new member -stoneman

[JOHNNYCLARKE]

Hi
new member here.
im a stone fixer and floor restorer but stumped with a floor ive just seen.
mixture of chinese green riven and brazilian green riven slate and something like kirkstone.
areas with chinese slate that have had alot of water on them from pool ,changing area , showers have a really bad white stain which is all over tile in places and others like a very wide band of picture framing.
Tried brickie(non acidic), builders clean, disclean , wexa, spot stain remover etcc.
wont budge it.
Stainaway does not take up any sealer so dont think its moisture stuck under sealer or sealer gone off.
Because it does not affect the other slates do you think this is peculiar to chinese slate or perhaps because its rougher on surface.
cant work out if its minerals coming through, possibly hard water deposits, from underneath /
can anyone help?

Joined after finding site when looking for something else.
Pleased I did.
Only a foolsh man would think he is too experienced to learn from others.
And this forum gives everyone the opportunity to ask and contribute.
Just wish there was one of these 23 years ago when I got a DIY book out of Smiths with two pages on tiling!!
Many mistakes made on the way but alot learnt very quickly when it hits your pocket .
I have already picked up a few tips about suppliers of products I had never heard of and thats what makes this forum so interesting to me.
There are so many new products about to discuss. Twenty years ago if this site existed there would be very little to talk about on the technical front.

I converted to limestone from ceramics about 15 years ago so hope I can be of help in that department for specialist queries.

Johnny

 

[DHTiling]

Re: slate cleaning

hi johnny and welcome to the forums mate...

Have you got any pics...might help too see this prob......from what you say it sounds like it could be caused by some sort of cleaning fluid..maybe bleach.....
Have you tried rubbing the deposit with a scotchpad to see if it surface or deeper....

 

[JOHNNYCLARKE]

Re: slate cleaning

dave

tried pads from tan through to green with scrub machine.
Heaviest deposits are like a crust on top.
Cant get too heavy with acid coz chinese tiles surrounded by kirkstone special moulded treads/copings/borders and acid will etch honed surface.
Its at least 200 metres in basement pool hse .

 

[DHTiling]

Re: slate cleaning

I,m not realy up on restoration johnny..so here's a link to the stone federation of the uk....they should be able to offer more advise....good luck mate..and will you let us know the outcome.... [DLMURL]http://www.stone-federationgb.org.uk/[/DLMURL]

 

[JOHNNYCLARKE]

Re: slate cleaning

dave
Thanks for that recommendation.

Johnny

 

[Leatherface]

Re: slate cleaning

Hi mate, you will probably find that the staining is caused by a reaction with the sealer and the water. Many sealers are not designed for constant wetting ( like outside conditions )

For example if you contacted Lithofin direct they would tell you which sealers are suitable for very wet conditions, like outside.
Slate and limestone are notorious for staining white when have been subject to a lot of water over a period of time.
Stains are vbery hard to get off

 

[murf]

check out oxyclean. i've used it b efore on slate and it worked a treat. welcome by the way

 

[Dan]

Welcome to the forum mate.

 

[GazTech]

hello from me Johnny

 

[monty]

Hello and welcome to the forums mate

Monty