onthefloor 
Did You Get the Wrong Tiles? | Persistent White Stains Issue in Tiles
Persistent White Stains Issue in Tiles: “I think I should not have used these fancy subway tiles…” The person on the phone was sounding sad, he just opened a new showroom, and the entrance part of the flooring was done using the beautiful, small size tiles having stone texture and rustic appearance.
‘What is the issue?” asked the marketing manager.
“Well, I really liked tiles and chose myself. They still continue to look good BUT only when wet. The moment floor is dried, a white-white layer type on some tiles near the edges… we have cleaned it in every possible way…even using little concentrated acid to remove the white spots… it is not going off… I think we got the wrong tiles” He, the showroom owner said.
Well, although the ‘white scum (Stain)’ problem in tiles is not uncommon, generally in interior flooring in dry environments such problems are not reported frequently.
Efflorescence is the reason which is a very common phenomenon in exterior walls and floors. The word efflorescence has a French origin, meaning ‘flowering’. It is a common sight on masonry walls.
White Stains Issue in Tiles?
Of course, this ‘white flowering’ on the surface is highly undesired and remains an issue for ages. The presence of lime in the mortar used was believed to be the main source until more systematic analysis revealed that Portland cement and impurities in the sand (and water used) contribute from the material side more than the lime.
Read this Article also: Flooring Challenges in India: Pretty Pictures, Poor Choices in Flooring
Process – The soluble salts present in the mortar or substrate are carried to the surface of tiles in the form of solution (or bricks or stone, as the case may be) through the available avenue; water is evaporated, and the white powdery surface is left out – making the surface un-clean again after some time as cleaned it last time.
It takes 3 things to make efflorescence come up
- Presence of moisture below the tile.
- Material below the tiles has water-soluble salts, mainly Alkalies of sodium and potassium silicates.
- Requisite hydrostatic pressure and path for the solution to travel to the surface.
When tiling, the prevalent practice in India involves using thick-bed cement mortar for tile installation, which serves as an adequate source of water-soluble salts. It is also important to consider the grout material used, as it can contribute as an additional source of water-soluble salts.
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Likewise, in interior settings, it is common to encounter excessive water usage during the tile rendering process. In addition to this, there can be seepage from the substrate and other areas, including the top surface through the grout lines, resulting in repeated cycles of “washing.
Read this Article also: Paints: Colour Dilemma to Quality Concerns, While Choosing Paints!
Be mindful that the occurrence of efflorescence on interior flooring is not merely a coincidence or solely attributable to a matte finish. It is crucial to examine the three aforementioned factors as precautions to prevent this bothersome problem from tarnishing the aesthetics and ambiance of the space.
