AboutJohn Michaels Expertise All questions pertaining to all indoor floor coverings regarding best products to choose, proper installation techniques, and proper maintenance techniques.
Experience We are a nationwide floor covering inspection service. We inspect all types of indoor floor coverings in every city and town in all 50 States and in all the Provinces of Canada. We see where errors in choice of product, improper installation, and improper maintenance lead to complaints being registered and we are then called upon to inspect those products and issue certified reports indicating from where those complaint issues eminate. We have done this type of work for over 40 years.
Education/Credentials Carpet, vinyl, and hardwood manufacturing, installation, and maintenance, prior to just inspecting, and a division of our Company specifies proper floor covering choices for residential and commercial uses.
Question is it possible if I had a flood and the tile that is white and its been 3 months since the flooding that the stains can be remove? it looks like water deposited on the clay underneath the enamel
Answer Hi Grace;You did not mention the type of tile. Are the tiles vinyl, ceramic, etc. You mention clay and enamel, so I assume you have ceramic tiles. If the 'enamel' is totally intact, then depending upon the source of the flood and what polutants were in the water, moisture can seep up from underneath. Are the tiles fully still bonded to the mortar adhesive and underlayment? What type of underlayment is directly under the tiles (plywood, lauan, concrete, backerboard, old tiles, etc.? Did the 'stains' affect all of the tiles? Is there any unevenness to the tiles (lay a level down on the surface of the tiles to see if the floor is still level)? Any indication that the stains are actual shadows cast by the optics of the installation or sediment from the water damage? Was there any hollow sounds audible before the flood damage when the tiles were walked upon? Were the tiles sealed after installation? Do you have grout between the tiles? Since I can't see the tiles, I can only guess from answers you could supply to the questions I have asked, so please feel free to get back to me with the answers. Take a high powered magnifying glass and look carefully at an affected tile. You should be able to tell if the 'stains' are below the top 'enamel' type layer, and if you find any fracturing of that top protective layer. You should also be able to tell if the 'stains' are actual soil or deposits from the water, that are actually on the surface of the 'enamel' layer and need to be cleaned with a proper cleaner to attack any sediment that was in the water.
If you know the name of the manufacturer of the tiles, visit the website of that manufacturer and there is contact information, which is usually an 800#. Call it and speak to their technical services department for some additional advice. If you don't know the name of the exact manufacturer, 'google' ceramic tile manufacturers Contact one of them in the same way I have indicated above. If you know of a local, knowledgeable supplier of ceramic tile and ask if he or she could inspect your installation to give an opinion. You can also find a local independent floor covering inspector to view your installation and contract with he or she to do a certified inspection. If the tiles were damaged from the flood, your homeowners insurance carrier may honor a certified inspection report and the tiles may be able to be totally replaced at no cost to you. Call your homeowners insurance agent and ask that the tiles be inspected. Perhaps the insurance agent will have the insurance cover the cost of an inspection.
