Expert Answers
Why does my glazed tile have Dark Spots when it gets wet?
QUESTION
Why does my glazed tile have Dark Spots when it gets wet? - We recently acid (phosphoric and soap - mild concentration) cleaned a tub surround and regrouted. No problems. However, when the client uses the shower, dark spots appear on the tile itself. I ran a finger nail and a razor blade over the area, the glazing is still smooth. After it drys, the spots go away.The spots look like paint drips. Any clues as to whats going on? Never in 20 years of doing this have I ever seen this.ANSWER
ANSWER - Based on what you said, it sounds like the glaze surface has some porosity. I have seen some imported glazed tiles absorb and leave wet spots that will later dry out. I would get a penetrating sealer and apply over it, but make sure you buff it dry after 5 minutes with a lint free cloth. The sealer will need to be reapplied when it wears off.4 thoughts on “Why does my glazed tile have Dark Spots when it gets wet?”
Comments are closed.
Hello
I have light grsy ceramic tile that had a woodrn floor appearance. There are dark circular areas throughout 60% of the tiles. The circles are all yhe same size and color. what is causing this?
Without seeing those conditions I can’t comment. What you describe doesn’t sound normal. Maybe the tile has been abused that caused the condition from a vacuum or other piece of equipment. I would compare it to the manufacturer’s or supplier’s displays or brochures and see if that is a normal characteristic. Of if it wasn’t like that before it was installed then something happened. Maybe a corrosive acid was used to clean it and it etched the surface.
The only way to know for sure is to do a laboratory petrography evaluation to look for evidence of what may have caused the condition.
I vacuum every day to get rid of tiny black dots that come into my home and if I dont vacuum, they dig a tiny hole into my ceramic tile and pour a shiny liquid over itself that cannot be removed. You can see the speck but you cannot feel it due to whatever it pours over itself. This bug just started burrowing itself, didnt do it before.
I am not sure what kind of ceramic tile that you have, but I have never heard of a bug burrowing into a ceramic tile. If it is a high fired ceramic tile whether glazed or unglazed I don’t think it is possible for an insect to burrow into it. Maybe if it is a hand made sun heated clay tile that is somewhat soft and can degrade then in theory maybe insects could burrow into it. I guess the solution is to vacuum as soon as possible to prevent the insects from burrowing into the ceramic floor tile.