Contractor sealed ceramic tile floor that didn't need sealing...

[Anonymous]

...and now we're left with a powdery white substance all over tile. I wasn't home when he did this, otherwise, I would have said something. Apparently, he applied sealer to the entire floor, not just the grout, and then he just let it all dry rather than wiping up the excess. So, after much scrubbing with warm water and a brush, I've gotten most of the white powder off, but my tiles are left looking dull and splotchy where they were originally glossy and rich looking. I am so pissed off.

Has this happened to anyone else and what did you use to get the sealer residue off? Is there anything I can put on the tiles to restore their shine? TIA.

[Anonymous]

You need something stronger than water to get off the sealer. Most are rather toxic , but try this product called Bean-e-doo. It's made from soybeans & is nontoxic. Not much of a smell. I have terrible chemical sensitivities & I was able to use it. You might also need the degreaser afterwards called Emerge.

You might be able to find it at Amicus, which is a great store in Kensington. Or order from Amazon.

I just looked at Amazon & they seem to call it Blue Bear now , but it's the same stuff. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Does your contractor know about the mistake? Tell him to come back and fix it (find a solvent that will remove the sealer and re-do only the grout)

[Anonymous]

Thanks, PPs. The contractor is out of town and not responding to emails. I took pictures of how awful it looked, to document everything, and I do expect him to fix it when he gets back. In the meantime though, I'll try your suggestions in a small area and see if I have any luck. Grrr.

[Anonymous]

There is an acid that you can buy from home improvement stores in the tile section. Maybe muriatic acid? Generally its for removing the residue from the grouting process, which does leave a difficult haze.
Is it possible that the haze is from the grouting and not the sealant? I think that sealant is relatively easy to wipe off.
Even if the tiles don't need to be sealed, the grout should generally still be sealed.

[Anonymous]

Don't touch it !

If you touch it you own it. Let him come back and fix it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't touch it !

If you touch it you own it. Let him come back and fix it.

I agree. The contractor is responsible for fixing his mistakes, but once you try anything, he is no longer responsible for undoing anything that you've done since. Just wait until he comes back and can schedule a visit to handle it. Until then, you just wait. That's the nature of contracting work.

[Anonymous]

I'd guess it is grout haze. Sealant wouldn't penetrate tile- ceramic tile is is non porous.
Have contractor come back and clean with acid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't touch it !

If you touch it you own it. Let him come back and fix it.

I agree. The contractor is responsible for fixing his mistakes, but once you try anything, he is no longer responsible for undoing anything that you've done since. Just wait until he comes back and can schedule a visit to handle it. Until then, you just wait. That's the nature of contracting work.

Yes, don't do anything. What if you inadvertently made it worse? Let the contractor see it and he will take care of it.

[Anonymous]

I agree it is probably grout haze. Wiping it off with vinegar should take care of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree it is probably grout haze. Wiping it off with vinegar should take care of it.

one part vinegar to 4 parts warm water