Thanks for watching, if you found this video helpful please subscribe, lets continue helping folks renovate their own homes. Watch Next 👉🏼This Grouting Mistake will Ruin Your Tile Job th-cam.com/video/cOnvsU0Q-eg/w-d-xo.html
Yes, been driving me crazy since the day he put it in, he got lazy. He thought about doing it right in the video. You can see the moment he thinks about yet he went the easy way, lol.
The product should be made with an organic line, not straight! (Like false bricks or back splash tiles.) There are no straight lines in nature! I’m blaming the lack of quality from the manufacturer.
Has a power cut and still finishes the Job properly AND finishes the video - now that is integrity and dedication there! Thanks for all the great information Jeff.
I know you say that you should mix the whole bag to keep color consistency, but I mixed it in batches because I’m a beginner and used the Ultracolor and you put the fear in me that it sets too fast (and rightfully so, it really does). I don’t notice a difference in color where the two batches overlap. I guess it depends on the color but in my case, it makes it much more doable for a beginner to do it in batches. I didn’t pay too much attention to the water to powder ratio on the bag too much either. When I got that peanut butter with sugar consistency, I knew it was good. My kitchen backsplash looks incredible. I will say, I gained decades of experience just by watching your videos. You are the top DIY channel out there. Your content is gold. Thank you so much.
@@HomeRenoVisionDIYThen again, my grout color is white (a new whiter kind of white than the basic white), so I would have probably had a bad surprise if I were using a colored grout doing it in batches.
@@ArmoterraI’ve been installing tile for 20 plus years and I have never mixed a whole bag of grout but one time that’s all it took to realize that that’s not for me 😅 so I’ve been mixing in batches every since and you can’t tell it’s any different in color, for one I always mix enough to grout a whole wall and I’ve never had a problem because I mix it consistent every time.
I once tiled a shower (my 2nd tiling attempt) using a 2-part epoxy grout. It was horrible to work with, but 100 years from now when the house is long gone, that shower will probably still be standing, looking as mediocre as when I finished it.
Thanks again for showing us how it’s done - right. The 3d type of grout is news to me. I guess I’ll be switching over for floor work. Concur w/ having back up lighting. I also often bring a generator, just in case, and so i’m not at the mercy of the grid.
Hi from Australia! As a single gal I've done a few projects thanks to you! 🙏🏻 t's looking beautiful ! Love your video's. A little tip, when I can't read tinsy writing, I take a pic and pinch it to expand!
Your videos are a lifesaver. We did use the Ultracolor Plus FA on our kitchen backsplash even tho we watched your "warning" video about that. Lol. First, we bought the premixed and got scared when we read about it. We took it back and got the bag that you mix. We worked in small batches, only mixing 2 cups at a time to 2/3 cups of cold distilled water. We had a section of mosaic tile under the range hood and the rest was 3x12 wavy subway-like tile with beveled edges. We had to work fast! We really appreciated the advice about sealing any tile that was stone-like. There were tiles in the mosaic that were marble-like so we paid $20 for a small bottle of sealer and only used prob a tablespoon of it, if that. But, we feel it was worth it. My husband and I are both perfectionists and the tile job looks very professional! Thanks for the how-to videos!
I did my 1st tile floor last few days, grouted today using the Ultra FA. Well I used a smaller pan to mix some by hand but started with too much water, so 1/2 bag used to mix right (by hand). Then figuring I'd try the least visible corner 1st it turned out the rubber spatula worked better than a trowel for spreading it in the cracks. Used 2 rolls of paper towels to wipe the excess every 6 to 8 tiles within reach. Its all done now. Lessons learned are 1. Wish I had those leveling spacers you had in a previous video... I only had those tiny stars. 2. I didn't know the mortar(thin-set)-showing spots would show up later... so I have a few spots where the seam is white rather than grey. Being a utility room its 1000x better than the concrete it had and plenty good enough. Thanks for all the help man!
One tip that's worked for us when using unmodified grout (white grout - this could effect coloured grout so test that first) - if the grout has dried on the tile or on surfaces use vinegar to clean it. Make sure not to get too much into the grout lines. Grout is alcaline (which is why it slows mold) and so the acidic vinegar neutralizes it and changes the chemistry, allowing small areas to be cleaned even if you cant get to the final cleanup until a few hours later. Figured it out when needing to clean off haze 3 days after grouting. Again though - have only tried it on unmodified grout (also helps a bit with thinset).
