Grout question

[Fishboy]

Hey everyone,
I'm currently slate tiling my concrete front walkway and a small patio in the back. It's come out really nice, but it's been a long process. I applied a final sealant to the tiles before I grouted, and then followed the grout directions and misted the walkway with water twice over two days. This made the grout lighten up, but I wasn't concerned. It's rained several times since then and I haven't had two dry days in a row to apply the finish sealer to the grout. Looking at it now, the dark gray grout is light blue with a bubbly crust. It takes a bit of scrubbing to get the crust off, and I can't get all of it everywhere. It looks like its a lime deposit, or something like that, that's now leaving white (or very light blue) streaks following the flow of water from the grout lines across the tiles. I still figure I have to wait for at least two or three dry days in a row before I can apply the final coat of sealant, and I'd like to know if I should get on my hands and knees with a scrub brush to take this deposit material off before I do. Does anyone know?

Mahalo nui loa,
Brian and Mary
Lynnwood, WA\Discovery Harbour

[Brad W]

Hi Brian, you and I seem to be soul mates when it comes to tile work. We'll have to actually meet some day.

You never want to mistcure tinted grout. That dissolves or thins the tint and makes the grout color inconsistant. Tinted grout should be left to cure on it's own - three days is about right indoors. Outdoors, the job should be covered with plastic sheeting.

Not sure why you sealed the tile prior to grouting. Most tiles don't actually need to be sealed, it's the grout that requires protection. Ofcourse, any tiles or stone not glazed would need to be sealed.

I've had good luck going back over damaged or poorly applied grout lines, even after sealing. If a consistant grout color is an important componant of this job, get yourself a grout saw and shave off a bit of the top of these grout lines, and re-grout the job. Not a huge deal, really. The sooner the better because grout is like cement and actually takes a very long time to completely cure. Protect your work from the elements for about three days, brush clean with vinegar and water and let set for three more days, then seal it, wait 20 minutes, and seal it again. You'll end up with a surface that has a waxy finish to it, but that can be scrubbed off and will go away a bit each time you clean it. Good luck, have fun.

[Fishboy]

Thanks, Brad.

Well, crap! It's quite a while since my last grout work, so I read and followed the directions carefully. What you've said makes sense and translates to what I've now found.

Regarding why I sealed the stone before grouting, I wanted to ensure that the grout would come out of the gazillions of little crevasses and such on the surface of this slate. This is my first outdoor tile job, and my first with slate. I just wanted to make it easier for myself and not chance that the grout would not come out of the surface. I started with a grout bag, but the pattern I've installed just became too much for such a tedious method. I've talked to a few people at work who are interested in what I've done, so I've posted some photos of the project on this web site:

http://brianandmarytile.shutterfly.com/action/pictures?ap=1&a=67b0de21b35356b6c48f&pg=0

This sequence isn't equal to the home construction sequences posted here, but it's fun to share and maybe I can generate some discussion from others who are considering tile work.

Mahalo nui loa,
Brian and Mary
Lynnwood, WA\Discovery Harbour

[Brad W]

Brian, I checked out your photos, nice work. It's hard to tell from the photos if any inconsistancies in the grout are really noticable. Even if you go to the trouble to correct this problem, will it be discernable months and years down the road? You're probably your worst critic so you'll have to decide.

[David M]

Nice looking work!!!!!

I'm with Brad, given a few rainstorms will "it" even be noticeable to anyone but you?

I've got 2 pallets of 16x16 tile awaiting my attention

David

Ninole Resident

[Fishboy]

Thanks, you guys. You're both right, I AM my worst critic. All the grout is the same color, so it's fine. I finished the back porch and patio yesterday, and would you believe it rained last night!? Just can't win. I took your recommendation, Brad, and put tarps over the whole thing, so it should be fine. The grout in the back is WAY darker than the front :-)

I've put another picture on the Shutterfly web site that I'd like you to see:
http://brianandmarytile.shutterfly.com/action/

This is a turtle inlay that I saw in a store and had to photograph. I've drawn my own template in sheet plastic that's virtually identical to this one. I'm looking forward to installing this someday, and any hints you can offer would be greatly appreciated. My intent is not to inlay in a compass rose such as the one in this photo, but to hand-cut into floor tiles to inlay the pieces, which would be a contrasting stone.

By the way, I'd really like to see some of the tile work you do. I'll bet there are a bunch of people on PunaWeb who'd like to try it, but haven't for lack of inspiration.

Mahalo nui loa,
Brian and Mary
Lynnwood, WA\Discovery Harbour

Edited by - fishboy on 08/12/2007 07:07:27

[Brad W]

Brian, "some of the tile work" I do is this house. Bought two pallets of 16 inchers, like David, and set my first tile in the center of my living room about six months ago. Worked on it for a few days and then took some time off to give my back and knees a break. That gave me a chance to really scrutinize the job, the result of which was to bust it all out and start over. That wasn't the big deal it would seem because the thinset hadn't fully set up, and the sand/cement mix under it was still somewhat green.

But the kitchen, living, dining and sitting rooms are leveled, tiled, grouted and sealed, and I'm proud of the way it's turning out.

[David M]

Brian

Thanks for the turtle inlay pic. We intend to do a compass rose in our living room. Not a tile inlay though. Our floors are acid stained concrete. I will layout the compass rose then cut the lines into the concrete and grout them. A friend will do surface lettering then the whole deal will be acrylic sealed as part of the floor finish.

In our previous mainland house, I remodeled the bath, building a tile shower, tiling the floor, and tiling 4 ft up the walls. The kitchen I ripped out the floor and replaced will all tile. I also built a new bath upstairs that included all tile floors, walls tiled to ceiling and another custom shower stall. I used glass block to separate shower from the jacuzzi. These projects were mostly 12 in tiles with some 4 in for accent.

In the new house here in Ninole, the only floor tile planned is in the 3 showers - using the 1 in squares that come in a "sheet". As stated, rest of the floors are acid stained/acrylic sealed concrete. I will tile all (4) bathroom walls basically to the 8 ft height. Using 16 inchers for this project. Never worked with 16s before, but they are what Sophie picked out. Will be interesting how much I can do in a day Hoping to get started next week.

David



Ninole Resident

[Fishboy]

Wow, sixteen inch tiles would give you a lot of positive reinforcement, very fast! I like that :-)

Mahalo nui loa,
Brian and Mary
Lynnwood, WA\Discovery Harbour

[David M]

Brian

Here's my version of you turtle

Happy Honu

David

Ninole Resident