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Your opinion please: should this grout be redone?

14 years ago

Or can it be "touched up"? Our tile guy says he'll just take more grout, mix it up thickly, and squeeze it into the sunken spots a la cake frosting. Is this viable? Won't that fail to bond to what's already there, and just fall out?

P.S. These are 1/8 inch grout lines with unsanded grout. I get the feeling we should have done sanded.

Please advise;

Thanks so much

Lara

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Comments (6)

jerry_t
14 years ago
They look more like 3/16 but I'll take your word they are 1/8". I personally use sanded grout because at the intersections you end up with about a 1/4 to 3/8 in width there. Also looks like the overall grout job could have been done better. Just wondering why your photos show cut tiles out in the field?
lilgreenfrog
Original Author
14 years ago
Yeah, I'm getting the impression that it was just a crappy job, and should have been sanded grout. The cut looking tile is a bullnose piece used as an edger, but you're right, that edge should look tumbled too, one would think. I'll go look at it again.
Can you give me your expertise - will using sanded grout scratch the marble tile?
Also, will filling in these little depressions with extra grout be a viable solution, or would that just fall out?

Thanks,
Lara
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stonedude
14 years ago
1/8 is the limit for non sanded grout.

the grout doesnt look like it was mixed properly. looks like it was mixed too wet.

mix it up thick and pack it in? thats absurd, it wont bond. the grout needs to be completely removed in the area thats being repaired and new grout mixed up.

for the chiseled edge material I would prefer sanded because it looks better, but its not necessary.

for the Crema Marfil, the grout looks fine.
jerry_t
14 years ago
Agreed, you need to have that grout job redone using a sanded type. Sanded grout won't harm tumbled marble.
lilgreenfrog
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks for the feedback;

And now for the big question - can the grout be pulled up without tearing out the tile? I've gotten the impression reading posts on here that the grout can be pried out. My mother in law says "no way", but then her brains aren't what they used to be. :)

There are fine, possibly superficial cracks in the grout between the marble...is that ok? I was told that in my climate, the grout needed to be moistened several times in the days after installation, to keep it from drying too quickly. True? I'd be happy to leave it...I assume it must be sealed? The stone itself doesn't seem terribly porous (a wet rag doesn't leave a mark).

Thanks so much for your feedback; I'm grateful for the backup.

Best,
Lara
dlr98004
14 years ago
I just had to redo my grout (color was not right). I cut it out with a razor. A little electric Dremel tool with diamond pointed bit also works (but kicks up alot of dust). I used Laticrete Permacolor grout and LOVE it! It has micro beads - so it works for all grout sizes. Mine were 1/16 and 1/8, but I can tell it would work for larger too. Has texture of sanded, but finer. Supposed to be more stain resistant too. Good luck!

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