The worlds worst anti-slip tiles (in my opinion), and how to clean them.

[Sean Kelly]

I am now on day 9 of a 5 day job!

I have set & grouted 25sqm of 45x45x8 porcelain anti-slip tiles. This link gives more detail Walls and Floors Tiles -Anti-Slip Floor Tiles, Bathroom Tiles, Floor Tiles, Porcelain Wall & Floor Tiles - Cordoba tiles - Nacar tiles - 450x450x8mm

I last worked with anti-slip tiles for a commercial kitchen 2 years ago. They were a bugger to clean, but at least we only had to use water and a scrubbing brush. The tiles I have been tiling with this week are an absolute nightmare to cut because they are made up of a grid pattern and within each tiny square there is what I can only describe as a ‘fingerprint’. The dry cutter jumps from grid to grid and I keep getting jagged cuts.

Anyway, the tiling has been completed and I did the grouting. I tried to clean off the residue within a few minutes, but as you see from the pics the grout is still embedded in the tiny grooves of the tiles. I had to leave the job the other day because the more I tried to clean the tiles the more grout I was raking out of the grout line.

These tiles are on the walls and the floor.

I have tried sponges, emulsifying pads, grout brushes, Black & Decker sander, Fila grout residue remover, Lithofin Cement Away, Fila Tiles & Stone cleaner, wire wool. It took me 3 hours to clean one tile, and that tile is still not as clean as I would like.

I am at the point where I’m thinking of using a specialised tile cleaning company.

Any ideas anyone?

 

[jay]

oh dear what color is the grout

and why would you put antislip on the walls

 

[Sean Kelly]

White grout.

 

[jay]

Bugger what a nightmare .the only thing i can think of is laticrete TC50 tile and grout cleaner and a scrubbing brush but this product is acid based not nice to use (gloves and eye protection not to mention the fixtures)
i hope someone has an easier solution but it may be a lost cause

SORRY

 

[Sean Kelly]

The floor grout (because it contains more sand) was easier to remove than the grout on the wall tiles. Do you think I should have used floor grout on the walls?. Everything just dried so quick.

 

[jay]

No floor grout is norm course in Finnish designed for wider joints the tiles you have fixed are a nightmare and take special attention ie masking tape to all joints to stop staining or a coat of sure seal spay on grout sealer over tiles to stop grout staining as you have . other replies may differ

 

[jay]

here you go http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CB8QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.laticrete.com.au%2Fpdf%2Fproduct_data_shts%2Fdatashts%2FLATICRETE_TC50.pdf&ei=GDAPTvjZF4PvmAXq5YGnDg&usg=AFQjCNHWVg_vXTb4dOvy8sckHHITxGMXlg

belive me wear gloves and eye protection

and it will take more than one go

 

[tommyzooom]

I had to clean tiles and intricate borders that had grout on them for 3 years, I used a grout remover (smp i think). I used it neat with a nail brush, scotch pad and a small screwdriver to get into all the corners of the borders. Came up a treat. Be sure to use gloves etc and open all the windows.

Feel for you bud, that looks like a nightmare

 

[Sean Kelly]

For a second there Tommy I thought it took you 3 years to clean them! I've spoken to a man from a tile cleaning company. He is coming with me to the customers home this afternoon.

 

[Sean Kelly]

Went to visit a man today that cleans tiles/carpets for a living. I brought a sample of my anti slip tile that I had grouted. The grout was about an hour old. The acid he used (not sure what type), fizzed away and he wiped the embedded grout off with a rag. He has the tile and will repeat the exercise tomorrow. I really hope this works.
The problem with these flippin tiles is that they are on the wall, and it is difficult to keep the acid from running onto the floor. Anyway, I will call him tomorrow and see how the experiment goes. He also said that any cleaning product that you can buy over the couter is not worth the money. I must admid that the Lithofin I used neat did not do much to shift my problem. Cheers Sean

 

[DHTiling]

You have to remember that over the counter products are used by DIY as well...

Brick acid is what will shift it..

