Hi members, I wonder if anyone can please help?
I've tiled a patio in France and, due to the fading light and weather, I didn't clean off all of the grout (which is a rough, granular type bought locally). The tiles are an uneven surface marble pitted with quite a few holes that also needed filling to prevent frost damage. First mistake - don't buy this type. Anyway, the next morning I struggled to remove the dried grout. I used a wallpaper scraper and also scrubbed them hard with water but they were still stained. The shop also sold me a tin of the French equivalent of Lithofin MN Builder's Clean to remove any excess grout. I was assured it was fine for marble. Second mistake - always read the small details on the back, even if they're in French. So I used this and it seemed to do the trick until the tiles dried...leaving milky white stains where the chemical first hit the tiles. I now know it's acidic and has ruined the appearance totally.
Searching the internet for solutions, I found suggestions for baking soda and ammonia to counteract the acidity. Neither worked. So I'm left with a nicely tiled patio with a surface I've completely cocked up. I leave for home in 5 days and I don't want to put sealer over this mess. I think the damage is well done but would really appreciate any suggestions to remedy this problem. Thanks for your time.
PS: I can't access the internet every day unfortunately due to being in the back of beyond but will be back on-line in a day or two.
I've tiled a patio in France and, due to the fading light and weather, I didn't clean off all of the grout (which is a rough, granular type bought locally). The tiles are an uneven surface marble pitted with quite a few holes that also needed filling to prevent frost damage. First mistake - don't buy this type. Anyway, the next morning I struggled to remove the dried grout. I used a wallpaper scraper and also scrubbed them hard with water but they were still stained. The shop also sold me a tin of the French equivalent of Lithofin MN Builder's Clean to remove any excess grout. I was assured it was fine for marble. Second mistake - always read the small details on the back, even if they're in French. So I used this and it seemed to do the trick until the tiles dried...leaving milky white stains where the chemical first hit the tiles. I now know it's acidic and has ruined the appearance totally.
Searching the internet for solutions, I found suggestions for baking soda and ammonia to counteract the acidity. Neither worked. So I'm left with a nicely tiled patio with a surface I've completely cocked up. I leave for home in 5 days and I don't want to put sealer over this mess. I think the damage is well done but would really appreciate any suggestions to remedy this problem. Thanks for your time.
PS: I can't access the internet every day unfortunately due to being in the back of beyond but will be back on-line in a day or two.
