stained quartz tiles

[shep]

Hi. Just starting a job with very expensive quartz tiles.the tiles are protected with clingfilm. Ive removed this and it seems like the residue of the film has penertrated into the tile? First tried turps, soapy waater and 3 LTP products. Nothing will shift it. Its like a dull staining on a shiny black tile. Certainly not gonna l. ay them till sorted. Think gonna send back as rep just said use ltp grimex. Anybody experienced this?? Thanks. Shepherds Bathrooms.

 

[Rizzle from the Portizzle]

Hi. Just starting a job with very expensive quartz tiles.the tiles are protected with clingfilm. Ive removed this and it seems like the residue of the film has penertrated into the tile? First tried turps, soapy waater and 3 LTP products. Nothing will shift it. Its like a dull staining on a shiny black tile. Certainly not gonna l. ay them till sorted. Think gonna send back as rep just said use ltp grimex. Anybody experienced this?? Thanks. Shepherds Bathrooms.

try some grout powder dry as this will stick to the glue residue then polish off with a soft clouth this grips the residue and removes it .

 

[Concrete guy]

Use Actone (nail varnish remover). If this doesn't remove the problem then return them.

Chances are the factory have used a colour intensifier to deepen the black colour of the quartz (which is not unusual), the "clingfilm" is a protective layer generally fitted at the factory to stop scuffing in transit.

Where air pockets occur you get a kind of "shadowing" that presents itself as slightly dull grey patches. It's something to do with moisture but we never did completely get to the bottom of it.

We did find that Acetone was a good indicator of if the issue was going to be permanent or not. We also sometimes found that left overnight to "air" once the film had been removed cleared some of the problem slabs also.

 

[One Day]

The "quartz" (resin man made) are full of resins and solvents.
Trapping them in soon after manufacture with cling film and as Alan said - leaving air pockets under the film means uneven escape of the solvents.
Try air drying for 72hrs - if no better then reject them.

 

[Concrete guy]

The "quartz" (resin man made) are full of resins and solvents.
Trapping them in soon after manufacture with cling film and as Alan said - leaving air pockets under the film means uneven escape of the solvents.
Try air drying for 72hrs - if no better then reject them.

Actually quartz is baked during manufacture in an oven at around 180 degrees celcius for a few hours then left to cool down for two days, so it's bone dry before it's run down a polishing line.

The problem seems to occur when chemical enhancements are added to the surface to improve the consistency or depth of colour.

I'm guessing it's this that "sweats" leaving cloudy areas on the product.

 

[One Day]

Actually quartz is baked during manufacture in an oven at around 180 degrees celcius for a few hours then left to cool down for two days, so it's bone dry before it's run down a polishing line.

The problem seems to occur when chemical enhancements are added to the surface to improve the consistency or depth of colour.

I'm guessing it's this that "sweats" leaving cloudy areas on the product.

Ok Alan thanks for the info.
I was told that the cheaper (i.e. not Gulfstone) can still leech resins etc, particularly when ambient temps are warm. Any additional chems added though would definitely cause problems if trapped in.

 

[shep]

Thanx all for info. Still waitin to hear from rep. Sittin in bsthroom staring at the walls!! Better put kettle on

 

[shep]

Just been advised to treat tiles with solvex then grimex and then to seal after grouting. Does this sound ok. Thanks "oh great ones"

 

[Concrete guy]

Just been advised to treat tiles with solvex then grimex and then to seal after grouting. Does this sound ok. Thanks "oh great ones"

It can't do any harm.

One thing quartz does better than most things is resist chemicals.

 

[Concrete guy]

Ok Alan thanks for the info.
I was told that the cheaper (i.e. not Gulfstone) can still leech resins etc, particularly when ambient temps are warm. Any additional chems added though would definitely cause problems if trapped in.

I can't imagine quartz "leeching" anything. it's non porous, or at least should be.

There is a lot of nonsense spoken about this stuff by suppliers who don't really know what they're doing with it.

The problem seems to be manufacturers "enhancing" the surface finish. It's the chemical on the surface that invariably causes the issues.

 

[Time's Ran Out]

If they are that expensive I wouldn't waste my time trying to clean them! Send them back and tell the supplier to clean them. Unless they are going to pay you of course!

 

[J Sid]

I am with john, if they are not right send them back

 

[shep]

Have sent them back. Supplier said could swap for 600 x 600 or 400 x 400 without clingfilm but customer wants 600 x 300 and they all have clingfilm. Getting new batch from designer tiles leics. Seen samples and they look fine. £10 metre more. Previous supplier says can have next order at display rate.