Epoxy Grout Advice

[Bill Vincent]

Two comments after reading through. First, I'll also use a standard grout float, but it'll be new or close to new. Secondly, re loading a caulking gun with epoxy-- It may SEEM like a good concept, but epoxy grout is alot like Chinese handcuffs-- the more effort you use, the tougher it fights back against that effort. Put it in a caulking gun, and I have a feeling it won't be too long before you have a real mess on your hands. It'll flow out of any nook or crevice, and squeezing the handle on it will most certainly give you a helluva workout.

[WendyHMN]

I hope you don't mind a slight hijack, but it seems Henry is auditing this thread, so I'll toss a related question out there:

Is there a way to calculate coverage for irregular tile? I used the Excel form for most of my work, but I have a pebble shower floor. I know I'll use a ton of SpectraLOCK, but how much? Do I measure the height of the flat pebbles and multiply by surface area divided by 4 (totally arbitrary guess)? Just assume "a bunch more than for mosaics"? It already looks like I'll be using about 5 full units. Ouch. But worth it if I never have to seal and the color is consistent.

[hbrothberg]

So here is a rather interesting question ....


"Is there a way to calculate grout coverage for irregular tile like a pebble shower floor...?"

I don't know ....!

So I will be raising this question with our Technical Support Team ...!


Henry

[hbrothberg]

OK, So I checked with Art Mintie the Director of the Laticrete Technical Support Team ... here is his reply:

"We typically use the on-line calculator for odd-ball grout lines. We estimate the size of the pebbles - thickness and facial dimension and then estimate the width of the joint - being very conservative with odd shapes. We then throw on an additional 10 % waste factor."

Henry

[Bill Vincent]

I don't know how it'll translate to Spectralock, but I know with standard grouts, I'll usually get about 150 feet out of a 25 pound bag with 12x12's and a 3/16" joint. For river rock of ANY size, I'll figure about 30 feet per bag, and I'm usually just about dead on. Plan on alot of your grout ending up in the bottom of your wash bucket.

[Houston Remodeler]

I usually plan on a much higher waste factor for pebbles but then it could be my poor attitude about pebbles

[fn_benthayer]

Re: SpectraLock and pebbles- use the calculator for 2x2 tiles with 1/8 grout line, then double it. Always round up.

YMMV, but not very much!

[ceramictec]

a 3x3 shower floor takes a full bag of sanded grout,
so I think you will be short on the 2x2 1/8" dbl calculation.

that would work out to 5.90 lbs of Sanded Grout

[Bill Vincent]

Originally Posted by Paul

I usually plan on a much higher waste factor for pebbles but then it could be my poor attitude about pebbles

Or it could be that because the pebbles are rounded, you end up with just the very tops sticking out of the grout when you first float it, and to show a decent floor, it's one of the few materials we use that you NEED to wash out the grout joints just a little bit. THAT'S why you end up with 2" of grout in the bottom of your wash pail from a 20 foot shower pan.

[silvercitytile]

3'x3' pebble shower pan= 2 full units of spectra lock

how do i know? from experience

[fn_benthayer]

10 sq ft shower floor, 2 mini units SpectraLock pro

[zootjeff]

I decided to not use the caulk gun method. I was going to try it but I never made it out to the Mason Supply in time.. It would have been 1.75 per tube.

I did use a Hawk and rubber float and that seemed to work. I went through 5 mini units of grout. And that did all 4 walls and the top of the threshold.


I noticed the aluminum drywall hawk would turn blackish as I was swiping the grout off during cleanup. Is the grout eating away the Aluminum?


The Halk was great to keep the grout from falling all over the floor. Still little bits would fall. I lined the floor with cardboard before starting and that was a great method..

So far so good. Now to do the floor..

[silvercitytile]

let us know jeff

[mrjetskey]

I might be blind but I dont see any waterproofing on the cbu.Is it acceptable to skip the waterproofing if using spectralock grout ????I think this is a much more important issue than the grout,please correct me if I am wrong Thanks>Marvin

[Houston Remodeler]

Marvin,

The pics are a bit tricky to discern. I think those pics were taken by the same guy who did the photo shoots at the Bat Cave. The green board is outside the shower, the cbu or mud walls are in the shower. No signs of waterproofing, but it may (we hope) be behind the mud walls.