Table Of Contents
- 1 Epoxy Grout
- 1.1 Best Epoxy Grout: Laticrete – Spectralock Pro Grout
- 1.2 Introduction
- 1.3 Best Epoxy Grout:
- 1.4 Buying Resources
- 1.5 Epoxy Grout
- 1.5.1 Epoxy Grout F.A.Q
- 1.5.1.1 Question: Does Epoxy Grout Need To Be Sealed?
- 1.5.1.2 Question: is epoxy grout good for showers?
- 1.5.1.3 Question: Can I Grout Natural Stone With Epoxy Grout?
- 1.5.1.4 Question: What Is Epoxy Grout?
- 1.5.1.5 Question: where is epoxy grout used?
- 1.5.1.6 Question: What are the minimum and maximum width grout joints for Spectralock® epoxy grouts?
- 1.5.1.7 Question: Does Epoxy Grout NEed CLeaning?
- 1.5.1 Epoxy Grout F.A.Q
- 1.6 Best Grout Sealer Conclusion
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Epoxy Grout
BEST EPOXY GROUT FOR 2020
Epoxy Grout – The Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing
Due to popular demand from my readers, I have created this best epoxy grout buyer’s guide to help you with your next grouting project. Whether you’ll be using it for glass tile or wanting to know the advantages vs cement grout, this guide is here to answer your questions.
Like many tiling products, tile epoxy grout tends to be another product that’s plagued with misinformation being spread about it online – I aim to set the record straight with my experience using it in a professional capacity.
Learn about everything you need to know from a professional tile setter that uses it on a daily basis and do the project right the first time!
This Guide Will:
- Explain What Epoxy Grout Is ✓
- Show The Best Epoxy Grout ✓
- Share Tips On How To Use Epoxy Grout ✓
- Show The Advantages Over Regular Grout ✓
Professional Tiler’s Pick ✓
Ideal For All Applications – Indoor/Outdoor, Wet and Immersed Tiles
Best Epoxy Grout: Laticrete – Spectralock Pro Grout
The best epoxy cement grout is Spectralock Pro Grout proudly made in the United States by Laticrete.
Epoxy Grout Suitable For:
• Glass Tile + Mosaics
Spectralock Pro is a fully waterproof and stain resistant product that’s easier to apply over other products and suitable for use in wet areas.
It’s safe for both domestic and commercial use and features the best properties overall for every day and most common uses including bathrooms and commercial kitchens with stringent hygiene requirements. It is the king of grouts and much better than a regular grout in general.
Hello and welcome to Tilersplace.com
My name Carl and I’ve been working as a professional tile setter for over 25 years.
I’ve been working with these products for most of those years and have seen the product go from total nightmare to the well refined and workable product that it is today. I’ve also developed a number of tricks to make working with it much easier.
Today I want to share my experiences with you and help your next home improvement task go easier.
Introduction
When I choose an epoxy cement grout, there are two main things I look for that will deem the grout suitable for daily use in customer’s homes and businesses:
• Ease Of Use
• The Quality of the End Result
I have been using an epoxy grout since it first appeared on the market (or atleast my area of the United States) in the early 90’s. Back then it was like trying to paint with bubblegum and washing it off was like removing tar with tissue paper.
Imagine doing those things.
Got a clear image in your head? Good.
Cause that’s seriously how hard it was.
It was an absolute nightmare to work with and sent grown men into fits of rage, despair and panic and no cleaning products could wash it off. Imagine setting $8,000 worth of tiles, only to realize the gunk you spread on the tiles ain’t coming off. Ever.
And the only way to fix the problem is by tearing it all up and starting over.
So it earned itself a reputation in the United States and the world as a product to run away from and for good reason. Home improvement stores rarely sold it as well and was considering a highly specialist product. Thankfully, they’re much better now and constant improvements have made these products much easier to work with nowadays – however,
Epoxy Grout Is Still Difficult To Use If You Don’t Know The Technique.
Don’t worry, I’ll share my top grouting tips and the best grout float to use in this article 🙂
Best Overall Choice
Professional-Grade Tile Grout In A Large Range Of Colors.
