Pennsylvania Blue Stone

[Joe DiPalma]

Hi, I've recently had Pennsylvaia Blue Stone/ Flag stone insatlled on my Kitchen floor. The contractors who put it down used concrete to grout the stone. Dust and excess grout were left in the pores on the surface of the stone. They told me to use Tile lab stripper products to remove this and then seal the stone with Tile lab penetrating stone enhancer and sealer.

The grout never came out of the pores and the stone enhancer left the stone looking grey, dull and generally dirty.

I want to strip the sealer off the stone and start over. My goal was to bring out a deep rich color in the stone with a lusturous finish that looked like it had been polished with mineral oil. I did not want it to look grey, dull and fake.

Another contractor recommended I use fosforic acid to remove the cement from the pores of the stone. Then neutralize the acid. He told me to use Glaze and Seal Multipurpose sealer and then Glaze and Seal Matte Polish to finish it.

Is this good advice?

I am concerned that the Tile Lab penetrating sealer that is already on the stone will affect the Glaze and Seal products and should be removed.

Is there anything that will strip this penetrating sealer?

I am coming to you because the advise from my original contractor cost me a lot of time and money and effort with terrible results. I don't want to make the same mistake. Please let me know if you agree with the new advice or if you have a better suggestion. I really appreciate any help you can give. Thanks

Joe

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[Davestone]

Hi, Joe,what color, or colors of bluestone have ya got.A lot of yellow?Sometimes bluestone has more irons in it, and can turn reddish if acidic cleaners are used on it.Now i don't know what tile lab stripper is..i'll have to look it up,but it doesn't sound like the right stone cleaning solution.But you have the penetrating enhancer on it, now, and it should be stripped off before any rejuvination can begin.i will look up this product also...we don't use the tile lab products,but maybe you can read the back of the bottle to find info on stripping,meanwhile, don't use any more harsh chemicals on this beautiful stone,before we get you taken care of.This stone is rugged,but can be harmed,it's also not very receptive to sealers sometimes. :bow: :)

[Davestone]

Well, the stripper seems o.k. for cleaning..did you agitate with a brush and use clean water rinses to remove the debris you got off? I still haven't been able to find a proper stripping technique,but it is a water based product with silicone...this makes it hard to get off.

[doitright]

Hi Joe, Welcome! :)

I would call Tile Lab Technical Assistance and ask them. The only thing I can think to try is a methelyne chloride based product. Jasco and Prosoco have such strippers available. If it works, it's a nasty proposition. You need to wear safety gear to include respirator, eye protection, neoprene gloves, and plenty of ventilation. Most people won't even mess with it.

I don't think phosphoric acid will be strong enough to remove the concrete. You may need a stronger acidic product. As Dave suggests, you need to do a test first. I've also seen the iron react with acid.

If you can get the floor to a state that is satisfactory, and will accept new products, the Glaze 'n Seal is a good product. Stone Glamor is another.

[Joe DiPalma]

Thanks for the quick reply and advice. I followed the instructions on the Tile Lab bottle. I used a Gong brush and agitated, let it sit but not dry. then I rinsed and repeated.

The colors of the stone are purples, reds and blues. I haven't noticed any yellows in it. The colors of the stone look nice when its wet. But when its dry it just looks grey.

I will give Tile Lab a call and see what they suggest. Methelyne chloride is out of my league. I have a 9 month old crawling around and my wife is expecting again. So I'd rather not mess with the harsh stuff.

It really is beautiful stone, I only hope I haven't ruined it with the wrong products.

Thanks again

[Steven Hauser]

Hi Joe,

You haven't ruined it. No worries.

Psst come a little closer.. OK it's like this. The guy shoulda gotten the grouting material out of the crevices for an interior installation but didn't. Outside they usually don't worry about it.

OK what to do? Well if you like the floor wet and the grout doesn't bother you either, then I would wash the floor real well because it sounds dirty.

Once you have it clean enough so that the water doesn't get dirty when you mop it, let it dry thoroughly. How to know if it is dry enough? Take a paper towel ind press it onto the grout joint. If it dampens even a little wait.

Once done use something like the Glaze 'n Seal John talked about. It'll make the floor look good (like it is wet) and easier to clean.

You can always strip it later when the young 'uns are old enough to do for ya.

Best wishes,

[Joe DiPalma]

Thanks, I'll do that and let you know the results. Thanks alot!

[doitright]

Hi Joe :)

If you use a wet vac during the cleaning process, it will do a better job quicker. :nod: