Protective film stuck on Mosaics

[32alan]

I put up some mosaics over the weekend in the shower. As instructed on here, to remove the protect film before I grout. All went well and spent hours and I mean hours taking the protective film off every dam tile when up on wall - very boring!!!
Now that I've taken off all the protective film off, on a lot of the tiles there is some glue residue and some plastic that is stuck fast. Problem I have is that I don't want to scrap them as these are metal faced and will scratch.
I have got some label remover from Maplins which is doing the job, but will take me to this time next year to get it all off, also it's a killer on the lungs.
Any advice on how to get this off in a reasonable time?
Also not sure how the grouting is going to go now that all the film is off, will have to be very careful, any advice on this as well please.
Thanks for any help.

[Dave]

Use a hair dryer to make it pliable and peel off..

[whitebeam]

White spirit might be good for removing the glue but try on a spare tile first or descrete area

[Bathfix Bob]

Have you tried Everbuild Wonder Wipes or similar? They remove silicone residue, paint, glue etc. Get them at any builders merchants or even B&Q.

[32alan]

Use a hair dryer to make it pliable and peel off..

Wow, what and excellent idea. Thanks Dave, top quick reply as usual.

[32alan]

Have you tried Everbuild Wonder Wipes or similar? They remove silicone residue, paint, glue etc. Get them at any builders merchants or even B&Q.

Did try these Bob, good for the glue, but not ones with plastic.

[32alan]

Any advice on grouting the mosaics with minimal scratch on service? Grout is very fine Granfix, Maxigrout. Thanks

[deanotile]

i had the same problem Just a quick warning about porcelanosa plastic faced mosaics

[Bathfix Bob]

You would have thought the tile supplier would have pre warned you?

Then again alot of the guys in these places look like they're just stepped off the set of Shaun of the dead.

[peckers]

When grouting use a soft rubber grout float, you need to fill the joints in with out keeping going over the same area to avoid over working this area and scratching, dont make grout to stiff, dont let the grout dry on the tiles,
and rinse your sponge very regulary dont let it clog up with grout. almost one wipe then rinse.(but at the same time avoid over wetting the area as its easy to wash the grout out with metal mosaics.)
If you have got a spare shhet try your grout on that first to see how you get on.

[32alan]

You would have thought the tile supplier would have pre warned you?

Then again alot of the guys in these places look like they're just stepped off the set of Shaun of the dead.

Bob, you would have thought they would warn me at least, but then they want to sell them not keep them in stock. Thankfully its not as bad as deanotile's, and think that the hair dryer will do the trick with the Maplin label remover and a plastic scrapper. Fingers crossed, as its come out a mint job.

Also 'Shaun of the dead' tiles did cost me an arm and leg, yum, yum.