 

[Sean Kelly]

Thanks Dave. Will investigate this one. cheers Sean

 

[user123]

Wow, what a pain! When I saw the first close-ups I thought, hey, that looks quite good, varnish the things with a good strong clear acrylic, don't clean them and a new look is born. 🙂 But from the distance it's not quite the same is it, oh dear. Brick acid sounds good and then there was that car tar and cement eater product, too, wasn't there, I'l see if I can find it now and edit it on if I can find it. What a daft idea to put antislip tiles on the wall though! Why?

Yes, found it, have never tried but it sounds really intruiging and a good thing to me... have a look, just in case the brick acid doesn't work the way you want it to:

Cement Remover

 

[Sean Kelly]

Gisela, I think they put the anti slip tiles on the wall for my benefit. Next time I see that bathroom again I will probably be climbing the walls! Cheers for your help. Sean

 

[user123]

Gisela, I think they put the anti slip tiles on the wall for my benefit. Next time I see that bathroom again I will probably be climbing the walls! Cheers for your help. Sean

You're in training as Spiderman then? :lol: Good luck with it, I think everyone who saw those pictures groaned inwardly... and let us know the outcome! Dave mentions brick acid quite a bit, doesn't he, might be useful to have around..

 

[Sean Kelly]

Can a Mod please move this thread to the Arms. Cheers Sean

 

[Sean Kelly]

Oh......I just tried moving it myself, and it worked.

I feel sick.

I spoke to a guy from a cleaning company and gave him a grouted sample tile. He was able to remove the grout the next day.

He just popped over to see the bathroom and has just phoned through his findings. He said it would probably be cheaper to remove & replace all the tiles!

These tiles cost £30 psm and I need 28sqm (might get away with less if I am able to clean the floor).

Then I thought that the shower screen is up, the bathroom cabinet is up, the vanity unit is in place – NIGHTMARE.

The other option is to have this guy try and clean the tiles. However, he does not know how long it would take him. He charges £300 a day plus mats (acids etc).

Third option is to buy some acid off him and try myself. He said he would not recommend this, but is willing to sell me the stuff.

I have quoted for 5 days work. I have spent 9 days on this job (most of them 10 hours per day). I have bought all the materials inc. metal trim @ £117. Total outlay £317 for mats plus 5 days labour @£160 a day.

I have tried my best to sort out this problem. I am now receiving emails from this woman saying that I should be going the extra mile to sort out these issues. She wants me to cancel all other work and concentrate on her. I am working 7 days a week as it is.

Some of the delay has been caused by the customer constantly changing her mind about trim, removable toilet & bath panels etc.

Believe me I have had sleepless nights regarding this job. I did have a feeling before I started this job, but I had a spare week and I thought that I would get it finished before my next job kicked in. My problems started when I took a closer look at the walls, one plasterboard wall curved around 2 batons. Two plastered walls that I was able to shave into flat walls, and one ply wall that should have been burned on a bonfire. I primed and tiled onto 12mm ply (for the bath panel). The next day it had bowed and I replaced with Hardiebacker. Plus, the tiles do not cut in a straight line. Anyway, the job is an absolute nightmare.

The customers said I can sort it out when I finish my next job, but now they want it sorted now. When I sent the cleaning man over at 17:30 this evening (a time arranged by both parties), the customers were not there. When he phoned them they said that they were in Homebase and would be there in 15 mins. He said he was not going to wait around so they said they could make it in 5 mins!

Is there anything I missed?? Is there anything else I can do?

One really sickening point is that I had insurance that I had not got round to renewing. The insurance company usually ring me, but I changed my number. What else could go wrong?

Time for a beer (5.7%) waiting for me in the fridge.

Cheers
Sean

 

[Stewart]

I would give brick acid a try with a stiff plastic brush. I would seriously soak the tiles with it then after several minutes and not allowing the area to dry, I would then work the area with the brush. I've used this method previously on porcelain tiles after being distracted while grouting a room and not coming back till the next day with three Walls still to wash down. I did have to fully re-grout, but it worked for me.

If that doesn't work, I would pull all the stops out to get the room re-tiled ASAP. This is your reputation on the line and the sooner you sort the problem, the better for your reputation. You may loose out financially, but that's the joys of being self employed and we all take a hit once in a while.

 

[user123]

I got stressed just reading it! Have you actually tried the brick acid yourself? Sorry if I missed that you had..

