KlaRa
2025-09-02 16:55:50
- #1
First, my note on the (suspected) cause of the rust stains, which is said to lie in an iron-containing fertilizer. My response to this: impossible! Reasoning: to oxidize iron-II to iron-III to cause visible rust requires more than the 0.1-0.3% iron in a mineral fertilizer. Presumably, these are iron components that are either in the bedding mortar, but more likely in the substrate (concrete or cement screed). These unavoidable iron-containing components are often found in the aggregate – and are allowed within limits. On the topic of removing the rust streaks: just last week I was able to remove rust stains within a few minutes on the outdoor terrace of a friendly couple using an aqueous oxalic acid solution. Oxalic acid, a solid white powder, is also available cheaply via the internet. Prepare about a 10% solution with warm water (although not everything dissolves) and massage this solution into the "discolored" surface of the tiles with a soft hand-wrist brush in a circular motion. After about 3 minutes, remove this dirty solution with a cloth and rinse the previously treated surface twice with clear water. However, the visual rust situation will not be permanently eliminated as long as the corresponding rust potential still lurks in the substrate. This means: after probably 1 year you will have to repeat the procedure. But I think this option 1 is doable and acceptable. Because the alternative (option 2) is: open the tiled surface at the affected areas, remove the rust particles in the mineral substrate, seal the created breakout area again with a reactive resin mortar, and re-glue the removed tile. I suspect: option 1 is rather more practical? --------------------- Greetings to everyone: KlaRa