Been working on a bathroom reno in my house for a couple months now. Tore out a tile (brown tile with mint green grout – lovely!) on drywall tub surround, pulled out the lime green tub. I then proceeded with replacement white tub install, and put in the felt paper, durock and 2×6 white subway tile set with 1/8 gaps in thinset with Admix (which has an oddly pleasant smell, by the way). Nice row of decorative tile thrown in so I wouldn’t have to cut the top and/or bottom rows.
So, all is good. Tile job looks great and the last of the tiles has set for a few days.
Time for the grout. Using Custom non-sanded modified, so just add water. Mix it to a nice smooth whipped mashed potato consistency.
Do the back wall first, spread it on with my float and coat the wall. After taking off the excess, wiping down with sponge and taking off the haze, all looks good …
Until it starts to set. Then the cracks begin to appear and when it dries probably half of the entire wall’s grout joints are cracked.
Ughhh. What did I do wrong? I forgot to wet the tile first is what I figure. The tile edges sucked the moisture out of the grout too quickly.
Solution? Spread the grout again (maybe thinning the mix a bit more) filling the cracks and wipe clean? Then seal as usual? Anyone think the second coat will not bond?
What a bummer. Thanks in advance.
Paul
Replies
After you mixed the grout did you let it slake for 10 minutes, then mix again without adding water?
Yes, did let it sit and then mixed again before floating. Left that part out [of prior message - thx.].
Edited 3/4/2005 2:57 pm ET by varoom
Okay. My next thought is you said Custom brand grout- bought at Home Depot? My local tile supplier does not allow grout or thinset to be returned because they can't guarantee if it was stored properly. A friend of mine had a job go bad with Custom grout (or thinset) he bought at Depot and will never buy it there again.
The local tile supplier stores all grout and thinset on shelves, high and dry, and doesn't take it back.
Indeed, from the Despot. It seems fine though, not clumping which would suggest prior moisture absorption. Nice fine powder. Thinsets I recall are there on skids on the floor, but the grouts are at waist level.
It's Home Depot's liberal return policy that scares me. You just don't know where it's been. Also, the Depot forces suppliers to skimp on expensive components of products they buy.