Can I still grout? Genius tips anyone?

hellboy · 19 Jul 2020

Hey again,

Just about to grout the shower and discovered 3 tiles are chipped on the edges, each is 2-3 mm in width. Is there a way I can seal these to prevent any grout colour bleeding or water ingress. Pretty dissapointed as we wanted it finished yesterday.

Thanks again guys, you've been a great help with this project.

SpecialK · 19 Jul 2020

Smash the tiles out and replace them - otherwise it will forever bug you...

hellboy · 19 Jul 2020

Thanks mate. Not an option at the moment sadly, I've not tiles and the backer board will come with it. I've little doubt it will cause more drama than what its worth. My wife didn't notice them until I pointed them out. I'm basically just concerned about sealing them. Its far from ideal, but the whole things taken an age!

What would you do if removing tiles wasn't an option? I've seen repair kits on the shop websites?

SpecialK · 19 Jul 2020

Its not something I have done before - As you say a repair kit maybe. Or some clear nail varnish!? Hopefully someone will comment with the correct solution

johnny2007 · 19 Jul 2020

Grout the lot, the little chip will be covered by grout and nobody will ever know, apart from you.

JaimieH · 19 Jul 2020

As above, grout as normal but be careful not to clean too soon where the chips are. If they still show however, colour mix some acrylic paint the same as the tiles and touch up the chips.

hellboy · 19 Jul 2020

Thanks Jamie.

Awesome, I'll get on it now!

Any advice on how big an area to start with? Got a shower enclosure of 8m2, 3 walls and metro tiles with Tilemaster Grout 3000.

JaimieH · 19 Jul 2020

If you're not used to grouting I'd just stick to one wall at a time. Try to work clean and squeegee as much grout off the surface of the tiles as possible after completely filling the joints. Metro tiles are trickier to squeegee than most due to the bevelled edges. It's all a matter of timing with grout and when to start cleaning off but what you need is the grout to be firm enough to not be pulled out of the joint when you wipe your sponge across them.

hellboy · 19 Jul 2020

Hey Jamie.

Well, what a nightmare! Grouted about a .8m2 area and I got very light grey areas appearing on the tile, like some colour had absorbed making a border. I've removed the grout and cleaned out as best as possible.

If I let the old grout cure, can I use a white grout when I start again? The grout started setting after 15 mins!

Bloody nightmare!

JaimieH · 19 Jul 2020

What colour tiles are they, white? If they're ceramic they will absorb some water and this may be more noticeable with white tiles. Give the grout a couple of days to dry and the damp border might disappear.

hellboy · 19 Jul 2020

Yes mate, white subway tiles (non-bevelled)

I’ve cleaned the grout out. Did you mean leave it as is for a couple of days then grout with the white stuff? I’ll crack on with the rest of the enclosure in white for now and come back to the crap bit in a couple of days?

thanks for the advice mate

JaimieH · 19 Jul 2020

No, I meant just grout the walls and leave them to dry. The ceramic tiles will absorb water, the white glaze won't. The water from the grouting process has absorbed into the biscuit of the tile and is showing itself as a damp patch under the glaze around the edges of your tiles. Over the course of a couple of days this should dry out and disappear. I think you've panicked thinking something really bad had happened.

hellboy · 19 Jul 2020

JaimieH said:
I think you've panicked thinking something really bad had happened.

Brilliant! Well, I suppose its all a learning process!

What you've said obviously makes a lot of sense, if only I knew that before.....

As it is, I've dug out the grout and I'm going to change to the white grout. The grey was drying much darker than we expected, and my tiling isn't that good to have such a contrast (no surprise there). I guess I'll have to wait a couple of days for the remnants of the old grout to dry out so as not to contaminate the new grout?

Always funny with DIY, it gives you a greater appreciation of the trades!

Thanks bud

JaimieH · 19 Jul 2020

No worries, hope it all goes well. Don't grout your internal corners or the bottom where your tiles meet the tray. These are silicone joints. Good luck pal.

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Can I still grout? Genius tips anyone?

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