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Ceramic and Porcelain Tile cleaning Expert Answers installation Maintenance Optical Haze Stains Wet Areas
Who caused the stains on my Porcelain Tile, The Installer or the Tile Manufacturer?
QUESTION
I have just had my bathroom renovated and once the tiling was done with a matt finish porcelain tile (light of colour) I was left with streaks and drips that where very noticeable when the light hit them at night. I repeatedly asked the supplier to clean the walls after the job and they took about 2 weeks to address this.When they did eventually turn up to clean them they realized the job was quite hard. They had used an epoxy grout and every chemical (used many and even sanded the tile - as I cam hime to a light dust in the bathroom) they used did not get these stains off them. The stains however did dull down and are now only visible when the bathroom has condensation on the walls. They have told me this was not an installation error but is a tile error. I don't know who my complaint should be with, the tile manufacturer or the installer. Could you help with what you think the most likely cause would be. Thank you so much in advance
ANSWER
ANSWER - I am guessing that you had a through-body/unglazed porcelain tile since you said it was a matte finished porcelain tile and you said that the installers were able to grind the surface to try to remove the stains.Because you said that the tile had streaks and drip-like stains, it is possible that the installer used a corrosive acid, like muriatic acid, to clean the cement film off of the tile after they installed it, and the acid etched the the tile surface. If drips of an acid solution is left on the tile without rinsing right away it is possible it etched the surface. Etching is where the tile surface is chemically transformed and can't be cleaned.
On the other hand, there is a condition called Optical Haze that can occur on polished through body tiles. This is where the manufacturer did not properly polish the tile and you see a blotchy or streak-like condition on the tile when you look under certain direct lighting conditions. It can not be removed without re-polishing the tile. If your tile has a slight hone finish to it maybe that could be it.
If you have extra tile left over, which we call attic stock, take some of those pieces and look at them under various lighting conditions. If you see the same types of drips and streaks, then that would suggest it was a manufacturing problem. If the tiles don't have those conditions, then it would suggest the installer or someone else caused the condition.
2 thoughts on “Who caused the stains on my Porcelain Tile, The Installer or the Tile Manufacturer?”
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We have a major problem with our polished porcelain floors that just occurred after one of the tile were replaced. I have had four contractors come in and try to resolve the issue by doing sample cleaning methods with no success. However, no one seems to have a clue as to why this occurred. At the same time, no one appears to really know much about this kind of tile. In the answer above, you are the first to use the term through body, the other contractors didn’t even know what that is. I would pay to speak with an expert that could either tell me what to do to resolve or even why this would occur in the first place.
Although you didn’t describe what the issue was with the polished porcelain tile, I will offer some insight to trouble shooting the issue. First you need to understand what has caused the problem. Generally speaking the condition that you want to remediate is the symptom of the problem, and not the problem itself.
Polished porcelain tile has had issues where due to the poor polishing of the throughbody (unglazed) porcelain tile by the manufacturer, that you can get a condition called Optical Haze. This is where under certain light reflection conditions you get an undesirable appearance that looks like a discoloration of sorts.
Since you indicate that the problem didn’t occur until a tile was replaced, it sounds like you might have a mortar or grout or epoxy haze, or that the tile has been etched from using too corrosive of an acidic cleaner to remove the haze.
Some cementitious haze conditions can typically be removed during the installation and grouting process by cleaning the tile surface from the cementitious thinset or grout as they install each day in a timely manner. Some can just be buffed off with cheesecloth if timed correctly right after the installation. Some can be removed with an acidic solution of vinegar in water. If the thinset or grout have been latex or polymer modified then an appropriate alkaline cleaner could remove the haze. If it is an epoxy grout or thinset haze, then it may require an appropriate alkaline stripper or other methods.
If in fact it is a haze of one type or the other, we have seen where using a neutral detergent water solution with an additive like Simple Green, can be applied to the floor. Then broadcast silica sand over the floor then use a commercial buffer scrubber or a scrub brush with an extended handle to scrub the floor. You would never us this method on a natural stone or ceramic tiles that can be scratched. Whatever you do, you have to first test an out of the way spot to make sure it will provide you with acceptable results.
If in fact the tile has been etched from a too corrosive acid, then the only solution is to repolish it with diamond pads and polishing methods. Natural Stone restoration companies who restore natural stones like granite that are very hard can use the same tools, methods, and process to repolish the tile. Of course, it should be done by a professional and of course it costs money to do so.
Bottomline you have to go through a trouble shooting process to determine what will work to what degree and whether it is acceptable to you. There are no guarantees in trying to find an acceptable remedy.