White haze on black splitface tiles

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22 Oct 2012
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So I rushed the job and then due to many factors didn't get chance until not to address this.

I put black split face tiles up in my kitchen (has a slight sparkle in it) and used a kitchen adhesive to put them up which is the cream colour. So when putting them up I did my best to clean up as I went along, but there is a white haze on the tiles where I cleaned up any waste.

I've tried tile cleaner from Topps Tiles, and it's just not getting rid of it. Bleach seemed to do okay but not the new effect I want, instead you can tell it's been done.

Any tips? I'll get some photos done.
 
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Try methylated spirit (on a small area first as always) usually works well on glazed tiles, not tried it on split face. Use a cloth the same colour as the grout to avoid fabric dye colouring the grout.
 
Okay I'll try that thanks, the thing with split face is that it seems to be porous slightly. I'll take a photo to show what I mean.

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Yes while they look good the are horrible things just like un-glazed tiles to hang.
A customer of mine put some un-glazed tiles up, slapped on the adhesive and then spent night after night with brick acid as I remember cleaning them. Not my choice of substance to use in a finished kitchen!

You might find a small wooden nail brush might help with the meth to get into nooks and crannies, wood is best the plastic ones tend to give up if used with white spirit (good way to clean and straighten brushes left a bit too long), so the same might happen with meth too.
 
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Yeah was an ex partners idea to put up, not my choice as I'd have gone lighter. I'll give the meth a go first, then try the brick acid if needed. Guess as long as I prep the whole are with cardboard and cover it should protect my quartz worktops.

Thanks again, I'll update soon
 
How did you get on with this? I take solvent cleaner everywhere with me it is pretty good at getting grout/adhesive stains out!
 
Seemed to have worked! but not had chance to do the full wall as yet due to weather I've been carrying on with my huge shed project!
 
Two strikes against you here - using black tile anywhere, and using split face tile at all.

Number three might be that you didn't thoroughly clean up the grout residue and haze - FWIW i always stay with the tile until there's no more than the faintest haze that the client can clean off in 24 hrs time. Final rub down with a dry, dust free cotton cloth. google amazon - "dial cotton grout removal cloth"

Biggest problem here can be tiredness at the end of a long day esp a DIY day.

If some grouts with some tiles, or stones, are left even overnight then you've a hell of a job removing it.
 
Don't grout Splitface. The tiles are butted so grout will just make a mess as it can't be done. They are not designed to be grouted. From looking at the pic, you have used a white adhesive. Grey would have been best on black slate as the white pigment can bleed through. another possibility is efflorescence (extracting salt). This can be caused by too much water content in the adhesive if mixed too runny.

1. Have the tiles been sealed? If so, what with?
2. Was the adhesive you used Readymixed or Cement based (powder)?
3. Have the tiles been washed and if so what with?

Solution is LTP all the way!

Even though there should be no grout on the surface, give them a clean with LTP Grout Stain Remover. Apply, leave for 20 minutes, scrub with a white emulsifying pad and rinse with clean water. If the white marks are adhesive or salt, this stuff should dissolve and shift it. If it doesn't, try the LTP Grimex

Seal with either LTP Mattstone (leaves it a natural finish) or LTP Colour Intensifier (deepens the colour permanently)
 
Hi

Apologies for never coming back to this, had some issues at home which resulted in a lot of things being put to the background.

I'll update this tomorrow!

Stu
 

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