problems sealing slate!!!!!

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ruairi mac

Hi everyone, i need some help asap!!

I just finished tiling a slate floor yesterday, customer was very happy, I got paid and went home.

Customer rang this morning to see if I could call to take a look at the floor as he was concerned about the finish, basically I applied the last coat of sealer yesterday with a small soft paintbrush and the sealer has dried with the brush strokes in it!!

The tiles themselves are a black slate tile 900x600, 600x600 and 600x400 in a modular pattern.

Tiles were set with minimal lippage and customer actually commented on this as his daughter has the same tiles but were laid by someone else.

Tiles were washed 3 or 4 times with clean water and after the customer managed to spill a full cup of tea on the un-sealed floor, they even got a wash with Lithofin Power Clean.

The tiles were left to dry and next day I applied a coat of Larsen Colour Enhancer. Some tiles obviously soaked this up more than others but after a second coat of Larsen Colour Enhancer the floor looked great. ( both coats were just rubbed on with a clean cloth )

To seal the floor before grouting I used Larsen Tile, Slate and Floor sealer. Its a milky white liquid. I started to apply it with a roller but found that it was ponding/puddling so i then tried the paintbrush. At this time i was concerned about the brushstrokes so i rang my local supplier and Larsen as well, both told me that the products were definitely compatible and could be applied with a roller or soft brush when i explained about the ponding/brushstrokes i was told that it should dry out OK.
I didn't want to take a chance with it so I applied the sealer with the brush and rubbed it up with clean cloths and I was happy with the glossier finish on the tiles compared to the un-sealed tiles.
Before I left that day i took a cutting of the slate that i had tested the Enhancer on and brushed a coat of the sealer on and left it overnight.

The next morning (yesterday) I went back and grouted the floor and washed it twice to make sure there was no grout residue on the tiles. the sample tile I sealed the night before was looking good so i was under the impression if I just brush the sealer on and let it dry it would be fine.

Then I got the phone call this morning!!!

I have never come across this before with any other products, so basically any help or ideas on were I went wrong would be much appreciated.
What is the best way to apply the sealer coat?
From what I've seen today I am going to have to strip the sealer coats back and do it again, what product is best for doing this? and what product is best for sealing a slate floor that has been colour enhanced.

Thanks in advance for your replies.

Ruairi Mac.
 
Could it be that there was some cement residue from the grouting that showed up the brush marks in the sealer, that weren't visible before grouting??? I only ask because washing twice for slate is, in my experience, a little optimistic.
 
Hi mike. It's definitley not a case of grout/cement residue. The floor was clean and ready for sealer. Any ideas for removing the sealer so I can start again??
 
so do I and i would use a block bush with stainstop quiet often any way we are taking over this poor man,s thread
 
Last edited by a moderator:
the best remedy would be to re seal and buff as you go, resealing will soften what you've already done and get the brush strokes out.
 
Impregnators you buff off and topical sealers you leave to dry... what is the one you used... was it designed to leave a wet look..? or matt finish..?
 
Hi mike. It's definitley not a case of grout/cement residue. The floor was clean and ready for sealer. Any ideas for removing the sealer so I can start again??

Hi Ruairi, sorry, no idea how you'd remove the sealer so you can re-seal. I think you should phone the Technical Dept of the manufacturer and see what they recommend, and maybe email them a photo or two in advance if you have some.

It's a mystery why they looked fine when sealed before grouting, then after grouting there's brush marks visible???

Good luck, hope you get it sorted out, must be frustrating to do a really nice job that the customer is happy with, then get a phone call the next day saying that a problem has developed. :mad2:
 
Thanks everyone for your replies, I'm going to ring the larsen rep this morning and see what they say.

I'll keep you posted.

Ruairi Mac.
 
Hi Dave just seeing your post. What is a topical sealer? haven't heard that term before. the one I used was Larsen tile, slate and floor sealer.

Think I'll try Doug's suggestion i.e. reseal and buff.

Ruairi Mac.
 
A topical sealer is a surface coating similar in some ways to a varnish. I believe the Larson product you used is one of these types of sealers, in this case a water based acrylic.
Always willing to be proved wrong but i would not expect the reseal and buff route to work other than possibly by several coat's to cover up the brush marks you described - Acrylics, once cured will not soften with additional coats
I have used LTP's Grimex previously to remove their Ironwax sealants(another acrylic sealer), might be worth a try
 
To get rid of sealer you applied use ltp grimex that will remove the sealer then re apply

But only use a paint pad and that puts it on nice and evenly
 
Hi guys.

Glad to say i eventually got this issue sorted.

I asked a local tiler who has a lot more experience than me to come and take a look at it with me. He took one look at it and was able to name the sealer i had used with out me telling him.

His solution was to use cellulose thinners to remove sealer, (I had my doubts but it worked a treat) it took a bit of time to do but brought the slate back to how it was before the fiasco. I then resealed with Lithofin slate sealer and i have to say its a much superior product. It looked very, very glossy when applied but dried out with a nice finish.

Customer was delighted with the end result, it took a few extra hours labour and a few extra quid out of my own pocket but sure it's all about keeping the customer happy!!!!!

Thanks to everyone who replied, it was much appreciated. I have a few photos and i'll get them up when i get a bit more time.

Thanks again

Ruairi
 

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