Moisture marks on newly laid limestone tiles - help!!please!!!

[Joymir]

:mad2:My tiler has now completed two bathroom walls - one yesterday and one today. Most of the tiles are showing 'mosture marks' coming through from the dollops of adhesive used. These are not showing any signs of drying and not sure whether this is an oily residue rather than water. He said he spread the adhesive over the back first to seal them though. He used Ardex X77W microtec flexible adhesive in white. Reading the information now, this is clearly not for high porosity tiles. I have tried to clean the surface with LTP Grimex heavy duty grime remover but this doesn't change anything. The tiler and plumber have gone away saying we would wait to see if the tiles dry before continuing. So..
Are the marks likely to go?
If not, will the tiles have to come off?
If they come off in one piece, could they be cleaned to reuse?
Is there any way to get them off without breaking them?

 

[White Room]

:mad2:My tiler has now completed two bathroom walls - one yesterday and one today. Most of the tiles are showing 'mosture marks' coming through from the dollops of adhesive used. These are not showing any signs of drying and not sure whether this is an oily residue rather than water. He said he spread the adhesive over the back first to seal them though. He used Ardex X77W microtec flexible adhesive in white. Reading the information now, this is clearly not for high porosity tiles. I have tried to clean the surface with LTP Grimex heavy duty grime remover but this doesn't change anything. The tiler and plumber have gone away saying we would wait to see if the tiles dry before continuing. So..
Are the marks likely to go?
If not, will the tiles have to come off?
If they come off in one piece, could they be cleaned to reuse?
Is there any way to get them off without breaking them?

Hi and welcome..

Just to clear something up, was dabs of adhesive applied to the tiles or was it spread on the wall ???

 

[Joymir]

Hi! The dabs of adhesive were on the tiles and then he pressed the tiles on the wall which I guess spreads it out.

 

[Andy Allen]

not good, the adhesive should of been spread all over the wall, what your seeing is the dabs of adhesive showing through the tile.

 

[Stewart]

Dot n dab in not the correct fixing method and your Tiler should be stopped instantly from carrying on. The limestone should be back-skimmed and then pressed into the adhesive that has been combed onto the wall with a suitable sized notched trowel.

 

[Joymir]

That's good to know and if he comes back, I can tell him this but for the existing walls
Are the marks likely to go?
If not, will the tiles have to come off?
If they come off in one piece, could they be cleaned to reuse?
Is there any way to get them off without breaking them?

 

[White Room]

It may take a while for the moisture to disappear but the fixing method is'nt correct...what are the tiles being fixed to plaster walls etc

 

[Joymir]

Hi
The walls are a mix of artex/ plaster board and a moisture proof board round the shower area.

 

[White Room]

What is the thickness of your limestone tiles..

Sorry for all the questions, need to get this right.

 

[Joymir]

The tiles are 10mm thick. (600x400).

 

[jay]

any chance of some pics thanks

 

[Knackered Knees]

Limestone like marble can be somewhat 'Translucent' to light, which might explain why your seeing what your seeing, through the tile. The entire back of the limestone needs to be skimmed with adhesive, as well as the wall, so that you don't see 'Shadows' as your seeing. Will it go? Maybe, but I doubt it. The only way to fix this issue is to rip them off the wall and start over. Saving any from breakage, is just wishful thinking I'm afraid.

 

[Joymir]

This is really bad news but thanks to everyone for taking the time to answer. By the way my tiler and plumber still won't accept that their method is the cause. They say that even if I used the method you suggest I would get lines instead of circles because he did do the back skimming - I feel at a loss to know what to do next.

 

[nybor62]

your tiler is deffo at fault , if they had used a 10mm round notched trowel and back skimmed the tiles , there would be no issues at all as it would be solid bed of adhesive,

there fixing method is flawed

 

[DHTiling]

It Should have been the rapid setting version.. Slow setting adhesive can allow moisture to bleed into the stone over a more prolonged period of time compared to rapid setting.

The tiler should know this..

Some white limestones and translucent marbles are highly prone to moisture affecting their colour and can causing shadowing.. so it advisable to use a rapid set suitable for stone usage..

IMO it is Fixer error.. and spot fixing even though he has back skimmed is still allowing spots of moisture at those fixing points and this will cause it to stain.. You have 2 choices, leave to see if it dries within 72 hrs or so and if not then they need to be replaced..

Out of interest, which limestone is it.?

 

[Joymir]

Thanks for this - Jerusalem Gold honed limestone

 

[Gazzer]

Did I see tiling over Artex mentioned ????

 

[DHTiling]

Thanks for this - Jerusalem Gold honed limestone

I would leave them a few days to see if they dry..but still wrong fixing method.

 

[The Legend; Phil Hobson RIP]

Did I see tiling over Artex mentioned ????

I was thinking the same Neale.:yikes:

 

[White Room]

Hhhhmmmmmmmmm artex being tiled over, so last year..