Hi

I've tiled the walls of or shower with natural slate and began grouting with black pre-mixed grout. I decided to stop, as I didn't like the look of it and found it difficult to use.

I have some dry mix fine cement based adhesive and am wondering if I can use it as grout. I have sealed the slate with Hagesan natural stone sealer and intend to waterproof it with HG Hagesan Satin Gloss Polish.

Can I use the adhesive as grout and will the sealer and gloss waterproof it?

Thanks

John J

not really mate as it will look really bad when it dries out!

It'd look bad. Also, grout and adhesive have different technical properties. Use materials in the way they´re intended, or you'll have to be prepared to be disapointed..

On a side note: Your shower will not be waterproof per se just from tiling it. You could still get water ingression problems and mold from vapor diffusion. Waterproofing is something which is done prior to tiling, not after. Despite that many adhesives are marketed as "waterproof", they're actually not waterproof, but water-resistant, and the difference is very important.

On a side note 2: Good that you dumped the pre mixed grout. Dispersions can react in nasty ways with natural stone, mostly because dispersion grouts and adhesives harden through dehydration, which can discolor the tiles. Cementious adhesives and grouts meant for natural stone often bind water before it can have a negative effect on the tiles. Also, wait for atleast a few days until you seal the tiles, because some natural stones contain alot of salt, among other things, and if you "seal in" moisture, the tiles can, again, become discoloured.

Hej sWe

thanks for that. Sadly I'm too late to do anything about pre-waterproofing. This is for a tile splash back around a bath though, so maybe it'll be OK. Here's hoping!

What sort of grout do you recommend? I'd like something easy to apply and remove when I'm cleaning up afterwards. Ideally I can get something from a large DIY chain, as it's Sunday and they're the only places open.

thanks again

John

Originally Posted by John J

Hej sWe

thanks for that. Sadly I'm too late to do anything about pre-waterproofing. This is for a tile splash back around a bath though, so maybe it'll be OK. Here's hoping!

What sort of grout do you recommend? I'd like something easy to apply and remove when I'm cleaning up afterwards. Ideally I can get something from a large DIY chain, as it's Sunday and they're the only places open.

thanks again

John

Not today mate, easter Sunday! mapei ultra colour plus is my favourite though

Doh!!

Oh well, another day without a shower

you sure b and q aint open? they do mapei now

I'd say it's hard to go wrong with Mapei, Ardex, and so on. They're major brands, with long traditions of making tiling related products. I mostly use Ardex, because it's the best brand I can easily get my hands on, but I use Mapei whenever I can get hold of their products. I'd say the Ardex and Mapei adhesives are roughly equal in most respects, but Mapei is cheaper. I prefer Mapei grouts over Ardex grouts though.

Not a good idea, adhesive is intended as adhesive not a substitute for grout

Originally Posted by kilty55

you sure b and q aint open? they do mapei now

When Sunday opening was 'negotiated' Xmas Day and Easter Sunday had to left alone for religious reasons. BUT, only a matter of time. Our local B&Q was open I believe for you to 'Reserve' a product!! but not officially buy it! As I said, only a matter of time!

It is open in Scotland today!!

Originally Posted by grumpygrouter

It is open in Scotland today!!

If I couldn't survive a day without a shop (that'll be the day) our local makro (cash and carry) is open

Originally Posted by faithhealer

If I couldn't survive a day without a shop (that'll be the day) our local makro (cash and carry) is open

...they sell much more food than B&Q as well.......!!

Thanks guys

No need for B&Q thankfully, as a mate nearby who's a plumber gave me some grey dry mix grout he had left over in his garage - he also lent me a grouting trowel, which was really good.

Finished now and looks great - only the boring clearing up to do. Not long before I crack open a can and celebrate Easter in the traditional way.



thanks very much for all the help
John J

Any pics john..?