We just had ceramic tile installed in our kitchen/dining rooms. The tile is
white with a cream mixture. 2-3 days after installation gray has started
appearing on the corners and sides of a lot of the tiles. I have tried
bleach with steel wool. Nothing seems to work!! Is this the nature of the
tile? Is this what it is supposed to do? Any advice welcome....

Thanks,

Meleah

Is it in the grout, or in the tile itself?

--
gabriel

It is in the tile itself.

Thanks!!

"gabriel" wrote in message
ervers.com...
Is it in the grout, or in the tile itself?

--
gabriel

Meleah Foreman wrote:

It is in the tile itself.

Hmmm... Did the installer apply sealer to the grout and tile edges? If
they did not, you might as well do it. As to how to remove the grey from
the tile edges, I would not know how to do that. Try very carefully to
scrape it off if normal cleaners do not remove it.

If you decide to apply sealer, make sure you follow directions, and do not
apply too much of it (or wait too long to remove the excess), otherwise too
much sealer also causes grey-looking splotches.

--
gabriel

The installer did say they were going to apply "satin sealer" but have not
yet. The gray started appearing soon after the tile was installed (2-3 days)
It has been 4 weeks since the installation. When should they have applied
the sealer?

Thanks!

Meleah

"gabriel" wrote in message
ervers.com...
Meleah Foreman wrote:

It is in the tile itself.

Hmmm... Did the installer apply sealer to the grout and tile edges? If
they did not, you might as well do it. As to how to remove the grey from
the tile edges, I would not know how to do that. Try very carefully to
scrape it off if normal cleaners do not remove it.

If you decide to apply sealer, make sure you follow directions, and do not
apply too much of it (or wait too long to remove the excess), otherwise
too
much sealer also causes grey-looking splotches.

--
gabriel

Gabriel,

Is there a difference in tile according to the price you pay? For instance,
a more expensive tile would not turn gray?

Thanks again, Meleah
"Meleah Foreman" wrote in message
...
The installer did say they were going to apply "satin sealer" but have not
yet. The gray started appearing soon after the tile was installed (2-3
days)
It has been 4 weeks since the installation. When should they have applied
the sealer?

Thanks!

Meleah

"gabriel" wrote in message
ervers.com...
Meleah Foreman wrote:

It is in the tile itself.

Hmmm... Did the installer apply sealer to the grout and tile edges? If
they did not, you might as well do it. As to how to remove the grey
from
the tile edges, I would not know how to do that. Try very carefully to
scrape it off if normal cleaners do not remove it.

If you decide to apply sealer, make sure you follow directions, and do
not
apply too much of it (or wait too long to remove the excess), otherwise
too
much sealer also causes grey-looking splotches.

--
gabriel

Meleah Foreman wrote:

The installer did say they were going to apply "satin sealer" but have
not yet. The gray started appearing soon after the tile was installed
(2-3 days) It has been 4 weeks since the installation. When should
they have applied the sealer?

If I remember correctly, I applied my sealer right after the grout fully
cured, so I'm thinking 3 or 4 days...

I don't think there's a time limit, though, just that if you get dirt
embedded in the grout before applying the sealer, the dirt will stay
there after the sealer is applied.

Definitely I would call the installer. This might turn out to be not a
big deal, specially if the installer also cleans the floor as it is right
now (I would push them to do it, since they waited so long to apply the
sealer).

--
gabriel

Meleah Foreman wrote:

Is there a difference in tile according to the price you pay? For
instance, a more expensive tile would not turn gray?

I do not think so, although I am not in the tile industry (just a do it
yourselfer). From my limited experience, I'd say it is easier to get tiles
ditry that way on the cut edges. If you have whole tiles, maybe they do
not have the blotch on the non-cut edge? Anyway, that's just a hunch.

Maybe there's someone else who knows more than I that can answer this?

--
gabriel

"Meleah Foreman" wrote in message
...
We just had ceramic tile installed in our kitchen/dining rooms. The tile
is
white with a cream mixture. 2-3 days after installation gray has started
appearing on the corners and sides of a lot of the tiles. I have tried
bleach with steel wool. Nothing seems to work!! Is this the nature of the
tile? Is this what it is supposed to do? Any advice welcome....

Thanks,

Meleah

On the outside chance that what you are seeing is a little bit of grout that
is on top of the tiles, try a little vinegar on a scrubby kind of sponge. I
would not use steel wool for risk of scratching the surface. Tile stores
have better cleaners than vinegar, but I would try the vinegar first and see
if that attacks the film. Do not get too generous with the vinegar in the
grout lines as it will attack those as well.

Charlie