Best Epoxy Grout:
Laticrete – SPectralock Pro Grout
Laticrete has been providing flooring solutions for over 60 years and is considered one of the top brands in the tiling industry next to others like Ardex and Mapei. It’s trusted by tilers all over the United States.
Spectralock Pro comes in 3-parts and is one of the easier products to work with. It has a workable pot-life (how fast it hardens in the bucket), is easy to spread onto tiles and can be washed off tiles without too much headache.
I use this stuff in showers as it adds another level of waterproofing and looks like new for years. I have it in my own shower and the grout looks like I installed it last week. (Installed 3 years ago.)
Pro's
• Easier Maintenance – Inhibits mold growth and means less intensive cleaning and less use of cleaning products. A regular wipe instead of scrub is sufficient.
• Color-fast – Will not loose its color thanks to its chemical resistance and its also uniform . No more patchy grout where one part is darker than another.
• Large Range Of Colors – Spectralock Pro has one of the biggest selection of colors to suit everyone’s design and taste.
• Stain Resistant – Don’t be afraid of spilling wine or any spills in the kitchen – it all wipes off! Try doing that with regular grout.
• Non-sag, crack resistant – It won’t sag during curing or crack after it’s set. Meaning you’ll have full and uniform grout-lines unlike traditional cement grout.
• Looks Like Regular Grout – Unlike some other products that are gritty or look “plastic”, Spectralock looks like regular cement grout and provides a beautiful finish.
Con's
• Expensive – These products are generally more expensive over regular grout and sell at a high price. Do keep in mind that the added benefits and extremely long life can make it a cheaper option in the long-run.
• 3 Part Epoxy Grout – It comes in 3 parts which makes it more complicated over 2 part products that have the color pre-mixed in. Not a deal breaker by any means but more care is required.
• Labor Intensive – It requires a lot more effort to work in comparison to regular cement grout. Allow yourself more time to install it.
Buying Resources
This product can be daunting to the first time buyer and user, there’s so much new information to learn and things to think about.
To help you with the buying journey, I’ve found a few resources you can use to ensure you buy the right color and amount.
Color Chart
The Epoxy Grout Color Chart will show you the large range of colors available that you can use for your tile installation. You will find as many colors and shades as regular grout, making it suitable for any tile selection.
These colors come in packets that are mixed into the A+B compounds. Amazon sells a large range of color packets alongside the A+B compound that comes are a kit. Check Out Available Colors.
In case you are wondering, I mainly use Bright White, Smoke Grey and Slate Grey in my work. That’s because white grout, light grey grout and dark grey grouts are most common and popular for most types of tiles.
Epoxy Grout Amount Calculator
The Amount Calculator will show you how to calculate how much you’ll have to get for your project.
You’ll have to know the measurements of the area you’ll be grouting and the thickness of the tiles, so make sure you have a tape measure handy!
It doesn’t have to be 100% precise – we ain’t building rockets here – but it’s always good to have some left over instead of running out!
How To Buy Epoxy Grout Online
Epoxy grout isn’t one single component like regular grout, nor does it really come as a single product that you can add to your cart online and be done with it.
To prevent you from going off and buying everything like the Terminator here – not knowing what you should get exactly – I’ll give you a hand.
The way that SpectraLock Pro Epoxy is sold means that you buy the base compound pack (the part that looks like a bucket) and then you select a color and buy it separately. You then mix it all together!
The base compound (Part A+B) is a filler powder compound and a liquid hardener. Those two are the grout itself, and you then buy a color pigment (Part C) to transform it into whatever you wish.
That’s all you need. Two Separate Products In Your Cart.
Quick Tip: Mixing Ratio of Parts A+B to Part C
1:1
For Every Pound of Material – You Require A Pound Of Color. Easy!
Tools Required For Grouting
Now that you have your grout, it’s time to take a look at what are the best tools to use with epoxy grout. This is the same set of tools that I use and get consistent results with a beautiful grout joint.
