grout?silicone?keracaulk

[bootsmckiber]

Hi,I've just finished tiling some steps with both open and closed stringers,Normally I would just keracaulk these steps,but because of movement on the stairs I'm wondering if there's a product out there designed specifically for this situation.The grout color is charcoal.I'm thinking of mixing charcoal grout powder with translucent silicone,thus making it more flexible than keracaulk while still maintaing the sanded grout look,any opinions on this,thanks in advance.
Mike

[pjc]

I use anthracite (charcoal) silicone all the time from PCI try this link
http://www.pci-uk.com/PCIUK/En/produ...ilcoferm_s.htm

lol Canada he he

[sWe]

Originally Posted by bootsmckiber

I'm thinking of mixing charcoal grout powder with translucent silicone

Erm, I don't think that's a good idea... Don't missmatch materials and techniques, it won't do any good.

By the way, is it indoors or outdoors? If it's outdoors, you need a polymer reinforced silicone specific for outdoors use. The regular stuff won't last a year.

[bootsmckiber]

Thanks,the stairs are indoors,the house is about 30yrs old and I'm quite sure even the kerricaulk would eventually crack due to movement,I'm just figuring mixing silicone and grout would give me more flexibility without cracking.I've never heard of the other product,you know,out here in the colonies we seem to be lagging on some products,I've used the silicone and grout mix before and it works quite well,and your right I wouldn't mix product colors,they 're always a shade different,that's why I'd use translucent silicone with the same kind of grout as the rest of the job,again thanks for the input.

Johnny Canuck

[MICK the Tiler]

Don't get fancy just use a grout additive for flexability and grout the treads and risers then silicone the internal.

[bootsmckiber]

Thanks Mick,I'm with you there but I'd just like to keep all the grout lines the same color,black silicone would stand out ,the stairs are pretty nice with the risers being half hardwood(same as steps and floor)overlapping my risers,I'm not worried about this I'll probably just go with the kerricaulk,I just wanted to throw it out there to see what the other side of the pond had in there bag of goodies.Like I say,old house,movement on steps,I'll probably kerricaulk it then apply some translucent over it.I just did 500ft heated floor for them so I just want to keep everything in order,thanks again,
Mike

[pjc]

can put grout in and silicone clear over the top

[sWe]

I'm really tired from today's work, so I might've missunderstood a thing or two, but here goes:

If you grout a movement zone using cement based grout, it's pointless to silicone over it, as the cement based grout will still be in the movement zone.
Thus, it'll be exposed to any movement, and the silicone won't do squat to prevent it from cracking if the movement is too great, and if you're very unlucky, it might take a tile or two with it.

It's either or Atleast from the technical point of view.

Ardex sells charcoal colored silicone btw. Over here atleast.