The authoritative public forum
  for Metal Finishing since 1989
  

  -----

Getting grout of pitted ceramic tile

I just installed the grout for my new bathroom ceramic tile. I am a first-timer at tile installation. When I grouted the tile, the pits in the tile (part of the design) became filled with grout. The guy at Lowes said to use acid (Hydrochloric) to loosen the grout in the pits and clean it out with a stiff brush. Any other suggestions or does that seem reasonable? Thanks in advance.

Keith Stacy
Consumer - Suffolk, Virginia
2007

---

At this point the advice from Loews may be your only option, Keith. But you may be back to Lowes for new appliances since the fumes from hydrochloric acid will travel and will rust any chrome and stainless that they can reach.

As an amateur who has done a lot of ceramic, porcelain, and quarry tile though -- including a "filiform" porcelain tile in the kitchen that sounds like what you have, I will tell you the answer for next time though. You have to sponge and wash the grout (while it's still wet). Then you have to empty the bucket and redo the process. Then you have to empty the bucket and redo the process. Then you have to empty the bucket and redo the process. Then you have to empty the bucket and redo the process. Then you have to empty the bucket and redo the process. Then repeat about five more times. Then you're starting to get close. The nice part is that you won't have to worry about keeping the grout moist during the curing period; you'll be doing plenty of that :-)

Not that any of this has much to do with industrial metal finishing :-)

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2007