What causes alkali (white deposits) at tile joints?
White, salt-like particles at tile joints are normally an indication moisture has carried alkali to the surface of the flooring. This condition is not usually noticeable in open areas where there is a lot of foot traffic but can occur under furniture and in corners where there is no traffic. Mopping with clear water will keep the alkali from building up at tile joints. Alkali can cause serious damage to flooring so all precautions should be taken before installation to make certain it will not be a problem. Testing for moisture and alkali should be done before any resilient flooring installation takes place on concrete.
