Browse Forums Flooring & Floor Covering Re: Caution Porcelain Tiles 21Jan 13, 2009 6:39 pm They look good. Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Re: Caution Porcelain Tiles 22Jan 13, 2009 6:52 pm Michelle Taffy I am very fussy about marks as well, and have just read that these show up everymark. And every footprint. Oh, but they look soooo good!!! I LOVE mine - polished AND unpolished!!! Solidarity, not solidity.......The Lexicon of Life Re: Caution Porcelain Tiles 24Jan 13, 2009 8:22 pm Hi grout perfect.
You quoted we are seeing more and more problems with porcelain tiles. What sort of problems are you seeing. Do you think it could be safer to stick with the tried and tested ceramic tile? Know where your going in life............... you may already be there Re: Caution Porcelain Tiles 25Jan 15, 2009 8:52 pm By looking at some of the highly polished porcelain tiles on the market today, its easy to assume they will be slippery. Water or a fresh mopping will certainly make them a bit slippery, but not to the point that you can easily slip and break your head.
The main culprits for making (any) tiles slippery are soap, oils and human moisture (don't ask how that gets there!). As for wet areas like shower bases, if you are using relatively large tiles like 450's or 600's, then it is advised to laser cut them into smaller sizes (say 100 or 150's) so you have more grout in the area to give extra grip. Make sure you laser cut and not hand cut as hand cuts will create sharp edges, not good for exposed feet in a shower! Re: Caution Porcelain Tiles 26Jan 16, 2009 7:00 am Hi Taffy
The main problems we are seeing is what we like to call China haze not all polished pocelains have it but they are out there and you will not even know until the wax is removed. China haze comes from a defect in how the tile was made some are due to a polishing defect where only certain parts of the tile are polished and some are not. The other one is what we call reduction flash from the kiln the haze is only seen in certain light coming into the home it looks terrible stay away from cheap china imports and if buying make sure the tiler puts down 6 tiles in the light have a look and see if unsure tell him not to lay. Remember the tile shops will not open the boxes they do not know either until there laid and wax is removed but when there layed it is to late i love polished porcelain I would buy it anyday just cover yourself get it in writing from the dealer hope this helps. Craig Re: 27May 19, 2009 8:40 pm Grout Perfect Hi Taffy The main problems we are seeing is what we like to call China haze not all polished pocelains have it but they are out there and you will not even know until the wax is removed. China haze comes from a defect in how the tile was made some are due to a polishing defect where only certain parts of the tile are polished and some are not. The other one is what we call reduction flash from the kiln the haze is only seen in certain light coming into the home it looks terrible stay away from cheap china imports and if buying make sure the tiler puts down 6 tiles in the light have a look and see if unsure tell him not to lay. Remember the tile shops will not open the boxes they do not know either until there laid and wax is removed but when there layed it is to late i love polished porcelain I would buy it anyday just cover yourself get it in writing from the dealer hope this helps. Craig Hi Craig, Just come accross this old thread I have posted in. Well, after listenig to my heart and not my head I bought shiny porcelai tiles. And now I thing I may be one of the unluck ones that have "China Haze" I think my tiles came from Spain though At certain lights it looks like a speckled hazy effect on the tiles it makes you feel that you want to buff it off. I have tried vinegar and water, metho and water but this just glides over the tiles and when you wipe it off the haze is still there! It looks like its in the tile itself. The tiler came and looked at them tonight but is unsure if its in the tiles or on the tiles. He is going to get his dad (who owns the tile shop where I bought them) to come and have a look. Any Idea if this haze can be got off or will it be something I will have to learn to live with? I am wondering if its a sealer or something that has got right into the tiles, they came as factory sealed. Another thing is they scratched the tiles in the shop with keys and nothing happend and we spilt stuff on them and nothing happend, thats why I went with these tiles, I thought they were good ones. And now I have even noticed scratches on them and I only moved in on the weekend! Not happy Think if I cant get this haze off I will be putting my house on the market and building another one! Next time I think I will let my head rule and go back to the old tried and tested ceramic Know where your going in life............... you may already be there Re: Caution Porcelain Tiles 28May 20, 2009 7:32 am Hi Sorry to hear your problem if you do not mind I have some Q. for you. 1. How much per sq metre did you pay for the tiles. 2. Could it be wax have you tried Nano Scrub. 3. Does it show at night too when the lights are on or only during a sunny day. Two things it could be the first one maybe a polishing defect the second one maybe reduction flash this is mainly on the edges of the tile where as polishing defects start from the edge and work across the tile. Ask the tile shop to bring some nano scrub with them if it does not remove than YES you are stuck with them. I would also not be happy with a tile shop who sells these defected tiles the good ones (tile shops) would never sell these tiles. Craig Re: Caution Porcelain Tiles 29May 20, 2009 8:07 am HI craig, I paid $55 a square meter for the tiles but got them reduced to $44 because I bought such a lot, I have them on the walls as well as the floors. I dont know if they did it cheaper too as I got their son to lay them, so that gave him work. It shows up at night as well as in the day. They told me at the shop they dont sell the cheap imported stuff and that I wouldnt have a problem with the tiles, I bet they will say this effect is part of the tile now I am hoping it is wax or grout residue, but I have layed tiles before so I dont think it is residue as that comes off easy with plenty of clean water, but I have only had ceramic ones in the past. I did a patch with undiluted vinegar and thought It lifted abit but I was too scared to try more. So here is hoping he will come and look at them and have some stuff that will get it off. I will mention the nano scrub to him. Here are some pics but my camera