TEC Power Grout

[NerdCage]

I'm a happy customer now!

The product arrived yesterday, TEC Acrylic Grout Additive. I attached the instructions they sent with it. I painted it on last night, and this morning it was rock hard. I gave the grout a good soaking and scrubbing and it held.

We'll see how it does long term, but for now I'm satisfied.

[John Bridge]

You don't know how happy that makes me. TEC has been around a long time. I knew they'd come through.

[Higher Standard Tile]

That is an interesting idea. Never thought of painting on grout additive to cured grout to rehydrate it and make it stronger.

Glad it worked.

[CarlDoItMyselfTiler]

Hi all,

I received the same solution & instructions that NerdCage received. They sent the additive and I applied it per the instructions. Unfortunately this solution did not resolve my issue. After the 2 coats and drying 24 hours, the texture of the grout did change. Before the additive, if I ran my finger across the surface, grit powder would come up. Now, I can run my finger across it and no powder comes up and it "feels" like a cured grout. But as soon as I get it wet, it starts coming out like grit powder.

HB Fuller is sending someone to my house next week to apply the additive again as they had different application method for floor vs. wall applications. I won't know until 24 hours after if it really worked, but they are working with me on next steps.

Regards,
Carl

[tileguynky]

There is a product demonstration on this next Tuesday on this product and their new LFT mortar. Will be attending and asking a few question myself.

[CarlDoItMyselfTiler]

Well, my saga came to a successful close this week. The HB Fuller rep came to my house and applied the additive again. This time, a foam paintbrush was used to apply the addititve instead of the applicator they sent me before. He put to coats of the addititve on. After letting it dry overnight, it was quite hard and did not come out with water. I ran the shower plus also washed the tiles and did not have any loose powder.

Thanks to all for the support here on this forum.

[GRITTERTILE]

I used power grout for the first time yesterday. They say its quicker and faster, but I disagree. I suggest following the instructions on letting it set up for at least 30 min. before wiping it down. If you wipe it off sooner or more than twice, it seemed to absorb any water and almost turn into liquid. If you are grouting shower walls and grout only the top half and then the bottom half, the lower grout joints, almost need to be dried of any moisture. I didn't do this on the back wall only to have the grout turn to soup and literally run down the wall. It's nice to be made aware of the other problems with this grout. If you have to go back and apply additive later, what's the point.

[bbmsu]

We've used it on several shower applications now and haven't have issue. You have to be careful of using too much water for the mix, as it is a rapid set. And you also have to use a very damp, hardly any water, sponge for 1st and 2nd wipe until it is set really well, then clean the tiles.

[GRITTERTILE]

Mixed the grout pretty stiff. Didn't have any problems on the ceiling or upper walls. Could be that my sponge was too wet. Thanks for the advice.

[John Bridge]

Hi all,

I had problems the first time I used Custom's Prism grout. Did the upper walls first and then washed. Had grout running in the joints lower down. I think the key to these modern grouts is to follow the directions explicitly. You don't have the wiggle room that the old grouts provide. Glad I'm retarred.

[Geocade]

Any further info / comment on this grout.

Tips for usage etc.

Despite all the above posts I was convinced by the supplier that this was the grout to use. I haven't brought myself to open the package yet.

Geoff

[Geocade]

For what it is worth I have the same issue as described above.

Mixed up a small batch and applied to tiles on test board. It has been about 24 hours (which is the time TEC says you could use a shower). I find a wet finger run along the test joints will rub off the grout colour/grit.

I mixed it in the exact ratio and followed the instructions to a 'T' .

Unless this hardens up over the next little bit, it won't be going anywhere but back to TEC. Far too expensive (plus matching caulking) to mess with.


Just as a little more info. I put some in the joints of the tile and then put a 3 inch pancake blob on a sheet of plastic. The tile was cleaned as per instructions, the blob was left to cure without any manipulation. The blob degrades under water too - so this would not seem to be an issue of too much water when cleaning (there was none on the pancake).

Yes I'm a DIY too, but I'm confident I read / followed the instructions exactly as they are shown on the package.



Geoff

[Geocade]

Just to keep this alive .....

I'm more than 48 hours of curing time and this stuff readily 'melts' in water. It is not getting better as it cures. Now I did make up partial bag, but did very careful measurements, mixing.


Mike from TEC, any comments??


Geoff

[muskymike]

i just used some a couple weeks ago inna shower. I had no problems at all with it. Kinda spendy though. I'm using it again today onna floor. Customers like that you don't need to seal it.

[Geocade]

Forgive me, I'd like to explore this topic and have done a couple of different tests. Being sensitive to my DIY status, would the moderators prefer I start a new thread over at the Tile Forum / Advice Board?

Geoff