Grout Haze on Dark Porcelain Tile?

[hamie1]

Just had installed Florida Tile - Berkshire HD . It's a dark wood look tile. After tile was laid I saw some spots I wanted to clean up. Used vinegar and water. That left a worse haze. Contractor brought over a grout dehazer. That made an even worse discoloration on the tile. I'm at my wits end trying to figure out how to get my tiles looking right. The area is smack right in the middle of my living room and it looks awful. The floor is a month old. I've read the forum and it seems most say use vinegar and hot water, or a scrub brush and other things. I've used everything recommended and the floor is still bad. Do you have any other suggestions - or in the alternative, rather than using a product, can a few planks that are discolored be removed without compromising the rest of the tiled area? S O S Please.

[hamie1]

I posted this on another thread but maybe it belongs here.

Here it is

Just had installed Florida Tile - Berkshire HD . It's a dark wood look tile. After tile was laid I saw some spots I wanted to clean up. Used vinegar and water. That left a worse haze. Contractor brought over a grout dehazer. That made an even worse discoloration on the tile. I'm at my wits end trying to figure out how to get my tiles looking right. The area is smack right in the middle of my living room and it looks awful. The floor is a month old. I've read the forum and it seems most say use vinegar and hot water, or a scrub brush and other things. I've used everything recommended and the floor is still bad. Do you have any other suggestions - or in the alternative, rather than using a product, can a few planks that are discolored be removed without compromising the rest of the tiled area? S O S Please.
__________________

[Lakee911]

Have you considered a rug?

Please post a pic of the trouble spot.

[Stone Dude]

How about some pictures of the affected area, up close and from a distance, and a picture of an area you are not experiencing these problems in.

[hamie1]

Will try to figure out how to get a photo on here. I am thinking since the tiles are High Def is it possible that the vinegar and/or the grout haze ate through the color?

[hamie1]

Not considering a rug My home was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy. I had carpets and tile - wanted to go another route - I love ceramic tiles. I just don't need this extra issue now - it was hard enough rebuilding -

[Houston Remodeler]

Vinegar should not have eaten through the tile or the glaze.

Use the paper clip icon at the top of the reply box to insert pictures.

We'll wait. The floor isn't getting any worse while you figure out how to give us a look see at your floor.

[Davestone]

At this point i would try using a razor blade and see if that removes anything.Then some Pine Sol,straight.Maybe even Barkeepers friend.If nothing works it might be rub marks from shipping.
Yes, it can be removed if needed.I've seen things like this never get remedied.

[hamie1]

[hamie1]

I got the photo up. It doesn't look bad in the photo - however in person it looks like the area where the lighter planks are have no color in them and where my guy put on the grout haze cleaner you can see the circular motion used to put it on.

More info if it will help. The first grout color the installer used came out mixed color - light and dark. It wasn't one color where he grouted. I complained and he redid the grout using the color Raven which is black but came out coffee looking. He applied the second grout over the first grout he put in a few weeks before. Could that be the problem - overgrouting?
When I wipe the grout on the floor I am still getting up the grout color on my paper towel and also on our feet. Should the grout color come up when rubbed? It's been way over a month the floor was installed.

Again, thanks.

[Davestone]

I would use the Pine Sol.It will break down any remaining acid.
The grouting he did will come off.You have to remove grout so the new grouting will stay in place.It is too thin.

[Davestone]

If the problem is cement based the acid will break it down.If the tile is susceptible to acid etching it will ruin the finish if it is too strong.Vinegar is not very strong.After cleaning it needs to be rinsed with something alkaline,like Pine Sol.
If after a couple cleanings it still looks bad it can be torn out and redone.

[Tesara]

Ellen, ceramic tiles should not discolor with vinegar. Take a few pieces and drop them in a vinegar solution and other solutions and see if they discolor with regular cleaning products and if they do then call the manufacturer... It is likely that you will need to replace those tiles if they are defective...

It is possible that the tiles had a temporary wax like coating on them to make them look good which would have gotten dissolved with your solution and if all of the tiles get exposed, the sheen would disappear and that would be have been their actual factory sheen...

[ceramictec]

I agree with Tesa, those plank tile are durable and I have installed
thousands of feet with it and never had a problem with any cement
grout leaving a haze. actually the tile clean off really easy.

did they use a urethane or a pre-mixed grout in a bucket ?


here's the Berkshire Maple with Laticrete PermaColor Espresso.

cleaned up real easy.

[hamie1]

Thanks for your responses. The VP of the tile store came out today to see about the floor. He said he spoke to the rep for the grout company which is Tec and brought along a few things to maybe clear up the problem. I actually forgot what he used but whatever it was didn't really solve the problem. He did get a little color back on the tiles but there is still discoloration. He told me he'll dig further into this and hopes to have an answer for me next week. The weird thing is...............I thought the tiles had a sheen. When he took out a box that I had left over from the job, the tiles in that box were matte. So now I don't know if the sheen is right or maybe my tiles should have all been matt. I would love to know if you have used Florida tiles is there a sheen to it or not. I am going to go to the store to see their display over the weeked but I am really curious if the tiles are irregular. Hopefully I'll have an answer soon.