Today I tiled a kitchen wall and tomorrow I have to grout it. I'm going to be using Unibond "fix and grout", I have used it successfully before. I usually use a small trowel but it's still a messy job.
Does anyone know of any application tool which would make this job easier? I'm thinking along the lines of something which would extrude the grout into the gaps.
Failing that, does anyone know if you can purchase tile grout in cartridge form, for use with a mastic gun? I've tried my local DIY store without success and the B&Q website was spectacularly unhelpful.
Any help would be appreciated thanks!!
2006-09-11 07:45:07 · 15 answers · asked by Not Ecky Boy 6 in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
It is a messy job, use a flexible scraper, after the grout is on, wipe lightly with a sponge to take off the excess, after the grout is dry, the next day is best, wipe the tiles to a polish
2006-09-11 07:53:17 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
By the far the BEST way.. is to mix the grout in a container like a paste... then with a wooden trowel or something like that.. smear the grout over everything and making sure that it gets into the grout lines... with the same trowel, get off as much of the excess as you can and put it back into the container that you mixed the batch in...do this all over the floor.. then when finished and the excess has been scraped or removed as much as you can with the trowel, get a sponge(with water) and start cleaning the whole floor. The sponge should not have much water in it.. just moist... rinse the sponge out frequently and get clean water and continue cleaning until the tile is clean of the grout film, etc. Be sure, though, DO NOT EMPTY the watter that you used to clean off the excess grout mixture onto cement, etc as IT STAINS cement... rocks, etc. I made that mistake and it was a MESS
2006-09-11 14:53:48 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No i don;t think that you can buy grout in cartridge form, but someone certainly should make it - how much easier would life be? You;ll probably get a plastic applicator with the grout to use, thats the only way i know. But what ever you do, make sure you wipe the excess off the tiles before it dries otherwise you'll spend hours scraping it off.
2006-09-11 14:49:19 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can get a tool for applying grout (or mortar for repointing) that you have mixed yourself. It is just a bigger version of a triggered mastic gun. Usefull if you have acres of the stuff to apply but I don't really think much help on smaller jobs. By the time you've faffed about with it you could have done the job with a normal flat rubber edged applicator. Just whack it on with one of those, pressing it into the joints and then removing most of excess with the same applicator. Damp sponge then removes the rest, rinsing frequently. A thin film is left which, when dry, polishes off easily.
2006-09-11 16:47:49 · answer #4 · answered by kellys74 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can get a grouting tool its a bit like a comb, with a pointed edge designed to help you grout in small areas.
The trick is to angle the comb and flick every now again to take off excess loose grout. A bit like a plasterer does.
Sugar soap is excellent to remove excess dry grout, twist a end of a cloth, and wet with the soap, gently scrubing and sponging away excess.
2006-09-11 14:58:25 · answer #5 · answered by lonely as a cloud 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
DONT use a mastic gun!! OR fix'n grout. Get some white grout, mix till creamy smooth, spreadover tiles with a wide grout spreader, pressing into joints, wipe off excess, leave to dry off a bit, run a piece of wooden dowel or a finger up and accross the joints to smooth them off. Polish off the surface of the tiles. PERFECT JOB
2006-09-11 14:51:46 · answer #6 · answered by jayktee96 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
You can get a special tool to do it. It is a wide rubber spreader. All you do is load it up and spread it all over the tiles. Then as someone else has suggested just go over the lines between the tiles with your finger to press it in. Let is dry for a while and then use a sponge and remove the excess. Job done.
2006-09-11 14:52:16 · answer #7 · answered by Northernbloke 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
To be honest with you I found the grouting tools quite hard to use and I bought a wide selection!!!! ... I applied the grout to my tiles with my fingers, loads easier and quicker if you're not in the know!
2006-09-11 14:48:11 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i have always found using my fingers the best way you don't get it all over the tiles and you use less grout., wipe it over every so often with a damp cloth so that the excess left on the tile face doesn't get hard to move .
2006-09-11 14:54:38 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I find that the corner of a credit/store card is perfect for the Job!!!
Oh and a damp cloth to clean the excess off the tile because its quite difficult to remove when dried.
2006-09-11 14:47:20 · answer #10 · answered by Steven S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