Discolored basalt - need advice please

[elena]

We had our onyx floors professionally polished. In the process, the abutting basalt tiles became discolored (white-ish) due to the substances used by the marble polisher. He doesn't know how to fix it, and we are left with a ruined basalt floor. Our flooring is only 6 years old, and he is insinuating that if he doesn't find a solution he will report it to his insurance company and they will remove all the basalt (there's a lot of it) and have to re-tile. This sounds not only extreme, but a huge inconvenience.
Could someone share any information with me? I am desperate.
Many thanks in advance for your kindness.
Elena

[garythetiler]

you need to find out what process the marble polisher did to the onyx, it is likely he cristalised the floor which gives a really shiney finish with out actually polishing the floor, the oxallic crystals would bloom white on basalt and can be removed by sanding them out I am not sure how effective this would be as i am not an expert on stone refinishing but I am sure one of the restoration guys will be able to confirm that the white residue is removable

[elena]

Thanks Gary, I'll find out and post tomorrow !!

[Pebbs]

I am also landed with a similar mis-fortune at the moment as you Elena, I have twice attempted to have basalt on a contract re-spun, however to no avail. In my case the housekeeper used a cleaning solution which has literally turned the basalt pale grey, despite having being advised to use ph neutral cleaners.

I dont understand how the marble polisher can think about referring it back to his insurance company, the area should have been cordoned off while the onyx was being re-surfaced. He should be holding his hands up and admitting his mistake and rectifying it accordingly.

Pebbs

[elena]

Thanks Pebbs, sorry you have the same problem.
The guy does admit it is his fault, but he doesn't know how to fix it. That is why I am posting here - in the hopes that someone may have found a solution, and will guide me in the right direction. Perhaps it can help us both !!
Have a great day !

[Dave]

Hi Elena.

Can you post some pics please..?

[elena]

Attachment 35519Attachment 35520Attachment 35518

[Dave]

Do you know what liquid / product he used ?

[elena]

I don't know - I am waiting for his response and will post asap.
Thank you again for your desire to help - you have no idea how much I appreciate this.

[elena]

This is what he responded to me:

The chemical used was a stone polishing compound that contains oxalic acid, a material that polishes marble, onyx or limestone floors.

is this enough information for you??

[enduro]

How many tiles has this happend too?

[elena]

We have honey onyx floors that are bordered by a 6 inch basalt border. In two areas, the basalt border connects to rooms that are totally done in basalt. It's hard to see, but you can see in 2 of the photos I posted, how the onyx connects to the basalt. Almost all of the basalt border has swipes of discoloration, and where the onyx connected to full basalt floors, it is beyond the border and into the actual 24 inch basalt tiles.
There are about 160 linear feet of basalt border which - big or small - are discolored, plus four 24x24 basalt tiles.
It's an ugly situation.

[enduro]

Can only open one photo for some reason...

[Dontiler]

hello elena
It looks like problem is caused by a chemical reaction between the acid and minerals that naturally occur within the stone. To get cleaner, better looking surface you need to grind the surface of basalt, acid was left way too long on the stone, there will be no easy fix but maybe some other guys have better solution
good luck Elena!!!!

[elena]

There are links above the thumbnail photo that you need to click:

Attachment 35519Attachment 35520Attachment 35518

[Dave]

This is what he responded to me:

The chemical used was a stone polishing compound that contains oxalic acid, a material that polishes marble, onyx or limestone floors.

is this enough information for you??

Oh dear... Oxalic acid is a bleaching agent and depending upon the strength he could have potentially really harmed your limestone flooring as well..

Limestones/basalts etc etc are delicate stones when it comes to using acids on them, they will etch as mentioned above and even bleach the colour...

Your Basalt looks to be polished and that acid has deffo etched it... to rectify that the whole area will need to be ground and then re-polished...

You won't be able to just do the basalt border as honing it alone will be noticeable against the surrounding field tiles, so a blending restoration is required.

You need to contact this floor cleaning guy and claim on his insurance... but this job that he has left needs to be done by a reputable re-surfacing/restoration company..