hasnt picked it up really. By taff By taff Know where your going in life............... you may already be there Re: Caution Porcelain Tiles 30May 20, 2009 8:51 am Thanks Taff Yes it is hard to see from the pics those tiles look great though except for the haze I am sure but there is not much you can do it is in the tile Nano scrub may do something but sorry to say you may have to live with it in saying that tinting the windows black will help. Hope things work out for you try not to let it get to you but give it to the tile shop ask for compensation, tell them you will see them in court or post there company name on here and let eveyone know BUT it may not be there fault as they do not open up all the boxes to check who would really but it is the manufacture who is to blame here IMO. Q. Is it on all the tiles or just certain tiles if so they may replace some hopefully. Craig Re: Caution Porcelain Tiles 31May 23, 2009 8:01 am Hi Craig, The tile shop has been in touch with the rep that supplied the tiles, they have ordered some sort of cleaner, I dont know what its called but its not Nanoscrub, I will let you know when I get it. I have to see if that removes it and if it doesnt they are going to contact the rep again. I have noticed , as I still have the first sample tile they gave me when I was choosing, that my installed tiles dont feel as smooth on the surface, they are still smooth but not as smooth as the sample. So I am hoping that this is a grout haze and will come off. Or do you thing the grout has done something to take the smoothness off the tile, are you meant to use a special (different) grout with poreclain tiles? By the way these tiles were meant to be factory sealed, so I thought that would have stopped the grout going into the pores of the tiles I still luvvvvvv my tiles but will be soooooooo happy if I can get them to look perfect! Know where your going in life............... you may already be there Re: Caution Porcelain Tiles 32May 25, 2009 7:13 am There are finer sanded grouts out now but it is very hard to scratch it may just be grout haze but being polished porcelain it should have came off very easily during the clean up. Factory seal does not mean much its more of a selling gimmick my thoughts is that they will bring with them an acid to remove grout haze as nano scrub is not cheap. Craig Re: Caution Porcelain Tiles 33May 25, 2009 7:41 pm Thanks craig. I got the tile cleaner tonight and it did nothing except if anything made the tile feel not as smooth, it was called sure clean. I got a sample one from the shop and it has the same haze in the tile, I didnt notice it before I thought it was the wax coating they put on it. So it looks like this is what the actual tile is going to look like. I dont know if it is a polishing defect or just the way the tile reflects light. I am thinking polishing defect. I am going to take the sample back to the tile shop in the morning and show them. They said if this cleaning stuff doesnt work they will contact the rep again. I will let you know what happens. Thanks for all your advice Know where your going in life............... you may already be there Re: Caution Porcelain Tiles 34May 26, 2009 7:26 am Sounds like it is there for life hopefully they will compensate you but I do not think they will as most of the defects we have seen the customer just got the run around. I am amazed that these tile shops do business this way the tile shops in my area would not touch them as they know what problems it can cause there business in referal work. Craig Re: Caution Porcelain Tiles 35Jun 11, 2009 12:45 am Quote: This is why SOME of the polished tiles require sealing, and SOME of the manufacturers recommend pre-sealing, especially the dark coloured ones like choc-brown & charcoal, because when the darker grouts with all the oxides in them are used, they stain badly. Oops, we have dark choc-brown porcelain. I have tested the surface with nail polish & food dye with no problem. My question is should I do a test on the sides of the tile (or back?) to see if that part sucks up dye, assuming it may be like the grout oxide?? Also, the tile has 2 parts to it - explained that the top coat was "maybe harder" I can't remember - but the top layer is darker (on the sides.) Can't work out how to upload a picture - sorry. Re: Caution Porcelain Tiles 36Jun 11, 2009 4:30 pm Have they been laid or are you about to install grout. If you are going to install grout you should be fine porcelains are not a problem unless it has a rough surface. Remember to pre wet the surface no pooling before you grout that way it makes it easier to clean of the tile. Craig Re: Caution Porcelain Tiles 37Jun 13, 2009 7:39 pm Grout Perfect Have they been laid or are you about to install grout. If you are going to install grout you should be fine porcelains are not a problem unless it has a rough surface. Remember to pre wet the surface no pooling before you grout that way it makes it easier to clean of the tile. Craig Thanks. I actually rang where I bought them & quizzed him. Has sold quite a lot of them and hasn't had anyone come back with problems, so I feel better now. The tiler is starting Monday. They have shiney smooth faces. Not sure what you mean by "no pooling before you grout" ?? Re: Caution Porcelain Tiles 38Jun 15, 2009 7:30 am no pooling means when we pre wet a surface before grouting only light moisture on the surface no pooling means water sitting in one place which will water down the grout to much. Craig Re: Caution Porcelain Tiles 39Jun 15, 2009 6:05 pm When I saw on the packaging that the porcelain tiles we chose to have throughout the house were from Italy I thought it must be a good thing! Never thought to do a stain test though, but I know that we don't have to worry about slippage because they are the textured type, however cleaning might not be pleasant if someone was to decide to wear muddy shoes inside!!! http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp253/mtbpebble/IMG_1011.jpg Re: Caution Porcelain Tiles 40Jun 15, 2009 11:07 pm Grout Perfect no pooling means when we pre wet a surface before grouting only light moisture on the surface no pooling means water sitting in one place which will water down the grout to much. Craig Thanks. That makes sense now. Firstly the ableflex that has been installed needs (manufactures specification) a sealant cap over the top, preventing water draining down between the slab and the… 3 7793 Our house was completed 8 years ago. Builder did not leave any spare roof tiles behind. Just found out that one tile is cracked. Wanted to replace the tile but most… 0 2784 1 15766 |