Still having a problem with granite tiles

[shirleyali1]

Hi to all
Hope some of you remember me, just to say we are still having a problem with the black galaxy tiles laid in the conservatory.
They were laid and sealed in one day. A few days later another guy came and sealed the tiles on a red hot day. He sealed about 18 sq metres in less than 20 mins. told us to shut the door and leave them till the next day and then wipe off the surplus.
He also asked for the payment in full, which we stupidly did without cleaning off the sealer.
Anyway after cleaning the floor the tiles were all streaky. We phoned up, and he reluctantly came up to look at them a week later, on another hot day and sealed them again. Telling us again not to walk on the floor till the next day and then clean the floor.
Floor even worse.
Man was very abusive, said he wouldn't do anything else.
So we got another firm in who were recommended to us. They said the sealer should not have been applied in hot temperatures and had baked on the granite tiles. They recommended stripping back the tiles to remove the excess sealer.
When they did this a lot of black mess came out, and now the tiles are a lot lighter. It seems the tiles were probably dyed.
Could somebody tell me what the best course of action is now. The tiles are a complete disaster. Can you dye them back? the stains are still there as well and run through severall tiles.
Just wished we had not paid up so quick, learned a hard lesson.

:mad2:

 

[The D]

What colure grout was used?

 

[shirleyali1]

The grout was dark grey

 

[The D]

The grout was dark grey

That blow’s my theory then sorry this one has me baffled :huh2:

 

[Dan]

Got any pictures you can show us?

 

[MICK the Tiler]

Some stone including granite can suffer with a problem we call down here mirror transfer, this is where moisture or trowell marks stains in the substrate can bleed through to the top of the tile from underneath. This may be the problem you face and as the tiles were laid and sealed on the same day might give this theroy some credability as what the fixer has done is seal all exit points for moisture in the addhesive and grout by not allowing the proper curing time and as a result the moisture has no where else to go but up into the tile itself and forming streaks on the surface. Stripping back the sealer and reapplying did not get rid of the streaks another tick for the bleed through theroy. I live in sunny Queensland and it gets pretty hot down here and I have no problems with sealing in hot weather, although I have to work alot smaller areas to compensate.

This suggestion is just that a suggestion and a few pictures of the problem area would indeed help with a complex problem which this is.

 

[shirleyali1]

Thanks Mick
Will try and photograph the tiles and post on the site.

 

[TilingLogistics]

Hello Shirley

I do not wish to insult you but can you Please confirm you have Star Galaxy Granite and not a Basalt copy granite!

Secondly can you tell me what make the sealer was that the tiler used?

What did he strip the tiles with?

Where are you in the Country please?

If you can answer these questions and post some pics I may be able to help

Kev

 

[Grace'sDad]

Isn't star galaxy a composite granite - resin based? If so, the lightening could simply be grout stain (grey).

Might be worth a really intensive clean and start again?

 

[Sully]

Isn't star galaxy a composite granite - resin based?


That's what I thought too but the answer to Kevs queries will probaly reveal all ....

 

[TilingLogistics]

Isn't star galaxy a composite granite - resin based? If so, the lightening could simply be grout stain (grey).

Might be worth a really intensive clean and start again?

Black Galaxy is mainly found in India the variation that has bronzite (Gold Bits) in is called Star galaxy. However it is produced in relatively small quantities compared to other natural stone and therefore not all importers/retailers are selling the real thing

Kev

 

[Dave Ramsden]

I remember fitting Star Granite before and it was real hard work!

Because every tile has to be run through a wet cutter or cut with an angle grinder the tiles need to be totally spotless before grouting.
We sealer off the doorways with plastic sheeting, washed and dried the tiles. After applying a coat of sealer it was left for an hour the wiped down thoroughly, grouted, cleaned three times then sealed.
The end result was perfect but I haven't got any pictures Im afraid.

Its alot of work to get it right but its so worth it in the end.

 

[shirleyali1]

Hi
Thanks for all your help. We live in N. Staffs.
I did contact the tile company & they said they used Glenstone sealer, which they buy in big drums.
They have since been stripped with a Litholin product, but I don't know which, (have left a message on answer phone for him to let me know). Stains still haven't come out.
Very difficult to photograph, due to reflection from conservatory roof, but will try.
The problem we have is we could be paying to have tiles sealed and repolished again and still be left with stains. Now diamond grinding has been mentioned, which will cost even more or retiling over the granite tiles.
The ironic thing is the tiles looked fine until they were sealed the wrong way. (Red hot day & told to leave it on till next day, with all windows shut)
Any advice will be much appreciated.
Shirley

 

[TilingLogistics]

