Flooring Tile - Air holes in grout lines
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HotinOKC
10-21-06, 01:32 PM
UGH! I noticed after the grout has cured, that there are some pin holes allowing water to get down into. When I step over the tile, you can see it bubble up. What can I do to fix this?
twelvepole
10-26-06, 04:09 PM
There are grout additives that slow down the curing and create a more uniform curing process which will result in a denser, stronger grout. Some are used with no water.
Air gets in grout when it is mixed. Over stirring or using a paint mixer to stir mixes in more air and causes bubbling. Grout is stirred until consistency of yogurt. Grout is pressed into spaces with rubber grouter in order to expel air bubbles. After grouting tile should not be walked on for 24 hours.
Once grout has cured, it can be sealed. Sealer will fill pores and protect grout from soiling and staining.
Air gets in grout when it is mixed. Over stirring or using a paint mixer to stir mixes in more air and causes bubbling. Grout is stirred until consistency of yogurt. Grout is pressed into spaces with rubber grouter in order to expel air bubbles. After grouting tile should not be walked on for 24 hours.
Once grout has cured, it can be sealed. Sealer will fill pores and protect grout from soiling and staining.
Tileman
10-27-06, 04:07 AM
What type of grout was it and joint size, unsanded or sanded?, you shouldn't be seeing water bubbling up from the holes, you have other issues if you are.
HeresJohnny
10-27-06, 11:28 AM
You need to give us some info here. Tell us how you installed this tile and whats under it. As tileman said you have more serious issues than pinholes in your grout.
HotinOKC
10-27-06, 01:06 PM
I installed 12x12 ceramic tile over concrete slab using gray thinset with 1/4" trowel. After about 36 hr cure time, I grouted using SANDED grout. I have approx. 1/4" grout lines. I just sealed the grout today, so hopefully it will fix it. I feel no movement whatsoever on the tiles.
Seeing that this was my first time tiling, I'm sure there might be some defects I'll find at later dates, i.e. cracking, etc.
Also, I wouldn't want to use that thinset I used again. It was premixxed, ready to use. It was difficult to work with. It was more like a sticky type paste then a fairly easy flowing peanut butter mix. It doesn't help that I didn't have a mixer type attachment for my DeWalt drill. I had to use a kitchen spoon and a piece of wood to mix it(grout). Lol, don't laugh. Lessons learned I guess.
Seeing that this was my first time tiling, I'm sure there might be some defects I'll find at later dates, i.e. cracking, etc.
Also, I wouldn't want to use that thinset I used again. It was premixxed, ready to use. It was difficult to work with. It was more like a sticky type paste then a fairly easy flowing peanut butter mix. It doesn't help that I didn't have a mixer type attachment for my DeWalt drill. I had to use a kitchen spoon and a piece of wood to mix it(grout). Lol, don't laugh. Lessons learned I guess.
HeresJohnny
10-27-06, 02:13 PM
The premixed thinset is likely the reason you have stuff squishing out of the grout joints. They call it "thinset" but its not. Its not a portland cement based product at all. Its nothing but mastic with some sand added to it. It takes forever and maybe never to dry (cure). I wish you good luck but this stuff was absolutely the wrong stuff to use. Sealer will not help this stuff. Best thing you can do is stay off it for a long long time and hope it drys. Good Luck.