Rod N
Well-known member
My tile supplier says don't bother.
Still worries me.
Still worries me.
Did you seal your grout?
- Thread starter Rod N
- Start date
rlitman
Well-known member
What kind of grout? What sort of installation?
48RON54
Well-known member
No, so we had someone come in, regrout it and seal it. It still stains just as easy as before and still requires just as much work to clean it. I don't see any benefit to anyone other than the money I paid the tile guy.
rlitman
Well-known member
I'd say it is worth sealing cement grout. It only takes a few minutes, and helps repel water. Still, if this is in a kitchen backsplash, it may not get exposed to enough water to matter. If this is in a shower, then repelling water slows down mildewing (doesn't stop it, but does slow it).
Now if you had epoxy or polyurethane grout, sealing it is a waste of time.
Now if you had epoxy or polyurethane grout, sealing it is a waste of time.
Dakota00
Well-known member
Seal it!
C2 Turbo
Well-known member
We had our kitchen re-done 2 years ago and used one of the most experienced (35+ yrs) and the most expensive tile guy to do the work. Before he started working, I specifically told him I wanted a grout that I don't have to keep re-sealing it and guess what, the **** started staining right after it was done
We are now building a house and I need some tiles and this time around I will make sure, the grout better be friggen already sealed with absolute no friggen maintenence at all.
So my question is, do they make a synthetic grout that won't stain or is it possible to EPOXY the friggen grout
We are now building a house and I need some tiles and this time around I will make sure, the grout better be friggen already sealed with absolute no friggen maintenence at all.
So my question is, do they make a synthetic grout that won't stain or is it possible to EPOXY the friggen grout
Last edited:
rlitman
Well-known member
So my question is, do they make a synthetic grout that won't stain or is it possible to EPOXY the friggen grout
You don't epoxy the grout, you use epoxy (or polyurethane) grout.
But even epoxy can be stained. It is however much more stain resistant than concrete.
C2 Turbo
Well-known member
Do you still seal that Epoxy grout and do you still have to clean it and is it a smooth texture or is it rough like your typical grout?
Any other options for grout or for laying down the tile but without using the dang grout
?rlitman
Well-known member
Epoxy grout is non-porous. A sealer would not soak into it.
It has a rough texture because of the sand you add to it. This is done for looks, but is also a thickener.
If you don't want grout lines, I think you need to not use tile.
It has a rough texture because of the sand you add to it. This is done for looks, but is also a thickener.
If you don't want grout lines, I think you need to not use tile.
C2 Turbo
Well-known member
I don't mind grout lines but I don't want to be on my knees all the time trying to keep them looking clean either.
Banjorear
Well-known member
Wait, this is in a garage right? I can't see how you won't be cleaning all the time if you want it to look like new. Dust blows into my garage just by opening the garage door.
Maybe black or another dark color grout so its not so easy to see when it's dirty?
C2 Turbo
Well-known member
For the same very reason, I am definately not putting them in the garage (would love too) but no, I am talking about our house that's under construction especially the kitchen area
I used epoxy grout on my entire backsplash 22' of it and if you have never installed this stuff be prepared for your forearms to look like Popeye's when you are done! It is more like troweling bubblegum than grout. I am so glad I did it though because behind the stove when it gets dirty I use a stainless steel 1/2" wide fine wire brush and soft scrub with bleach to clean it. The rest of the tile just wipes clean with a scotch-brite pad. Smartest thing to do is use a grout that is very dark and then you don't have to worry.
C2 Turbo
Well-known member
Sorry didn't mean to high jack yourthread but I guess you did get your answer, right
Dark grout be fine if the tile is dark as well but if the tile is lighter in color, than I hate the boxy tile lay out.
Not sure what I am going to do with this grout thing though?
C2 Turbo
Well-known member
Quick google search lead me to this product which I think could be what OP and I are looking for
http://www.spectralock.com/
Happy reading
http://www.spectralock.com/
Happy reading
abk241
Well-known member
"Maybe black or another dark color grout so its not so easy to see when it's dirty? "
Don't know about that.
The dark furniture in the house seems to attract light colored dust while the light colored furniture attracts the darker dust.
Yeah I know you're talking about floors....but dust doesn't care if it's floors or furniture that it lands on.
Don't know about that.
The dark furniture in the house seems to attract light colored dust while the light colored furniture attracts the darker dust.
Yeah I know you're talking about floors....but dust doesn't care if it's floors or furniture that it lands on.
Quick google search lead me to this product which I think could be what OP and I are looking for
http://www.spectralock.com/
Happy reading
This is a grout. I need to seal the grout already laid.
C2 Turbo
Well-known member
I am sorry I am lost here. You like the grout I mentioned ^ but you have already laid the other tile that needs sealing, is that correct?
OJ Bartley
Well-known member
I didn't bother sealing, because I don't want to have to do it every year. I used this grout with: "DropEffect technology reduces surface absorption to help repel water, dirt and grime from penetrating grout joints".
Mapei Ultracolor Plus
I also chose a dark(ish) grey so it won't show stains as easily when they do happen.
Mapei Ultracolor Plus
I also chose a dark(ish) grey so it won't show stains as easily when they do happen.
Last edited:
Banjorear
Well-known member
The woman we bought our house from re-did the kitchen to a very high level. The floor is these massive tiles with tan-ish grout. She used some German made sealer. That stuff works wonders. I'll take a picture of the can and post it. The grout looks new and it's been numerous years since it was done.
C2 Turbo
Well-known member
Hpozzuoli
Well-known member
I don't seal grout. I know some guys that do and there isn't any benefit. The grout will still "stain" sealed or not. I do notice on some sealed grout lines that a sheen is produced when the sealer settles and cures.
Use a dark grout in a garage.
