Help, best way to get grout off slate...?

[mmmadman]

I have laid my 18m sq natural slate patio, cleaned it and sealed it once, using Fila products.

I started grouting using BAL grout and a motar cartridge gun (which makes the job so easy and less messy)

I have had real problems cleaning the grout off the slate, its was very hot so the grout was drying fast but I was only doing small areas at a time. It took me ages to get all the residue off the slate. I was using a sponge and a scouring pad and changing the water often.

I was quite concusous about getting to much water on the tiles and washing the grout out of the joints, is this where I was going wrong, should I of used more water.

Anyway I still have 75% left to do and have already used 10kg of grout.....!!!!

Any advice would be greatly appreciate.............

Many thanks...

[doug boardley]

if it's setting on you, try cleaning as you go, ie do smaller section before cleaning the grout off. Do you use a washboy?

[mmmadman]

if it's setting on you, try cleaning as you go, ie do smaller section before cleaning the grout off. Do you use a washboy?

Thanks for the quick reply
Excuse my ignorance but what is a washboy and where do I get one from, are they legal....lol......?????

[deanotile]

Thanks for the quick reply
Excuse my ignorance but what is a washboy and where do I get one from, are they legal....lol......?????

[user123]

Thanks for the quick reply
Excuse my ignorance but what is a washboy and where do I get one from, are they legal....lol......?????

Brilliant, you are so right, this could sound VERY strange!! A washboy is basically a rectangular bucket on wheels with rollers on top, filled half or so with water and a sieve type shelf inside. The rollers help squeeze out the excess water from the sponge, the sieve type insert helps the grout settle below so you have cleaner water to work with. Sorry just on my netbook right now, otherwise I could post an image! It just speeds up the grout cleaning, so is really useful.Are you using the groutfloat edge to clean the thick of the grout off quickly? If not, do, that should come before the sponge...thumbsup:

[united]

This is a Washboy

You can get a good one from Trade Tiler Washboy

[Richard Edwards]

You don't actually need to buy a washboy and special sponges.

Simple solutions are best

Choose a cooler day - Slate being black / dark sucks up heat / solar gain quickly.
Grout with a grout float or your gun and a hand sponge.
Do small areas at time - 1 metre square to start with.
Allow the grout a few mins to start to set and start with wet / damp sponge in clean water. Change the water frequently - ie very often, and have several buckets - a dirty water bucket, an intermediate and clean.
Do another area and then whilst its setting - go back to the first and rewash it
Take extra care with riven slate to get every last bit out of the riven edges
After the jobs done, consider using an acid based grout film remover before resealing

[mmmadman]

Many thanks for the replies so far......

My slate is mostly all riven, that's why its taking so chuffing long.............!!!!!

Good point about small area at a time, I think that, the heat, lack of water and inexperiance all added up............

The area I have finished and cleaned thoroughly does look very spendid indeed even if I do say so myself................bloomin hard work though...!!!!

[Yorkshire Tiling Services]

http://ltp-online.co.uk/images/tds-G...mover_2010.pdf