Thanks for sharing all your wisdom! I didn't do a great job, but I'de wager you saved me from having to rip up all my tiles and do it again from scratch. I had been intending to squeeze the grout out of a hole in the corner of a ziplock bag so I wouldn't need to clean the face of all the tiles. But then when my fast cure special grout started to set 20 mins in with me only having squeezed grout into the gap of about 1/4 of the tiles, I had a panic attack LOL. I just ripped the ziplock bag in half and proceeded to rub the grout all over the place shoving it into all the tile joints like a mofo making a god aweful mess, but managed to fill all the cracks. Then having followed your advice and prepared 4 buckets of clean water, I was able to start wiping the tiles down diagonally immediately and just managed to get it into a state where it looks "OK" before everything started setting. Having watched your video gave me the confidence to abort my original ass backwards plan at the first sign that it might not work, and proceed to attempt to do it the normal way. :)
When this stuff came out I was helping my uncle tile a floor and he didnt know it was rapid set, he cleaned off the excess with a steel wool. It was a quality porceline tile and it was not glossy so it worked out and we thankfully did not need to tear up the floor. Ive gotten good at using ultracolor I use cold water, I put a cover on my grout pale to extend the pot life. I mix it a bit on the dry side for strenght, then apply it pushing it hard into the joints and quickly wipe excess off at a 45 degree angle and i quickly do all shower walls and as soon as im done 10 to 15 min max Im wiping with a damp sponge agressively to shape the joints from start to finish, then stage 2 damp sponge 2 cleaning buckets and wipe wall and clean sponge over and over, once done touch up grout if needed, if not buff with microfibre cloth and remove any remaing haze and finished for good. All my jobs last a long time and no need to seal!! Unsanded is not too great when you can remove it with a regular cleaning brush. I remove it and replace it with better grout. Keep up the good work.
On the topic of bringing your own lights to the job (lol^): As a general contractor, I carry a $50 rechargeable (6-12hr depending on brightness) headlamp on me at all times, and probably have it on at least 30% of the time indoors just to ensure consistent lighting anywhere I'm looking at any time. It actively dispels any illusions of light reflections/shadows, and any created by it are tied to the movement of your head, generally preventing you from being tricked by your own light. See everything correctly, the first time you look. Interior lighting is designed to light up the contents of the room and blend the room itself into the background. You specifically cannot rely on that type of lighting when working on the room itself. It's a direct improvement to almost every project and is only an issue in the cases where you need incidental/perpendicular light to cast shade on surface imperfections or you don't want reflections from surfaces persistently perpendicular to your face (blinding yourself). Other than that, it's all the light I ever need and easily the most valuable tool in my belt - in fact, when I put my belt down I usually take my light and gloves with me meaning it's even more important than anything else I carry.
On thing i noticed sponging is I do different is wipe with sponge wipe once flip sponge and rinse. It don't matter how dirty the water is tile is clean. just a heads up from a pro.
Man I WISH I had a contractor like you. I have a son with a disability and the state had us in a program to remodel our single bathroom, it's a two contractor bid process, lowest contractor wins. We had to stop work with the first contractor because the quality was SO bad, then had to go through a process of finding another contractor which means we've been without a bathroom in the house for ten months. There is a basement toilet and we used a camping shower tent. The new contractor didn't install the tile to specs and the MAPEI FA is SOFT, so it was mixed improperly. At this point I am going to get out the shitty grout myself and do the new grout myself, I realize now no one will take the time and attention I will. Thanks for all your videos to make this clear. - by the way, the state paid both contractors in full for these jobs. This is not only a case of fraud, but of contractors who are taking advantage of a vulnerable population.
i ALWAYS love it when you do tile, its something different that ive never seen, and the end result is ALWAYS exceptional EVERY SINGLE time. You're a badass Jeff !!
When I owned a manufactured home I used this methodology yo make an beautiful tub surround. Might not have been 100% perfect on the grout but it's looked great. Thanks Jeff!
