Please help me fix this problem. This idiot at Home Depot told me to
clean my pavers with Phosphoric Acid before applying a high gloss finish.
(They were sealed with Penetrating Sealer before installation). They
looked beautiful. After mopping with phosphoric acid they have that white
chalky look. Please tell me how do I fix this exactly. I am sick and
miserable about this, nearly hysterica at times.
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Have you tried putting the finish on one tile?Quite often it is necessary to remove a factory finish (as you did) prior to applying a new one.The appearance in between steps can be horrifying.
I have tried using the finish on a couple of tiles. When it dried they were shiny and white. I tried baking soda, plain water, a dry cloth, none have taken away the white.
I'm afraid I'm not familiar with the ins and outs of using phosphoric acid but it appears as though it didn't do what it was suppose to do.If you get no other responses here,return to the store and explain your situation,they may have the solution for you.Good Luck!
One more thought,(I just did quick research),did you use any kind of scrub pad with the acid or just mop on/off?A factory sealer may require a little more work to remove.Retry a small area using the acid and abrasive pad...thats as far as I can go with it.
[This message has been edited by Matches (edited August 27, 2001).]
It's possible that your tile has "efflorescence" caused by the acid reacting with the grout or underlayment and it may be removed with: http://www.aldonchem.com/pr-efflorescence-treatment.htm
Definitely e-mail these people (see the website) and call around to different tile stores to get their professional opinions before you take the next step. Remember, if it's a chemical on the surface, then it can be removed with another chemical. The trick is to find the right one and to use the correct approach to cleaning.
Good luck!
