Whatcha know bout dis? Tile Question

[WillS]

See text message below from customer.

The tile installer will not call them back anymore. Rough residue on the tile. She is saying it is grout residue but I am not sure. I asked for pictures, she didn't have any. Asked me to stop by the empty house and look at it when we had time. Any ideas on what this maybe or suggestions I can give to her? Or something we can do?

 

[Old Coastie]

Will, removing cementatious grout is easy, but do NOT use muriatic acid.

Go get Viper Renew from your Interlink supplier, or a non-fuming concrete brightener/etcher from your local chemical pimp. Dab it on the tile with a sponge, let it fizz and soften and periodically poke it with a plastic scraper to help break it up.

Ventilate well

Use a wet vac or your hard surface wand to suck it up, repeat as needed. At the end, slosh something alkaline to neutralize things, rinse and there you are.

You can get rid of some real crusty slops that way. However if he used an epoxy grout, you need to use acetone, and good ventilation.

How to tell the diff? Drop acid and if it foams it is cement.

 

[WillS]

What do you mean by dab it? Can you spray it with a pump sprayer and let it sit? Doing it by hand with a sponge could be a lot of work with 600 - 800 sq. ft.

 

[Old Coastie]

The key is that you don't want to uneccesarily damage the grout lines. So yes, a pump sprayer held low over each tile would work.

Do a section at a time. Wear an acid fume respirator if you love your lungs. Charge handsomely, at least a dollar a foot. It will take you all day.

 

[WillS]

.... and you can't use a 175 w a white pad or something sponge like soft to peel it off?

 

[Mikey P]

He may be a social media retard but he's correct on this matter.

 

[Old Coastie]

Wait until I photoshop Bambi splattered on your front bumper.

 

[JS41035]

Great advice. I did a job very similar for my cousin and his wife. Used the viper acid stuff. I agree with all of the above. Don't use a 175. Will make a mess. A small stiff brush is ok. Do small areas.

 

[Nate The Great]

What do you mean by dab it? Can you spray it with a pump sprayer and let it sit? Doing it by hand with a sponge could be a lot of work with 600 - 800 sq. ft.

When your talking to people under 35yo you need to clarify a dab...

 

[Cleanworks]

A little dab will do ya.

 

[Old Coastie]

Dippity-do? Brylcreme?

 

[Cleanworks]

Yabba Dab a Doo.

 

[WillS]

You said $1 per sq ft. I told her about .50c per sq ft. She said she found someone to do all 800 sq ft. And seal it for $120. Good luck to her.

 

[Cleanworks]

You said $1 per sq ft. I told her about .50c per sq ft. She said she found someone to do all 800 sq ft. And seal it for $120. Good luck to her.

Her cheapness is what got her in that mess in the first place.

 

[dealtimeman]

Would have to agree Foshizzallmynizzel.

 

[Mikey P]

You said $1 per sq ft. I told her about .50c per sq ft. She said she found someone to do all 800 sq ft. And seal it for $120. Good luck to her.

the sealer comes out of the 2nd jet Mam...

 

[Old Coastie]

Will, the lowball will go in with a metal scraper and muriatic acid.

When he is done, there will be an acid residue on everything, from fumes condensing. The chrome and stainless fixtures will be damaged; rust dots on stainless, a sort of gun blueing on the chrome. The grout lines will be visibly cheesed out and they may need to be refilled.

I wish you got the bid, but file all this away for the next time. BTW, your price was a very generous one.

 

[WillS]

Exactly why I love the board. If I can't use the info now, I now have the knowledge to respond right away to the next customer with the issue. Thanks again!