Laticrete SpectraLock Pro grout with Calacatta marble?

12 years ago

Hi,

I've done my kitchen backsplash in 2x2 polished calacatta marble (white with some gray) with some gray & black glass and stone mini mosaic inserts. I have 1/16, 1/8, and 1/4" spaces so I thought I should use epoxy grout instead of sanded or unsanded.

The Spectralock says it's safe for marble but that white marble may soak up the grout through the sides of the tile where it's not polished and create a picture frame effect. I really want to use a dark gray (#42 platinum), but I'm afraid this is going to ruin the marble. Has anyone else used a dark shade of SpectraLock with white marble? Did the marble absorb the grout and have to be replaced?

I can do a sample board with left over pieces, but I'm not sure how long it would take for the picture frame effect to happen, and how long I have before the grout isn't workable. I don't want to use a whole bucket just to do a test board if I don't have to. I heard you can put 1/2 of it in the freezer to extend the working time, but I'm not sure if it would be good for say a day or two (if that was how long it would take for the grout to absorb into the tile).

Thanks in advance!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (2)

davidro1
12 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
chitowngrl the best "tile" forum inside gardenweb is the bathroom forum. Post there.

Since stone is a natural material, its reaction to this grout cannot be predicted over the internet. Starting with the smallest box of grout, try it out.

Years ago I posted on a tile forum about Freezering most of the mixed grout and using it gradually. I was a pioneer in this. I have found it only works when it works. There are many factors in this equation. Too many to add here now.

It IS possible to split the contents of a box and mix only half a box. This puts you at risk of getting more than half the hardener in one of the two batches, and less than half in the other batch. Measure carefully. If the less-hard batch gets put into the freezer, it will last long. Vice versa, if the more-hard batch goes into the freezer, it will not work well at all. It will harden in the freezer.

--

Epoxy grout is good for DIY because they have the time to read instructions and do things right. Professionals experienced in Portland cement type grouts have a hard time with it because it requires them to unlearn some deep habits and to pay attention to "new" aspects of grouting.... so you are best continuing as a DIY.

--

Without seeing it, I'll venture a guess my strategy for that wall would be to begin grouting the wall with a Portland cement type grout in the same color. I would not fill the grout lines fully. Then I would go back over it all with the epoxy product you mentioned above. This is because epoxy grout is good on vertical surfaces when it only has to fill shallow gaps.

Epoxy grout is a little bit like molasses. Even when it starts hardening up, it can still slump. My thinking is that epoxy grout can slump, in many of the spaces where you want it not to slump. This does not result in the flat grout surface you want; it can look very unprofessional. Slump means like cake batter or peanut butter sliding down and getting thicker protruding at a point where it's blocked, and obviously also being thinner in other places, which leaves the stone protruding.

I cannot say what to do specifically. I'm not an expert at the highest level. I have used epoxy grout a lot, in many renovation projects. I have used epoxy grout to cover over other grout too. You can confirm that this is possible. Call or email the manufacturer. Somewhere you will read that this grout is good (guaranteed) when it fills shallow spaces like e.g. 1/8th inch. Pre-grouting with old fashioned grout is a fine step to do, it's not overkill, it's something a DIY can do.

Mixing thinset or Portland cement type grout to partially fill the grout lines may sound like a chore, but it isn't when you encourage yourself by reminding your self it's the only way to get the result you want.

--

If you want to consider alternatives, read up on "Grout Boost" for Portland cement type grout. It is great for kitchen backsplashes.

Grout is one of the most detailed subjects imaginable. Ignore the comment emknc made.
amyvenditti
Original Author
12 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Thanks Ginny20! I'm new and don't even know how to report someone. I didn't take it personally since whoever it is doesn't know me.

Davidro1, Thanks for posting!

The problem I have with pregrouting with regular grout is what led me to epoxy grout in the first place: I can't use sanded because I don't want to scratch the marble, but some of the spaces are too big for unsanded grout. :( I don't want it to slump though. I will also post this in the bathroom forum and see what people have to say over there.

