how to remove cement from slate slabs

Sorry you had to deal with it. Allow it to dry in order to visually inspect it if it has worked great, if it has worked partially, i.e lessened the effect, then repeat the process. I'll be interested to hear what your brother has to say! Mop the floor thoroughly with clean water another 2 or 3 times. YM loves to read, write, play XBOX and watch horror movies. They can also damage the surface. Refer to full product guides on the product pages and do small test areas first. Ceramic Tile Advice Forums - John Bridge Ceramic Tile. And, yes, I know its an old post, but thanks. There are possibly 2 ways to help here, either refinish the stone for example if the slate surface is polished/fine-honed etc then re-honing it with diamond pads may help (in much the same way that a scratch could be taken out of wood by sanding it, first with a more coarse grade paper then moving up through one or more finder grades until the same finish is achieved. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. If the slate itself has bee damaged in some way, (I guess a strong bleach could in theory etch a slate if the slate was susceptible to that) then it could be much harder to achieve anything. This post addresses a very valuable lesson learned. Registered address: c/o Northover & Co, Northover House, 132A Bournemouth Road, Chandlers Ford, Eastleigh, SO53 3AL, EXTENSIVE LTD 2020 All right reserved IF this is the case then, in theory cleaning the entire face of the slate in a similar fashion may make it uniform in appearance I would want to rule out the first possibilities before embarking on this though. I suspect that it has all cracked by now. Oh so wrong. But in case not: OK you are talking about hard water deposits or similar. It was so much work, but worth it in the end. First thing I would try is an alkaline degreaser, (hi pH cleaner). They can also damage the surface. The benefit of this method is that it will not remove any sealer form where it is meant to be, i.e inside the surface. There were spots, glops, drops, & smears of thin-set mortar on all 23 of the tiles I'd laid earlier this week. Thanks. You must eliminate all grit this is the major cause of all wear to slate floors. The other possibility is that there is some kind of treatment in or on the slate and it is this that been affected by the bleach (like a slate oil or sealer of some kind, which may have been on the slate without your knowledge). First of all, well give you a few tips on how to remove cement stains for tiles that are not stubborn. Cleaning slate isnt too difficult. Cement on a floor dissolves in acid, so that's why you can use vinegar. But Im going to tell you anyways. Frequently Asked Questions about removing cement stains, HG natural stone cement grout film remover. However, there remain some black mottles, a couple of rust marks where a metal dish once stood, and an oily stain where a bottle of suntan cream was left. Basically, you are re emulsifying the sealer turning it back into a suspension, that you can now wipe away with absorbent paper towels. OK, sticky = too much sealer has been applied, and then it has been on the surface. Beware though as any acid cleaner may etch the grout also. With HG tile cement grout and mortar removeryou remove cement stains quickly, safely and effectively. I may have answered this my mail while I was away? I have no idea if those actually contributed, or maybe the brand I bought reacts well to vinegar? I have had no issues so far and its been 2 years. The sooner you do it, the easier it will be to remove the cement stains or mortar residues. Hopefully this is the case as you may well be able to repair that, if you can identify from the slate installer what was used. I was planning to lay more tile Tuesday afternoon, but I decided to first tidy up the mess on the tiles I'd already laid. Failing that try repairing the surface, if it is a fine-honed (almost polished) surface then some very fine emery /wet & dry paper with a little water may help. but still, its an invaluable resource for information. To learn more about ME click HERE. In this PostThings Needed for ProcessClean Light Cement StainsRemove Stubborn Cement Stains. Any kind of sealer or shine/gloss finish? My floor looks even worse, and whenever I lay tile, I get thinset all over, especially with large format tile. A forum community dedicated to Do it yourself-ers and home improvement enthusiasts. No. Ideally, place a dust mat both inside and outside the room which will help remove grit from shoes and prevent it from spreading to the slate floor. Over time the floor will rebuild a patina and become easier to clean. You have hit upon a common issue; that being that the only way to make it easy to maintain as in easy to just wipe and mop requires a coating sealer (whether it is modern acrylic or old oil / oil and wax), coating sealers will make the floor shiny (to a greater or lesser degree, and they do fade quickly) plus they wear off and require far more frequent reapplication. Having carried out a test and satisfied yourselves that it is ok to use an acid: Pre wet the patio this keeps the cleaner up at the surface where it is needed and also helps protect the grout from etchig as much. Cement and mortar residues are often produced whilst doing jobs. I have a cream slate floor and in the bathroom nail polish was spilled, we wiped it off immediately with nail polish remover, this made streaky marks. Come join the discussion about tools, projects, builds, styles, scales, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! I have used a wire brush but their are still some areas that are stubborn and will not come up. I hastily did some internet research Tuesday about how to remove it from slate and/or natural stone. We can do the work for you or put you in touch with a contractor, Ask us a question or send us a picture of the problem and we will give you the benefit of 30 years of experience, Company registration number 3921814, registered in England Depending on the finish of the slate (rough, riven, smooth honed etc) you may be able to rub it with an appropriate fine emery paper and or diamond hand sanding pads to try to blend in the spotted areas. I used thin set mortar, not mastic. Or, if you prefer the look of wet slate, in so far as the darker colours, but still want a natural, mat, no-sheen finish, then look a good quality enhancing sealer such as Enhance N Seal. Either way, the method to apply it is to apply it lightly, allow a few minutes for it to penetrate then wipe away any remaining sealer left on the surface, in other words, do not allow it to dry on the surface. IF that does not work and the oil has hardened then you are going to need a stripper or a thinner like white spirit but hopefully the sealer you used will have prevented the oil stain from getting a deep hold., so it should just be at the surface and easier to clean. Thanks for the info. JavaScript is disabled. Nobody's answered yet? 2. Rinse with fresh clean water and remove. So I used the hammer/chisel to gently pry it up. Hi, This produces major stains. If that does not help, then you will have to strip it back, you could try an alkaline degreaser but may need a solvent-type stripper. Thanks! Enter your city, zip code or address or click on the map to find a store near you. The Dangers of Using Cillit Bang on Natural Stone and Tiles. As an Amazon Associate I get a small commission for purchases made through Amazon.com links in this website. That you have not used a very dark coloured/pigmented grout/mortar using ANY type of acid will etch the grout a little and lighten it in shade. Wash the slate regularly intervals using a mild, neutral cleaner. Cement stains are the worst as they get stubborn if not cleaned timely and properly. The most common causes of cement residues and how to prevent them, How to remove cement from tiles: 2 DIY tips, HG tile cement grout and mortar remover to remove cement stains. I am praying the vinegar works. Some of these may have a tendency to be susceptible to damage from bleach; if they have any fine particles that may be affected by the beach. I figured I could scrub them off later with a kitchen sponge. In such a case, you may also need to use phosphoric acid, which is why necessary precaution is a must. In fact, I think thin-set mortar IS cement. This is black and shiney in places after 11 years of heavy kitchen use. 4. I then purchased Full acetone from the hardware shop and poured that on the area, rubbing it with a soft brush this seems to have reacted with the tile and is now white like a impenetrable film over the tiles. Dried cement stains are extremely stubborn and require specific treatment. While I was scrubbing the tiles last night I noticed this: See how the right side of that long, skinny tile is touching its neighbor to the south? The slate is lookin good! The aforementioned process was for the removal of light cement stains on tiles. Precautionary Tip: Always wear protective gear when working on DIY tips to remove cement stains from tiles. Prevention is better than the cure. For this, we recommend using a high alkaline cleaner. It is essential that you understand which stones can be treated with acidic products in order to remove cement and which cannot. Sweep and vacuum the slate floor regularly. I would recommend using a strong alkaline cleaner such as Xtreme Clean for periodic intensive cleaning. I have been asked to clean a heavily soiled riven slate kitchen floor. If you do then it confirms my thoughts. I have slate work tops (Italian I think) I have sealed them with a slate floor sealer but now they have gone sticky. When i wet the patio the lovely slate colour returns bit as it dries it becomes pale again. It was the last tile I placed the other night and I was too tired to deal