Patchy Mapei grout... any ideas?

[richardbell81]

Hi all,

I grouted my bathroom floor tiles last night with Mapei Ultracolor plus (112 medium grey) but it's drying with dark patches everywhere. I've read plenty of posts with people saying the grout has dried with lighter patches which is why I was so careful mixing it and applying it exactly as it said on the bag! I got that specific colour as it was so close to my tiles and I wanted the tile and grout to be as seamless as possible... but this just makes the whole job look bloody awful!

I'm still clinging on to the hope that it will fully dry out by tomorrow but I know deep down this is going to need sorting.

Has this happened to anyone else and if so, is there any way to sort it without having to rake up the whole lot??! I've attached some pictures so you can see what I mean. The patches of lighter grey are what it should look like!

Any help much appreciated and thanks in advance.

 

[White Room]

I'd give it a couple of days and see what happens then...

 

[richardbell81]

Oh... The tiles are porcelain and I fixed to them to No more ply with keraflex maxi. I left the adhesive to set for 3 days to make sure it was fully dry. I also made sure all of the channels were fully dry and clear of any adhesive before I grouted.

 

[richardbell81]

I'd give it a couple of days and see what happens then...

finger crossed, I can only hope your right! just odd that it seems to have dried fine in some patches.

 

[bugs183]

Give it a couple of days, i'd be suprised if Mapei grout is blotchy as is is such good stuff.
Had lots of trouble with Bal superflex grey, i refuse to use it now, and Bal have been pretty quiet about any solutions.

 

[White Room]

I now use a second bucket of clean water, one to wash the sponge after wiping down and then the second for rinsing in clean water ready to wipe down again...

 

[Ian]

I have had similar problems in the past with this grout (Jasmine) and have read a few similar posts reporting the same problem. I had to recolour the grout to solve the issue. I will never use this grout again as I really don't rate it, it's far too sensitive and not user friendly (this is my own opinion).

 

[richardbell81]

I now use a second bucket of clean water, one to wash the sponge after wiping down and then the second for rinsing in clean water ready to wipe down again...

I did exactly that... 2 buckets... one to clean and one to rinse! I wiped over after about 20-25 mins like it says on the back of the bag!

 

[richardbell81]

I have had similar problems in the past with this grout (Jasmine) and have read a few similar posts reporting the same problem. I had to recolour the grout to solve the issue. I will never use this grout again as I really don't rate it, it's far too sensitive and not user friendly (this is my own opinion).

Im guessing you have to re-colour darker, what did you use out of interest? So annoying as I went out of my way to get this exact colour!!

 

[Ian]

Im guessing you have to re-colour darker, what did you use out of interest? So annoying as I went out of my way to get this exact colour!!

You can recolour darker or lighter. I'll go and get a link for the product, back in a mo.

 

[richardbell81]

Thanks very much for the link! Hopefully it won't come to that but good to know I've got that option if I need it!

 

[White Room]

I have had similar problems in the past with this grout (Jasmine) and have read a few similar posts reporting the same problem. I had to recolour the grout to solve the issue. I will never use this grout again as I really don't rate it, it's far too sensitive and not user friendly (this is my own opinion).

What grout do you use now Bri..

 

[Ian]

What grout do you use now Bri..

BAL Micromax, super flex and microflex, basically BAL. I have always used BAL and on the few occasions I've used ultra colour I've had issues, either setting too quickly, drying patchy etc, I also don't like the fact that it needs to be mixed a whole 5kg bag to exactly 1 litre of water, to me that suggests that it's too sensitive. I've read too many posts on here with it going wrong from DIY and pro's. I know a lot of folks on here love it so it must be a decent product, but not for me.

 

[bugs183]

Just shows how each individual differs when it comes to products. I was always a Bal user, but find i'm less impressed with them after using Mapei! Especially anything with microban.
Did you use a washboy or a sponge to clean the tiles, i'm just wondering if there is process that is stripping the dyes out of the grout regardless of the manufacturer. I've racked my brains, but have no real answer to this problem that seems to happen every now and again to everyone regardless of the make of grout.

 

[richardbell81]

Just shows how each individual differs when it comes to products. I was always a Bal user, but find i'm less impressed with them after using Mapei! Especially anything with microban.
Did you use a washboy or a sponge to clean the tiles, i'm just wondering if there is process that is stripping the dyes out of the grout regardless of the manufacturer. I've racked my brains, but have no real answer to this problem that seems to happen every now and again to everyone regardless of the make of grout.

I did use a sponge to clean the tiles but it's the fact that its drying darker in patches, not lighter... I.e it cant be that it's removing pigment. If that makes sense.

 

[bugs183]

I know it doesn't make sense at all, i'm just throwing ideas out there. Nothing worse than having to go back to a job and re do it due to product failure.

 

[richardbell81]

I know, is it worth contacting mapei?