Thanks for the great video! The grout on my bathroom floor is deteriorating after 2 years of time. Because everyone is using the shower every day, it's impossible to leave it dry for more than 24 hours. Would you recommend any grout suitable for fix situations like this?
tiling is beautiful. like you said 99% never continue sealing their grout. that's me. even though it was harder to work with, the waterproof grout will never need sealing and remain beautiful. it was worth it in my opinion when I did a backsplash. more work to put down and clean with less working time but still debating on using it now on a shower 😅
When you refer to waterproof grout, do you mean epoxy grout? Our grout has failed and is bring washed away when i clean the shower. Thinking i might try to use epoxy grout on top of old grout.
A quick ask: When you speed up the video, could you put an on screen flag as to how fast you're speeding up by e.g: 7x 10x 20x. It would help to understand the speed of the project better in context with the rest of the video :) --That tile looks amazing on video! Cheers!
I can confirm if you don't mix your grout with same amounts of water, when the grout dries you'll get different shades. I did my shower walls years ago and since then my dual shaded grout has bugged me 😂 Where was this video 7 years ago? Multiple tips I wish I had known, several mistakes made, but still waterproof from schluter system 😉
Im the QA guy in the plant that makes TEC products. We make a sanded, polymer reinforced material that we sell a ton of. Have no idea what it's for exactly.
38:46 "All grout needs to be sealed"... Welp, not true. Probably true of traditional grouts in the Mapei line of products. Urethane products such as Laticrete Spectralock 1 requires no sealer in or out of the product. From the product TDS: "5. Does SPECTRALOCK 1 Pre-Mixed Grout need to be sealed? SPECTRALOCK 1 Pre-mixed Grout never needs sealing. In fact, a sealer would not bond to the SPECTRALOCK® 1 Pre-mixed Grout."
I have never mixed FA that loose I try to mix it thick enough that it won't fall off a margin trowel when the trowel is held sideways. That said I never mix with more than a sponge's worth of water at a time I never mix the whole bag at once.
Awesome videos jeff! We are currently doing the same tile in our shower, and we love the way its turning out. Question though, did you seal the grout on the walls since you did not use the grout that has the sealer in it? Thanks!
Great video. I like all the pointers and tips that you provide. I was going to ask...but think I know the likely answer..Grout Boost vs. Sealant after completion. I'm guessing a small job might allow use of something like grout boost...but that it will cause faster set-up and make it difficult... Do I understand correctly? I'm just trying to make a shower that will last, without issues...(I never wish to re-grout).
How about mosaic glass floor pebble. Should I seal it before grouting as well. I’m assuming since it’s glass it’s not penetrable but I’m not sure if adding a sealant would be an extra benefit or won’t make a difference.
Do you need to seal the grout on the wall after using the Keracolor unsanded grout? If so can I use the same product you applied to the floor using a small paintbrush over the wall lines? Thanks for your informative videos. Cheers.
The straight line down the center of the pebble tiles would drive me nuts. Probably would have popped a few random ones out to break it up and weave the sheets together.
Thank you. You answered my question about whether to grout or silicone the corner in my shower/bath. I'm not going to regrout my whole shower, just patch some loose grout. Is there a good product for that? Also, ten years ago I used epoxy grout for a countertop. I was matching another countertop that a former owner installed. I'd heard that it didn't stain like regular grout. It has held up well and doesn't seem to stain. I'm wondering about sealers to maintain it.
I used this grout on my first 2 tile jobs and had no issues using it. Followed directions and done. I was so afraid of doing it after your firdt video that i thiught it would setup so quick i had to be fast but it didnt do that. Its not a difficult product.
i had such a different result. literally the advice jeff gave, contributed to me doing a terrible grout job on my bathroom. i watched this entire video, fuming mad and enraged waiting to cool off, and provide a longer explanation of my experience and where i went wrong, as well as some tips he did not mention, that he had mentioned in other videos.
