Porcelain Re-grouting exterior porcelain paving tiles with white grout

[Ally Ritchie]

I'm looking for some advice. About five years ago I had porcelain paving tiles laid on my patio and the installer used white porcelain grout. It is now starting to show gaps and I'm looking for some advice on the best rated white easy grout for exterior porcelain tiles to refurbish or should I completely renew the old grout? I like the striking lines of the white grout and would prefer to refurb or replace with the same appearance.

 

[Huddersfield Tiling]

I'm looking for some advice. About five years ago I had porcelain paving tiles laid on my patio and the installer used white porcelain grout. It is now starting to show gaps and I'm looking for some advice on the best rated white easy grout for exterior porcelain tiles to refurbish or should I completely renew the old grout? I like the striking lines of the white grout and would prefer to refurb or replace with the same appearance.

Hi Richie,

Unfortunately, I've been waiting for this fall-out to happen from the trend in builders attempting to flag using thick porcelain tiles.

They have no idea about the substrate, moisture, temperature or correct adhesives to use with porcelain. Their brazen lack of care is frightening!

If the grout has cracked in any tile installation, then it's a sure sign that the bond between the tile and the substrate (what it was stuck to) has failed. Therefore, the tile is floating and re-grouting the joints won't hold them together I'm afraid. The grout will crack over and over again.

What has happened is that the whole floor has failed due to incorrect installation. Try lifting one up if you don't believe me....

 

[Ally Ritchie]

Hi Richie,

Unfortunately, I've been waiting for this fall-out to happen from the trend in builders attempting to flag using thick porcelain tiles.

They have no idea about the substrate, moisture, temperature or correct adhesives to use with porcelain. Their brazen lack of care is frightening!

If the grout has cracked in any tile installation, then it's a sure sign that the bond between the tile and the substrate (what it was stuck to) has failed. Therefore, the tile is floating and re-grouting the joints won't hold them together I'm afraid. The grout will crack over and over again.

What has happened is that the whole floor has failed due to incorrect installation. Try lifting one up if you don't believe me....

 

[Ally Ritchie]

Hi,
Thanks very much for your reply but I think my first post might have been misleading. When I said there were gaps between the tiles, I meant that in some places the grout has come out not that there has been any movement in the tiles themselves. The tiles were laid in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and there hasn't been any movement in the tiles at all. The missing grout may be down to pressure cleaning but we tend to use a rotating brush attachment rather than the direct pressure wand which reduces the pressure considerably.

 

[Huddersfield Tiling]

Sorry, but I beg to differ. If the grout has come loose, then the tiles are unstable (bond failure). Your pressure washing has probably forced a lot of water underneath the tiles, and once a gap through the grout has been breached, then this water will freeze under cold conditions, and the strength of the freezing water will break any bond between the tile and the substrate. There is no doubt in my mind that you have "floating" tiles. Manufacturers and shop-assistants aren't tilers, so please don't take their opinion.

 

[Ally Ritchie]

Sorry, but I beg to differ. If the grout has come loose, then the tiles are unstable (bond failure). Your pressure washing has probably forced a lot of water underneath the tiles, and once a gap through the grout has been breached, then this water will freeze under cold conditions, and the strength of the freezing water will break any bond between the tile and the substrate. There is no doubt in my mind that you have "floating" tiles. Manufacturers and shop-assistants aren't tilers, so please don't take their opinion.

Thanks for your feedback it's really appreciated.

 

[Huddersfield Tiling]

Thanks for your feedback it's really appreciated.

No problem, just trying to help. I hope you manage to solve it.