Edumacated guesses please

[Mikey P]

Larry has had zero luck in moving the white off this tile. It's under a sink in this commercial setting. Under the urinals and in the showers look the same.

The tile is absorbent so the white disappears when wet. Acids have no effect. Cant scrap it off either.


My guess is there is or was an internal wall leak causing efflorescence. Seeing how it's 40 years old, the drips lines are from the 30 attempts from other Larrys in the past.


@Cameron DeMille
@ted mcfadden

 

[Cameron DeMille]

that almost looks like quarry tile. Might be damage on the surface. Coincidentally I just found some polish for porcelain and quarry tile yesterday. I already emailed the company asking about their products.

 

[Old Coastie]

Have you tried stripper? I lost out on 300 grocery stores because it took me too long to realize that the damty milk haze was actually bullet proof, slathered on with a broad axe, impenetrable sealer of some sort. Had it up the walls, over the grungy grout, halfway up the toilets...

And customers tromping right through the work zone like they'd been invited. Not that I'm bitter about it or anything.

 

[Mikey P]

Larry did try stripper..

 

[Old Coastie]

Paint stripper?

 

[clean image]

i agree , looks like quarry tile.

quarry has a texture, so it is bellow your razor attempts

i would try a mechanical, abrasive compound cleaner with a hand machine and hair pad

 

[dealtimeman]

What is the humidity like in that space?

 

[Mikey P]

@Ruff Hewn

 

[GCCLee]

if you seal over those will it disappear?

 

[Mikey P]

With an enhancer, possibly

 

[Captain America]

Try a heavy alcaline like firestorm or shorebest, but test first.
Almost looks like grout haze ???
I found a heavy alcaline gets rid of most of my grout haze.
Cap

 

[Dolly Llama]

Damn. ..didn't know Mike posted this

Anyway. .it's a National Guard armory
Bathroom andshower room

I'd guess the building was built in the late 60s/early 70s

Tried strong alkaline cleaner first.
Pressure wash
Then stripper then acid
Even tried CLR

nothing is touching it
Tried scraping
Tried abrasive scrung pads. .

When wet it's not so noticeable.
Throw the airmover on it and the white starts to show in short order

Tried a floor finish like sealer for stone. .made the not bad areas look nice but didn't do much for the white crap

No clue what to do

There's another bathroom we have to do this week. ..it's not near as bad
But would like to improve the other area any way we can

I'll try Mikes suggestions with the enhancer when we're back the there this week

LTA

 

[Mikey P]

Cover the enhancer in saran wrap right away. Smoosh it in real well

Leave it for a half hour

 

[Dolly Llama]

that almost looks like quarry tile.

it's looks like some kind of block , Cameron ..if that helps

..L.T.A.

 

[Dolly Llama]

that almost looks like quarry tile.

it's looks like some kind of block , Cameron ..if that helps


here's another pic

the block above is standard construction cinder block that's been painted .


..L.T.A.

 

[Dolly Llama]

BTW, the block on top is flush with the brown stuff
like any solid block wall .
It's not something that was set on/mastic'd too the cinder block

..L.T.A.