Problems with bal micromax grout

[Lynne]

I have used bal micromax floor and wall grout which was given to me by tops tiles however it looks grey not white and it is very sandy in texture which looks terrible has anyone ekes had this problem

 

[DHTiling]

I have not used it in that colour... Some sanded grouts do not dry bright white due to grain size but normally BAL grouts are very white...

Any pics..?

Also clean water was used for mixing, silly question but has been done before by some..

 

[Ian]

It has a really high sand content, so doesn't look as white as the BAL non-sanded grouts. Not so much a problem on any of the other colours in the range but, does make white look a bit dirty. That said, I used it for the first time last month and it still looked white, just not bright white. Is there any chance it got contaminated somehow? What tiles were they? Did you use grey adhesive?

 

[Lynne]

Yes all clean water and equipment used, topps tiles have suggested its a fitting problem . I didn't ask for that grout when the tiles were bought . I asked them just to supply me the stuff for to do the job

 

[Lynne]

The adhesive used is what topps supplied me with as we tried the bal ready mixed and it kept falling from the walls. Don't know how the grout could get contaminated we used all new tools etc

 

[Lynne]

The pics are on my works computer sorry

 

[DHTiling]

So was the adhesive bucket / ready mixed..?

 

[Ian]

How long after tiling did you grout? Is there any chance the adhesive hadn't fully cured and the greyness in the grout is moisture from the adhesive still drying out? What size are the tiles you fitted?

 

[Lynne]

Yes ready mixed so we took the second bucket back got a refund and they gave me some powdered adhesive instead.

 

[Lynne]

We grouted a week later. The wall tiles are I think 12inches by 6

 

[Houston]

micromax white, its wide joint grout so it will be coarse compared to other grouts. How many different shades of white tiles can make your white grout look grey or off white.

 

[Ian]

Not really sure why they would supply that grout for walls, micro flex would have been a much better choice and is bright white. I agree that the Micromax is an off white colour and is not suitable if you are looking for a crisp white finish.

 

[Houston]

from 2-20mm wall and floor, i've used it a number of times

 

[Lynne]

I have asked them to replace the grout at their cost inc labour and topps are now making all sorts of excuses. I have said they are the experts so should have provided me with the best tools for the job as this grout has scratched the chrome mosaic tiles also

 

[kilty55]

oops not good

 

[White Room]

Experts, thats debatable.....

 

[Ian]

It does scratch all metal, I always mask trim and metal tiles if I'm using this grout.


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[afright]

Topp,s are just sale,s people they are not expert,s in tiling they just sale the product,s in my local topps I asked for washboy sponge,s the chap did,nt know what I was talking about.

 

[Rookery]

Topp,s are just sale,s people they are not expert,s in tiling they just sale the product,s in my local topps I asked for washboy sponge,s the chap did,nt know what I was talking about.

True. The other day I was told by a Topps salesperson that timber floors should be overboarded with at least 6mm ply. Still at least all the bad advice they give to DIYers should lead to some remedial work for us pros.

 

[Rookery]

I have asked them to replace the grout at their cost inc labour and topps are now making all sorts of excuses. I have said they are the experts so should have provided me with the best tools for the job as this grout has scratched the chrome mosaic tiles also

This grout was a problem from the moment it was launched by BAL. Whilst I believe it has been re-formulated very recently, it wouldn't surprise me in the least if yours was older stock. Here's a couple of quotes on this grout from BAL's own forum:

"Think Micromax has reached it's first birthday and still we are no nearer a resolution, despite the feedback from many of us. One of the key rules in business - listen to your customers........" Tile fixer April 2012
and
"Gents, please rest assured that we are working furiously behind the scenes to make Micromax the grout we all want it to be. I realise that it has not been a quick process but we want to make sure that we get it right this time." BAL staff member April 2012
In this particular case I dont think any blame can be laid at Topps door. I suggest you ring BAL and complain.

 

[Lynne]

I dont think their roduct knowledge is very good, the should have tilers in there to give proper advice

 

[Lynne]

I did call bal and tbeir area rep said he could not get involved until topps contacted bal. Tops wont admit there is a problem tbough and continue to blame it in the following ,how tbegrout was mixed,the dirt tools we used! And would you believe the size of the space between the tiles which is @4mm

 

[Rookery]

Whereabouts are you?

 

[Lynne]

I am in spennymoor county Durham , topps customer service are wanting me to pay £100 for an independent tiler to come out and assess the problem and the Durham store asked a tiler from Sunderland (40 minutes away) to come out and he said you have been supplied the wrong grout but told the store when he went back that he scraped his nail along the grout and it was brilliant white underneath. He must have had pretty hard nails !!!!!! This didn't happen why I tried out of curiosity! And then denied he had informed me of them supplying me with the wro g grout

 

[Lynne]

Would you please tell me wher I can find the info on the bal forum as I will make customer services aware of this as they have already told me their product knowledge is poor !

 

[afright]

I did call bal and tbeir area rep said he could not get involved until topps contacted bal. Tops wont admit there is a problem tbough and continue to blame it in the following ,how tbegrout was mixed,the dirt tools we used! And would you believe the size of the space between the tiles which is @4mm

Yes it always come,s down to "its the tiler,s fault".

 

[Dougs Third Go]

were the tiles cleaned down before grouting?

 

[Lynne]

The whole bathroom was cleaned before grouting

 

[AliGage]

I have asked them to replace the grout at their cost inc labour and topps are now making all sorts of excuses. I have said they are the experts so should have provided me with the best tools for the job as this grout has scratched the chrome mosaic tiles also

I was going to say actually, your size of tile would suggest it's ceramic, and could be a gloss finish. Topps shouldn't be supplying you with micromax if they are also supplying you with gloss, glass, metalic or any tile that has a shinny finish. It will scratch. Standard Bal grout would of be suitable for what your describing and considerably cheaper than micromax.

Could you possibly upload a picture. There's been a few suggestions of what might be the problem. I think a picture would enable us to be pretty accurate so you've got something you can go back and tackle topps with.

The guys in my local topps are quite knowledgeable, but that being said, they are still sales advisors and not professional tilers. Did you fix yourself, or did you emply a tiler. If the later, did your tiler not question the grout choice on the scratching issue alone?

 

[Lynne]

I found the bal forum and posted my concern and was contacted by their contracts manager and bal is coming out tomorrow.

Yes my tiler did ask if I was sure. I wanted him to use the micro max and I said yes as I was supplied all the right stuff from topps

 

[Rookery]

I'm pleased that things seem to be progressing for you. I still feel this is down to it being a poor product and BAL have known this for a long time. Whilst I'm no fan of Topps, I dont see why they can be blamed for selling what is supposed to be a premium product supposedly suitable for grout joints up to 20mm and for glazed ceramic tiles.