Help!: vitreous glass tile and dried on grout

[DIYBELLE]

I've worked with tile at least 7 times before, but have never felt this helpless!!!

As I am nearing the end of a 6 month long didn't have time to do it- didn't start it - didn't want to do it - do it yourself addition to my home- I got a little sloppy.

I tiled the shower with 1x1 vitreous glass tile. After applying a pre-sealer (b/c i noticed the tile was not smooth like the polished glass tiles), I grouted, and I removed excess with the float. but it was 3 am, and I had to be at my pay the bills job at 8, I did not wipe down the tiles at all. Because the presealer had made grout cleanup so easy on the stone floor, I figured it would be ok.... YES, I know... bad decision.

Now I have grout (sanded on one wall, non sanded on the other three) buildup on about 1/3 of the shower. Not haze, but dried grout. some of the 1x1 tiles are entirely covered, some are partially covered (where the tile was not entirely level).

I have tried all the haze removers, have been scrubbing with vinegar and water solution, but am out of ideas, time, and energy. I am scared I may have to scrape each individual tile.

any ideas???

[sWe]

One word: Ouch.

There's no easy, economical remedy for that as far as I'm aware.
If it was relatively fresh, ie less than a few hours, you could possibly have done something to make it look passable, but if it's been on for more than a day or two, I'm afraid there's not much you can do which wouldn't run the risk of damaging both the tiles and the grout.

Sorry.

[Grace'sDad]

Sounds bad! I would think you will now have to mechanically remove the worst of the grout. I've used an orbital sander with varying grades of scotch pads successfully. It is messy and very dusty though (wear glasses and mask), and of course you run the risk of damaging the tile surface. Once down to a haze though, you should find the acids work pretty well.

That's how I'd attack it anyway

(photos would help the prognosis)

[Dave]

Can you post a pic of how severe this is plz.?..

[sWe]

Aye, a pic would help us help you.

[doug boardley]

I'm stumped

[cornish_crofter]

DIYBELLE Welcome to the forum

I would agree with the others, some pictures would be useful.

However, can I suggest you try a small and discrete area with a utility knife blade with the entire sharp edge of the blade along the surface of the tile, similar in fasion to the way that you would use a window scraper to remove paint from glass, but with much more care and precision.

I've done this for problem areas days after the grout has dried. Occasionally I've missed a bit in a not so obvious area.

[DIYBELLE]

A few pics, as requested...

As the tile and grout are close in color, i misted a small area with water so problem is more visible in one picture.

[Grace'sDad]

What I said before - forget it.

I'd take the lot off and start again - sorry!

[DIYBELLE]

Wish I could- it'd probably be less trouble in the end. But I have hemorrhaged so much money to do this (grandpa contractor got to exterior walls and roof- got sick- had to learn how to do, and do all from interior framing to electrical to sheetrock to plumbing to doors and trim) that it is either fix this tile, or have a really ugly shower.

[sWe]

What I said before - forget it.

I'd take the lot off and start again - sorry!

I would definatly do the same.

Wish I could- it'd probably be less trouble in the end. But I have hemorrhaged so much money to do this (grandpa contractor got to exterior walls and roof- got sick- had to learn how to do, and do all from interior framing to electrical to sheetrock to plumbing to doors and trim) that it is either fix this tile, or have a really ugly shower.

In which case I'd suggest a combination of scraping with a sharp knife, cement removal agent, and abrading with an orbital sander with rough scotch brite pads. That's pretty much what you can do. 's gonna look horrid though, and you'll probably scratch the tiles and weaken the grout while at it.

[DIYBELLE]

thanks Y'all. Between your advice and a web site of a woman who does mosaics with this kind of tile- I think I have found an acceptable (albeit labor heavy) solution. fine grit sandpaper, grout removal, and a weekend to regrout without time restraints preventing proper cleanup. Already started, and things are looking up... see first photo- above- and here's the after pic.

It ain't perfect, but I'll take it.

[sWe]

Hehe, good luck Keep some coffee on standby while you do it, becoz I imagine you'll become amazingly bored and frustrated when doing all that, and coffee kind of helps. Nicotine's good against frustration as well. And don't forget some music in the background. Believe me, music does help make monotonous jobs bearable.

[NWB Tiling]

Chaps, i was wondering as Cement based grouts are alkaline in nature, you could try using phosphoric acid to help remove the excess grout.

Just a thought.

Nige