Bathroom 3 renovation

[Davy]

I usually go ahead and mix up a 2 gallon bucket of water and continue using it. With such small batches of grout, it'll remain fairly clean until those 4 partial batches are used up.

When I clean out my water bucket, I mix the second packet into the water and do a final clean up, that bucket will still be fairly clean. I keep it and use it to clean up my next batch.

[rjwz2]

Thanks Davy. I'm going to tackle it this weekend. Pretty scared hearing all the stories about epoxy grout but I believe it will be worth it from what I hear.

[rjwz2]

I know I will caulk the interior corners of my shower walls and where it meets the floor with Latasil but do I also caulk the outer corner like where the wall ends and the tile goes around and caps the wall? Or can I grout there with the Spectralock?

thanks!

[CountryBumkin]

I'll add my two-cents too. I'm not a pro but I have used the SpectraLock twice now. I found it easier to use than cement-based grout. I bough the smaller sized containers so I didn't need to measure/divide.

I found the small sizes where just right regarding the amount of time to apply before it hardened. I used a "epoxy grout float" from HD http://www.homedepot.com/p/Custom-Bu...w&gclsrc=aw.ds

Regarding the water clean up. On the first epoxy grout job (the walls and ceiling of my steam shower build) I used the packages of cleaner. But when I did the pebble floor, I did not use it. I found the residue left a glossy, wet look, on the pebbles which I liked.

One key to a professional looking job, IMO, is having enough light to see what your doing. Most bathrooms are lacking in light (and can be even worse during the remodeling). I bought a "500W work light" that really lights up the space, and good lighting is really important. Don't ask me how I know this.

Good luck.

[Davy]

Rob, I think dividing the batch will help you. Of course the smaller your joints are and the bigger your tiles are will cause the grout to cover more sq ft. I'd say that the biggest mistake people make with epoxy grout is spreading too much at a time and it sets up on them. That's easy to do with large batches and with the high cost of it, no one wants to be wasteful.

Have everything ready to go before spreading and keep track of time. If it only took about 20 minutes (from when you first start spreading) for the first partial batch to firm up and be ready to wash, the next batch will be about the same as long as the conditions are the same. I bet you'll do fine.

[dhagin]

You can also use white vinegar in lieu of the cleaning packets. For 2-3 gals water, we mix about 1/2 cup of vinegar. You can divide it out for less water if needed.

[rjwz2]

Right on! Thanks for the tips. Tackling the grouting this weekend.

What about my previous question #108?

I know I will caulk the interior corners of my shower walls and where it meets the floor with Latasil but do I also caulk the outer corner like where the wall ends and the tile goes around and caps the wall? Or can I grout there with the Spectralock?

[Houston Remodeler]

Outside corners are normally grouted

[rjwz2]

Ok. Grouting with Spectralock done on walls and pebble floor. How long do I need to wait to seal the floor?


Thx

[Sharon @ LATICRETE]

Grouting with Spectralock done on walls and pebble floor. How long do I need to wait to seal the floor?

Hi Rob,
SPECTRALOCK is an epoxy grout, and as such, it does not need to be sealed.