Was It The Grout Or The Tiles??

[Two-Trowels]

We have just finished a 23m floor done in 300x300 grey rocktop porcelain from Johnsons Kerastar 517 Granite Rocktop 297x297x8.3mm and we had a terrible time with the grouting with it being a right bugger to clean off but we did manage to clean them up eventually with a lot of hard work.

The grout (supplied by main contractor) was Dunlop flexible floor and wall tile grout in charcoal, it's a CG2 grout and was like wet sand mixed with molasses that seemed to weld itself to the tile as soon as it was applied - we had used the same in white for the walls on ceramics and that seemed ok.

Should the tiles have been sealed or something first or was it most likely the sticky grout that caused the problem?

 

[Unused Account 1]

Must of needed sealing mate ,check it out ,

 

[widler]

It says they don't need sealing, so prob just a crap tile and crap grout

 

[Qwerty]

Grout issue by the sounds of it. All mixed to correct ratios?

 

[Old Mod]

It says they don't need sealing, so prob just a crap tile and crap grout

The last time I had an issue with grout staining a matt porcelain that literature said didn't need sealing, I contacted the manufacturer to see if I was at fault, the tech dept said, although they SHOULDN'T need sealing, it would help with grouting if u DID!
So, I'm cautious of any tile that says,
it doesn't need sealing as it comes pre sealed!

 

[Lithofin BOB]

An impregnator for porcelain may stop the blead or stain contamination to the face, but if the tile has a surface finish and is being stubborn , once sealed this can still be problematic as it lines the cappillaries it does not fill it, you could test on an unlaid tile for grout release or perhaps test a pre grout sealer ( this is a topical sealer) , think this will remove as you grout, BAL still do one of these- perhaps guys have used this type on here and could comment.

 

[Andy Allen]

I used the bal temporary sealer on a tile I just new was going to be a pain to grout by just looking at it.
And I must say worked a treat....would Deffo recommend it.
This may also highlight a problem I deal with on a weekly basis. ....client buys there own adhesive and grout and half the time i have no idea how it reacts.....which is why I will only use adhhesive and grout I supply and have been using for years and know how it works...

 

[StevieBoy]

I used the bal temporary sealer on a tile I just new was going to be a pain to grout by just looking at it.
And I must say worked a treat....

A mate of mine mentioned that sealer to me, would that have worked do you think on some mosaics that have a pitted face made up of different strips of tile and different thicknesses?
They were a mare and a half to grout, so was just wondering for future ref.
Sorry for the thread hijack in advance.

 

[Andy Allen]

I used them on a tile that was like sandpaper. ...rough finish, pitted etc .....just new they were going to be a pain to wash off.......so yes, I would say it would be worthma try on that kind of tile....

 

[AliGage]

Very similar tile to the Vitra dotti

0.03% porosity. But. They do require sealing!

 

[Two-Trowels]

Thanks for the replies - it's pretty much as I expected. Got more of these to do so will try the Bal sealer.

 

[Tile Shop]

LTP all the way!!! Give 'em a coat of Mattstone first and that will do the trick. Any excess that does't sink in "should" be taken off during the grouting process... but LTP Powerstipper on hand if it doesn't. As for the grout stains, have you tried any grout stain remover products? The LTP Grout Stain Remover works a treat with an LTP Black Emulsifying pad....

There we go.... earned my commission for the day 😉

 

[Lithofin BOB]

even if you seal with a suitable impregnator you line the capillary it does not fill , so grout can get lodged in the micro pore. The sealer we a discussing is a topical finish that fills these pores only while you grout and removes easily, leaving the tile un contaminated.

Grout removed with a cement/ remover use brushes as this will get into these micro pores as the product breaks the cementisiouse product down , pads will generally skip across the face tile brushes will aid this removal. Also would never use a black pad as have seen many cases of tiles ( porc and ceramics also)being affect by this harsh pad, let the chemical do the work release with a white.

 

[Old Mod]

The sealer we a discussing is a topical finish that fills these pores only while you grout and removes easily, leaving the tile un contaminated..

What's it called Bob please, I need something like that?

 

[Lithofin BOB]

Not sure of full name , BAL temporary sealer, have been on at our manufacturer to produce something similar for years.

 

[Old Mod]

Not sure of full name , BAL temporary sealer, have been on at our manufacturer to produce something similar for years.

Oh sorry mate didn't realise u didn't make one,
Thanks for replying tho Bob
I'll have a dig around
Cheers