Epoxy Grout Float – The right grout float will greatly affect the quality and grouting installation and requires a special mention. Common thick foam grout floats are not stiff enough to properly work epoxy into the grout joint and scrape off excess.
A full Urethane Grout Float like this one from Troxell works great for this task. It has the proper density to work the grout and the stiffer edge effectively scrapes tiles clean off the excess.
- Small Spiral Mixer – Attach this to a power drill to effectively mix all the components. This ensures the grout is thoroughly mixed. I highly recommend this form of mixing the grout over anything else. Manual mixing with a margin trowel should be avoided as it can’t mix the individual components properly – leading to patchy results.
- Plain Bucket – One or two plain 5 gallon buckets are great for holding your clean water for washing up. You don’t need to be picky too picky with which kind you select, any kind of sturdy bucket will do.
- Grout Sponge – Two grout sponges for cleaning up the grout during wash up phase. Epoxy grouts are very messy and the key to a haze free finish is removing as much of it during the washing phase. Make sure to properly rinse your grout sponge during the washing up phase.
- Microfiber Towels – These will be your secret weapon. Microfiber towels have been discovered by tilers to be extremely effective at cleaning off epoxy haze during the washing up stage. After it’s been wiped down, make sure to give the tiles a buff with the microfiber towel and it should remove the haze before it forms. For best results, use a couple and always have a dry one on hand.
- Laticrete Washing Up Kit – If you are worried about washing up, Laticrete has the solution for you. It’s especially developed to help clean off epoxy and helps prevent the dreaded epoxy haze from forming on your tiles. It is a powder that you add to your washing up water and couldn’t make the job any be easier to you.
- Nitrile Gloves – These are an absolute must! Epoxy grouts harden like rock and stick to skin like nothing you have ever experienced before – trust me. If you are going to take anything away from my guide, it should be this at least. Wear strong nitrile gloves when working with this grout and avoid contact with the skin. Some people also find they are allergic to epoxy, so be safe, wrap some rubber round’ your hands and avoid the hardship I endured.
Epoxy Grouting Tips
- Epoxy grout sets up very quickly – it’s easier to apply it to a small section at a time and wash it off properly before continuing to apply more.
- If it’s your first time, don’t make the whole batch at once – until you get comfortable with working with these products, it’s better to make a small amount and use it up. That way you will not waste the whole amount if you have a problem applying or washing the epoxy grout.
- Wash off any grout that gets onto other surfaces/tiles – once epoxy grout dries, nothing short of an angle grinder will get it off (No Joke). So make sure to wash off everything while it’s still wet!
- Use your grout sponge to form the grout – epoxy grout is stiff enough to allow it to be formed easily with the sponge during the washing up. Use the sponge to easily get your grout lines uniform and neat.
- Use your grout float to scrape off excess – it is much easier to use your epoxy grout float to scrape off the excess off the tiles instead of leaving it to the washing up phase.
Epoxy Grout
Benefits
Epoxy grout provides a whole raft of benefits over regular grout.
Some Benefits Include:
- Easier Maintenance of Grout
- Longer Lasting Color
- Higher Degree of Waterproofing
- Higher Level Of Hygiene
Epoxy Grout F.A.Q
In case your question has not been answered, please leave a comment below! I’ll try answer it to the best of my knowledge and your question might be featured in an updated version of this Epoxy Grout Buyer’s Guide.
Question: Does Epoxy Grout Need To Be Sealed?
Answer: Epoxy grout does not need to be sealed as it already carries all the properties of a grout sealer plus many more.
In addition, Epoxy grout has less than 0.5% absorbance and nearly 100% waterproof – It will not absorb any grout sealer.
The only sealer that should be applied is if you are using natural stone tiles. In that situation you require a tile sealer and pre-seal the tiles before installing them.
Question: is epoxy grout good for showers?
Answer: Epoxy grout is the best grout to use in showers. Showers are a very wet area and result in high levels of humidity. An epoxy grout used in the shower can help make the entire installation more waterproof and also prevent mold and mildew from growing on it.
Do note that regular cleaning will still required as a layer of soap scum and bodily matter can form on top of the grout, creating a layer for mold to grow on. A wipe with a shower cleaner should be sufficient.
