grout stained porcelain

[macken]

hi, last week i laid a 60x60 black porcelain tile,that the shop said were sealed and didnt need sealing.while grouting with the dreaded black grout i noticed the tile absorbing the grout.all tiles now have that framed look where i got grout on.any help please.

[david campbell]

where they polished porcelain? if so they must always be sealed!

[Dave]

hi, last week i laid a 60x60 black porcelain tile,that the shop said were sealed and didnt need sealing.while grouting with the dreaded black grout i noticed the tile absorbing the grout.all tiles now have that framed look where i got grout on.any help please.

A fully vitrified tile does not absorb moisture to the extent of picture framing.

Fully vitified porcelain is 0,05% moisture absorbent and practically won't soak moisture in.


this sounds more like grout clinging to the open pores of the tiles surface...

[macken]

hi dave,not sure if polished or not.they are dull on top and if you look at clay there seems to be 2 layers.any tips on removing grout stains thanks.

[Dave]

if you look at clay there seems to be 2 layers

That sounds more like a vitified porcelenato and can be a glazed or rough textured tile...

Have you got a pic or tile name..?

[david campbell]

is the layer underneath like a biscuit?

[macken]

im not sure i think its grey with black dots.but im not 100 %.

[macken]

tile name is andres granite

[Matt]

Possibly double loaded porcelain?

[macken]

Possibly double loaded porcelain?

thanks,but do you think any of the lithofins or lpt products will clean it off for me.

[Matt]

thanks,but do you think any of the lithofins or lpt products will clean it off for me.

It depends what is causing the problem. If it is grout haze, then LTP Grimex should do it.

As Dave says, Porcelain has a very low porosity level, so the chances of the grout "soaking in" are pretty much none, which points to grout that has keyed into the pores on the surface.

We need to identify the problem to find the right solution, pics would be great if you can

Edit: When you look at the edge of the tile, what does it look like?

[macken]

thanks matt.i will try the grimex,hopefully it is as dave says and is only in the pores.
when you look at side of tile the top 3mm is black and the bottom is grey.
the surface of tile is like a school blackboard.

[Matt]

thanks matt.i will try the grimex,hopefully it is as dave says and is only in the pores.
when you look at side of tile the top 3mm is black and the bottom is grey.
the surface of tile is like a school blackboard.

Is the bottom grey with black specks in it?

[jay]

IMG_1876 [Desktop Resolution].jpgdo your tiles look a bit like these only in black (hey that worked)

IMG_1874 - Copy [Desktop Resolution].jpg

[macken]

the tiles are charcoal grey underneath with a white ish spots/fleck.
id say jay`s picture is very like them.hopefully he has the answer.
i wont be seeing tiles again till next week,so i welcome all possible solutions to my problem.thanks.

[jay]

hi macken the tiles in pics are polished porc only came across then 3 monthes ago since have laid black ones ans sand color had to de wax all 3 and apply 3 coates of good impregnator i always thout porc was the same color right through but these are diff hope it helps(reason for 3 imp as norm 2 didnt do the job)

[Dave]

Hi jamie...To me it looks like one of those bonded porcelain and stone tiles...you have a porcelain body tile and a thin stone bonded to the surface...quite a few of these coming on the market...seems they are alot cheaper to make than solid stone ...i have seen some glass bonded to porcelain bodied tiles as well...

[Dave]

Either way they need to be cleaned and sealed....

[Matt]

hi macken the tiles in pics are polished porc only came across then 3 monthes ago since have laid black ones ans sand color had to de wax all 3 and apply 3 coates of good impregnator i always thout porc was the same color right through but these are diff hope it helps(reason for 3 imp as norm 2 didnt do the job)

Porcelain is the same colour throughout when it is full through body procelain. The pics you show are of Double Loaded porcelain, it is a cheaper way of making polished porcelain. Still gives the same finish, just cheaper to manufacture and to buy

[macken]

thanks for all the help.can ye reccommend what products to use.the shop i use sells lithofin cement away and lithofin impregnater.

[Dave]

Lithofin Wexa will be the product you need....lithofin also do a conditioning cleaner for porcelain and Abra clean for stubborn marks..

[macken]

Just note to say thanks for all the help with the tiles.i only got back to the job today and following the advice i got here the tiles are back to the way they looked.
Thanks again. Macken.

[RobbieD]

So, do I take it that the moral of this thread is that you seal the tiles first before grouting?