Efflorecense And Grout Haze

[Scorpio]

Hi Guys, nice forums, some good info,

Ive just laid my black slightly rivened porcelain tile kitchen floor, about 12m2, alls good. Grouted with BAL Superflex in grey, now i have the problem of efflorecense where the grout is the right colour when wet and then drys in light patches, also ive gor some subborn grout haze on the top of the tiles which seems to have set in the slightly texture surface (a kind of slate effect), not i went an purches some aquamix Eff-Ex to resolve the efflorecense problem, trouble is its out of stock from everywhere for over a week, and need this doing ASAP.

Ive looked at Lithofin products, namly the Cement away and Builders mate, are both of these safe on the tile and more inportantly the grout, ive been told the white vinegar trick shouldnt be done, is this correct?

So :

1. what is a good product to remove the grout haze from the slight pours/texture thats safe on the porcelain?
2. What is good to remove the efflorecense without dmaging the grout or etching it.
3. After all this is done do i need to seal the porcelain, how do i tell they are from www.daugres.com? And what products are good to seal the grout, and the tiles if they need to be done.

Sorry for all the questions but save me keep asking them

Cheers

Dean

[david campbell]

either get a washboy from
or a good old scrubbing with a sponge!

[Scorpio]

Tried that, its 3 days since ive grouted. Ive trid with Dishwashing scourers (not the metal ones) and scrubbing brushes but it refuses to get out of the slight patterns in the surface.

[Dave]

Hi dean and welcome...

The superflex range of grouts are prone to drying patchy...especially the grey/limestone and black grout.

This could be efflorescence if too much water( over wetting) was used for washing off or could be polymers risen to the grout surface...

You could try lithofin cement away and if that dosn't work then a re-groput maybe with an anti effloresence grout..

[Dave]

Also have a read of this...


What is efflorescence

[Scorpio]

Thanks for the replies

is the cement away ok on the grout it wont attack it will it? will it remove both the efflorecense and the grout haze? or is the builders mate a better choice and will this be as effective on the grout haze?

Cheers

[garythetiler]

A good tip with all riven porcelain tiles is to use a temporary sealer, flex grouts are really troublesome with this type of tile, the sealer will definately help

[Dave]

Lithofin KF Cement Residue Remover is a concentrate which contains a mixture of special acids together with auxiliary materials. It is highly effective and can be rinsed away with water without
leaving any residues. It has a particularly mild odour and does not generate any vapour. Lithofin KF Cement Residue Remover dissolves inorganic contamination such as cement films, light mortar residues, many kinds of efflorescence as well as rust and lime deposits so that they can be wiped up with the cleaning liquid or rinsed away.
Field of application and suitable surfaces:
The mild odour of Lithofin KF Cement Residue Remover makes it particularly suitable for indoor use and on all ceramic surfaces that have to be cleaned after the grouting operation has been carried out. Such treatment brings out the natural structure of the surface once again. Lithofin KF Cement Residue Remover is suitable for use on ceramic wall and floor tiles, Victorian tiles, clinker slabs, porcelain tiles and floor materials made of brick, clay and terracotta.
Please note:
Lithofin KF Cement Residue Remover is not suitable for sensitive materials such as enamel, zinc, anodised surfaces, polished marble, certain decorative tiles, amongst others. Protect adjacent areas. Wash away splashes immediately. In cases of doubt, test the product first in an inconspicuous area.
Directions for use:
Depending on the degree of contamination by cement films, Lithofin KF Cement Residue Remover is diluted up to 1:15, applied to the pre-wetted surface and spread out with a scrubbing brush. After a few minutes, brush once more, remove with a vacuum device or cleaning rag and wash away with copious volumes of water. Obstinate areas may be given a repeat application or treated with undiluted product.





