Replies

1. 
   zak | May 23, 2006 05:04am | #1

   I usually just go for it, and sponge with water/vinegar mix afterward.  Works with natural slate anyway.

   If you want options, have you thought about using a cake decorator bag for the grout?  A good masonry store should have a canvas one with a tip you can cut to whatever size you want.  I made an especially small one for some chair rail tile I had to do.  mix it a hair wet, squeeze it in, and joint it with a finger when it just starts to firm up.

   zak

   "so it goes"

2. 
   Billy | May 23, 2006 05:19am | #2

   Seal the tile or use a grout release on the face of the tile only.  Don't get any in the joints!  Then grout and clean up carefully.

   Billy

1. 
   LEMONJELLO | May 24, 2006 10:20am | #12

   "Seal the tile or use a grout release on the face of the tile only. Don't get any in the joints! Then grout and clean up carefully"Dude!?!? Are you serious?...How you gonna get the grout out from all those holes? If that is the point. Toothbrush?Not to be rude but that does not seem very practical to me.Judo Chop!

3. 
   calvin | May 23, 2006 05:24am | #3

   Do they want to see the voids?  Have done it in the past and if the grout is real close to the tile color I've filled the voids with the grout.  Homowner requested.

   A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.

   Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.

   Quittin' Time

    

4. 
   Karl | May 23, 2006 06:37am | #4

   Generally you want to fill the voids on tumbled limestone/marble/travertine. Go look at a showroom sample panel of the same or similar tile grouted to confirm the look is acceptable.

   I think you will drive yourself crazy trying to grout it any other way.

   Karl

1. 
   user-61008 | May 24, 2006 01:37am | #7

   I think you're right karl. Ever seen it where the grout color is different than the tile color? How does it look?

1. 
   andybuildz | May 24, 2006 05:37am | #8

   All the tumbled marble jobs I've done which is a lot have come out perfect as far as the color match with the grout to tile. I've always found it easy to match. Sometimes I've found that the tile is already sealed and sometimes not. I prefer not if its a choice because when I float the grout over the tile I believe to some degree the color washes into the whole tile so if the colors are close the spreading of the grout over the entire surface sort of stains the tile the same colour as the grout. It helps anyway. Now if the customer is asking to grout the tile an entirely different color I can see your concern however this is true with any soft natural stone especially if the tile isn't previously sealed. The soft natural color of TM which I love have grouts that are pretty damn close...close enough to find no concern unless you're totally anal in which case stick with a sealed tile like marble or granite if you wanna stay natural vs a porcelain type material. TM is earthy and imperfect in a perfect way. Most TM tiles even have all four edges imperfect which IMO is calling out to keep it slightly funky and real.
   It most certainly is not a problem keeping the grout off the face. Its just a matter of more time just like anything else.
   Use a few sample tiles to show the customer how it'll look filled.
   If in fact you do just fill the grout lines with out the face be sure to seal the tile really well because its an invitation for scumbuildup to get in the holes down the pike especially in wet areas. Explain that to your customer as well.
   Many tikes have face stain issues that you have to be really careful of. I did a huge white limestone floor and that had to have been the most miserable tile I ever worked with. In that case I'd "always" seal the face almost before I even touch the tile. Even my fingerprints were staining it and it was insanity trying to clean the tile when
   I was done.
   Oh one other thing. If in fact you do cover the entire tile be really careful to mix the grout with the exact same amt of liquid in order to keep the color consistant.
   Have fun...I always do : )
   a...If Blodgett says, Tipi tipi tipi it must be so!

   TipiFest 06~~> Send me your email addy for a Paypal invoice to the greatest show on earth~~>[email protected]

1. 
   JeffBuck | May 24, 2006 05:39am | #9

   that's the longest single sentence I never read!

    

   Jeff    Buck Construction

    Artistry In Carpentry

        Pittsburgh Pa

1. 
   andybuildz | May 24, 2006 06:03am | #10

   that's the longest single sentence I never read!>>>>>Reckon I was having a TM moment : )If Blodgett says, Tipi tipi tipi it must be so!

   TipiFest 06~~> Send me your email addy for a Paypal invoice to the greatest show on earth~~>[email protected]

5. 
   andybuildz | May 23, 2006 03:49pm | #5

   I love tumbled marble and have it in a lot of places in my house from shower stall to floors to kitch backsplash. I always fill the voids. I personally think it looks better that way...but thats just me.

   I suppose you could fill up a cake frosting bag with grout and direct it into the grout lines to avoid the holes.

   Good luck

   a...

   If Blodgett says, Tipi tipi tipi it must be so!

   TipiFest 06~~> Send me your email addy for a Paypal invoice to the greatest show on earth~~>[email protected]

1. 
   user-61008 | May 24, 2006 01:35am | #6

   Thanks guys for the responses. I generally try to convince people to use a grout color as close to the tile color as possible, but you got to give the customer what they want I guess. This tumbled marble is very rough, and I'm wary of filling the voids with grout if the colors are not real close. The idea of the grout bag seems good, so again , thanks guys for your opinions

6. 
   LEMONJELLO | May 24, 2006 10:15am | #11

   match color closely and grout it. That is the best and most common way.

   Even if you would cake decorate it, you still gotta smear in your joints and sponge off the excess and residue. Taping off each tile? Ummm, yeah.... I don't think so. A couple good smears with the float and the tape comes off anyway.

   Biggest point: I'm sure your clients would much rather grout be in the hole/voids rather than food particles, dirt, etc...

   Seal it, grout it, seal it again, done.

   Judo Chop!