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''Stain-free'' Grout vs, ''Regular''Plus Sealer?

16 years ago

Some of the tile places I've been to sell a premium grout with an additive that prevents staining and doesn't require sealing. One is called Opticolor by Mapei

Wondering if it does as good a job as regular grout which is then sealed, is harder to work with, or has any other pros or cons? Thanks!

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Comments (7)

bill_vincent
16 years ago
Good question. it's a new product that really hasn't been around very long. Matter of fact, I'll be going to a seminar on it in a few weeks. I'll let you all know what I find out. The closest I've seen to stain free grouts is Laticrete's Spectralock Pro. There's also another one that's just recently been re-released after working out some of the "bugs" called Prism from Custom building Products.

Personally, unless you're using a light grout in high traffic areas (which is going to show dirt a WHOLE lot more than it would otherwise), using a chemical grout like Spectralock or Prism is overkill in a residential setting.
glad
Original Author
16 years ago
thx, as always, bill. hmm, i don't know that i want to be a guinea pig for something new. ;)i'll be picking a gold or brown grnite, so the grout won't be light (will try to match) and my kitchen isn;t a high traffic area since it is just me. :)
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Buehl
16 years ago
Bill, what did you find out?

Have you worked with or heard about "Quartz Lock Grout"? It's also supposed to be stain resistant...
MariposaTraicionera
16 years ago
It's been awhile so I hope Bill comes back to give his knowledge on this product. I'd be interested to know, and also trying to give this an extra bump for Buehl :-)

BTW Bill, how many times can you reapply an enhancer? The tile guy gave it a once over, but there are places where my grout still does not seem to have changed colour.
flatcoat2004
16 years ago
Me too ! Hopefully my floor tile will go down soon (TileShop porcelain 1" white hex in bathroom, AO Chloe in halfbath), and I want to use as light grey/silver grout as possible without setting myself up for grout angst when it doesn't clean up well.

Any news on these new grouts, Bill ? or sealants ?
bill_vincent
16 years ago
HOLY CHRISTMAS!! :-)

I guess there's not much interest in this topic, huh?

Sorry, but the seminar got postponed due to the weather. It was supposed to happen a few weeks ago, and I still haven't heard anything about it being rescheduled. I'll see if I can find out tomorrow what the story is.

Mari, with reference to the enhancer, you can apply it 3-4 times if you wish. With more porous surfaces like grout, it may take a few applications. More than that, though, and you're only wasting sealer and time.
fox2star
13 years ago
Hi,

I just had stain free grout installed when remodeling a bathroom, and is it not reall stain free!!! I am so upset, paid a lot of money for this grout and it is yellowing just like any other grout I have had. I hope someone out there knows how to get this back to its original color.

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