K
katiede
Please help - I know nothing about paving/tiling....!!
We have just had some sandstone paving laid in our garden. Following advice, we washed and cleaned off the chalky residue, waited a few days for the sandstone to dry, and then applied 2 coats of Fila colour intensifer (I wanted to stone to look darker).
Across 20sqm, I have just 3 slabs in the middle that have dried with a white mottled effect. We are not happy with this.
I have had advice from the paving supplier - they are suggesting that Fila might not be the right product for this slab and that only "lithofin" allows you to apply intensifier straight after laying tiles..... they say:-
"With regards to the mottling/ white effect, this usually happens if the paving is still damp when sealed as the moisture reacts with the sealant. There are only a handful of products that may be used straight after laying the paving, so I’m not sure if the one you have used will have been suitable. Nearly all paving draws through salts from the mortar which appears as a white film across the surface of the stone. This is a temporary phenomenon known as efflorescence and will gradually weather away. My concern would be if you have used a sealant that is not suitable for using straight after laying the paving, then this would have locked in the efflorescence.
"Most products require the efflorescence to have cleared through first. It could either be that these three slabs contained moisture or it may be that these are the first ones exhibiting signs of efflorescence." .....which makes me think I've got worst to come...?
Topps Tiles advice was that the tiles were possibly not fully dry, too much sealer was applied, or that the chalky residue was not cleaned off well enough.
To rectify, toppstiles have advised to use Fila no paint star to remove the intensifier, and then I can start again.
Ideas or help needed please!!!?
Do you think I have used the wrong intensifer? Is this white mottling going to happen everywhere eventually? Should I use this Fila no paint star product?
MUCH APPRECIATED IN ADVANCE!!!!!
We have just had some sandstone paving laid in our garden. Following advice, we washed and cleaned off the chalky residue, waited a few days for the sandstone to dry, and then applied 2 coats of Fila colour intensifer (I wanted to stone to look darker).
Across 20sqm, I have just 3 slabs in the middle that have dried with a white mottled effect. We are not happy with this.
I have had advice from the paving supplier - they are suggesting that Fila might not be the right product for this slab and that only "lithofin" allows you to apply intensifier straight after laying tiles..... they say:-
"With regards to the mottling/ white effect, this usually happens if the paving is still damp when sealed as the moisture reacts with the sealant. There are only a handful of products that may be used straight after laying the paving, so I’m not sure if the one you have used will have been suitable. Nearly all paving draws through salts from the mortar which appears as a white film across the surface of the stone. This is a temporary phenomenon known as efflorescence and will gradually weather away. My concern would be if you have used a sealant that is not suitable for using straight after laying the paving, then this would have locked in the efflorescence.
"Most products require the efflorescence to have cleared through first. It could either be that these three slabs contained moisture or it may be that these are the first ones exhibiting signs of efflorescence." .....which makes me think I've got worst to come...?
Topps Tiles advice was that the tiles were possibly not fully dry, too much sealer was applied, or that the chalky residue was not cleaned off well enough.
To rectify, toppstiles have advised to use Fila no paint star to remove the intensifier, and then I can start again.
Ideas or help needed please!!!?
Do you think I have used the wrong intensifer? Is this white mottling going to happen everywhere eventually? Should I use this Fila no paint star product?
MUCH APPRECIATED IN ADVANCE!!!!!