Thanks!
Related Discussions
grout with sealer - ie. Fusion Pro single component grout
Q
Comments (30)
This guy doing the tile is wonderful. He's very good at what he does and he's meticulous. He's actually the contractor's assistant. To his credit, he's doing the job the actual contractor hasn't done, even though he's been paid nearly double for an incomplete job that has taken 4x longer than expected. The contractor has been avoiding me and knows I'm upset. Several people, including Home Depot and Home Hardware, are urging me to contact police because this contractor has been fraudulent. The assistant is maintaining integrity by keeping his word, even when his boss isn't. (And the assistant is the real reason I haven't called police. He doesn't deserve to be roped into this.) So I don't want to annoy this assistant. I'm heading out to Home Depot this morning to get the grout he wants and two more edgers. I've done grout myself before. I'm no professional, but I may just try to use the Fushion Pro myself to finish off this area and allow him to use the regular grout in the other areas of the bathroom.
...See More
Epoxy grout with Calacatta marble?
Q
Comments (10)
Quite frankly, I don't care WHAT they say about marble and sanded grout. I'll go back to my usual mantra-- there is only ONE factor that determines whether you use sanded or unsanded grout, and that's the size of the grout joint. That said, I've heard the whole thing about scratching polished stone by using sanded grout. I've done aisles at Lord and Taylor using crema marfil-- one of the softer stones around-- and we always used a 3/16" grout joint, which means without a doubt, sanded grout. When we'd clean it up, insted of using sponges, we'd use an old fashioned method of dry (sanded) grout and burlap, rubbed into the face of the stone, which completely fills the joints, and cleans excess grout off the face. it gets better. not only did with rub the sanded grout into the face of this stone with an abraisive cloth, but we used a BUFFING MACHINE to do it!! The heck with that scratching stuff. Someone would have to be TRYING to scratch the face of marble, as far as I'm concerned. One other thing to think about is using Laticrete's Permacolor grout. The sand in it's alot finer than most grouts-- to the point that you can use it in ANY size grout joint. I know I've personally used it with polished carrara marble, and didn't have a single problem. Pics below.
...See More
Calacatta Oro marble tiles in bath...
Q
Comments (26)
For your countertops I suggest a contrasting color. I like something dark such as green marble like Verde Antique or soapstone as a contrast. Maybe green marble is too busy and a calming soapstone with few veins will complement all the movement of your beautiful marble. We did our master bath with honed Imperial Danby marble floors with green verde antique accents and they look great together. I used medium gray grout on the floor - TEC silverado on my Calacatta floor in the guest bath and TEC dove gray on the Danby floor. Both are nice but the silverado is less likely to show dirt as it ages. I'll post a photo (as soon as I learn how to).
...See More
Difference btwn SpectraLock Pro and Laticrete at Blue Box store
Q
Comments (6)
Go to the Laticrete web site to get the final word. But this is what I understand. SpectraLock is an epoxy grout, meaning that it has a part A and a part B that is mixed (like epoxy) and then the colored sand is added. It is durable and stainproof. There are 2 formulations of SpectraLock, the Pro (at Lowes) and the Pro Premium. I have heard that while they are both epoxy there is a slight difference in the color out come and they should not be used next to each other (in the same grout job) because the grouts will be slightly different in color. I have also heard that the Pro Premium is supposed to have better spreadability. Laticrete has a regular cementous grout product called LATICRETE PermaColor. I do not think that Lowes carries this any longer. I have heard from Bill V. on this site that this is a very fine product. I have just finished grouting my slate bathroom floor and used the SpectraLock Pro Premium that I ordered online with great success. The site I ordered from was linked on the Laticrete site as a distributor. This is their web site and I was very happy with the packing and shipping time frame. http://www.tilestoreonline.com/default.asp I got the "full unit" without the bucket for $43.70. I can't remember if shipping is free. Anyway, got the grout, and with my 1/4 grout margins, I got about 45-50 sf out of this "full unit" - about what I predicted using Laticrete's grout estimator. I have read that epoxy grout is hard to use for some people. I did not find it to be difficult, but I don't have much to compare it to. I followed the instructions to the "T". Except I learned on the JB forum from a poster, that you can freeze the epoxy and take it out later for patches. So, I took a zip lock bag and put about a 1/2 cup of the grout in to it, smashed it to about the thickness of a pancake, zipped it shut, and froze it. A few days later I found a few divots in the floor where my toes or fingers may have pushed in, as I was grouting. I broke of some pieces of the frozen grout and it thawed very quickly. I smeared it into the imperfections, then waited 20-30 minutes. I then went over it with a damp sponge rinsed and rung out in a few cups of H2O mixed with a few TBS of white vinegar. In other words I used the same cleanup procedure that I was instructed to do with the initial installation of SpectraLock. Except I didn't have the "rinse" product. I had read on the JB forum to use vinegar in the water and this will work as a rinse. After it fully dried I could not see any difference between the small patches and the original installation. I plan to use SpectraLock Pro Premium on my walls too when I get them tiled. Here is a link that might be useful: Laticrete web site
...See More

Laticrete SpectraLock Pro grout with Calacatta marble?

Comments (2)

davidro1

amyvenditti
Original Author

Related Discussions

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Laticrete SpectraLock Pro grout with Calacatta marble?

Comments (2)

davidro1

amyvendittiOriginal Author

Related Discussions

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

amyvenditti
Original Author