A friend of mine recently had his bathroom redone in his apt. They did a poor job with the floor tile/grout. Basically there are some large clumps of grout on the tile and I’m trying to get it off for him. (he is elderly and can’t get down there to do it and getting the landlord to have it redone properly isn’t really an option)
How do I get that suff off the tile without damaging the tile?
Also, when it was installed there was no ‘sealant’ applied. Does it need it? What should I get?
Some will pooh-pooh grout sealer, but I do not know of any good reasons not to apply it, other than cost and effort (both of which are fairly small). It extends the life of the grout and seems to make it easier to keep clean (in short, to keep dirt and stains and mildew from sticking to the grout).
As far as cleaning off the extra grout, some recommend vinegar and water, or pure vinegar, and lots of elbow grease. I’ve seen some people say to use muriatic acid, but I do not think that’s generally recommended. Try vinegar and water first and see how it works.
Wet the grout with a slightly soapy solution to lubricate it then manually remove the excess grout with a razor blade or sharp soft putty knife ensuring you don’t scratch or mar the tile.
Yes, sealant is required either for the whole floor or just the grout depending on if the tile is glazed, already sealed or not. Try a few drops of water on the tile, if it is absorbed and/or darkens the tile you need to seal everything. If it forms a globule on the surface you only need the seal the grout. All ceramic tile and grout must be sealed either at the factory or after install for reasons such as Una stated.
Furthermore, this sealant or wear layer must be periodically replaced to protect from staining, mildew, wear, etc. to extend the lifetime of the tile.
Hope this helps. Good Luck!
I reckon I should add the obvious, that when using any chemical (including vinegar) on tiles, you might want to apply some to a tile out of view to make sure that somehow, some way, it doesn’t stain it.
I’ve got slate in my bathrooms. The contractor didn’t seal the grout, but he claims he sealed the slate. Due to sloppy workmanship, I’ve had to scrub all the extra grout off the slate that he didn’t clean up properly during installation. I want to seal the grout, and reseal the slate.
I’ve seen products at the BORG (HD), that need reapplying after about 2 years, and far more expensive stuff that only needs application once. What product should I use? I’m not concerned so much about the price as I am about ongoing and continual maintenance work. eg. I’d rather pay more up front than spend a lifetime reapplying. But I also want a product that will work the best, too.
Thanks.
The slate (marble) tiles may have been sealed/glazed at the factory, so this is probably what your contractor is referring to, or he pre-sealed them. I doubt this very much in this case as the grout would not have been hard to remove.
Aqua Mix Sealer is great but Tile Lab is fine too! reapplication will always be necessary but is dictated by traffic and wear more than duration.
Clean the floor with clean water and allow for 24 hours+ to ensure the tile and grout are dry.
Make sure the room is well ventilated and wear a respirator mask as the fumes are quite strong. Start with vertical surfaces and finish the floor last. Use a new sponge and appy the sealer evenly to a wall/area. make sure to eliminate any drips, bubbles, etc.
After 3-5 minutes reapply to same area.
Repeat until you see the tile will not accept/absorb any more sealer.
Allow 2-3 days to dry completely.
That’s pretty much it! Good Luck!
Aqua Mix Sealers Choice Gold is what we use on a daily basis. It has a 15 year lifespan (depending on use), is odor free, applies like water (a wet rag) cleans up easily (a dry rag) and is walkable right away (wait 12-24 hours before getting wet). It will cause water to bead, which is the whole point. It does not change the appearance of anything. It can be reapplied at any time without stripping or problems.
The one thing it’s not is cheap. $125 a gallon, which covers 500+ sq ft. Also seals all stone. Tile (ceramic or porcelain) requires no sealer on the tile, just the grout, but the sealer will not harm the tile if it is wiped off. If it is not wiped off it can get sticky.
Find a REAL store. Good sealer will run major $ ($60/PINT in the 80’s for natural stone)
Stay the hell away from big box stores - unless you want cheap, crappy stuff for a dump you’re going to sell to some sucker.
Grout is cement (YOU look up difference between cement and concrete - and remember it!)
In both applying the grout and sealing it, KEEP IT COVERED MINIMUM OF 3 DAYS, re-applying