OJ Bartley
Well-known member
Great looking floor, 2slow! I like the pattern, it really gives some character. Did the vinegar wash help with the colour?
Porcelain tile shopping list & tips
- Thread starter 2slow
- Start date
Mopped the floor last night with vinegar solution, and my wife mopped again this morning. I plan on doing it again tonight. It is hard to tell effect on color until it dries completely. Right now the color looks about right when I look straight down on it but light when viewed at an angle...
Floor has been mopped at least 7 times (twice with water, once with floor cleaner, and 4 times with vinegar / water solution) The haze was pretty much all gone by the third mopping. (pre vinegar) The mop water has been clean enough to see clearly to the bottom of the bucket after doing the entire floor for the last three times with vinegar.
I do not think there is any haze at all anywhere. I will inspect grout color tomorrow when it dries out and take pictures. So far it seems about the right color when viewed directly down, but quite light when viewed at an angle. Wierd...
I do not think there is any haze at all anywhere. I will inspect grout color tomorrow when it dries out and take pictures. So far it seems about the right color when viewed directly down, but quite light when viewed at an angle. Wierd...
Dakota00
Well-known member
If the Ultracolor Plus was used, after 2-3 good washes it would show the true color. I never had a problem with this product. Something is just not right. Was the floor pre-washed before grouting?
Here is a pic of the current status. The grout seems darker after all the mopping. I am hoping it is actually darker, not just damp... The last time it was mopped was about 24 hours ago and the heat is set at 70 in the barn. Still I see some areas that are potentially damp looking.
The grout color on the card was slightly darker than the tile, in reality it looks a little lighter. At least it is not the bright white it was at first.
The Mapei rep is coming tomorrow at 10. I will see what he has to say. I think I may try sealing it with a color enhancing sealer and call the job done.
-Joe
The grout color on the card was slightly darker than the tile, in reality it looks a little lighter. At least it is not the bright white it was at first.
The Mapei rep is coming tomorrow at 10. I will see what he has to say. I think I may try sealing it with a color enhancing sealer and call the job done.
-Joe
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One little tidbit of fun... Since I set the tile around the hoist, now when the hoist arms go all the way down they sit on the tile. Going to need to make a 1/4" spacer to keep them from going all the way down and still push the swing release pins up...
-Joe
-Joe
motofool33
Well-known member
Well you could put a plate under the lift base instead the same thickness of the tile.
motofool33
Well-known member
Great Minds Think alike
motofool33
Well-known member
Mapei rep came today and looked at grout. He came to the same conclusion as Dakota. Either too much water when grout was mixed, or it was wiped off too wet. He suggested a colored sealant...
He also mentioned coating with a 50/50 mix of mineral spirits and linseed oil, but that sounds like a bad idea to me. I think that would attract dirt.
I am going to try a haze remover and a toothbrush.
He also mentioned coating with a 50/50 mix of mineral spirits and linseed oil, but that sounds like a bad idea to me. I think that would attract dirt.
I am going to try a haze remover and a toothbrush.
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My friend came over and helped clean the grout. We wet it down, then scrubbed with a tooth brush sized nylon brush dipped in haze remover, then mopped up. I will see what it looks like tomorrow when it dries.
The Mapei rep advised this stuff:
http://www.mapei.com/us-en/product-detail.asp?IDProdotto=1005815&IDTipo=162&IDLinea=102
Have you ever used it? He said it will seal grout and color it. I read the info sheet and it may not be solvent tolerant. What do you guys think?
Part of me says it is epoxy based and will be like having epoxy grout. Part of me wonders if it will just sit on top like paint and end up peeling off... The guy in post #8 of this thread tested it and was able to peel it up.
The Mapei rep advised this stuff:
http://www.mapei.com/us-en/product-detail.asp?IDProdotto=1005815&IDTipo=162&IDLinea=102
Have you ever used it? He said it will seal grout and color it. I read the info sheet and it may not be solvent tolerant. What do you guys think?
Part of me says it is epoxy based and will be like having epoxy grout. Part of me wonders if it will just sit on top like paint and end up peeling off... The guy in post #8 of this thread tested it and was able to peel it up.
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Dakota00
Well-known member
Joe,
I never used the Mapei Colorant, so I can't comment on the stuff. But I wouldn't recommend using it for your application.
Maybe look into Aqua Mix Enrich 'N' Seal, this will seal and make your grout darker as well. http://www.homedepot.com/p/Custom-B...al-24-oz-Penetrating-Sealer-AMES24Z/202907695
Again, test in a area where you don't see it, before doing the whole floor.
I never used the Mapei Colorant, so I can't comment on the stuff. But I wouldn't recommend using it for your application.
Maybe look into Aqua Mix Enrich 'N' Seal, this will seal and make your grout darker as well. http://www.homedepot.com/p/Custom-B...al-24-oz-Penetrating-Sealer-AMES24Z/202907695
Again, test in a area where you don't see it, before doing the whole floor.
the cleaning with haze remover and nylon brush really helped. Grout is darker and much more even in color. There are a few places that could use more help so I decided to do a second round. Got through about 3/4 of it tonight and I will finish up tomorrow am.