Use a dark grout in a garage.
gregtwojeeps
Well-known member
I did not want dark tile in my garage as I figured they would darken the room too much, old eyes need lotsa light. . So I went with light colored tile and almost went with dark grout but changed my mind. I did not want the tile to look like a "grid" with light tiles and dark grout....
So I went with a light colored grout and sealed it with Dupont sealer. The pic below is the grout where I spilled some used motor oil on it when I changed my Jeep's oil. The spill cleaned right up with Simple Green and did not stain the grout near as badly as I thought it would.
. So I went with light colored tile and almost went with dark grout but changed my mind. I did not want the tile to look like a "grid" with light tiles and dark grout....So I went with a light colored grout and sealed it with Dupont sealer. The pic below is the grout where I spilled some used motor oil on it when I changed my Jeep's oil. The spill cleaned right up with Simple Green and did not stain the grout near as badly as I thought it would.
Last edited:
Todd.Brock
Well-known member
I used the standard HD sealer when I tiled our bathrooms in old house. It did not stop the staining. HD sells sealer that's 90 bucks a gallon. Not sure how it works. The bathrooms tile was a horrible color and I used Mapei grout paint. Came out awesome enough to put the house on the market and not regrout. Our old kitchen was done with epoxy grout. That stuff wears like iron.
I just did a new tile floor over weekend in kitchen. I used Quartzlock 2 brand urethane grout. It's premixed, and can be saved for a future job unlike epoxy. Has all the benefits of epoxy grout without the short pot life. It's price will make you stutter for about hour though...
I just did a new tile floor over weekend in kitchen. I used Quartzlock 2 brand urethane grout. It's premixed, and can be saved for a future job unlike epoxy. Has all the benefits of epoxy grout without the short pot life. It's price will make you stutter for about hour though...
C2 Turbo
Well-known member
I am about to make a post and this is exactly what a local tiler
uses in all his high end houses.
http://www.bostik-us.com/our-brands/quartzlock-2™
He seems very happy with the product but also stated that 'coz of the price not many people go for it though
Standard grout $30-$40/bucket
Quartzlock 2 : $140-$160/bucket
His price: He can get this product for around $100-$110/bucket
Regardless of what people say, I have decided not to mess with Tile anyway and have decided to go with brazilion Cherry in most of the house except bathrooms/mudroom
jaye944
Banned
If not read the above replies, but from my expereince;
I've never seen grout sealed, in bathrooms or kitchen backsplashes
I've always thought that grout is supposed to be to help with expansion/contraction,
when you seal grout surly that inhibit's that process?
It's easy enough to clean grout, it's something I have done on a regular basis
Even in Canada; I've felt grout and it's rough and not sealed and I'd say your supplier is correct
I've never seen grout sealed, in bathrooms or kitchen backsplashes
I've always thought that grout is supposed to be to help with expansion/contraction,
when you seal grout surly that inhibit's that process?
It's easy enough to clean grout, it's something I have done on a regular basis
Even in Canada; I've felt grout and it's rough and not sealed and I'd say your supplier is correct
Dakota00
Well-known member
^^^ I've used DuPont Stonetech with good results. For my Porcelain and Ceramic tiling jobs (when I client requests a sealer) I use Lithofin KF Grout Protector.
Now for my own garage floor, I did an experiment. I used the same high quality grout (Mapei UltraColor Plus) that I use on all my exterior jobs. Which is waterproof, stain proof, oil and chemical resistance. Seeing as this grout and most grout used is cementitious based. I decided to seal the grout for that added protection with an "off the shelf" concrete sealer, 2 coats were applied. To see and test the affects of different automotive fluids would do. The results, none of the fluids penetrated or stained the grout. Last winter resulted in no staining or marring of the grout from the salt.
Overall I'm very pleased with the protection that the concrete sealer provided. Do I recommend in doing the same? NO!! Simply, I don't want to hear any BS stories or F-ups from anyone. This was only an experiment!!
Now for my own garage floor, I did an experiment. I used the same high quality grout (Mapei UltraColor Plus) that I use on all my exterior jobs. Which is waterproof, stain proof, oil and chemical resistance. Seeing as this grout and most grout used is cementitious based. I decided to seal the grout for that added protection with an "off the shelf" concrete sealer, 2 coats were applied. To see and test the affects of different automotive fluids would do. The results, none of the fluids penetrated or stained the grout. Last winter resulted in no staining or marring of the grout from the salt.
Overall I'm very pleased with the protection that the concrete sealer provided. Do I recommend in doing the same? NO!! Simply, I don't want to hear any BS stories or F-ups from anyone. This was only an experiment!!
Dakota00
Well-known member
Track,
No I didn't test the UltraColor as is. I know of others that have used this grout (not sealed) in their garage that didn't have any issues with staining.
No I didn't test the UltraColor as is. I know of others that have used this grout (not sealed) in their garage that didn't have any issues with staining.
H2oallyear
New member
- Joined
- Nov 30, 2014
- Messages
- 1
I use Prizm grout from custom building products. You don't have to seal it. And the grout looks just like the sample. No fading or blotchy colours. If you are doing floors its best to use a darker grout. I have seen people admit about light beige for their from entrance. It's all mud grey after a few years anyway! The only time I seal anything as an installer is marble BEFORE I grout.
When I tiled my garage- I was concerned with staining. I read all the negatives about epoxy grout & just used the off the shelf sanded grout from Home depot- Custom Building Products Polyblend. While there- I noticed a product called Grout Shield that is used in place of water when mixing the grout. Not cheap- bottle shows water beading up on the grout. What a joke. I think I spent about $200 on this junk & it did nothing to prevent water or oil soaking into the grout. Because my grout is a dark gray- nothing seems to show anyway. Just a heads up. Just wish it worked like the pic on the product bottle.
