New Tiled Floor Problem, Advice Please?

[Sloter]

Hi,


So I’ve recently bought a new house and I’ve got some problems with the tiling on the ground floor.

I’ve got some 600 x 600 porcelanosa tiles laid and it’s been grouted with a light grey grout on a concrete slab floor. I’ve got some patches of grout that look like someone has poured water onto the grout in parts. It just looks wet.

I have had the tiling company back to the house and they say it’s just moisture and it will dry however the tiling was done about 4 months ago and I’ve been in the house for 7 weeks and it’s not getting any better. Is this right has anyone else come across this or does it sound like something else could be the problem? I can post pictures if needed?

 

[Old Mod]

Pictures will ALWAYS help (well depends who's taking them!😛)

 

[Sloter]

OK I'll take some tonight and post them. Thanks

 

[Andy Allen]

Are they polished porcelain?

 

[Sloter]

Are they polished porcelain?

No they are called Zone Natural so not the polished ones.

 

[Sloter]

 

[Sloter]

 

[Sloter]

 

[Sloter]

 

[Sloter]

 

[Sloter]

Hopefully that worked, what do you think?

 

[Andy Allen]

Grout looks very patchy .
Any pipe work under the floor?

 

[Sloter]

I really don't know. I'll need to ask the builders but they seem very cagey about it all. Do you think it looks like water underneath the tiles?

 

[radim]

Try sandpaper and see if helps

 

[hmtiling]

looks like a spillage

 

[Sloter]

looks like a spillage

Any idea of what? It's not dried out in 7 weeks.

 

[hmtiling]

Any idea of what? It's not dried out in 7 weeks.

something that would stain the grout. as above, try sanding it back and you;ll know if it's just surface marks

 

[Sloter]

something that would stain the grout. as above, try sanding it back and you;ll know if it's just surface marks

Ok thanks, is it worth trying a grout rake?

 

[hmtiling]

Ok thanks, is it worth trying a grout rake?

No probs. yeah, that'll work.

 

[LM]

There are a multiple of things that can make grout patchy like the majority of the grout in your pics are,
Poor quality grout
Joints that aren't properly cleaned out before grouting which leads to different depths hence different shades Too much water either by unevenly mixed batches
Too much water left on different parts of the floor after poor washing off
Efflorescence can even form if the grouting was done in an area where a cold channel of air is blowing through, say at doorways etc because the grout stays wet too long in those areas which then dries slower in those specific areas, the slower it dries the lighter it will be
As for the extremely dark patch in the pic it looks like something has been spilt on the joint and stained it, if there was a leaking pipe its more likely that the 'wet' looking patch would be more over the floor in general and it would certainly be growing in size

 

[hmtiling]

There are a multiple of things that can make grout patchy like the majority of the grout in your pics are,
Poor quality grout
Joints that aren't properly cleaned out before grouting which leads to different depths hence different shades Too much water either by unevenly mixed batches
Too much water left on different parts of the floor after poor washing off
Efflorescence can even form if the grouting was done in an area where a cold channel of air is blowing through, say at doorways etc because the grout stays wet too long in those areas which then dries slower in those specific areas, the slower it dries the lighter it will be
As for the extremely dark patch in the pic it looks like something has been spilt on the joint and stained it, if there was a leaking pipe its more likely that the 'wet' looking patch would be more over the floor in general and it would certainly be growing in size

that's what i meant to say 😉

 

[MW Smith Ceramics]

As lee Mac says above!.....also could be trapped moisture coming from the screed if the floor was tiled too soon and the builders didn't use a hygrometer but then you would have effloressence coming through the joint too which doesn't seem to be showing up......I think there is a problem with the application/method of grouting on this one, looks as tho they havnt got the mix ratio correct and washed off too wet and too much before allowing the grout to dry.......I would look at using a product called LTP grout stain remover using an LTP Clawbrush to scrub the grout joints, try 50/50 ratio with water around the joints of 1 tile let it react then scrub then clean with plenty of water and see how that comes up, it should bring the grout up to original colour and uniformed when dry......use neat and do the same thing if that doesn't work......you can purchase these items from the website as follows.....www.ltp-online.co.uk

Send over some pics when you have carried this out......

