealer,I cleaned it off with nirto mors paint stripper nothing else touch it, afterwards sealed with a good brand of sealer and it turned out ok.

 

[parchy99]

it doesnt state quite what it is. I believe it is a surface sealer. The tiles were so thirsty that there was no residue, it was quickly "drunk" into the tile. From sealing to surface dry took 5 minutes

 

[jlktiling]

leaving Micromax on for 15 mins might have been the issue. it dries fully in 2 hours, if it was a hot day, that would have decreased the time too. and if the slate wasnt sealed correctly, that woulndnt help either.

 

[Martino]

As Jiktiling says micromax drier really fast! i used exactly the same gun metal a few weeks back and i was suprised at the speed it dries!...this was on normal porcelain 450x450 tiles

 

[redmist6]

....yep, I agree. My 1st thought was that Micromax goes off pretty quick, plus just 1 coat of 'sealer' on a suspect load of t'internet slate probably didn't help...