Question: Can I Grout Natural Stone With Epoxy Grout?
Answer: Generally, the answer is no. All natural stone tiles are created/treated differently and have various degrees of porosity. Highly porous stone can absorb the epoxy resin through the edges of the stone tile, leaving a picture frame effect where the outer edges are darker. This color change is irremediable and will stay there for the life of the tile. If you want to use epoxy on natural stone, it is highly recommended you apply a quality tile sealer to all sides of the tile before installation and test it first before proceeding. Without prior testing, you may end up with a multi-thousand dollar tile installation that is ruined forever.
Question: how to remove epoxy grout haze
Answer: Epoxy grout haze can be removed from tile using an epoxy grout haze remover. Stonetech Epoxy Grout Haze Remover is made in the United States and designed for situations where hard to remove stains need to be cleaned from the surface of a tile installation. It is suitable for use with natural stone tiles, porcelain/ceramic tiles and masonry.
Question: What Is Epoxy Grout?
Answer: Epoxy grout is a product consisting of multiple parts, mixed together to create it. Epoxy is made from multiple resins, filler powder and a hardener. If the resins do not have a color, a colored powder can be added to the mix to create a colored epoxy grout.
Question: where is epoxy grout used?
Answer: Epoxy grout is used in high traffic and areas required high standards of hygiene. In the commercial world, places like hospitals and commercial kitchens greatly benefit as it is less likely to stain and grow bacteria on it. This is because it is less porous than cementitious regular grout and will not harbor any microscopic life-forms.
In homes, epoxy is commonly used in showers and bathrooms as it grants the homeowner easy maintenance and a look that looks “like new” for years. Kitchen back splashes also benefit as it won’t absorb cooking oil and related stains from food preparation.
Also, since its very smooth, its a common grout to use with glass tile and fancy mosaics where the finished look has to be perfect. Gritty or porous regular grout would detract from the overall look, so epoxy is the best option. Dazzle effects like glitter can also be added to the epoxy to maximize the “wow factor” and really set off the glass tile.
Question: What are the minimum and maximum width grout joints for Spectralock® epoxy grouts?
Answer: The range of Spectralock® epoxy grouts can accommodate grout joints from 1/16″ (1.5mm) all the way up to 1/2″ (12.7mm) wide. Please note that since these grouts contain sand, narrower grout lines like 1/16 may appear coarser when compared to unsanded grouts.
Question: Does Epoxy Grout NEed CLeaning?
Answer: Epoxy grout does still require cleaning. Contrary to popular belief, epoxy grout is not a self cleaning miracle product and still requires some love and care in order for it to remain looking it’s best.
The misconception stems from the fact that epoxy does not allow anything to penetrate it, since it’s waterproof. This means that nothing can grow inside of it or on it’s surface.
However, a layer of dirt and debris can form and sit on top and mold can grow on that. In order to prevent this happening, a quick wipe once a week with a cleaning agent and a rag can wash away any build-up and keep your tile installation looking like new for years to come.
Pro Tip: I have found that darker shades of epoxy are less prone to staining or having their color effected over lighter colors like light grey. Light grey grout shows the dirt sitting on it much easier. For those with pets, a medium or dark grey epoxy grout is reccomended as it won’t show the yellow urine stains like a light grey would.
Best Grout Sealer Conclusion
In this best epoxy grout buyer’s guide, we took a look at one of the best epoxy grouts to use for commercial and domestic applications, tips on using an epoxy grout and typical epoxy grouting techniques.
Spectralock Pro Epoxy Grout by Laticrete is a professional grout suited to most types of tiles and has earned a solid reputation from professional tile setters and DIY enthusiasts.
Overall, it is a solid product with many added benefits over cement grout. It has all the properties required to make it a first choice for anyone requiring an epoxy grout and a more versatile product than regular grout.
This epoxy grout comes in a myriad of colors just like regular grout, is crack and stain resistant and can be used in most situations – including inside swimming pools.
Like all epoxy grouts, it is more expensive in comparison to regular cement grout however the benefits that come with it’s use are great.
