flex grout and and flexi addy with porcelain

[oldgit]

playing devils advocate here.
why are we told to use flexi grout and addy with porcelain.
now dont get me wrong i use flexi grout and addy on porcelain.
if you have ever taking up a porcelain tile that has been grouted with flexi grout it will snap off the edge the same as it will when snapping off normal grout from the edge of a clay tile it does not adhere to the tile.
years ago i used to stick and grout porcelain with normal grout and granfix rapid set, this was before we were told different.
on occasion for various reasons i had to take up odd tiles and they were stuck no better or worse than porce i have lifted done with flexi addy and flexi grout.
so is this really just another cash cow?
if the answer is no then why the hell do they even bother to make addy or grout that is not flexible,adhesive companies are quick to state tilers are doing it all wrong,so why dont they sell products that are potentially not upto standard.
discussion please lads.

 

[sWe]

Lemme put it like this: Flexible adhesives DO stick better than non-flexible adhesives (porcelain being alot more dense than regular ceramics = less grip), BUT as long as the adhesive is rated atleast C2 (as in "improved", as opposed to C1, which is "normal"), any additional additives aren't needed for the sake of adhesion imo.

Still, it's always best to follow the manufacturer instructions. I wouldn't want to be caught with my danglies in the mailbox cuz I used something which the manufacturer didn't approve when stuff starts breaking...

I've got a little primer on adhesive and grout standards, which is accessible through the link in my signature. Check it out.

 

[CJ]

Old-ish post.........but try this one...

Floor Grouts

Is flexi grout WITH say GT1 in it more flexible than straight flexi grout. Or is it better to use normal wide joint grout with GT1

Wot would be the best bet :8:

Get ya noggins around that

 

[DHTiling]

Old-ish post.........but try this one...

Floor Grouts

Is flexi grout WITH say GT1 in it more flexible than straight flexi grout. Or is it better to use normal wide joint grout with GT1

Wot would be the best bet :8:

Get ya noggins around that

Nothing to get around cj..you don't modify a modifed grout.....wide joint with gt1 will be better than a pre-modified grout all day long..because you control the strength of the mix.....

 

[DHTiling]

playing devils advocate here.
why are we told to use flexi grout and addy with porcelain.
now dont get me wrong i use flexi grout and addy on porcelain.
if you have ever taking up a porcelain tile that has been grouted with flexi grout it will snap off the edge the same as it will when snapping off normal grout from the edge of a clay tile it does not adhere to the tile.
years ago i used to stick and grout porcelain with normal grout and granfix rapid set, this was before we were told different.
on occasion for various reasons i had to take up odd tiles and they were stuck no better or worse than porce i have lifted done with flexi addy and flexi grout.
so is this really just another cash cow?
if the answer is no then why the hell do they even bother to make addy or grout that is not flexible,adhesive companies are quick to state tilers are doing it all wrong,so why dont they sell products that are potentially not upto standard.
discussion please lads.

Fully vitrified tiles will stick to a modified adhesive and grout a lot better than standard ones....not saying that standard adhesives don't stick them but for a failsafe installation then modified is the way to go......as for if that is the case then why have standard adhesives etc....coz they are cheaper than modified and set faster than modified.....if rapid setting..

The polymers do increase setting times.....so standard rapid sets have their place in tile fixing as well......

 

[Gazzer]

Nothing to get around cj..you don't modify a modifed grout.....wide joint with gt1 will be better than a pre-modified grout all day long..because you control the strength of the mix.....

But where would we say the limit of strength is? Neat GT1 ? or what ratio?

 

[DHTiling]

If you applied it neat neale..it would be like grouting with fastflex..........

For most applications neale 2:1 is suitable and if tiling to timber with ufh etc then 1:1 mix......this is 2 water to 1 gt1 and 50/50 water and gt1 mix....hope that helped....

 

[Gazzer]

Just trying to expand this topic as i believe (as you do) that GT1 with Wide joint is far superior in flex and feels as if it would hold better in the joint due to "the stickiness"

 

[CJ]

Nothing to get around cj..you don't modify a modifed grout.....wide joint with gt1 will be better than a pre-modified grout all day long..because you control the strength of the mix.....

I know that Dave........but just wondering wot would be the outcome of flexi WITH GT1. Maybe I'll do one of them tests one day

 

[DHTiling]

Please do and report back with results......

 

[CJ]

Too cold in my garage at the mo.

Next year

 

[andersontiling]

I've always found with the gt1 ,ardion 101 they make the grout lighter in colour and if you are doing a large area its essential you keep the exact ratio.so prefer to use the grouts with the polymers present

 

[andersontiling]

FLEXY GROUTS MUST BE USED WITH PORCELAIN OR FULLY VIT TILES.I HAVE USED BAL WIDE JOINT AND IT CRAZES OR HAS A LADDER EFFECT ACROSS THE JOINT,WHICH IS NOT IDEAL IN WET AREAS.THEN ON THE OTHER HAND C2 DOESNT:huh2:

 

[oldgit]

FLEXY GROUTS MUST BE USED WITH PORCELAIN OR FULLY VIT TILES.I HAVE USED BAL WIDE JOINT AND IT CRAZES OR HAS A LADDER EFFECT ACROSS THE JOINT,WHICH IS NOT IDEAL IN WET AREAS.THEN ON THE OTHER HAND C2 DOESNT:huh2:

there is no reason at all for that to happen,unless ufh or on wood where you would use a flexible grout regardless of tile type.

 

[Grace'sDad]

Old-ish post.........but try this one...

Floor Grouts

Is flexi grout WITH say GT1 in it more flexible than straight flexi grout. Or is it better to use normal wide joint grout with GT1

Wot would be the best bet :8:

Get ya noggins around that

I checked with BAL on this one. They say that GT1 added to non-flexy grout i.e. wide joint grout will be more flexible than their grouts with the admix built in. I learnt that if you add GT1 to a flexible grout it just drys like superglue and feels like chewing gum.

Be careful though coz I came majorly unstuck last week. I added GT1 to white wide joint grout and it darkened it to light grey. Now I have to use Microcolour widejoint grout in brilliant white with GT1 and it is costing me substantially more!