Hope it helps

 

[MW Smith Ceramics]

As lee Mac says above!.....also could be trapped moisture coming from the screed if the floor was tiled too soon and the builders didn't use a hygrometer but then you would have effloressence coming through the joint too which doesn't seem to be showing up......I think there is a problem with the application/method of grouting on this one, looks as tho they havnt got the mix ratio correct and washed off too wet and too much before allowing the grout to dry.......I would look at using a product called LTP grout stain remover using an LTP Clawbrush to scrub the grout joints, try 50/50 ratio with water around the joints of 1 tile let it react then scrub then clean with plenty of water and see how that comes up, it should bring the grout up to original colour and uniformed when dry......use neat and do the same thing if that doesn't work......you can purchase these items from the website as follows.....www.ltp-online.co.uk

Send over some pics when you have carried this out......

Hope it helps

Oh forgot to mention if you do use this stuff wear gloves as it is acidic!.......also it will strip any surface sealer that has been applied, if this happens ( you will see if it has ) then use LTP MPG SEALER to reseal with polished porcelain but you may be okay if the porcelains has been wax sealed by the manufacturer but you will see
It around the edges of the tile if this happens......

 

[MW Smith Ceramics]

Oh forgot to mention if you do use this stuff wear gloves as it is acidic!.......also it will strip any surface sealer that has been applied, if this happens ( you will see if it has ) then use LTP MPG SEALER to reseal with polished porcelain but you may be okay if the porcelains has been wax sealed by the manufacturer but you will see
It around the edges of the tile if this happens......

Oh I see there not polished so no need to worry about strippingcany sealer.......okay well give the LTP grout stain remover a go and don't forget to order the LTP xlawbrush its s god send.......order it online or if you have a tile giant in the area you can purchase both items from there ......this really should sort your problem out if it is just patchy grout which it looks like.....

 

[moomarine]

As some above have said above it looks like a spillage. If it were moisture coming from below would it not be a larger more spread area? Hard to explain what I'm trying to say! Lol. Basically it looks like fluid has got on top and not risen up! - I'm giving up trying to word what I'm thinking!

 

[SJPurdy]

I think the edges of the patches are to well defined to be damp coming from underneath or drying of the grout patchiness. I would guess it is something spilled (eg. oil, grease, paint thinner, flux) and then wiped up. If this is the case and it is just on the surface then it may be removable using a suitable cleaner (but which one?); if it has soaked into the grout then the section of grout will need to be taken out and then re-grouted.

 

[Flintstone]

Lets not over complicate things here jeez.
Ask them to some and re grout the dark patches and see how it goes. It will probably fix your problem. You didn't mention generally patchy grout so I assume you don't want the whole lot re grouting.
It looks like some dirt or other on the grout that's all, there has probably been all sorts of trades walking all over it after its been tiled

 

[moomarine]

I think the edges of the patches are to well defined to be damp coming from underneath or drying of the grout patchiness. I would guess it is something spilled (eg. oil, grease, paint thinner, flux) and then wiped up. If this is the case and it is just on the surface then it may be removable using a suitable cleaner (but which one?); if it has soaked into the grout then the section of grout will need to be taken out and then re-grouted.

You found this a lot easier than I did to explain! This is exactly what I meant! (I think)

 

[Sloter]

Ok thanks people.

The grout is very patchy in parts I will try and get some more pictures. In some parts it looks black in others grey in others cream.

 

[moomarine]

Iv just had a look round our kitchen at home as I was sure we had stains like this and they are definitely from dropped fluids as this floor was done just before we moved in and I can remember some of the spills that happened. Also strong cleaning products can cause it when mopping etc. Probably a cheap grout used as well.

 

[Italy]

same

Lets not over complicate things here jeez.
Ask them to some and re grout the dark patches and see how it goes. It will probably fix your problem. You didn't mention generally patchy grout so I assume you don't want the whole lot re grouting.
It looks like some dirt or other on the grout that's all, there has probably been all sorts of trades walking all over it after its been tiled

You found this a lot easier than I did to explain! This is exactly what I meant! (I think)

same