I bought the color enhancing sealant from home depot that Dakota advised and did a small section in the furnace room. It looked pretty good and really darkened the grout, but I had to leave about 4 hours after applying it so it was not completely dry. Hopefully it is still dark tomorrow morning. If so I think I will do the entire floor.
I also bought a bottle of colored grout sealant from depot (not mapei brand, but appears to be same type of stuff. I tried it in a small area in the furnace room as well. It seems to sit a bit more on top of the grout and not really penetrate, but ended up with a nice color. If the place I enhanced is light tomorrow am I may use this stuff.
thanks for all the help.
I bought the color enhancing sealant from home depot that Dakota advised and did a small section in the furnace room. It looked pretty good and really darkened the grout, but I had to leave about 4 hours after applying it so it was not completely dry. Hopefully it is still dark tomorrow morning. If so I think I will do the entire floor.
I also bought a bottle of colored grout sealant from depot (not mapei brand, but appears to be same type of stuff. I tried it in a small area in the furnace room as well. It seems to sit a bit more on top of the grout and not really penetrate, but ended up with a nice color. If the place I enhanced is light tomorrow am I may use this stuff.
thanks for all the help.
The grout has been scrubbed with haze remover and a toothbrush twice now. Pretty much all the haze / unevenness in color is gone. I plan to put the Enrich and seal down tomorrow and hopefully call this project done. Will post pictures. Many thanks to all, especially Dakota.
-Joe
-Joe
Dakota00
Well-known member
Your welcome Joe...
Once done, post some nice pics of the floor!!
Once done, post some nice pics of the floor!!
duneslider
Well-known member
The colored sealant is good stuff. Dakota just hasn't used it so he doesn't know
It is a real pain to put on and get right though. I have done it a few times and don't like doing it. I have, and would recommend, hiring a good painter to paint the stuff on if you go that route. The colored sealant will seal the grout and it will be exactly the color you buy.
The enhancing sealer should also darken your grout and might get it to the color you want. Do two coats. First will absorb real quick, wipe up any that is on the top of the tile. Do a second coat and you will find it uses less and most beads up on the surface. You will want to reseal the grout fairly often if you want it to stay good. However, these sealers don't really protect against oils. Oils can and will still penetrate. These sealers are a penetrating sealer. So, they soak down in and try to fill the voids so other crude can't get in but they can fill everything and they wear out.
Color sealers are what is called a "topical" sealer. They don't soak "penetrate" in but rather put a layer over the top and prevent the crude from getting in and keep it on top. I am not certain how the color sealers act when they encounter solvents though, not sure if they wash away or hold up. Solvents by the way can also wash away penetrating sealers.
Now, the mapei rep recommending mineral spirits and linseed oil. That is sort of an old school way of sealing portland cement stuff. The mineral spirits would be the solvent carrying the "sealer" linseed oil. This would also darken your grout and "protect" it. It would be similar to the penetrating sealer but may protect better than the commercial penetrating sealers in a garage environment.
Basically, just know that this is a garage and if you plan to use it like a garage the grout will NOT remain perfect. Most people can't keep grout clean in the kitchen.
Dakota00
Well-known member
The colored sealant is good stuff. Dakota just hasn't used it so he doesn't know
Hey Dune, where have you been hiding man?
Like I mentioned, I haven't used colorants before. My concern would be the affects of oils and chemicals or even a power washer would have on grout joints treated with a colorant.
That's why I wouldn't recommend it...
Mapei sent me the colored sealer, but I elected to use the enrich and seal per Dakotas original advise. So far he has been spot on. 2 coats or enrich and seal and it looks great. Been too busy to post pics but will do so soon.
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Dakota00
Well-known member
That's great to hear Joe, now post some f-ing pics man!! lol
duneslider
Well-known member
Looks great, looks like the enrich-n-seal did a good job darkening the grout. Looks perfect in the pictures.
The Enrich and Seal did a great job. The first coat was a little uneven, but the second came out great. When I first bought it, I was wondering why such a little bottle cost $40. Answer - because it works and can save regrouting the whole damn floor...
-Joe
-Joe
duneslider
Well-known member
When it comes to sealers the more expensive the better they are.
duneslider
Well-known member
Hey Dune, where have you been hiding man?
Like I mentioned, I haven't used colorants before. My concern would be the affects of oils and chemicals or even a power washer would have on grout joints treated with a colorant.
That's why I wouldn't recommend it...
Colorants work great, if you ever have the need to use them. I have been paid by mapei and cbp to "fix" other guys poor grout jobs and the colorant was always the solution. It ***** to put on but really does work well. I don't know how it would hold up in a garage but it holds up in commercial kitchens and they use heavy cleaners on the floors.
I have been pretty busy and haven't found my way over here as much as I used too, plus every time I stop in I find lots more stuff I want to spend my money on. I will try to monitor the "tile" questions a little more regularly though, can't have someone spreading false doctrine or anything.