can you do a video for putting tile on an outside concrete patio, would you use red guard or a waterproofing membrane, then tile is porcelain tile better to use over ceramic can you use a self-lever i know that I need a modified polymer mortar too set the tile and to seal it after all is grouted like a shower like you show here and i know to stay away from the box stores thanks to your videos
solid prep work to beautiful finish just 2 things if there doing all that work and spending all that money why not do the ceiling as well and i would have put a marble piece for the seat
HELP: Jeff, I love all your videos and your so detailed which makes it easy to understand. Here is my issue I'm having with laying LVT and I will try to be short. Bought a house built in 1962. Harwood floors throughout except in hall and dining room which has carpet, why, who knows!!! I ripped up carpet&padding in hall thinking I would find hardwoods. I did, problem is they glued down some type of black sealer on the floor like a rubber sealant, guess to keep drafts from coming up from crawlspace. I went crazy trying to scrape & sand it off and floors look like crap. Dining room is the same except it has a subfloor under padding & carpet. I want to put LVT on these areas. Should I put down a new OSB board on top of black tar stuff and then LVT? What size OSB? Thanks for your help and maybe someone has the same problem.
I’m a little confused, are you suppose to seal your wall grout ? Using the sealer from the beginning of the video? or not? Also should you reseal the floor again once you put the grout on?
Bud.. Used customer supplied mapei grout ultracolor plus for first time. You scared me with other video. You know the one. Thankfully, from experience not a problem. Homeowner using yeah could potentially see a problem. My main thing from very beginning of this video was the hard line with the tile in the pan. What happened? I would like to avoid if possible. Thanks!
Hey Jeff can you do a breakdown video similar to your flooring type breakdown video on just natural stone tile install? I'm going to be redoing my only bathroom and was hoping for slate everywhere but I would like to know what i'm up against.
51:00 I don't know if this is a result of the loss of power and lighting but the floor has a very distinct grout line right down the center of the shower floor. The randomness of the stones is clearly not there. This is just aesthetics of course but I'm wondering if it was the design of the mosaic tile sheets, or is this a mistake of the installer to properly lay them that caused this?
@HomeRenoVision DIY how do I clean very dark colored grout? I never would choose a dark kitchen grout but it was placed before we purchased our home. It’s about 2 years old and I can not keep it looking clean. It was sealed but looks like there is yogurt or white areas through out the house and nothing seems to help. 😢 I typically use zep neutral for tile.
Wow, I hired a guy to retile my 1930's row home with the old black and white tile original to the home. I was so exited to see my new bathroom floor and all the white tile had a grey hue to them. I was pretty upset. Now I know what he did.
Looks decent. Whenever a customer would ask about Mosaic I'd just tell them it was $500 a square foot and hire someone else to do it for me. I hate that garbage. I'll do dimensional tile all day but I can't stand mosaic sheets.
Jeff, your a life saver man. Just finished a "Semi-Emergency" tiling of my ladies main bathroom (shower) that had paint/wetness issues. We watched one of your other videos on the Mapei Ultra FA grout and how quick the working time is, and you were absolutely right! We were using the Flexcolor 3D with Penny Tile on the wall and damn did it haze up/set fast. We literally worked in 1ft increments for a lot of it due to tight spaces/corners/non tiled areas. And One wall/area we had to do with lights out due to the switches and outlets and lights powered down. So we did it with a headlamp and 2 camping lights. I'm arguing to buy some big battery work lights. :P Would you seal the UltraFA/Flexcolor 3d? Cheers man!
Funny about the colors being different after. We painted part our our kitchen with some Behr Dolphin color it looks white in the can but when it goes on the wall it is actually a light grey but if a little bit ends up on the ceiling you almost cannot tell.
Hi Jeff. As a DIYer, I really appreciate your video and the detail that goes into them. I’m making a marble tile accent wall and want to use white grout. After watching your other video on sanded fast setting grout vs unsanded, I’m going with unsanded to get more working time. But since unsanded could stain marble, is it necessary to seal it first? It’s an accent wall and won’t be getting wet like a shower wall..
Nice job man..I would like to bring u to my town and help me to renovate the bathroom. Is a mess. U must be very costly. But it would be a great video.
Thank you for all your highly instructional videos, Jeff. Had you not been a contractor, you should've been a teacher. 49:40 I'm not in the trade, but don't you need clean water for that step? (See, I'm paying attention, lol)
All the heavy particles fall to the bottom of the bucket. The rest of the water is clean enough. Just don't rub the sponge against the bottom and you're good. You also do this at least twice starting with fresh water each time.
