Patchy Mapei grout... any ideas?

[richardbell81]

i use jasmine all the time,seems to be the colour of the moment around here. don't think ive ever mixed a full bag,if i run out i mix a bit more,no problem,never measure the water either,just turn tap,stop tap,pour in,mix with bucket trowel,leave for a few mins,mix again and im off.


id just leave if for a while,you could have a thicker bed of addy in some places,just takes longer to dry.

did you use grey or white addy?

I used grey.. i didn't think it would be a problem when using grey tiles and grey grout... I back buttered all the tiles so i didn't get any shadowing and made sure all the voids were clear. I also left it 3 days to dry out.

 

[widler]

I used grey.. i didn't think it would be a problem when using grey tiles and grey grout... I back buttered all the tiles so i didn't get any shadowing and made sure all the voids were clear. I also left it 3 days to dry out.

:lol:jeez,im getting a bit mixed up in my old age,why did i think it was jasmine😳.

sorry mate,it could be a lot of things,try it with the hair-dryer,it really could still be damp :cool3:

 

[John Benton]

You could try my supplier STS in Leeds:-

Specialist Tiling Supplies
5 Wortley Moor Lane Trading Estate
Leeds
LS12 4HX

0113 2022010

They stock a range of the Mapei grouts

 

[macten]

I personally find a paddle mixer is the only way to go with mapei ultra colour.
Not saying it can't be done by hand but when mixing (eg jasmine by hand) you are at it for ages and ages
before the little streaks of orange pigment disappear, if you were doing the grey by hand you would stop far
earlier as you would think the mix was homogenous as you don't see the pigments.

 

[Stef]

I spoke to the Mapei rep & he told me Ultracolour plus "Must" be mixed with the exact amount of water stated & "Must" be mixed mechanically.

I used Ultracolour plus at the tail end of last year & just stuck in enough water to do the job, disaster.
I then used it again on a job 3 weeks ago & it was perfect as i followed instructions to the letter.

 

[richardbell81]

I spoke to the Mapei rep & he told me Ultracolour plus "Must" be mixed with the exact amount of water stated & "Must" be mixed mechanically.

I used Ultracolour plus at the tail end of last year & just stuck in enough water to do the job, disaster.
I then used it again on a job 3 weeks ago & it was perfect as i followed instructions to the letter.

And your saying the only difference was that you used a paddle?

 

[Tony73]

was that grout out of date or something? :huh2:

 

[richardbell81]

nope, bang in date. I made sure I checked that before I started!

 

[Stef]

And your saying the only difference was that you used a paddle?

Yep, only difference. you must mix it mechanically to break down the polimers in the grout.

 

[lukeb]

if standard grout mix by hand no problem if flexible use paddle slow speed.
Had that problem with grey (dunlop),chocolate(Mapei)and few Butech even white was patchy.So use mixer and roughly right amount of water.:hurray: