TEC Power Grout

[Hammy]

ok makes more sense...........I think.

Hammy

[dhagin]

Originally Posted by Geoff

I am pretty sure about my math.

yep, close enough.

[ntruro]

I too am a DIYer who is having the same problem with TEC Power Grout. After over a week curing time, it washes out of the joints.

I used it on a vanity wall and alcove tub surround (130sq ft total) tiled with 12" x 12" filled and honed limestone with 1/8" grout lines. Before grouting, I sealed the tile with Dupont's Bulletproof and let it dry for a week. I closely followed the mixing and application directions on the Power Grout package. After allowing the grout to cure for over a week, I tried to apply a second coat of Bulletproof to the vanity wall. Unfortunately the Power Grout started to dissolve and left streaks of gritty white residue on the surface of the tiles. Not looking forward to brushing on grout addative, but sounds like the only solution.

I've used SpectraLock twice with great results and wish I'd done so again or used Permacolor. However, we decided to use Power Grout because Laticrete doesn't offer matching Latisil in the required grout color.

[Geocade]

A bit of an update.

Despite better judgement, I installed this stuff (Standard Grey colour). I contacted the supplier, had them chat with the TEC rep got the advice etc and went for it.

Anyway, it went in and looked good. Sat for more than a week to cure. Now I am using the shower and this stuff washes out, and continues to wash out. Leaving some marks on the tile, I can run my finger along the joints and it comes off the 'standard grey' colour of the grout. Not just a little, but a lot.

This doesn't seem to be confined to the top layer, its getting down about a 32nd of an inch in one spot now.

Keeping an eye on it, to see where it goes. If it has to come out you and TEC won't need the phone to hear me screaming......

I am very sure of mixing and application as to the letter of the instructions.

My advice (as a more than competent avid DIYer) is to avoid this stuff. It seems to be very twitchy.

[CarlDoItMyselfTiler]

Geoff,

I see your posts and you're hitting the same issue I had, but you've gone through some more exhaustive tests to confirm your point. I imagine the grout additive approach will work in your case as well. But if that is not something you wish to go through, I suggest you reach out to HB Fuller (manufacturer) and have them send a field rep out to apply the additive. They did that with me and now that they have set a precedent, it would hard for them to not be willing to come to your job site.

Regards,
Carl

[cx]

Originally Posted by Carl

...and have them send a field rep out to apply the additive. They did that with me and now that they have set a precedent, it would hard for them to not be willing to come to your job site.

I doubt the company is in any way aware they've set any sort of precedent there, Carl. That sort of activity frequently varies quite a bit depending upon the region of country, the avialability of reps in that region, the specifics of the particular installation, and other factors.

Always worth a try, of course.

[Dobri]

It seems like we have few people here with the same problem, washing grout and not hard enough. Is the fault at the person applying or the grout itself.
I did not see any comments on the issue from Tec rep?

[LegacyFloors]

I found that out today ON SITE. Then I found it buried in the powergrout PDS:
"May scratch polished marble, glass or metal tile."
Despite what the distributors have told me, ...It does. Pictures to follow in a new post.

[tilerite]

I've been using Tec grouts for many years. First, their standard stuff and for the last half dozen years, their XT (stain resistant) grout. Finally tried out the new power grout on my daughters new home. I would say it was slightly harder to work with but nothing more than a small learning curve, no different than most new products. The finished product came out great. No issues at all and the color consistency is virtually perfect. Note: my daughter spilled wine on the floor just after moving in and told me it cleaned up nicely off the grout.

[mctile]

I just had a bit of a Powergrout nightmare. Used Summer Wheat in a shower pan. The pan had cured for almost three weeks (waiting for glass) before it had any water on it and I received a call from the home owner which stated that she got out of the shower and tracked brown footpronts from the shower all over her towels and bathroom. I went over to check it out and sure enough, wipe a wet towel on the grout lines and it comes right out. I called my vender where the grout was purchased and they said the rep told them that it is packed with pigment and it will bleed a bit but then harden up....I say horsecrap.

Might want to stay away from this product until they can get it figured out.

[tilerite]

I just used Powergrout (standard gray) on a shower I completed. No problems at all so far, knock on wood. That summer wheat color though has always given me issues. Not sure what the problem is but I try to stay away from that particular color.

[mctile]

Thought I would give an update on my PowerGrout issue. My local rep. told me that the solution for this problem is to coat the grout with three coats of TEC grout additive. I was also told that due to this isssue with the PowerGrout,TEC has started packaging a product to distribute to combat this problem.

[TileArt1]

So now beyond getting used to a new grout you're expected to install an additional product over your cured grout or add additional products to your mixed grout to 'fix' the company's problems caused by a rush to market and incomplete testing? What a PITA.

Are you gonna bill the company for the extra time you spend doing that? I would.

[mctile]

They told me to submit a claim once I go through the fix. Pretty bummed about the whole thing. Pulled PowerGrout from every one of my workorders. No mas.

[cx]

I sent a PM to their rep of record here on our site last week, Matthew, but not response as yet.

I agree there's gotta be a better way than that to deal with the problem.