Question/: can epoxy grout be used with 1/16” grout lines? I heard there are some granules in it requiring 1/8” or wider for best installation.
Hi Sharon,
Thanks for the great question.
Yes, epoxy grouts can be used with smaller grout lines like 1/16. I have done it many times before and it works great. Spectralock Epoxy also supports 1/16 groutlines. Here is a link to a question regarding the subject from their website.
I hope that helps.
I am looking to use aquarium pebble gravel and a clear Epoxy grout to fill in cracks in my concrete patio in the back of my house. Will this be an appropriate and successful use of the grout you’ve talked about in this article?
Hi Gail,
Thank you for visiting and for the interesting question!
Unfortunately I cannot provide you with some proper guidance as epoxy grout is not designed for concrete repair. In theory it should be tough enough but it’s not built for such stresses. You’ll be wanting a specialist concrete repair product like this one. It’s designed to repair cracks up to 1/2” (13 mm) in concrete.
If you have very large cracks in the concrete, that could indicate foundation issues either from earthquakes or poor preparation of the concrete slab that led it to slump and crack over time. In that instance, not even a concrete repairer will do much good.
If you like you can always try the epoxy and make it pretty with the aquarium gravel, I just can’t say how long it will last.
Hope that gave you something to go on, sorry I couldn’t have been of more help.
Carl.
Do epoxy grout need to fill up the whole gap between tile, how about if the tile thickness is large (say, 10mm) and the tile gap is only 2mm?
Hi Desmond,
Thanks for the question.
Yes, you need to fill in the whole gap to the top of the tile with epoxy grout. 10mm is actually a very common tile thickness and will require the gap to be fully filled. Even tiles that are 20mm thick need to be fully filled.
Hope that answers your question!
Hi Carl, this was a very good article.
I have used the Spectralock epoxy grout that you recommend on my shower floor and it has worked great. I had previously used a regular grout to repair the shower floor but it couldn’t handle being submerged and didn’t even last a week.
Do you have a recommendation for an epoxy grout for small repairs? I have another shower and I need to repair a small chip in the existing floor grout. I’m hoping there is a squeeze tube or smaller tub I can buy for this purpose.
Thanks,
Robb
Hi Robb,
Thank you for the comment and compliment on the article, I truly appreciate it.
I’m pleased to hear the Spectralock worked for your shower floor! You now have the very best grout protecting that surface and you’ll be happy with the results for a long time yet.
Unfortunately there are no small packages of epoxy grout that are made suitable for small repairs. If you are up to it, I’d highly recommend you scratch out all the floor grout in that shower and regrout the whole lot with epoxy. That way, you’ll be sure you have fixed the floor properly and no grout will be falling out in a few months.
Let me know if you have any further questions and sorry I couldn’t have been of more help.
Regards,
Carl.
Is there any reason not to apply epoxy grout with a grout bag or caulk-style applicator (like this: https://www.contractorsdirect.com/rubi-grout-joint-gun)?
Hi Diana,
Interesting question!
Those types of applicators are designed for sanded grout and grouting vertical stone surfaces. Sanded grout is much less sticky and can actually be forced through those tools.
Epoxy grout needs to be applied with a float as it gets pushed and compacted into the grout joint, something those tools can’t do. You’ll end up with an uneven mess in your grout lines which will be a nightmare to smooth and form with your sponge. It will also not bond to the tile properly and may fall out. Remember that the grout float not only compacts the epoxy into the joints, it also smooths and forms it into uniform lines.
Hope that answers your question,
Take care,
Carl
I WANT TO USE EPOXY GROUT TO SEAL IN A PORCELAIN OVER STEEL PHOTO TILE THAT IS RECESSED INTO GRANITE—SUGGESTIONS, PLEASE. THANK YOU
Hi Margaret,
It’s nice to hear from you and thanks for visiting my website.