[elena]

Update;
Our marble polisher has been trying to fix the problem. He came back with a black substance that he claimed was a petroleum base with black oxide. He put it on the affected basalt, left it overnight and the basalt seemed to suck it in and restore its black color. I have been asking him for a month, and he has been very reluctant to tell me what the "recipe" was to create the black stuff he used. I pressed again, and now he told me it was black used motor oil. That of course gave me a great deal of confidence....
My problem now is that the black concoction seeped into my honey onyx and now the surrounding onyx is stained. black. Sounds like you can't win.
He now wants to pull up and replace the stained onyx with new pieces. I am reluctant to do that since I have very few spare onyx tiles, and I am afraid he might break or damage adjoining pieces during the removal process, and then the problem would escalate.
Thoughts, my friends?

[jay]

O,M,G. You are joking right motor oil

[Dave]

OH! Jesus... lost for words.. proper Muppet or wot.

[elena]

I wish I was joking ;-(

[whitebeam]

Just can't believe I just read that...

[jay]

Hate to say it but if it wasn't stuffed before it is now

[Dave]

well and truly bolloxed it this time hasn't he.. time to take further action to recover costs IMO

[whitebeam]

As Dave, He's got to be liable for the damage IMO

[Mike]

ask him for a sample..... so you can use it for evidence against him

[elena]

Got the sample.
As to his "solution" am I correct that onyx is not only porous (yes, it sucked in the black crap,) but also fragile? I am concerned that as he breaks out the current affected pieces, he might break other tiles and then multiply the problem even worse than now. And trust me, this is looking like a ridiculous melodrama already. Ruin the basalt, put used car oil on it, ruin the adjoining honey onyx, and now tear up more onyx in an attempt to fix the mess....

[Musivarius]

Sorry Elena, I've nothing to contribute apart from the aforementioned OMG
I do hope you get it sorted, it does sound like you're well on the road to getting full costs from him.
Good luck!

[jay]

Got the sample.
As to his "solution" am I correct that onyx is not only porous (yes, it sucked in the black crap,) but also fragile? I am concerned that as he breaks out the current affected pieces, he might break other tiles and then multiply the problem even worse than now. And trust me, this is looking like a ridiculous melodrama already. Ruin the basalt, put used car oil on it, ruin the adjoining honey onyx, and now tear up more onyx in an attempt to fix the mess....

Think you will find the whole lot has to come up as its only a matter of time till the oil contaminates the lot

[bobbynz]

This guy really doesn't know how to remedy this problem. You really need to find a well established stone and restoration company and has a good reputation. Get them to assess whether you should redo or not.
I know that we should always give the contractor in question a chance to remedy their mistake but really, should we really use the same person that made the mistake to continue in any way in our homes. This guy might call himself a stone polisher but that doesnt mean he's also a stone expert. He might be able to do the basic work but when knowledge and experience is required for a more complex stone work like this then he will always get in trouble.
Be interested to know what quotes you got and what the differences in cost were.
I hope cost wasn't a factor in your decision to use him. When the product being installed is expensive, then so should the cost of an installer/maintenance.
He really should have informed you of his solution and why.
The oil affected stone needs to be removed immediately as Jay said it will contaminate the adjoined pieces.

Oh, and you might want to check your dipstick asap.

[elena]

This guy really doesn't know how to remedy this problem. You really need to find a well established stone and restoration company and has a good reputation. Get them to assess whether you should redo or not.
I know that we should always give the contractor in question a chance to remedy their mistake but really, should we really use the same person that made the mistake to continue in any way in our homes. This guy might call himself a stone polisher but that doesnt mean he's also a stone expert. He might be able to do the basic work but when knowledge and experience is required for a more complex stone work like this then he will always get in trouble.
Be interested to know what quotes you got and what the differences in cost were.
I hope cost wasn't a factor in your decision to use him. When the product being installed is expensive, then so should the cost of an installer/maintenance.
He really should have informed you of his solution and why.
The oil affected stone needs to be removed immediately as Jay said it will contaminate the adjoined pieces.

Oh, and you might want to check your dipstick asap.

Good advise, thanks. I will contact a stone restoration company. Cost was not a factor - He has been around for a couple of decades and mostly does pricey homes. I am now assuming that he had never encountered basalt before, not to mention that he was careless in protecting it.
And, the dip stick checked out well........ ;-)