I ordered the grout online as I couldn't find it in that colour in any local shops... When it arrived, the bag did have a hole in although it was delivered in a box. I obviously didn't use any of the powder that had come out of the bag... But I'm wondering if that had anything to do with it. Can't see why as others seem to have had the same problem. I'm just struggling for answers!

 

[Muse2k8]

It may just be excess moisture in the grout. What temp is the room at and is the room prone to humidity? What appliances and utilities do you have in this room or have used in the week or two prior to grouting? Are there windows or a door? Any pets? Anything (even a kettle).

Slightly off topic but a mate recommended PCI grouts. Anybody tried these?

 

[Muse2k8]

I said kettle I meant shower lol. Don't ask... I was making a hot choc lol.

 

[jay]

Can you give us a detailed description on how you mixed the grout thanks

 

[John Benton]

BAL Micromax, super flex and microflex, basically BAL. I have always used BAL and on the few occasions I've used ultra colour I've had issues, either setting too quickly, drying patchy etc, I also don't like the fact that it needs to be mixed a whole 5kg bag to exactly 1 litre of water, to me that suggests that it's too sensitive. I've read too many posts on here with it going wrong from DIY and pro's. I know a lot of folks on here love it so it must be a decent product, but not for me.

I had the same problem with the Ultra chocolate grout, very patchy. Raked out first thing next morning and re-grouted with a brand I regularly use, Atlas.

 

[IvegotsTILE]

I've just had this problem in 3 bathrooms with bal superflex,really annoyed me. Have had it on a few jobs over the years and cant explain how 1 grout line can have 3 different shades when it has been mixed properly and washed down the same.

 

[richardbell81]

It may just be excess moisture in the grout. What temp is the room at and is the room prone to humidity? What appliances and utilities do you have in this room or have used in the week or two prior to grouting? Are there windows or a door? Any pets? Anything (even a kettle).

Slightly off topic but a mate recommended PCI grouts. Anybody tried these?

The house is a 1902 mid terrace but it is not being lived in at the moment so no pets and the shower hasn't been used. I can't say that the room is prone to humidity as the door on the bathroom has been removed temporarily so it gets a constant flow of air. Obviously there has been no central heating turned on either so i'm still clinging on to the hope it will take a bit longer to dry out

 

[prceramics]

I have had similar problems in the past with this grout (Jasmine) and have read a few similar posts reporting the same problem. I had to recolour the grout to solve the issue. I will never use this grout again as I really don't rate it, it's far too sensitive and not user friendly (this is my own opinion).

i have a job next month and the customer has asked for this grout (jasmine) might try and talk her out of it

 

[richardbell81]

Can you give us a detailed description on how you mixed the grout thanks

1kg of grout with 0.2 litres of water (as per instructions but my floor is only 2.2 square metres so no point mixing a whole bag of 5kg).

Poured the grout into a bucket containing the water, mixed to a peanut butter consistency with a hand trowel (it did seem thicker than BAL grout though).... left it to rest for a few mins... mixed again... then applied with a float.

As an additional note our water in this area is soft water so I can't blame hard water with high mineral content.

 

[jay]

Might be worth trying a electric mixing paddle

 

[charlie1]

I have had similar problems in the past with this grout (Jasmine) and have read a few similar posts reporting the same problem. I had to recolour the grout to solve the issue. I will never use this grout again as I really don't rate it, it's far too sensitive and not user friendly (this is my own opinion).

agree bri, ultracolour is messy to work with, falls off the float very easy, generally a messyer grout compaired to the likes of bal. I like bal and sovregn now.

 

[Andrew Oates]

Was told by mapei rep mix with drill leave 5 mins for colour pigment to break down then mix again

 

[Andrew]

Are you certain 100% bond was achieved on the tile? I used nothing but mapei for years and had this problem on a couple of occasions! If voids are present in the adhesive grout can flow into these areas making that area of grout hold more moisture than the rest, therefore drying unevenly. How long has it been grouted now?
You seem to have followed procedure correctly, so this is all I can think!

 

[richardbell81]

Are you certain 100% bond was achieved on the tile? I used nothing but mapei for years and had this problem on a couple of occasions! If voids are present in the adhesive grout can flow into these areas making that area of grout hold more moisture than the rest, therefore drying unevenly. How long has it been grouted now?
You seem to have followed procedure correctly, so this is all I can think!

I grouted on tuesday evening and it was still patchy today. I used a standard 20x10x10 u-notch and back buttered all the tiles to ensure 100% coverage! I made sure all the voids were clear i.e no adhesive seeping up the sides... i don't really know what else I could have done! So frustrating! Even if i rake it all out and start again, i'm not sure what I could have done differently!

I suppose use a paddle and bottled water... but it's getting a bit ridiculous when you have to go to these extremes to mix up 1kg of grout!