help required

[CUSH68]

Asked this question b 4 and thought I had it sorted. I did a bathroom floor last month and when I went back to polish up found hairline cracks in the grout. After posting question decided it was customers fault for sealing tiles while I wasn't there and grout still curing.Alls been good since,then same thing happens on another small floor yesterday. My head is burst wondering what I am doing wrong. I've checked my technique with a few tilers and they seem to think what I am doing is fine. I realy want this to be the last time this happens so any input from you guys would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Mark

 

[Turkish]

Weird! Grout too wet? not flexible? all i can think of really...

Turkish

 

[robbo]

what substrate did you lay the tiles on?

 

[sWe]

Possible reasons for grout cracking:

• Improperly prepped substrate (ie not stiff enough)
• Grout which doesn't cope with the conditions in which you've used it

a. Not enough flexibility, though the need for that should be countered with proper substrate preparation and reinforcment
b. Grout which doesn't stick well enough to the tiles, ie grout meant for porous tiles, and you've used really dense tiles.
c. Grout which is meant for thicker grout lines than you've made (for example, using grout meant for 4-12mm lines, when you've made the lines 2mm)
d. Grout which is meant for thinner grout lines that you've made (for example using grout meant for 0-3mm when you've made the lines 5mm)

• Faulty batch of grout
• Too much water when mixing the grout
• Too little water when mixing the grout
• Adding water to the mix after the grout has started setting in the bucket
• Exceeding the open time of the grout when grouting (ie mixing too much in one go)
• Contaminated water (which makes the grout cure too fast, or unevenly)
• Too warm envionment while the grout cures (too fast curing)
• Too dry environment while the grout cures (too fast curing)
• Too cold environment while the grout cures (too slow curing)
• Sunlight exposure while curing (uneven and too fast curing)
• Grouting too soon after setting the tiles
• Too much water when washing after after application of grout
• Washing too soon after application of grout
• Walking on the floor too soon after grouting
• Washing with strong detergents too soon after grouting
• Impregnating too soon after grouting.

Etc. Take your pick.

 

[Turkish]

Just a few more than i came up with then!:lol:

Turkish

 

[sWe]

Just a few more than i came up with then!:lol:

Turkish

I guess so

 

[CUSH68]

cheers for quick reply guys.

You've covered everything there Swe, thanks for that, will use your post as a check list and go through my grouting procedure with that in mind.
Substrate and traffic I don't think is the issue it seems to happen during curing . the mix I use is quite thick and both times the temperature in the rooms has been on the high side.Could be going off too quick.

Thanks again for the help,

Mark

 

[DHTiling]

cheers for quick reply guys.

You've covered everything there Swe, thanks for that, will use your post as a check list and go through my grouting procedure with that in mind.
Substrate and traffic I don't think is the issue it seems to happen during curing . the mix I use is quite thick and both times the temperature in the rooms has been on the high side.Could be going off too quick.

Thanks again for the help,

Mark

Theres your problem........you need the correct amount of water to get the strongest binding of the ingredients...always follow the instructions or guidlines...to little water and the grout will not be strong enough....and too much heat can cause it to crack as well.....so a mixture of too little water and heat isn't the best situation...

 

[sWe]

Theres your problem........you need the correct amount of water to get the strongest binding of the ingredients...always follow the instructions or guidlines...to little water and the grout will not be strong enough....and too much heat can cause it to crack as well.....so a mixture of too little water and heat isn't the best situation...

Seems I forgot to mention that too little water can be a problem as well. Thanks for the catch Dave.

 

[CUSH68]

Seems so simple now, but really was getting to me.

Will measure exact amount ratio wise from now on instead of feel.

Can't thank you guys enough, might even get a sleep tonight.

Cheers,

Mark