Hi Jeff, I am laying a tile which is combination of small pieces of stone and glass. Can I apply the sealer to the entire surface? How does sealer affect the glass area? Thanks!
Can someone clarify why you dont use grout with sealer on the wall, besides shorted working time? And why corner gaps are not grouted but silicone is used. Thanks
Corner gaps are at a change of plane or direction. A building is usually moving or expanding and contracting slightly from things like settling, changes in temp, changes in humidity, strong winds, movement of people. This will tend to show up where the tile plane changes such as in corners. Grout is not very flexible and prone to cracking under these conditions. Silicone is flexible so it can handle it and not crack.
I just tiled my kitchen and I used MAPEI Ultracolor Plus FA grout in Warm Grey color. It states that you don’t need to seal the grout, If you don’t need to seal the grout why is it that when I wipe the floor with a wet rag or sponge the grout darkens as if the grout is absorbing the water? As it dries it lightens up back to its original color. Would this not allow the grout to be stained if a liquid containing color, gets spilled on the grout line?
Homedepot used to sell LED worklights (like the halogen ones), but they were battery powered. They were never available in Canada, but I know many canadian contractors would explicitly go to the US to buy them. They have fantstic battery life, and plug in using a regular 3-prong plug. Durable, excellent battery life, and relatively inexpensive. Sadly, HD stopped making/selling them even in the US. Now, there's no good options for these lights. Looks exactly like HD model# FTWL011, but with a larger back (which houses the battery).
Not a professional but yes you seal the grout lines - helps it from becoming discoloured. I have terrible well water that turns my grout lines orange. I’ve sealed it but it seems inevitable with how bad the water is. But you should still seal as Jeff said it helps repel water.
Thanks for watching, if you found this video helpful please subscribe, lets continue helping folks renovate their own homes. Watch Next 👉🏼This Grouting Mistake will Ruin Your Tile Job th-cam.com/video/cOnvsU0Q-eg/w-d-xo.html
Picky is seeing the pebble sheet seam dead center. I always take them off the mesh and set them one at a time for a consistent look.
That bugged the daylights out of me also. It sticks out like a sore thumb in an otherwise beautiful shower
dang - i can't unsee that now!
Yes, been driving me crazy since the day he put it in, he got lazy. He thought about doing it right in the video. You can see the moment he thinks about yet he went the easy way, lol.
@@jimserhant7741 Me too, that seam is all I could see.
The product should be made with an organic line, not straight! (Like false bricks or back splash tiles.) There are no straight lines in nature! I’m blaming the lack of quality from the manufacturer.
Has a power cut and still finishes the Job properly AND finishes the video - now that is integrity and dedication there! Thanks for all the great information Jeff.
I know you say that you should mix the whole bag to keep color consistency, but I mixed it in batches because I’m a beginner and used the Ultracolor and you put the fear in me that it sets too fast (and rightfully so, it really does). I don’t notice a difference in color where the two batches overlap. I guess it depends on the color but in my case, it makes it much more doable for a beginner to do it in batches.
I didn’t pay too much attention to the water to powder ratio on the bag too much either. When I got that peanut butter with sugar consistency, I knew it was good. My kitchen backsplash looks incredible.
I will say, I gained decades of experience just by watching your videos. You are the top DIY channel out there. Your content is gold. Thank you so much.
Appreciate that, happy to help. Cheers
@@HomeRenoVisionDIYThen again, my grout color is white (a new whiter kind of white than the basic white), so I would have probably had a bad surprise if I were using a colored grout doing it in batches.
@@ArmoterraI’ve been installing tile for 20 plus years and I have never mixed a whole bag of grout but one time that’s all it took to realize that that’s not for me 😅 so I’ve been mixing in batches every since and you can’t tell it’s any different in color, for one I always mix enough to grout a whole wall and I’ve never had a problem because I mix it consistent every time.
Mix dry
I once tiled a shower (my 2nd tiling attempt) using a 2-part epoxy grout. It was horrible to work with, but 100 years from now when the house is long gone, that shower will probably still be standing, looking as mediocre as when I finished it.
Thanks again for showing us how it’s done - right. The 3d type of grout is news to me. I guess I’ll be switching over for floor work. Concur w/ having back up lighting. I also often bring a generator, just in case, and so i’m not at the mercy of the grid.
