Last Tuesday I ruined a whole batch of grout and it changed my mind about mixing small batches

I was retiling my shower in Austin and mixed up a full bucket of Mapei grout like I always do... ended up with half of it hardening in the bucket before I could use it. Took me 45 minutes to chip it all out and start over. Now I swear by mixing just enough for 10 minutes of work, has anyone else had better luck with pre-mixed grout for small jobs?

3 comments

3 Comments

sean7828d ago

Pre-mixed grout is actually way more forgiving if you know what you're doing, the slower drying time gives you way more control on cleanup and that haze issue is usually from wiping too late rather than the grout itself. For a small shower tile job the extra working time means you can actually take your time and get a cleaner finish without rushing like you have to with powder. I switched to pre-mixed for all my small bathroom projects and haven't touched powder since, less waste in the bucket and less stress overall.

williamb299d ago

My buddy Mike tried pre-mixed grout for a bathroom floor last fall and said it dried way slower than the powder stuff, which made it harder to clean off the tiles. He ended up with a haze that took two scrubs to remove, so he went back to mixing small batches. You ever try the pre-mixed stuff or stick with the powder?

diana_black9d ago

@williamb29 did he try washing it off earlier or did he let it sit too long? I've had haze issues with both kinds honestly, just depends on the temp and humidity here in Texas.