Can this floor be saved??? (Mexican Saltillo Tile Restoration)

[mclaire]

Patina is one thing, but this is ridiculous.

First post here. I've owned this house since '99 and since that time I've been desperate for good info on how to restore and maintain this floor (I live in New Hampshire - nobody in the Northeast can even spell Saltillo). Finally I think I found my resource. I spent all last night reading anything to do with Saltillo on this forum. Thanks!

I'm not going to get thru this in one post but let me start with some pictures and a couple questions.

1. Can this floor be restored completely? Are there limits? Has permanent damage been done by neglect?

2. Assuming it can be restored, (I'm betting it can) can the streaks and mottled look be removed? How?

3. Did somebody use Mira Matte here? Why the streaks? Can they be removed? Would whatever is left under the Mira Matte (assuming that is what this is) be something that can be dealt with in a better way?

4. Will stripping the floor with methylene chloride also remove the efflorescence? I had one guy tell me would remove it - but I have my doubts. By the way - I really don't want to go to methylene chloride. I tried it on a few tiles and I can't picture doing 500 sq ft of it.

5. I notice that some of the worst looking tiles don't show the nice gold streaks the rest of my floor has. Did somebody do something to permanently damage the tiles by trying to remove efflorescence and/or using Mira Matte or something else?

Enough for now, let's start with that. Thanks for all your help.



Mike

[Davestone]

Well,it actually looks good and raw to me.It's good that it doesn't show any signs of sealer.You won't have to worry about removing it.I don't se the streaks you're talking about,and don't worry about it being sealed with Mira Matte.The lack of gold you're referring to is inherent in these tiles..not all of them will have the gold,it has to do with the temperature of firing..the yellows received a different amount of heat,cause they were stacked on top each other while firing,no worries.Now,you've got a lot of efflourescence,which can be remover with 50% vinegar and water,and a scrub brush,or a product such as Klenzal,and a brush.It may take quite a bit of water to clean it, cause it may absorb a lot if it's virtually unsealed.Now after you've cleaned it you need to decide what look you want..a clear glazed look,a matte finish, or a natural look, here's a good site for cleaning info..http://www.stonetechpro.com/stonecar...k.html.....and here's a good site for sealer info...http://aldonchem.com/..and here..http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saltillo_tile

[mclaire]

Thanks for the encouragement.

I think you're right - it was never properly sealed. There are a couple of gallon jugs of Trewax in the basement - I think that was all that ever went on. Except for a big patch of the floor that looked to me like was covered with something like Mira Matte (just guessing, based on my reading of prior posts in this forum).

The streaks I'm talking about are shown in the bottom picture. See what looks like horizontal and vertical paint brush strokes? What do you think that's from?

[doitright]

Hi Mike, Welcome!

In addtition to what Dave said, I would do a TEST first. For the efflorescence removal, I suggest using an acidic product such as Stone Tech's Restore vs. KlenzAll (alkaline). It will then need to be neutralized with approximately a 33% solution of ammonia & water.

Does the floor bead any water, or does it suck up like a sponge?

If TreWax was used, that will have to be broken down.

Those brush marks are in the tile and probably highlighted from the TreWax.

[mclaire]

doitright: are you saying the brush marks are actually part of the tile itself? Some result of the way Saltillo tiles are made?


Mike

[doitright]

Hi Mike

Yep. More than likely you don't have very many of them. You probably have even fewer animal prints.

Remeber these are hand made without too much (if any) quality control.