Applying Grout with Marshall Float

[siremastimus]

Hi all, bought a marshall float from trader tiler and see one side has rounded edges and the other a straight edge - silly question but which edge do you use to apply the grout? Is it both - the straight edge to generally apply to the tiles and the rounded edge to work into the gaps? Also when wiping over with sponge should water be warm or cold straight from the tap? As you can probably tell I having tiled for a while but want to make sure I am as well prepared as poss! Thanks

 

[The Legend; Phil Hobson RIP]

Hi and welcome, by rounded edges do you mean the ends of the float? not the sides?

 

[Peter]

Round edges to the front/top for general use.

 

[The Legend; Phil Hobson RIP]

Marshalltown Tiling Tools : Large range of Marshalltown Tiling Tools at Tooled-Up.com is this the one? if so, the round edge I use for grouting to ceilings, then finish with my finger, for sharp angles ie internal corners I use the square edge before raking out the grout, to allow for Silicon expansion joint, hope this makes sense.

 

[siremastimus]

Thanks, yes is slightly different I think but close enough, round edges on the end - so best to use round edge then sounds of it.

 

[Dan]

The main part you're using is the longer side of it. You push the grout diagonally into the joint and then use the flat long edge to get all the grout off the tile surface. Then you mainly use your sponge (or your finger if you don't mind small cuts on the ends of them after grouting 1 wall!!) to make the grout lines look neat.

The fact the float has round edges on one end and square on the other is just to give tilers a chance of using them here and there in tricky parts. But you wouldn't use them for the whole wall it'd take years to finish up on a large job.

Ignore the fact it has rounded and squared corners until you actually spot a use for them (which you will do as Phil said internal corners are spot on for the square edged end) and just concentrate on using the flat edges to get all the grout you can off the tile face. Then get the sponge out and do circular motions across the whole tile area. Then clean the sponge, and use your 6 clean sides of it to do 6 grout lines, then rinse the sponge again and repeat.