Grout residue

[teash]

Appolgies in advance if this has been asked on more than one occasion.

Anyway I grouted my bathroom floor tiles (black`ish slate) using BAL Superflex grey grout. I removed excess grout etc and have wiped them over with a clean damp sponge more times than I can remember now, but it always dries back with a white haze on the tile. Is there something than i`m not doing right? because I don`t want to apply the tile sealer until all this residue has gone.

Many thanks

 

[Jasonb]

Let it completely dry for 24hrs then buff off with an old towel. If that does not work use an emulsifying pad (like a plastic pot scourer) and water.

I'm assuming you sealed the tiles before grouting.

Jason

 

[teash]

Cheers for the reply and advice Jason, I give the tiles about 3 coats of sealer before I grouted them

 

[nellyb]

What sort of sealer did you use? Brand and type.

 

[teash]

What sort of sealer did you use? Brand and type.

mrs teash picked up some 'plasplugs tile sealer' don`t all boo at once from a big DIY outlet.
Personally i`m not convinced by it because i`d have thought (and I might be wrong) but surely it should have put a sort of coating on the tile to stop the penetration of water but stepping out of the shower and onto the tile it seems to soak the water up.

 

[Jasonb]

Plasplug is not the best product on the market

If the sealer is an impregnator it will soak into the stone and leave little if any affect to the finish, on slate this will give you the look as it came out of the box/crate.

If the sealer was an enhancer, it still soaks in to some extent but also builds a film on the surface, This will give slate the look of when its wet - darker and and with a sheen.

I tend to use lithofin products but as you have started with the plasplug it will be best to stick with it as other finishes may react badly.

Any of the flexible grouts tend to leave more of a film as the polimers that make it flexible are diluted by the cleaning water and dry on the surface, its just a case of keep chaning the water for clean.

Jason

 

[nellyb]

Both HG Marble impregnator and Lithofin Stainstop 'plus' will impregnate/seal the stone and also enhance the colour. This colour enhancement usually disguises minor grout misting. The only problem as Jason has said is that used some 'plasplugs' stuff that may react adversely with these other branded products. Not knowing the 'plasplugs' range I couldn't say.

Have a look in the plasplugs range and see if they produce a grout film remover suitable for slate and a colour enhancer. HG & Lithofin do one. If they don;t, you could try using either Lithofin or HG products in a discreet area as a test spot.

 

[Moz]

Lithofin , Boss Gear

 

[Jasonb]

Lithofin , Boss Gear

And thats just the smell, it seals stone quite well too

Jason

 

[PilotPete]

Not sure about compatability, but call Aquamix and ask their technical people if http://www.aquamix.com/for_home_use/products/pg_detail.asp?pdid=35008&pgid=9833 this product would be suitable....

Good luck.

PP