Sealing job nightmare - TilersForums.co.uk | Tile Forums

Genuissa · 07-07-2008

Hello

I am having a tile dilemma with a sealing job that has gone wrong. Used Fila home care colour intensifier on travertine honed and filled tiles. It was put on with a sponge roller. One coat has gone on and the tiles now feel very rough. Worse still, there are quite a few splodge and drip marks from the sealer.

What is now the best course of action for me to take? Would it be to put another coat on or am I best to try and remove this first coat and try another product (if so, can anyone recommend a top product for travertine honed and filled tiles)? If I am to remove the colour enhancer, how do I do this?

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

) Thanks!

**enduro** · 07-07-2008

Try Lithofin Stainaway its about £20 per litre, this removes sealents etc. Sounds to me as you have tried to put too much on at once, i use a cotton cloth to apply. Hope that helps.

TilingLogistics · 07-07-2008

Don't know a great deal about fila products. It sounds as though you have applied too much sealer to me. All sealers should be applied sparingly and the excess wiped off after the dwell time. The application instructions on the reverse need to be adhered to.

In your case you definately shouldn't apply more sealer you will make it worse. I suggest you apply a sealing and coating remover and remove as much of the sealer as possible and see what it looks like. If that fails you could try gently honing it with some fine wet and dry paper. Then once you are back to where you want to be start again with the sealer sparingly and just test one tile or even better a spare tile until you achieve the look you want.

Kev

**wetdec** · 07-07-2008

Hi

You should of done a better job of hoovering it

Take a lint free rag and soak it in white spirit, squeeze out ALL excess then wipe 1 tile left to right with the cloth a couple or 3 times turning cloth over then let it dry, see how it looks.

tiler

,,

Genuissa · 07-07-2008

Hi

Thank you all for your quick replies - very much appreciated! I'm going to try your solution,wetdec first off and then if that doesn't do the job, I'll try what enduro has suggested.

I have just rung Topps Tiles (where we got the tiles and enhancer from) and they said that travertine does need to be sealed (hmmm, are they correct on this)? I told them that I had read on this forum that this is not the case and that is coming from the word of professionals on here and not muppets at Topps Tiles (obviously I didn't say that to them altho felt like it)! Topps tiles suggested putting on another coat which would 'reactivate' the sealant already on there! They then said they are going to order a product that is some form of wax for me that would turn the enhancer into a doughy substance (supposedly guaranteed to remove the enhancer) and it would take a week to arrive.

wetdec, I dont quite understand your comment about hoovering better. In all honesty, it was my other half who created this problem. I am now clearing up the mess caused by him! It's been a great learning curve though and thank you for all the advice given

**wetdec** · 07-07-2008

Hi Helen

Honed and filled travertine has a high surface tension and so sealing isnt always required depends a little on the quallity. Either way it doesnt absorb much so gently gently with it or it will sit on the surface and harden off or chrystalise.

Your man at topps goes on what he is told and as the sealing manufacturers are kept afloat by the "it cost a lot so needs protecting" mentality he will recomend it.

Dust on tiles (hoover), rollers cause bubbles, brushes streak all can give a rough feel and appearance to honed trav which has a good finish.

The topps man is correct in small part by saying use more as this will soften the existing sealer but its a little fiddley and could backfire on you.

Try as I have said above remembering you are trying to remove the grainyness you have.

tiler

..

Genuissa · 07-07-2008

I feel really bad insulting Topps Tiles - they're not muppets, my boyfriend is for not applying the enhancer correctly! Hey ho. I'm going to go for the product that they have no recommended to remove the enhancer. They strongly advised against white spirit saying that this is acid based and the enhancer is oil based.

Looks like I'm back to strip washing in the kitchen sink for the next week or so

ellolly · 14-07-2008

HI
Have seen the same prob before, travertine does need sealing and should be sealed, I always use Fila products, If you don't seal it will still be porous and absorb anything spilled, I think Fila the best products on market but quite pricey. The man at Topps is right, if you use more colour intensifier it will reactivate the sealer that is already there and you are then able to wipe off. Try a small area to see if you are happy doing it. If you don't fancy that Fila do a product called dewax that does the same sort of thing.