Lithofin KF Cement Residue Remover - Tile Cleaners - Tile Adhesive,Tile Grout,Tiling Products,Tiling Supplies & Leveling Compound,Underfloor Heating

[Scorpio]

none of the lithofin products say there harmful to grout or says there safe on grout, just dont want it removing the colour or etching, what has everyone used for grout haze removal and also eff.

Also is the white vinegar trick a no no ?

[Dave]

Never had efflorescence.../..And grout haze...don't get that either....maybe sound unbelievable but propper care when washing and cleaning/buffing off works wonders...

[garythetiler]

none of the lithofin products say there harmful to grout or says there safe on grout, just dont want it removing the colour or etching, what has everyone used for grout haze removal and also eff.

Also is the white vinegar trick a no no ?

cement away will not etch the tiles as it is hydrochloric acid based,and will only take off the cement residue , some brick acids are hydrofloric acid based which is used for etching glass etc and must not be used on tiles , so follow the advice on Dave's post and you will be fine

[Scorpio]

So which out of these would be best for porcelain and would they work both on the grout efflorecense and the grout haze on th actual tiles?

Lithofin KF Cement Residue Remover
Lithofin MN Builders Clean
Lithofin Cement Away

Cheers

Dean

[garythetiler]

So which out of these would be best for porcelain and would they work both on the grout efflorecense and the grout haze on th actual tiles?

Lithofin KF Cement Residue Remover
Lithofin MN Builders Clean
Lithofin Cement Away

Cheers

Dean

without seeing the job it is impossible for me to say the lithofin products are all excellent imo

[tile55]

none of the lithofin products say there harmful to grout or says there safe on grout, just dont want it removing the colour or etching, what has everyone used for grout haze removal and also eff.

Also is the white vinegar trick a no no ?

Not too sure about the white vinegar, I had a similar problem on riven porcelain tiles on a shop floor. It seems that this is very prevalent with Bal superflex, I dont get any such problems with Mapei grouts.
I used HG cement and film remover, it does the job.
Hagesan - Beautifies you home!

[psychopomp1]

Hi Scorpio

Did you finally manage to remove the efflorescence from the grout? How did you do it? I have the same problem, though i did manage the remove the white residue from the porcelain tiles, its the grout efflorescence which is difficult to remove

[kaharrison9]

For reasons may not be recommended but i had grout effloescence while using Bal microflex wide joint and the colour cocoa.
I used boiled linaseed oil and it took the grout to the true colour and has been fine since.
Did use a washboy as well when grouting.
Kev

[psychopomp1]

For reasons may not be recommended but i had grout effloescence while using Bal microflex wide joint and the colour cocoa.
I used boiled linaseed oil and it took the grout to the true colour and has been fine since.
Did use a washboy as well when grouting.
Kev

thanks for that. So how did you apply linseed oil to the grout...hot or cooled after boiling? And do you leave it on the grout or do you wipe if off?

Thanks

[kaharrison9]

You actualy buy boiled linaseed oil in a tin at hardware stores.
I used a lint free cloth dipped in to the oil and rubbed with a finger along the grout line.
Do a small area first and pass on what the result is.
Good luck
Kev

[psychopomp1]

Sorry kaharrison9, one more question before i nip out and buy some boiled linseed oil. According to Building Material Supplies | Barrettine Boiled Linseed Oil 500ml | Building Supplies | Wood Care | Choiceful.com it says "Gives a slightly glossy film with an attractive reddish tint". Does this mean that it would give my grey grout a red tint??!!
Thanks

[kaharrison9]

Understand what your saying and not able to answer that.
Cocoa brown that i used it with is dark reddy brown so any colour change would have been very slight and i never noticed that.
It appears to have worked for me,though some of the more experienced guys on here may have reasons to disagree.
Try in a small area,not exspensive or use the Lithofin recomendations
Kev

[kaharrison9]

If you scroll down from your link there is a Liberon boiled linaseed oil that is a mellow finish.This sounds like the similar stuff i used not the reddy type.

[warehouseman]

Why not use HG LIMEX = dedicated efflorecense remover !!!