with it. For more house cleaning tips and other informative lifestyle-related pieces, keep reading Zameen Blogs. All these items may be easily available in your home. OK, I dont think the heat has damaged the slate directly, (slate is formed under great heat and pressure and is a pretty resilient stone). I had a few instances of mortar getting on my tiles, but nothing like you experienced. How To Remove Sealer and Sealing Residues. Still looks as good as it did 5 years ago. The usual method for this would be an acidic cleaner and that may be whatyou need. As for the wax, sounds like you managed to wick away 99%of it. Uba Tuba is black with hints of green and gold in it. The product removes efflorescence and mortar stains from porous and non-porous ceramic tiles and flagstone and is also suitable for non-calciferous natural stone. Phosphoric acid can be extremely hazardous, especially if it comes in touch with your eyes or skin. 3. Therefore I have two questions: how can I get rid of the oil and rust? Personally given the clients stated requirement for a shine-free, natural look I would opt for a good impregnating sealer after your deep clean. Update 22/01/13 Check out this case study on cleaning slate, Cleaning, Problem Solving, Slate, Stain Removal. To find out which HG products you need to protect and nourish your tile floor in the best possible way, consult our Problem to Solution for Ceramic tiles. This means that it has dissolved the fine particles at the surface. You can with the right products, How to remove glue? You would be better acquiring a proprietary coating and sealer stripper / remover if you need to do that. Not conducive to leaving the front door wide open and wet-sawing. Make sure you always have enough room to work. Many thanks, Lesley, OK, you have three different types of stain there, Firstly, you are best with something like a phosphoric acid cleaner for the rust you could look at our All for Stone Grout Haze Plus for that. Failing that try some kind of spirits such as white spirit or methylated spirit and a bit of elbow grease, with a scrub pad., Keep absorbing the solution with a paper towel as you go, then rinse with water, buff dry and take a look if you are making progress (lessening the stain) repeat the process. This has caused two problems. Read the following, call us if there are any queries and make sure you do small test areas. Vinegar to the rescue! Anthony. Your email address will not be published. What would you suggest. You might have less of a problem if you put the mortar down on the ground rather than back-buttering each tile. I have used an acid based brick cleaner to clean plaster stains off our new brick fireplace. Use these products with caution and test them in advance. He is also a social media buff and tries to stay updated on everything happening around the world! Thanks. * It involves a mixture of 50/50 white vinegar and water, and an eye dropper: Drop the mixture on the spots, wait 5 minutes for it to start eating away at the mortar, then use a pot scrubber to gently scrub at the spot for 10 seconds until its gone: Follow with a few good scrubs with a gentle sponge and warm water, and the spots are GONE: I found it took 2 go-arounds with the vinegar mixture before all traces of the mortar was removed from each tile, but who cares it worked! Thanks in advance for any advice you can give. You can prevent some cement stains with the right preparation. Then apply the solution liberally with a mop or floor cloth. View Full Version : Remove mortar from slate tile. Remove cement stainsor mortar with vinegar. Alternatively, you can use a coating sealer for a pleasant low sheen gloss which really helps any ongoing cleaning. In the case of acid sensitive stones we suggest you call us for advice. 3. As this happens the sealer becomes sticky, it will dry eventually but then you will have an even worse issue. There is nothing else in the vicinity with which the cleaner may come into contact, which is acid sensitive (Like concrete or limestone for example) Heres the same picture I posted at the end of my last post, but Ive circled SOME of the dried mortar spots in red: Ya, I didnt really have any idea that dried thin-set is damn near impossible to get off. I suggest you just try a degreaser should not harm the stiles. For more information about removing cement stains, visit our product page. The first thing to try is to go over the area again with more sealer this tries to make use of the solvent/carrier that the sealer was kept in. I figured I could scrub them off later with a kitchen sponge. OK usually nail varnish remover/acetone usually is fine on slate and it usualy flashes off really fast and leaves nothing behind. Note: Not all stores have the full range. grout staining, cement, rust or general dirt. Products, such as vinegar, sandpaper or a scraper, are useful as an emergency solution for removing cement residues but they are not always terribly effective. Since theyre natural stone it was suggested to me [on the internet] that I mortar the floor AND the back of the tiles. Some of these are smooth whereas others have a textured surface. Really smooth surfaces, such as bathroom tiles or mirrors, are treated with a scraper. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. This is how you use HG tile cement grout and mortar remover to remove cement stains and mortar residues: To prevent cement or mortar stains, you can put down a plastic sheet whilst you work. Depending on the type of surface, you can remove cement stains and mortar stains with sandpaper or a scraper. You coud try reapplying more acetone to the area that is now white, sometimes a second or third pass will finish the job it started, so apply, let it dwell for a moment, then agitate, then mop up the acetone with absorbent papwe towels, then imediately rinse with clean water and buff dry. The thin-set instructions say to sponge off any mortar from the tops of the tiles immediately, or at least as soon as possible. A bucket falls over or the cement drops from the tools. Make sure there are no other surfaces which are acid sensitive that the cleaner may come into contact with. However, you could try an abrasive first; such as Microscrub -a mild, calcium derived abrasive cleaner that will help to remove fins coatings. The other option might be an enhancing sealer. With these stones great care must be taken to avoid cement or grout staining from the outset. I believe the floor may have had some initial dressing but not a topical seal/polish. Leave to absorb and then rinse with clean water. You can try to use these to remove cement or mortar residues. That way you prevent cement from falling over or you tripping over. Good luck, LS! This seems like it must have been extremely time consuming. Enter Our Dog Days of Summer BBQ Giveaway Now! First clean the surface that requires treatment with clean water. Including Norwegian slate, granite and quartzite. i dont know. Welcome to my little corner of the world! Unfortunately last night, a burning log managed to escape and I presume lay burning on the slate for a period of time (yes, the fire guard was in place! No I have not yet sealed the tile. Products, such as vinegar, sandpaper or a scraper, are convenient as an emergency solution but they are not always terribly effective. Can you please suggest a way we can make the spots less visible? So, lets take you through the entire process step-by-step again. 1. Silicone edges, in the bathroom for example, can also be damaged by vinegar. The carrier fluid (e.g solvent) is now slowly evaporating and leaving behind too much sealer, where it is not wanted, i.e on the surface (it is intended to go below the surface). Hi We have slate tiles in the bathroom and shower, the shower tiles always have white water stain, even after cleaning, can you suggest a cleaner that will remove the marks. So, lets discuss the entire process step-by-step. Thanks. Buff it completely dry, leaving no trace of sheen or gloss, it should look matt, or however it looked prior to sealing. Dilute the acid cleaner as per the instructions (always try a very dilute solution first, and go stronger only if you need to). A glossy finish will be straight forward but I can find very little that will leave it easy to maintain and remain in its natuarl state. The cement is dissolved, but the cement from the grouting remains intact and is even strengthened. Also, dont forget to subscribe to our e-newsletter to get regular updates from our blog section. I have tried warm water and dish soapbut theres still a darker patch, any suggestions on how to remove the patch? This post addresses a very valuable "lesson learned". Its vital, however,to know what kind of dirt or contaminant you are trying to remove before you can make a decision as to which cleaning product is best suitable. You shouldnt leave strong contaminants such as coffee or wine to dwell on a slate floor. So Im almost done. I am a contractor and installer I started my business doing tile and marble now I am specialist in everything if you any of you guys need some help just email me I would be more welcome to help you . Great expert advice on this blog. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blogs author and owner is strictly prohibited. Remember, these are DIY tips. Now, lets learn how to use them while working on DIY tips to clean cement stains from tiles. If you want to remove cement stains safely and effectively and strengthen your grout at the same time, use HG tile cement grout and mortar remover. It is this coating, whatever it may be, that I think is reacting to the acetone, rather than the tile/stone itself. As the sealer has not yet fully set there is a good chance this will help. Faiing that look for a mild, safe cleaner based on phosphoric acid, such as Grout Haze Plus. Undoubtedly, slate is a very popular material for flooring right now. Heres what Ive been using Ive gone through 2 gallons so far [including laying the underlayment]: My tile looks exactly the same. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Ian Taylor and The Tile and Stone Blog, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. I love how youre coming up with solutions to each challenge. I have a slate hearth that has been sealed with lithofin stain stop. Ive got the wax up using a hair dryer and paper towel. It is more likely to be resinous residues from the log, although it may prove very difficult to completely remove. 5. For those you need HG natural stone cement grout film remover. So, how do we go about cleaning our slate floor? Hi Ian Or, if you knew what was in or on the slate then sometimes reapplying it may help so a bit more slate oil if that had been used for example. Helping You to Do It Yourself! Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Hopefully by the weekend I will have the remaining tiles cleaned of mortar and I can resume laying new tile. The floor is beautiful. I dont how we survived without the internet. Remove the cleaning solution with a wet vac or mop, or power hose away. I have an unfinished slate hearth surrounding my open fire. I swear. This creates the white film that you see it is damaged, left behind, coating. Use Builderase. Removing Cement Staining from acid resistant stones ONLY such as most sandstones, most granite and most slates is relatively easy. I was hoping to get more tiles laid this weekend but it was misty/rainy out. However there are many stones that are in the slate family commercially speaking (they have similar characteristics and are sold under the umbrella term of slate). I got really worried because some people said theyd had to rent floor buffers from their local home improvement store, while others bought sanding disc attachments for their drills and gently tried to buff the spots off without damaging or scratching the tile. Thanks for this tip. tips to clean different household surfaces, budget-friendly ways to clean floor tiles, Step-by-Step Guide on How to Install a Door, Everything You Should Know About the Affordable Townhouses in Icon Valley Phase 2. Hi It might be that the lines you see are clean lines the surface of the slate could have some kind of build up, or patina of polish or just the fact that it has been the exposed to the elements face of the stone for a long time. For more intensive cement or mortar residues, a stronger solution can be made of 1 litre of this product to 4 litres of water. On this page we share a number of convenient tips on how to remove cement from tiles and other surfaces. More in Part 2. I was doing that at the beginning, but I was getting REALLY annoyed because after placing each tile, and positioning it perfectly, and adding the spacers, the tile would move out of place EVERY TIME I sponged it off. and is there an easier way of getting rid of the poo/lichen mottles other than power washing and elbow grease? Thanks Ian, the surface of the slate doesnt feel any different on the marked bits so Im wondering if it is as you say that the acid has just taken the surface back to its original colour. Wed be glad to hear from you and try to get back to you as soon as possible. First, you need to check whether the contaminant is mineral based? I have what I think is a Brazilian slate large table and benches in my garden. It is not possible to remove cement from bricks or other rough stones with sandpaper, but you can treat wood or other surfaces with sandpaper. Can you explain why you don't find this tip helpful? Besides this product for removing stubborn cement and mortar residues safely, the HG range for tile floors also contains many different products for the optimum care of your floor. Are their any non-abrasive cleaners that can be used? THEN Ill start laying new tile [after thoroughly covering the clean ones with drop cloths!]. Theres probably a website devoted to it! Required fields are marked *. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo, http://en.fr.hg.eu/wizard-shop/indet_mortar_and_grout_film_from_acid_proof_slate, VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. Im just SO THANKFUL it worked! Ian Taylor and The Tile and Stone Blog.co.uk, 2015. It could also be that some kind of coating or surface treatment (oil, wax, another type of sealer or polish) may have been removed, if so then reapplying whatever was on there may help. Most slate is usually acid safe but if it isnt then the acid has etched the actual surface of the stone. A curious mind and a passionate writer. Provided that: 1. Marble can be affected by acid. Slate generally has good resistance to mild acids so this gives you a much wider choice of cleaning materials than you would have with more acid-sensitive stones like limestone or marble.

Sitemap 18