white grout

[susbin]

Hi there,

I'm tiling my bathroom (wetroom) at the moment and bought some Bal Micromax wall+floor grout in white, as all the specs sounded good. However... it's not drying white but more like a grey. Considering that all my tiles are white this is not good!

Have done some googling and found Ardex-Flex FS wall+floor grout which sounds like it will do the job (doesnt have microban like the bal but some dirt-resistant properties i understand), and it appears to be sold in brilliant white.

Does anyone have any experience of this grout - mainly does it actually dry white or will i be disappointed again?!

Many thanks for any advice.

[Dan]

Hi Susbin,

There are dozens of whites when it comes to grout. Some ice-white, some white-white, some creamy-white. You generally need to see the sample board(s) in the shop to get a good feeling of what it looks like when it has set.

If it's an even colour but not quite what you expected it probably will just be showing up due to how white your tiles are and probably is the correct colour. But just in case check to see if it's patchy at all as that could suggest a dirty mixing bucket or the wet grout pulling some colour from the adhesive or something like that.

BAL Superflex is "brilliant white" which is a very sharp clean white. But I never used to like grouting with that stuff. So perhaps check that out too?

[susbin]

Hi Dan,

thanks yes i do have the Superflex in mind too, the only problem with that is it's only good for walls is that right?

i'd rather have the same grout across walls and floors if i can. (And yes i know the pitfalls of white grout on the floor and am still determined to give it a go...!!!) A man in Topps Tiles recommended a paint-on sealer which will hopefully keep it a bit cleaner for longer.

[Dan]

Yes sealing the floor grout would be very wise. But you might have to seal the lot for the colour to still match.

If you're looking for the same colour grout for walls and floor superflex perhaps ins't the one for you.

Have you grouted some already to see the colour when 'dried' then?

[susbin]

yes i did it at the weekend and have had my fingers crossed since that it will dry whiter! but to no avail, it remains an off-white which just looks grey against my white tiles.

[impish]

There are "issues" with Micromax which BAL are "addressing".
Until that is done, I won't use it.
I have to say though, that MicroFLEX is the best white wall grout in my opinion.
Superflex is as Dan says, very bright, but a bit grainy too.

[Dan]

What issues are there Impish? New to me that is!

Is it colour-related or more batch related or something?

[Bri]

Because it's a wide joint grout designed to be flexible and suitable for walls and floors it seems to contain a lot of sand, I would say that it is this that is giving it the 'grey' appearance. According to Topps, who I assume have got their info from BAL, it's meant to be an 'all-in-one' grout, suitable for every job. Seems they may have overlooked the white one

[susbin]

yes - it does appear quite grainy actually

[susbin]

do Topps do any comeback on products that aren't what you hoped does anyone know...? As this micromax cost me £15 which i'd rather put towards a new bag of something else if i can!

[Bri]

I haven't used the white one yet, it is a good range of grouts suitable for 3mm to 20mm if I remember rightly. The only BAL grout that I would consider to be bright white is the microflex with micro ban.

[impish]

What issues are there Impish? New to me that is!

Is it colour-related or more batch related or something?

I heard they are reviewing the grouts after quite a few colour issues.
The idea behind the micromax range is great and for BAL, is long overdue.
Until they get the formulation right though - only the idea is great!
Surprising for BAL to have this problem really.

[kilty55]

i would use pci aquafug if you want a good white grout

[pjc]

Have you used bucket adhesive ?

[grumpygrouter]

Ardex FS is brilliant stuff as is the F4 which I think is a little cheaper.

[susbin]

do you know where can i buy pci aquafug? have only found one online place via google and they charge £40 delivery (when I probably only need £20 of grout!)
Thanks

[grumpygrouter]

do you know where can i buy pci aquafug? have only found one online place via google and they charge £40 delivery (when I probably only need £20 of grout!)
Thanks

£40 for delivery!!!! What are you buying, a pallet full?

[susbin]

i did manage to get my money back at Topps by the way (when i returned the Micromax on the basis that it was not drying white...), which was good.

So I'm looking at PCI Aquafug or Ardex-Flex FS now then.

Grumpygrouter - in your experience does the Ardex dry a proper brilliant white?

[susbin]

£40 for delivery!!!! What are you buying, a pallet full?

exactly... i've emailed them to ask if they're anywhere near where i live so could pick it up instead...

[pjc]

Susbin did you use bucket adhesive ?

[susbin]

Susbin did you use bucket adhesive ?

i used Mira 3130 superfix (as i used the Mira tanking system so bought their adhesive too)

[grumpygrouter]

i did manage to get my money back at Topps by the way (when i returned the Micromax on the basis that it was not drying white...), which was good.

So I'm looking at PCI Aquafug or Ardex-Flex FS now then.

Grumpygrouter - in your experience does the Ardex dry a proper brilliant white?

Ardex F4 certainly does. I haven't used the FS version so can't comment on its brilliance - colour wise!

[pjc]

i used Mira 3130 superfix (as i used the Mira tanking system so bought their adhesive too)

Sorry never used it is it cement based ?

[susbin]

Sorry never used it is it cement based ?

erm i think so... It's not ready-mixed, comes in powder form and has all the technical attributes i understand a wetroom needs (water-resistant, flexible, heat-resistant etc).

[pjc]

Well ardex grouts f grouts are White and stay White when wet not all makes do not sure about the pci one even as all I use is pci but not the grout and ardex are easy to get hold of

[susbin]

ok, just spoken to a technical man at Ardex and he confirms the Ardex-Flex FS is suitable for underfloor heating (i saw a website somewhere that said an admix was needed - it's not). So for me Ardex-Flex FS and PCI Aquafug are now neck and neck in terms of specs (although i could do with some more opinions/reviews on the ardex one if anyone has any?!), so i guess i'll be buying whichever one i can get hold of easiest...

[Dave]

Stone fix White is good one as well and not grainy so will dry White
As mentioned above coarse grained grouts tend to be useless in White (colour wise )
Mapei ultra colour is the same but Mapei FF is better.
So if you can , choose a fine grain


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- Sent from my iPhone

[grumpygrouter]

ok, just spoken to a technical man at Ardex and he confirms the Ardex-Flex FS is suitable for underfloor heating (i saw a website somewhere that said an admix was needed - it's not). So for me Ardex-Flex FS and PCI Aquafug are now neck and neck in terms of specs (although i could do with some more opinions/reviews on the ardex one if anyone has any?!), so i guess i'll be buying whichever one i can get hold of easiest...

I used Ardex FS on my victorian floor. Was really nice to use and gave a lovely fine finish. Don't think it cost me too much either.

[susbin]

Sounds good. Just found that a local tile store carries the Ardex FS, so am going to go get a small bag from them for £7 and see what it's like.

Thanks for all your help - I'll let you know how i get on!