any experience staining/cleaning saltillo tile?

[tropheus]

my brother-in-law laid a bunch of saltillo tile then after walking on it (it took several days to finish laying it) he stained it and the stain doesn't take where they walked -- same with dog prints. The shoe prints and dog prints were not visible until after the stain was applied. Seems like an oil, rubber, ???, compound has effected the stain process.

Does anybody have any first hand experience with this problem or another similar problem and how it can be corrected before he seals the tile? He doesn't want to damage the look of the stain in the process. Also, adding more stain doesn't seem to help -- the shoe and dog prints remain.

I've done a little bit of googling for tile cleaners and there are some products for cleaning stubborn stains on saltillo tile, but none that talk about the effect of such cleaners on the already applied stain chemicals.

 

[NickDanger]

I don't have a good feeling about that. Do NOT do this because I'm just spitballing, but I'm guessing you are going to have to etch with acid and redo.

 

[EEE]

ask/search here: link

 

[tropheus]

thanks, I posted the same question there EEE. Nick, I am afraid that the acid could use of the reactivity of the tile -- I know it can have that effect on concrete.

 

[NickDanger]

Man, that could be a HUGE hickey. From my experience with wood, I've had stains that didn't take or were splotchy and the only decent results i got were from starting over and sandout all the old stain. Usually it was something crappy like pine or poplar. You can't sand off the tile. I feel for your bro. That's a lot of work.

I'd like to know how it turns out.

 

[tropheus]

there is a lot of stuff for cleaning oil stains and rubber stains from carpet mats out there on the internet, just no mention of how the cleaner might affect the stain.

There's got to be something.

 

[chuychanga]

John Bridge's forums are the first source for all tile questions.

I installed 600 sf of Saltillo in my home about 4 months ago. I didn't stain any of it, but I did use a sulfamic acid wash to get rid of the effloresence. It's available at Home depot. A lot of people use muretic (sp) acid too.

For a local source, there is a small shop that deals with Saltillo a lot up on North Lamar. I can't remember the name of the place, and I think it was not even in the phone book. It's on North Lamar way up near Walnut Creek Park. It's on the west side of the road and it's very small.and the building is almost hidden behind an oak tree. They also have a stone yard outside the building. The guys up there were super nice and they do Saltillo jobs all the time. It may be called Austin Tile Co. or Austin Tile Center or something like that.

They gave me some advice contrary to John Bridge (JB said to lay the tile wet and unsealed, then seal after grouting). The guys in Austin said that with today's products that wasn't necessary anymore and it's much harder that way. I wish I had listened to them. My floors would have been done weeks sooner and probably looked a little better.

Anyway, go find them and they will be able to help.

 

[horn4life]

Don't worry about your tile just volunteer to clear the sewer line at your borother-in-law's house and replace his hot water heater at the same time. Just connect wahtever line to whatever,,,,,,

It won't make your tile look better but I GUARANTEE you he will never screw up anything at your house again..

More seriously you shold have just wiped down the tiles before using the stain. like your would on any piece of wood.

 

[tropheus]

my brother-in-law laid saltillo tile at HIS house, I'm just trying to help problem solve.

 

[stupidgringo]

In reply to:

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[tropheus]

they went by that place, it's called Tile Center. They never heard of the problem gave a couple of suggestions, which my brother-in-law may try.