How do I grout uneven slate mosaic - TilersForums.com

[Stewy1964]

First time poster.....any advice on how best to grout these massively uneven mosaic slate tiles and should they be sealed first and if so, what do you recommend? Thanks in advance

 

[Dan]

Wouldn't hurt sealing them. You should find they don't absorb much moisture with them being natural stone but you will get grout stuck in all the grooves etc and sealing them first will help when washing off.

They're a pain in the arse to grout.

You'll need to work slow and wash off fairly quick. Work clean and try not get too much grout in the tiles. Use a grout float not a squeegee so you're pushing the grout in the joints rather than going over diagonally with a squeegee which will cover the tiles in grout too.

What's the height of them? 1"?

 

[Stewy1964]

Wouldn't hurt sealing them. You should find they don't absorb much moisture with them being natural stone but you will get grout stuck in all the grooves etc and sealing them first will help when washing off.

They're a pain in the arse to grout.

You'll need to work slow and wash off fairly quick. Work clean and try not get too much grout in the tiles. Use a grout float not a squeegee so you're pushing the grout in the joints rather than going over diagonally with a squeegee which will cover the tiles in grout too.

What's the height of them? 1"?

Cheers Dan, yeah already got the sealant, thought as much, it was just the application, wasn't sure to use a float or a stiff brush to work the grout in....and yeah 1"....knew they would be a pain in the arse when I got them, but they look good when on the wall.

 

[Dan]

Cheers Dan, yeah already got the sealant, thought as much, it was just the application, wasn't sure to use a float or a stiff brush to work the grout in....and yeah 1"....knew they would be a pain in the arse when I got them, but they look good when on the wall.

Just seen a picture where the tiles were so close together it wouldn't have taken much more than a finger load of grout to grout it. Perhaps go that way.

Grout will eventually cut you when you're smoothing joints down. It's like a really really slow cutter. It's so abrasive it takes a tiny bit of skin off your finger each time you wipe a grout joint.

So wear gloves if you use your finger.

 

[macten]

Those tiles aren’t supposed to be grouted.
Just seal them.

 

[Dave]

Yep as above, they do not get grouted. 👍

 

[Bond]

Not good practice to fix onto painted surface either.