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Removing grout haze and excess grout sealant on porcelain tile.

Susan Heidebrecht

4 years ago

We recently had our master bathroom remodeled and had porcelain tile installed, matte finish on the floor and polished finish on the wall. I noticed some areas that looked like smudges when viewed at an angle. No textural difference or dirt. I was told this was grout haze. The contractor sent a guy out to remove it, and also seal grout. Well, after he left I went and took another look a couple hours later while the sun light was coming into the bathroom. Not only is the hazing still there, it looks like we now have invisible shoe prints (that can be seen when viewed from an angle) as well as some dirt smudging. I believe this is from the contractor's guy spraying the grout sealant and then walking on it. I was wondering if there are any recommendations for products to remove both the grout haze and the sealant that was tracked all over the floor tile. Or if there is a method for cleaning as well as a product. We spent good money on this remodel and I would like it to look new while it is new. Thank you in advance for your advice.

Comments (3)

PRO
Creative Tile Eastern CT
4 years ago
Do not touch it. Call the contractor back. If you use the wrong product that was recommended by a well intentioned forum user you will now own the problem. You should be left with a clean installation. That is what you paid all that money for.
Susan Heidebrecht thanked Creative Tile Eastern CT
Susan Heidebrecht
Original Author
4 years ago
Thank you. I will contact the owner and let him know. I will also request that they send someone else out to do the cleaning and not the guy that somehow seems to keep making things worse. This isn't the first time during this job that I had to call and have someone come out behind him to clean things up. Thank you for telling me that I should be left with a clean installation. Sometimes I feel like I am being that persnickety homeowner.
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What kind of tile are you putting in? I put ceramic in and had no problem with a haze, following the cleaning instructions. I have a marble strip (listello) and slate floor that I used spectralock on as well. With both, I used a stone sealer first, being careful not to get the sealer into the grout spaces. The sealer is supposed to act like a grout release. I had no haze on either of these stones, following the instructions in cleaning, that spectralock provides.
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I've recently used STT's SB Deluxe sealer (based on some rec's here on GW and from guys over on the JB forum) in two bathrooms, and on newly installed travertine tile throughout the ground floor of our home. We used it on grout, and on the tile itself; travertine, split face travertine mosaic/border tile, White Thassos Marble, as well as porcelain tile. No staining, discoloring, or darkening occurred as far as I could tell. Bonus is the lack of odor--minimal odor, if any. As for hazing, I personally found this to be the easiest sealer with which to work of the few I've used over recent years (somehow, I always get stuck doing the tile/grout sealing! LOL). The "new" application directions have you applying the sealer until the surface "glistens" and then you leave it alone for 3-8 hours, until all appears dry (small, quarter size spots of sealer might remain here and there). The surface is then buffed with a clean, dry, soft cloth to remove any residue. It really buffs off easily. Repeat the application as needed (for porous stone, for ex.). For glass/porcelain tile, you needn't seal the tile itself, of course. You can use a narrow sponge "brush" or rag/cloth wet with sealer to apply to the grout lines. You don't have to go nuts being careful to avoid getting the sealer on the tile itself, because it will buff off. The sealer didn't appear to leave a true haze on the tile surface, That is, it didn't leave a dried-on, almost impossible to remove haze like other sealers I've used have. Any non-absorbed excess remained "pliable" (for lack of a better word) enough to "wipe off" with the cloth. HTH!
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Very good tip. I use those thing all the time in my work.
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[URL=http://www.imagehosting.com/out.php/i1478003_messytile.JPG] [IMG]http://www.imagehosting.com/out.php/t1478003_messytile.JPG[/IMG][/URL]
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PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
4 years ago
No, removing grout haze is taught in Tile 101 class. No persnickety.
Susan Heidebrecht thanked Joseph Corlett, LLC

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