Outside Saltillo White Residue Removal

[tom arma]

I have installed Saltillo in an ouside courtyard. Around the fountain over time a heavy white salt residue has begun to accumulate. It was sealed with an oil sealer just about 1 and 1/2 years ago The water is very hard where I am. What can I use to remove it complelely? The sealer seems to have worn off
around the rest of the courtyard, because it no longer has that deep color it had when first sealed.

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[Davestone]

That's efflorescence and sealer tends to inhibit it's progression.I would suggest a cleaner for this and reseal,o course,but any more water may cause more efflorescence to come out.Stonetech and Aquamix have efflorescence removers and basic heavy duty cleaners.

[tom arma]

If I were to try muriatic acid to remove the efflorescence what kind of concentration should I start at? Or.. is it just not recommended for saltillo?
Thanks

[Davestone]

A heavy duty tile and grout cleaner would be better Tom, that acid is gonna do things to your tile and grout.You could use it diluted and get the efflorescence off, but your tile won't be cleaned of the other contaminents, and that's what you need to do so you can seal it again to help keep the efloresence from coming back out.Remember moisture causes the migration of efflorescence,after the moisture leaves it dries up, and sometimes causes little pops in your tile,little holes.

[tom arma]

Thanks for the advice Dave, I guess I'll try Restore®