Grout Epoxy Grout - Tile Advice

Italy · Jan 27, 2016

Plan Tec Tiling said:
Mapei Mapeiglitter. Following the instructions to the letter, using white emulsifying pads and plenty of clean water. I did use LTP solvex after to clean the residue off of the face of the mosaic as epoxy leaves a very slight film.

You're right my Italian buddy! Maybe 25% though eh!?

MTiler · Jan 27, 2016

Always wear NITRILE gloves with epoxy grout. If youre in a small room it might be worth wearing a mask, its toxic stuff in enclosed spaces. Wear long sleeves. This applies to any make of epoxy grout.
Put a cup of white vinegar in the wash down water, with a final wash down with plain clean water. I use white emulsifying pads and sponge cloths to clean it.
If you need something stronger to clean any residue off then use acetone, but white vinegar should do it, even neat if need be but then wash off with clean water.

Boxtiling · Jan 30, 2016

Porcelanosa have a white sponge that you can use on the glitter grouts it worth £10 and don't spread a big area

Wishiwasatoptiler · Jan 30, 2016

Thanks peeps much appreciated.

Spud · Feb 11, 2016

With epoxy there are health risks you need to limit your exposure and wear gloves plastic trousers and rubber boots https://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/hesis/Documents/epoxy.pdf

Wishiwasatoptiler · Feb 11, 2016

Thanks for that @GaryTheTiler, made me think, many tilers working on sites wether new builds, refurbs etc, I'm gussing would need COSHH data sheets, carry out COSHH risk assessments etc, but in the domestic field, who has this ready in their van, covering all chemicals etc that they have in use or may use, incase of an emergency, say a toddler gets in to your work area and digestes something nasty, just thinking after reading some of that PDF Gary. In the past I've done a lot of work on this but never gave it a thought until now.. anyone have any thoughts on this..

MTiler · Feb 11, 2016

yeah its bloody awful stuff.
I had a couple of bad reactions where I couldnt see out of one of my eyes and had to go onto steroids to sort it out, and would get bad rashes (Urticaria). I now wear a face mask, long sleeved tshirts and two pairs of nitrile gloves at all times. With me its the fumes (that arent always obvious depending on make) that irritate my eyes, luckily i didnt make my throat swell up. It also doesnt help that I often use it in the confines of a steam room.

Rich Midge · Feb 11, 2016

MissTiler said:
yeah its bloody awful stuff.
I had a couple of bad reactions where I couldnt see out of one of my eyes and had to go onto steroids to sort it out, and would get bad rashes (Urticaria). I now wear a face mask, long sleeved tshirts and two pairs of nitrile gloves at all times. With me its the fumes (that arent always obvious depending on make) that irritate my eyes, luckily i didnt make my throat swell up. It also doesnt help that I often use it in the confines of a steam room.

Luckily I've never had a problem with epoxy. A mate of mine used it without any issues then became sensitised to it over night, arms swelled like balloons. I was labouring for a tiler when I was 17 who told me he'd gone blind for a week through using epoxy. Thought he was just trying to wind me up at the time! First epoxy job I did, I had no gloves and cleaned my hands with Ajax scouring powder.

One Day · Feb 11, 2016

I've never had many issues with it until last year. The fumes started to irritate my throat and made my eyes runny. I got a half face 3m mask from screwfix with vapour filters and that sorted my problem. Even my eyes stopped running. always wear ppe and try to have fresh air flow.

Wishiwasatoptiler · Feb 12, 2016

Sounds like I need danger money. Lol. The jobs been put back a few months while she births a child.... But thanks for the safety tips. I'll certainly follow them when I do the install. Cheers D

Italy · Feb 12, 2016

I can not say in what place epoxy struck me.
otherwise you take fun of me.
now healed after two months.
creams, cleansers and no sex. ahaahha
But I have overcome JOTM with that job !!!! ahahaha
crazy italian

Tile Shop · Feb 12, 2016

MissTiler said:
yeah its bloody awful stuff.
I had a couple of bad reactions where I couldnt see out of one of my eyes and had to go onto steroids to sort it out, and would get bad rashes (Urticaria). I now wear a face mask, long sleeved tshirts and two pairs of nitrile gloves at all times. With me its the fumes (that arent always obvious depending on make) that irritate my eyes, luckily i didnt make my throat swell up. It also doesn't help that I often use it in the confines of a steam room.

I almost put a like on this post but given your circumstances, it really doesn't seem appropriate.

I know the stuff is hard to work with and can be irritable if in contact with skin as per the signs on the packaging, but a full-on health hazard? I never realised it was that bad. I know you need gloves and everything, but this is the first i've heard of fumes being a major issue.

From my sales point of view, we advise about gloves and skin contact, but how many suppliers know the full dangers of this stuff and pass it on to customers? Will hold my hands up and say we haven't told customers anything other than the usual epoxy basics in the past. But its prompted me to consider how we put something in place so that we do in the future.

Amazing what a lack of education can throw up. Actually rather shocked. Had to do a test on Kerapoxy a few weeks back. Just a pair of gloves and off I went. In hindsight, maybe I'm lucky to be alive

UPDATE: I have put a like on your post, but just so you know its not that I "Like the fact you were injured". I liked it for education purposes. Thanks for sharing

Wishiwasatoptiler · Feb 12, 2016

antonio said:
I can not say in what place epoxy struck me.
otherwise you take fun of me.
now healed after two months.
creams, cleansers and no sex. ahaahha
But I have overcome JOTM with that job !!!! ahahaha
crazy italian[/QUOTE

BET your wife was overjoyed with your epoxy infection.............I liked your post because you where injured and not for education purposes......

Tile Shop · Feb 12, 2016

Wishiwasatoptiler said:
BET your wife was overjoyed with your epoxy infection.............I liked your post because you where injured and not for education purposes......

Comedy gold.

Italy · Feb 12, 2016

the health problem epoxy, belief varies from person to person
No, my wife's not very happy. haha
remember when to pee in the yard garden.
do not touch pea !!!

Grout Epoxy Grout - Tile Advice

Italy

MTiler

Boxtiling

TF

Wishiwasatoptiler

TF

Spud

Wishiwasatoptiler

TF

MTiler

Rich Midge

TF

One Day

Wishiwasatoptiler

TF

Italy

Tile Shop

Wishiwasatoptiler

TF

Tile Shop

Italy

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