Saltillio Restoration - Green pad bleeding onto grout

[JDA10]

I was following the below quoted directions from an earlier post. It has taken me quite a while to get where I am and I'm almost ready to re-seal. My problem is that as soon as I started with the Lacquer wash, I had bleeding of the green pigments in the pad onto the tile and grout. I continued and the bleeding stopped, but the initial place where I started still has the green stain. How do I get rid of it. I definitely don't want to seal that in. Just to answer the first question you might ask, yes it is a 3M pad.

thanks,

Marty


"If a urethane was used, or the tiles came pre-sealed (same thing), a solvent-based stripper is in order. Specifically, Methylene Chloride. Sunnyside Glue & Adhesive Remover is about as good as it gets, as far as a DIY accessible product goes. You can usually find it at True Value Hardware.

Apply a thick coat to a small area (say 4 tiles, or so, until you get the hang of it)
Let dwell for at least 10 minutes, but no more than 20 minutes
Splash some water on it
Start scrubbing with a stiff nylon brush
Pull the mess to the side, out of your way
Splash some more water on it
Scrub with a green pad (I prefer 3M #86 or #96, because I’ve not had the green color bleed from these pads before…well not much at least…they’re the best)
Wet-vac
Let dry completely
Repeat (maybe…we’re looking for the tile to darken, immediately, when wet with water. If it doesn’t get dark right away, repeat the stripping process)

Once the seal is gone, you’ll Lacquer wash the floor. This will cleanup the residue left from the stripper and help further remove any stains. The stripper will, at best, remove the oil stains. Worst case, the stripper will lighten them a little. The Lacquer Thinner will help, more. Dip a green scrub pad into some Lacquer Thinner and start scrubbing. Open all windows and place fans so you get a strong, constant air flow. Turn off any pilot lights!!"

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[JDA10]

The lacquer thinner is also leaving behind a white film in places. Do I wipe this with a clean damp cloth? If not what is the best way to get rid of the white film?

thanks again,

Marty

[doitright]

Hi Marty :)

Just curious. Were you able to locate the specific number 3M pads, or did you just use the ones from a local retailer?

Did the bleed through occur with the rinse or the chemical agitation?

What chemical were you using for the stripping?

If it was a Methelyne Chloride base, you can probably reapply, let dwell, apply some water, agitate with brush, and pic up residue with wet vac, final rinse, agitate with brush, pick up solution with wet vac.

Or, you could do a TEST with acetone.

[JDA10]

The pads were green 3M either #86 or 96, I don't remember which. I just remember seeing one of those numbers because I was specifically looking for them. The bleed came when I was doing the lacquer wash and it was only the obvious with the first tile or two.

I'm also getting a slight yellow discoloration in the grout near the yellower tiles. Should I avoid scrubbing the grout altogether?

Marty

[doitright]

Hi Marty :)

I would scrub with a brush vs. the pads. Try doing some TESTing with other products (specifically acetone or a MC based stripper).

[JDA10]

I already did two applications of the methylene chloride. I'm at the cleaning phase right now just prior to re-sealing. I thought this was supposed to clean up any residual MC solutions that may have dried and stayed on the surfaces.

Marty

[doitright]

The problem is if the solution is not totally removed when it is wet, you'll have to soften it again.

[JDA10]

So i only need to worry about cleaning with the lacquer if there is visual residue?

[doitright]

Hi Marty :)

Let's back up a minute. I'm guessing your stripping saltillio tile, or something similar? You never mentioned it specificaly in your thread.

Can you post a picture of where you're at now?

What happens when you dampen the floor? Does it darken evenly?

What finish or sealer do you intend on using, after it's clean?

[JDA10]

OK, sorry I guess I assumed a few things as I was starting out asking the questions. I followed the above directions from another thread that I copied into my first post in this thread. is an outdoor porch with Saltillo tile. I spent the last month stripping the tile on two applications with the Methylene chloride. According to the above directions, after stripping (yes the tile immediately turns color when water is dripped on it) it was recommended to do a lacquer wash. I assumed that this was to get any chemicals up that were still in the tile. As I was going with the MC, I vacuumed up pretty good, so I really don't have that much residue that I can actaully see. Anyway, I thought this was a quick and easy last step before starting the sealing, and as soon as I started I ran into other problems.

I hope this helps clarify. I can send a picture if you still want more details.

Thanks again,

Marty

[doitright]

Hi Marty :)

Pictures are always good. Personally, I've never done a lacquer wash after using MC.

I suggest you rename this thread to something with the word saltillio in it. We have a couple of regulars that specialize in that stuff. One is Brian Yager, and the other is Hector.

If you have trouble editing the thread, let me know, and I'll give you a hand.

[JDA10]

Hi John,
I tried changing the title of the first message, but the thread name didn't change. Is there a trick?

Marty

[doitright]

Hi Marty :)

By the powers vested in me - Done! :nod:

[JDA10]

John,
Thanks for the title change.

From our conversation today here is what I gather. If I have used the MC correctly and cleaned as I went, I probably don't need to do the Lacquer wash. Because Saltillo is not necessarily your area of expertise we are awaiting someone else to chime in to confirm. My bottom line is that I did the Lacquer wash on a portion of my newly stripped tile and I have two problems.

First - In a couple of isolated areas I have green discoloration to the grout because of the green pad.

Second - In some other areas I have other discoloration to the grout due to the lacquer darkening it and it appears from powder from the tile from cleaning.

I'd like to scan the rest of the tile and ensure that there is no MC residue and start the sealing process. What do I need to do to get rid of the discoloration I've encountered?

Thanks again,

Marty

[doitright]

I'll see if I can ping one of the other guys for you.

[B. Yager]

The green pad is bleeding into your tile, doesn't matter whose pad it is they can bleed, always best to use a brush. The pad also took off the top thin layer of the saltillo, the green areas you can try to sand lightly to get out the green.
The best way to get out the dust and green from the grout is to use a pressure washer, I use an adjustable at 800-900 psi saltillo dust is worse than drywall dust and it will dye everything saltillo red that it gets on. Than let it dry out for 3-4 days, best bet is to use Aldon's Mexiglaze 87% MC as carrier for the sealer no worries with anything left over form cleaning.
Check my website www.desertstonecare.com the exterior pictures of saltillo have Mexiglaze on them.
Where are you located?

[JDA10]

I'm in Tucson. I have a very small area that is discolored green from the pad. It all came from the Lacquer wash. The green still lingers around those couple of tiles. It's only around three or four tiles and it's in the grout. I can't imagine renting a pressure washer just for that. The dust from the tile seemed to come up when I used the brush and some water. Before that it was actually looking pretty good, I just thought I needed to lacquer wash to rid the tile of any residual chemicals from the methylene chloride. Since I don't really see any residual anywhere and it caused me so many problems, I don't plan on doing the lacquer wash anymore. When I was doing the Lacquer wash, the parts that were in the sun immediately evaporated and didn't cause too many problems. Where I washed in the shade, the grout got darker in color and remains so 24 hours later. Will this show when I seal it, or will it blend because it's all oil base substances?

As far as the sealer goes, I went to a local chemical dealer here and am planning on using what they recommended for sealing which is ICA Super Sealer #30 diluted with about 50% xylene. Any recommendations against this? I know there are a ton of products and everyone seems to have their favorites. I just want to know if this one is known for problems.

I have an addition adjacent to the porch which I just stripped where I will be laying new tile. I plan to use the ICA super sealer diluted a bit with xylene for a grout release and then the ICA super sealer #30 to top coat. Again, any recommendations against this?

thanks,

Marty