With some precautions, I would say you can definitely seal the tile with epoxy grout. If it’s possible, I would do a tiny spot test somewhere on the granite (maybe the stonemason has an off-cut you could try) and see if the epoxy leaves any staining. Alternatively, I would suggest using some masking tape and carefully covering the area of the granite near the tile. Simply leave a gap around the tile and mask off the rest. That way, when you go to grout it, any excess will not touch the granite and you can simply peel the tape away.
Main thing to look out for is whether the granite has been sealed. If it’s the raw edge, it might absorb some of the epoxy and create a hazing effect underneath the surface. I would run that by the stonemason and ask them whether the recessed area will be sealed – doesn’t need to be the whole area, just the lip where the grout will be.
I hope that has given you some guidance and I haven’t created more confusion.
Thanks and kind regards,
Carl.
My tiler is considering using Kerapoxy CQ by Mapei. Any thoughts on this product.
Hi Elise,
Kerapoxy is a quality epoxy grout, you shouldn’t have any issues with it. I’ve used it in the past and it was similar to other quality epoxy grouts. If your tiler has used it in the past and is happy to go with that one, then there shouldn’t be any issues.
Thank you so much, Carl, for your professional insights and offer to share them.
No problem Elise.
Thank you for visiting my site and sharing some kind words, I really appreciate it.
– Carl
Hello Carl. Very informative article. I want my tile installer to use epoxy grout on my honed large format tiles 24×48 inch on bathroom and shower floor and small 4 inch square wall tiles in bathroom. Can’t decide between epoxy spectra pro laticrete or epoxy Ardex line. What would be most durable and stain resistant. Does it matter? I know big difference in price. What specific line should I use.
Thanks
Cathy
Hi Cathy,
Thanks for visiting and asking such a great question.
Both Spectralock (made by Laticrete) and Ardex Epoxy grouts are top tier, professional grade grouts. Both companies are highly respected by professional tilers and make reliable products for the trade. Performance wise, I’d wager they are very similar. In terms of pricing, that varies depending on which area you live in. Some states will have Ardex or Laticrete cheaper or more expensive so unfortunately pricing alone cannot be used as deciding factor.
I’d suggest you ask your installer which epoxy grout they would prefer using as they may have prior experience with either one and feel more comfortable using them. Another deciding factor can be which brand of adhesive they are using to install your tiles. Some manufacturers claim you can only use their brand of grout and waterproofing when using their adhesive. If your installer prefers Ardex or Laticrete, then that alone could be your deciding factor.
Sorry to muddy the waters up with more jargon but hopefully it’ll help. At the end of the day, whichever one you or your installer chooses will work great.
Thanks,
Carl.
Glad I found this site. I’ve done custom tile work since 1980. Doing my last house to Age In Place in. Doing a handicap roll-in shower(a very small low Corian threshold), in a Japanese theme house(natural look). I power planed the floor joints to get the slope to drain. Used 3/4″ Advantach forced & tied down with 3″ HeadLOK 2 7/8 in. Spider-Drive Heavy screws. The pan is formed in place fiberglass (I did this in 1985 for friends from the “Boat world”, after I tested Epoxy thinset. Which I laid the whole bathroom fiber-glassed floor(he did the fiberglass) in. I have done the walls in the forest green marble. I have one layer of Epoxy thinset down to get more slope(not cement). I’m looking at using a pebble look pool matte glazed porcelain mosaic tile for the floor. I’ve never used epoxy grouts. I’ve tried to find out whether you can “work it” to get the “Finish” like regular grouts? As in, is there some fine powder in the filler to get a smooth finish that you can do even with sanded grout, to stay cleaner? As the idea of this house, is little to no maintenance. Plus how easily does it blend/tie in to earlier worked grout, as you work the floor?
Hi Carolyn,
Yes, you can work epoxy grout like a regular grout while you are washing up. It can be smoothed out and it looks like regular unsanded grout. It’s nice and smooth and not gritty. I believe you’d be happy with it and it’s the ultimate in “low maintenance”.
Thanks for visiting!
I have a river rock shower floor that is about 10 years old. I have recently noticed that there are some hairline cracks in the grout. My husband and I are trying to decide what the best way to repair this would be. We like the idea of the epoxy grout but would it work with the river rock floor? Do we have to cut out the old grout or would we be able to add a thin layer over the cracks?