Hi
Thanks for all your help. We live in N. Staffs.
I did contact the tile company & they said they used Glenstone sealer, which they buy in big drums.
They have since been stripped with a Litholin product, but I don't know which, (have left a message on answer phone for him to let me know). Stains still haven't come out.
Very difficult to photograph, due to reflection from conservatory roof, but will try.
The problem we have is we could be paying to have tiles sealed and repolished again and still be left with stains. Now diamond grinding has been mentioned, which will cost even more or retiling over the granite tiles.
The ironic thing is the tiles looked fine until they were sealed the wrong way. (Red hot day & told to leave it on till next day, with all windows shut)
Any advice will be much appreciated.
Shirley

Shirley,

Firstly, sealing should be done sparingly allowing a dwell time as required for penetration then the excess cleaned off. I have never heard of any sealer being applied and allowed to be left over night in my life. Furthermore, I have never encountered problems with sealer in hot weather and I have applied it in Spain in 38 Degrees. The only thing that rings true is all windows and doors should be shut when applying sealer as you want it to penetrate and not dry on the surface.

I grind , hone, polish and seal stone nearly every day and I cannot understand why Diamond Grinding has been mentioned it would not be required unless there is lippage on the tiles. The most it should require is a stripping , repolish and resealing.

I have no experience with Glenstone sealer and therefore cannot comment however, if the tiles looked fine before sealing then surely it is down to the fixer/supplier to sort the problem?

The only other explanation I can offer is as I said in a previous post are you sure you have Granite and not some sort of basalt?

My telephone number and e mail are in my signature block if you wish to discuss the matter in greater detail!

Kev

 

[shirleyali1]

Thanks Kev
The problem we have is the tiler refuses to do anything about the tiles, he has written to say so. He has been paid in full, which was the biggest mistake.
We had to have another company out, who tried to remove the baked on sealer. The stains go through several tiles, so we know its not a natural feature of the tile. The new tiler will have another go at removing the sealer, before he seals and repolishes, but we are afraid that it still won't come out and we have incurred even more cost.
Hopefully we can claim the cost through the small claims court.
Regards
Shirley

 

[bootsmckiber]

I think Mick nailed it,first the set tile should have had a proper curing time,secondly I would have read the instructions on whatever sealer he used,we have different product over here but I've never heard of leaving the sealer on for a day then wiping up the excess,on the first coat of sealer I'm wiping up the excess within 30 minutes of application,let the first coat soak in then go back the next day and second coat it,I've never had a problem or callback on sealant.As for your problem ,I would try using an enhancer to bring back your natural color,try it in a corner or closet,just test it on one tile then you be the judge,good luck.
Mike


I'd still get a pail of that sealer and read the instructions,or phone the company,then the better buisness bureau(if there's one in England)hacks like that make tiler's like us look bad.

 

[bootsmckiber]

If your going to small claims court definatly get the application instructions,I'm sure that's all you'll need to win your case.
Mike

 

[White Room]

"better buisness bureau" Could'nt expand on that for me Mike

 

[bootsmckiber]

In Canada it's a government office where people who get ripped off by a company or contractor can phone in with their complaint,in small claims court it helps in your defence(kinda shows you're serious)after a certain number of complaints(not sure how many)the bureau will step in and usually revokes their buisness licence.As a customer you can call the better buisness bureau and see if the worker,company,contractor etc has had any complaints against them,giving you the heads up.Good luck.

 

[White Room]

In Canada it's a government office where people who get ripped off by a company or contractor can phone in with their complaint,in small claims court it helps in your defence(kinda shows you're serious)after a certain number of complaints(not sure how many)the bureau will step in and usually revokes their buisness licence.As a customer you can call the better buisness bureau and see if the worker,company,contractor etc has had any complaints against them,giving you the heads up.Good luck.

What a great procedure

 

[TilingLogistics]

Thanks Kev
The problem we have is the tiler refuses to do anything about the tiles, he has written to say so. He has been paid in full, which was the biggest mistake.
We had to have another company out, who tried to remove the baked on sealer. The stains go through several tiles, so we know its not a natural feature of the tile. The new tiler will have another go at removing the sealer, before he seals and repolishes, but we are afraid that it still won't come out and we have incurred even more cost.
Hopefully we can claim the cost through the small claims court.
Regards
Shirley

It for me is very simple!!! In all jobs I do I only complete a test area! This proves to the customer that I can do what I say I will do, I can complete to the customers satisfaction and finally it tells me what I need to charge to complete.!!! Why ask another tiler or special;ist to do the whole floor? Ask them to do 1M2! If you are satisfied engage them ! If you are not then go elsewhere! That is the best advice I can give

Kev

 

[Deleted member 1779]

My guess is this is going to be have to be done again from scratch.

I would be using porcelain tiles.

 

[MICK the Tiler]

I'd really, really like to see some pics of this floor. Facsinating!!

 

[TilingLogistics]

I still think its basalt and I suspect the problem is occuring with the dye they often put in the tile. I looked at a 5000M2 Installation like this that a major company had done. They paid for granite and got basalt. Then lo and behold the supplying company and the fixers had gone out of business after they had been paid the £560,000

Kev