How can I troubleshoot a Saltillo tile floor that was not finished?
Hello, I had a Saltillo tile floor put in 4 yeas ago. The installers did not put the proper Finnish on the floor and looks terrible. Can I strip and put a new Finnish on it? If not what is an alternative. I am having a kitchen remodel in a year and need to include this repair or replace into my budget. Your expertise is appreciated. Bobbie
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These will help you.
https://www.westsidetile.com/tile/saltillo-tile/how-to-install-saltillo-tile/
https://www.tilecleaning.org/stripping-saltillo-tiles.htm
https://glaze-n-seal.com/seal-maintain-saltillo-mexican-tile/
You might want to weigh the cost of strip and reseal v. installing a new floor.
It will need to be stripped before it can be refinished, which involves adding color ((who know what kind), and adding 2 or 3 coats of polyurethane, depending on the exposure to sunlight.
The stripping is a complicated and difficult process I would NEVER attempt on my own. It involves brushing on a paint remover, letting it soften, then scraping it off. Then you use an acid to complete the removal, then a paint thinner to clean up. All three products are extremely dangerous, and truly bad for your lungs so you have to wear a respirator. I have this done when I'm on vacation.
If you have had no luck going back to the installer for to refinish the tiles, find a different professional to do this for you. At least ask the installer to pay for the refinishing. If the installer has a Web site or Facebook page, you can threaten to leave a bad review telling of your experience. Good luck!
Years ago, I had to sue a floor installer. He didn't respond to the Complaint so I got a Default Judgment against him and then I found his bank and attached his account. I was then able to go back to the judge for attorney's fees and fees for the detective I hired to find the bank where the defendant had deposited his funds. The whole thing took several months.