Problem with saltillo tile

18 years ago

We have a large expanse of saltillo tile floor. It had two rugs on it -- one with a foam no-slip liner and one in direct contact with the floor.

When we took them up they both left serious stains. Under the first, the liner had adhered to the tile glaze. It left a layer of foam embedded and even when we scrape that up, a dark stain remains in the pattern of the foam. Under the second which had a conventional backing as part of the rug, there were even darker, tarry stains almost completely covering each tile.

The total marred area is 2 spots about 40 sq. ft. each. I don't have enough left over tiles to take them all up. The floor was laid more than 10 years ago by the previous owner so I won't be able to find a match. I don't want to have to redo the whole floor as it's about 600 sq. ft.

Anyone know what I could do to get all that rubber debris up without painful, laborious scraping and how to remove the stains?

Thanks in advance.

Featured Answer

imrainey
Original Author

18 years ago

This is what the tiles look like from pulling up the no-slip liner:

This is what remains after we soak the rubber in a solvent and scrape up all the debris we've been able to:

Here are the large stains left by an ordinary carpet:

I really need help so I'll appreciate whatever anyone has to suggest. Thanks in advance.

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Comments (8)

tiledepotus
18 years ago
A simple sanding will take care the problem, (Sending it is very easy, you can use standard paint sand paper machine fort a small area or rent large machine to handle the majority of the room, use small sander for corners)
Then after sanding it, you can apply heavy duty lacquer sealer to bring it up to his original look, and to protect it.

Saltillo tile is a soft clay tile, very easy to work with.

Good luck

Ps. I couldnÂt figure out how to post pictures, I had some of my exterior Saltillo after myself sand and seal them
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pricklypete_covad_net
17 years ago
Hi Imrainey,
I noticed your post about your stained Saltillo tiles. I have the same exact problem. When I moved into my house 5 years ago, I noticed that the nice Saltillo tiles were stained by the rug backing from the previous owners of our house. Nothing we tried has been able to clean the stains. Did you ever find a way to remove the stains?
George
organic_rach
17 years ago
Try cleaning it with a very fine (600) wet/dry sandpaper that you have wet with white vinegar. I have the same tile in my craft room. I laid it myself and sealed it with a small rag and 3 applications of a tile sealer. The super expensive sealers seal a lot better. They are about $30 for a pint but should cover your whole floor. Some are water based now.

I just use cotton woven rugs on my floor, no backing.

I bought the tiles at Home Depot about 10 years ago. Hope they still have some if you need them. They were inexpensive.

good luck, Rachel
lilylachien
5 years ago
Identical problem. Had anyone found a solution to this specific type of damage caused by nonslip plastic rug pads.
Our Salito has blue color guard into the tile. Tile cleaning "experts" have not proposed a solution
lhlatimer
2 years ago
Saltillo tile with those stains can be fixed by a Saltillo Mexican tile specialist. Sections can be replaced without changing all of the tile. This type of tile can be laid to match the rest.
HU-230989449
2 years ago
Ihlatimer, Are you aware which type of backing does not damage the tiles, besides simple cotton? I paid a lot of money for new tile thoroughout my home. My Saltillo Mexican tile specialist did not provide me with thier expert advice how to prevent such stains. How would i have known? They are fired.
Sally Errecart
2 years ago
I just came across the same issue with my Saltillo tiles. My rug completely stuck to the tiles. Now my tile cleaners are using a razor to carefully (without scratching) remove the glue. I had no idea the mat had melded into the tiles! He has suggested putting a cotton pad under the new mat. Anyone know where I can buy one (not felt)?