Thanks,
Heidi
Hi Heidi,
Unfortunately there is no easy way to fix your issue. The hairline cracking is likely due to the floor moving and creating those cracks. If you want to regrout the whole thing, you will need to remove atleast 1/4 of an inch of the old grout which in your case, will be an absolute nightmare due to the pebble rocks. As professional opinion would be to either leave it alone, or remove all the pebbles and retile it – it’d literally be faster than regrouting those pebbles.
Alternatively, you can mix up a small amount of epoxy grout and apply it to the cracks – it may stick or it may not. Really depends on how much of that epoxy gets into the cracks. That’s the quick and dirty method but it’s not guaranteed. As I said, sadly there’s no miracle cure in this situation 🙁
Hope you manage to get it to a state you’re happy with!
Hey Carl-
thanks for the informative article. I have a unique situation in a second home in Mexico. Flat roof deck about 150 sq/m, travertine 16″ x 16″, 1/8″ grout line with 4″ travertine cove. Travertine has never been sealed, nor grout, grout never properly hydrated. Installation was actually pretty good in regards to pitch, no bird baths
Due to not being there full time, and not following my directions to install a full membrane, the travertine was installed without membrane on concrete.resulting in water leaks into the house. It’s was complicated to determine exactly were the water was coming from due to roof design. Anyway after several water tests it was clearly established that water was coming thru the grout lines and possibly to a much lower extent thru the tile itself. Due to expense of complete removal I am heavily leaning on the following system to fix the problem and would like your critic/suggestions.
Proposed procedure:
Clean surface then apply a high quality sealer, thinking Laticrete heavy duty sealer, water based or Laticrete Heavy duty Sealer Exterior solvent based. suggestions ?
The travertine is honed with a good open pour structure. This is really where my questions lie. I want to avoid picture framing.
Saw cut ALL grout lines with a Skil Medusaw to 3/16″
Re-grout with Spectra Lock Pro Premium Epoxy Grout.
Silicone plane change at cove tile
The 10k question:
Can I avoid picture framing on travertine with a properly applied sealer prior to saw cutting new grout lines ?
or should I seal after cutting new wider grout lines prior to epoxy grouting ? Realistically it seems nearly impossible to seal tile edges after saw cutting in place tile.
Testing will happen prior to committing to a system, thoughts appreciated.
Regards,
Steve
Hi Steve,
Sounds like a very good plan considering the circumstances.
Unfortunately there is no guarantee that any sealer will prevent picture-framing but considering the alternative, it’s worth a shot. I would first remove the grout and then seal. This will help the sealer penetrate the sides of the travertine rather than the grout (which is getting removed anyway). If you can, try at least 3 coats of sealer as well.
Also I have to mention the unfortunate truths that any stone is not waterproof and whilst your epoxy will prevent water going through it, the travertine will still allow water through it. The sealer may prevent this if it’s truly penetrate the stone and protecting it but I’m concerned about the long term. If you stay on top of it and reseal atleast once a year, hopefully that’ll keep it watertight.
Hope that helps in any way, sorry you’re in such a situation.
Good luck and I hope you don’t get picture-framing!
Hi Carl –
Couple questions for you that I thought you may be able to help provide me some insight:
1) Have you experienced yellowing with the white grout from Spectralock? If so – how is it fixed? I need a white or very very very light gray for my master shower and prefer epoxy due to the water resistance but it would kill me to have it turn yellow…
2) Have you worked with Custom Building Products CEG lite epoxy grout and is it good? The company has a color (cool white) that I did a grout color test with my tile that I liked better than other colors I tested.
Hi Anne,
Unfortunately I don’t have enough experience with white epoxy grout to provide you with a clear cut decision. I don’t see my work on a long term basis so I can’t truthfully say whether one grout with yellow or not. Technically, neither of them should go white but I would call the helplines of those two companies and ask them whether their epoxy can yellow. I don’t think either of them would, but I’d hate to steer you in the wrong direction.
Sorry I couldn’t be of help.