 

[Sean Kelly]

Cheers Stewart, I was searching for brick acid on the net. I could not find anywhere I could just walk in and buy it. The real problem is that these anti slip tiles are on the wall. The cleaning guy stated that trying to get the acid to stay on the wall was a bit of a problem. If the room needed retiling it would not be done by me. I am not going anywhere near these tiles again. If I have to remove them and replace them then so be it. I would replace them and deliver them to their door and walk away - sorry, but for me to retile with the same tile is not an option. Cheers Sean

 

[Sean Kelly]

Gisela, no. The cleaning man tried some acid, but then had to try some of his stronger acid. This stuff, when poured on the floor bubbles & fizzes lke acid from the James Bond films. I did not get the same reaction from the 'Cement Away'. If I could buy his acid then I will certainly give it a try. I bought a couple of extra lines on the lotto last night, but that just made me £2 worse off! The cleaning man said that anything you buy over the counter is no good. Maybe he just says that to everyone. If I could walk into Selco or B&Q or Wickes and buy brick acid I would, but I keep reading that all these stores sell the really diluted stuff. Cheers Sean

 

[user123]

You'll have to ask Dave where he gets his from, I don't know, sorry. :nonod:

But just googled and found this, what about this site? Brick Acid : UK Chemical Suppliers, Buy Chemicals Online might be worth giving them a ring?

 

[Ian]

Go into a proper builders merchants mate. Travis, Jacksons, Jewsons etc. They will be able to sell it to you in 5 or 25 litre tubs, I've used it before when I got SLC over a brand new patio and its just the job for this sort of task.

 

[Gazzer]

You can get brick acid from Machine mart, its not expensive either.

 

[Sean Kelly]

Thanks Sir Ramic, never heard of Machine Mart. Did a search and found a branch about 5 miles from where i'm working tomorrow! also did a search on their web for 'brick' and 'acid' but only found Nilfish brick/stone & wood cleaner 2.5l £14.39 is this the right stuff? Cheers Sean

 

[Gazzer]

Thanks Sir Ramic, never heard of Machine Mart. Did a search and found a branch about 5 miles from where i'm working tomorrow! also did a search on their web for 'brick' and 'acid' but only found Nilfish brick/stone & wood cleaner 2.5l £14.39 is this the right stuff? Cheers Sean

Dunno, I bought some a while back and it was just called brick acid /cleaner about £7 for 5ltr

 

[jay]

its called Hydrochloric acid over here http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&s...5LSxAw&usg=AFQjCNExM3hf1e42SmhSM8jn9qXKCOPaeg

or spirits of salts but be warned it can be nasty if you dont take care try a mix of 5 parts water to 1 part acid you can use a spray bottle to apply and scrub with a scrubbing brush make sure you wash it off well
hope this helps (watch your metal trims to)

 

[Sean Kelly]

spray bottle. now that's a very good idea Jay. Thanks for your advice. I'll pop into the Twickenham branch tomorrow Sir Ramic, I doubt it will be £7 tho!! Cheers Sean

 

[Gazzer]

Try this Brick and Mortar Cleaner - Cement Additives - Cement & Mortar -Building Materials - Wickes

 

[tommyzooom]

Sean,
Take a deep breath and relax, I'm sure you could clean that yourself if you have the right materials.
First forget about the DIY sheds and get yourself to a proper builders merchant for some heavy duty cement remover or brick acid. It will probably say to dilute it down to 5:1 or something, but you may need to keep it a stronger mix,
As has been said, don't let it dwell too long on metal trims though, I would maybe try the acid on an offcut of trim just in case

Thats how I cleaned mine, neat in a spray bottle and a scrubbing brush (I didn't tile it originally btw)

 

[Sean Kelly]

Thanks Tommyzoom, I'm just collecting info on the web about all these acids, and their different names and strengths. It's a minefield. We only sell 'high strength' acid, but they don't tell you the strength!! I don't want to keep buying stuff that does not work. Gisela's web link sells acid for £10 with £20 p&p. The cleaning guy said he could sell his 'high strength' acid to me for £60. I don't mind paying £100 if the stuff works. You are quite right Tommyzoon, having the right materials is the key to this dilemma. Cheers for your advice. Hopefully I will be posting a success story in a few days time.