A Hard Days Grout

[gabmac]

Been doing a shower bay job in 5mm thick mosaic tiles and went in today with the intention of a quick grout and half day. Put my shoulder into packing the grout in as the tiles are quite thin, but when I came to wipe down lots of holes kept appearing everywhere in the grout. In the end I had to re-grout over about 6 times to get rid of all the holes costing me my half day. Anyone any ideas what has gone wrong here? Been tiling for 3 years and never encountered this problem and don't want to again. I was using Bal standard white, mixed to the guidelines and rested for 5 mins before use. The only thing I could think of was maybe it had something to do with the thinness of the tile and the fact they bevelled in at the edges to the wall and therefore created a sot off air pocket.

[whitebeam]

If the grout is a bit to thin can get air bubbles...

[Dave]

Hi , leave the grout longer to set before washing off and also slight less water in the mix.

[deanotile]

what grout was it

[gabmac]

Whitebeam- the mix seemed bang on, not to wet at all. Had that drummed into me in training.

Dave- Thought maybe a timing issue after grouting the first section, so left the second area alot longer before washing down, but still the same outcome.

Deanotile- Bal White Grout upto 3mm

really stumped on this one, as I say I've done close on 60 jobs over the last few years and have never had this problem. Only other thing of note is I usually use Mapei

[deanotile]

Whitebeam- the mix seemed bang on, not to wet at all. Had that drummed into me in training.

Dave- Thought maybe a timing issue after grouting the first section, so left the second area alot longer before washing down, but still the same outcome.

Deanotile- Bal White Grout upto 3mm

really stumped on this one, as I say I've done close on 60 jobs over the last few years and have never had this problem. Only other thing of note is I usually use Mapei

BAL say no more you had it to wet and washed of to soon

[Sir Ramic]

Could the walls be cold, this can make the grout wetter when applied ?
Is the mosaic Glass or vitrified ? This wouldnt help the grout set either ?

[gabmac]

Could the walls be cold, this can make the grout wetter when applied ?
Is the mosaic Glass or vitrified ? This wouldnt help the grout set either ?

The tiles were vitrified, did leave the second wall grout on for around 45 mins before washing down. I'm taking from what you and the others have said though that it is down to too much water in the mix. Saying that though I did follow the mixing instructions and volumes to the letter.

[pjc]

balwall grout has it changed lol there wall grout never used to be any good for vitrified tiles you would be waiting all day for it to dry would just keep pulling out of the joints sounds keep wiping it with a wet sponge wouldn't help only make it worse only ever used it for ceramics it always went grey when wet but nowadays there are grouts for most situations

[user123]

As all of the above re too much water in the mix, but also, and yes, sigh, take it from me, with small mosaics it's much much easier to trap air between the two different directions of groutlines, you have to make sure that when you spread the grout you don't go back on yourself, grouting from two opposing directions with the air having nowhere to go, getting trapped and then coming up in bubbles - am I putting this across right?

[Gall.B]

Never had a problem with Bal standard white, would have used microflex tho. I would have gave it a rough wash with a tight washboy sponge. Had a brew, then wiped off diagonaly with a tight washboy. Suppose its the brand your used to, I cant get on with Mapei grouts at all.

[timeless john]

I've always liked Bal White grout. Issues may be through the wetness/length of time left on/vitrified mosaic/too much water when washing off. Every job is different as are drying conditions. Mix it thicker next time and leave on tiles longer before using a damp sponge to wash off and final polish.