Discuss Limestone detiorating ? in the Specialist Tile -Stone, Porcelain, Glass area at TilersForums. The USA and UK Tiling Forum (Also now Aus, Canada, ROI, and more)
Been having a million conversations with the customer, stone supplier and Builder this evening about a I limestone job I did 18 months ago, all laid to suppliers specs with suppliers materials but the stone is acting is an odd way as picture
I'm going to have look at it Tomorrow anyone else had this happen or know what it might be?
The customer has said they've been cleaning it with a cap full of flash in a bucket of water which is a worry, but it's only 8 tiles out of 40m2 that are acting in this way.
are the tiles grouped together of random area's?
Haven't seen it yet, but customer said on the phone just 1 area so I guess all grouped
they look a tad darker, possible water leak under them ?
My first thought was maybe a moisture problem, but shouldn't be it's a new extension, I'm maybe thinking the flash has removed the sealer then with it being in the kitchen area something acidic has been spilt over them? The colour difference may of been like that from the off as there was some heavy differences in the stone before laying it's the cracked ish look all over and also he said the words "small holes" they didn't look like that when installed them, but I don't know what would cause it?
Looks like they have been filled, could be a batch with more filler than the back of a plasterers van
Stone supplier said and I quote, can't be the stone it's all been cut from the same block. How while this is horseshit he it should have no filler in it, if it is filler how can I prove it has been filled and it is now those filler lines reacting?
Pick it out,it will feel, crumble and smell like resin
Ok cool will have a look Tomorrow, customer is ok about it, he's more going at thw supplier than me, and it's the supplier that's trying to kick it back to me just want to go armed with what I need lol
if it was all cut from the same stone could just be imperfections' in that bit of the block leading to your 8 or so weak bits of stone which are breaking down with use and wrong cleaning products.
I always leave a sample of cleaning products and a method statement with each job now, care of Lithofin.
this supplier was having none of it that there could be any chance it was his stone at faul.t i think this one is going to end up being put back on the customer, i have offered to replace the 8 stone free labour if necessary just as a courtesy but would like have it be as a favour rather than me fixing work, ive got a good rep in that village and i want to keep it. ive also suggested a full strip back and reseal of the whole floor then only use what i tell them this time to clean it!!
You can strip one stone to determine if this is a failing/ whitening sealer due to incorect maintenance,
What sealer did you use , impregnator or topical ?
Did you mix out the stones when you laid them or take them as they come from the pallet
Is this damage near a possible leak area, sink ,washing machine, check pipes in cupboards if so.
Hello Bob the dlsealer was one the stone supplier supplied, when I spoke to he brought the dealer to which I said it was their stuff normally I use lithofin, he just oh right well its basically the same stuff just rebranded so I have no real idea of the quality but basically it was stain stop that has been used by the sound of his comment, I'm going to have a look on my lunch break I think if I can see it with my own eyes it may give a clearer picture as to what is going on. What would be best to use to strip one back? And yes they were mixed I had a Labourer on site pre sealing and shuffling them , well was supposed to shuffle them can't promise as I wasn't watching him tho
Hello
@Lithofin BOB just been to have a look, no real signs of a leak the area that this is showing up in is the area between island and other worktop so highest traffic area, grout has also discoloured here too it all looks grubby if you know what I mean, had a feel in where the little cracks are and no resin is present, but resin is present in other stones in different areas, would stripping back buffing then some kind of waxy type sealer fill these in and hold up if properly maintained?
we have wax off or use a specific stone stripper; if this is a high traffic area is there just grease and grimes into the open pores of this stone ,which is highlighting these shapes. poss test one stone with the stripping agent and then further wash with an alkaline cleaning product . you will need for these to fully dry and re apply the sealer. possible that a wax could be used, but it will not bind that well and your client will be left with a shine on the floor
when your guy had impregnated the stone ,did it appear more shiny than without the impregnator.
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