Hi from Australia! As a single gal I've done a few projects thanks to you! 🙏🏻
t's looking beautiful ! Love your video's. A little tip, when I can't read tinsy writing, I take a pic and pinch it to expand!
Yay, thank you!
Love the tip! Cheers
@@HomeRenoVisionDIY any thoughts about sealing the stones before laying them on the floor? Any minuses to that?
Your videos are a lifesaver. We did use the Ultracolor Plus FA on our kitchen backsplash even tho we watched your "warning" video about that. Lol. First, we bought the premixed and got scared when we read about it. We took it back and got the bag that you mix. We worked in small batches, only mixing 2 cups at a time to 2/3 cups of cold distilled water. We had a section of mosaic tile under the range hood and the rest was 3x12 wavy subway-like tile with beveled edges. We had to work fast! We really appreciated the advice about sealing any tile that was stone-like. There were tiles in the mosaic that were marble-like so we paid $20 for a small bottle of sealer and only used prob a tablespoon of it, if that. But, we feel it was worth it. My husband and I are both perfectionists and the tile job looks very professional! Thanks for the how-to videos!
I did my 1st tile floor last few days, grouted today using the Ultra FA. Well I used a smaller pan to mix some by hand but started with too much water, so 1/2 bag used to mix right (by hand). Then figuring I'd try the least visible corner 1st it turned out the rubber spatula worked better than a trowel for spreading it in the cracks. Used 2 rolls of paper towels to wipe the excess every 6 to 8 tiles within reach. Its all done now. Lessons learned are 1. Wish I had those leveling spacers you had in a previous video... I only had those tiny stars. 2. I didn't know the mortar(thin-set)-showing spots would show up later... so I have a few spots where the seam is white rather than grey. Being a utility room its 1000x better than the concrete it had and plenty good enough. Thanks for all the help man!
One tip that's worked for us when using unmodified grout (white grout - this could effect coloured grout so test that first) - if the grout has dried on the tile or on surfaces use vinegar to clean it. Make sure not to get too much into the grout lines. Grout is alcaline (which is why it slows mold) and so the acidic vinegar neutralizes it and changes the chemistry, allowing small areas to be cleaned even if you cant get to the final cleanup until a few hours later. Figured it out when needing to clean off haze 3 days after grouting. Again though - have only tried it on unmodified grout (also helps a bit with thinset).
I wouldn't use vinegar on the floor. Anything marble, stone or granite always avoid vinegar. Vinegar is acidic and will eat through anything porous.
I found using vinegar and water to get haze off of tiles worked like a charm! Got that tip from a tile supply store employee!
Vinegar to water ratio?1:1
@@lamey99 start off with .5 vinegar to 1 part water. You can go up from there.
I use sanded grout on all my tile jobs and works out just fine and i use modified thinset or mastic only...i def enjoy your videos
Thanks for sharing all your wisdom! I didn't do a great job, but I'de wager you saved me from having to rip up all my tiles and do it again from scratch. I had been intending to squeeze the grout out of a hole in the corner of a ziplock bag so I wouldn't need to clean the face of all the tiles. But then when my fast cure special grout started to set 20 mins in with me only having squeezed grout into the gap of about 1/4 of the tiles, I had a panic attack LOL. I just ripped the ziplock bag in half and proceeded to rub the grout all over the place shoving it into all the tile joints like a mofo making a god aweful mess, but managed to fill all the cracks. Then having followed your advice and prepared 4 buckets of clean water, I was able to start wiping the tiles down diagonally immediately and just managed to get it into a state where it looks "OK" before everything started setting. Having watched your video gave me the confidence to abort my original ass backwards plan at the first sign that it might not work, and proceed to attempt to do it the normal way. :)
When this stuff came out I was helping my uncle tile a floor and he didnt know it was rapid set, he cleaned off the excess with a steel wool. It was a quality porceline tile and it was not glossy so it worked out and we thankfully did not need to tear up the floor. Ive gotten good at using ultracolor I use cold water, I put a cover on my grout pale to extend the pot life. I mix it a bit on the dry side for strenght, then apply it pushing it hard into the joints and quickly wipe excess off at a 45 degree angle and i quickly do all shower walls and as soon as im done 10 to 15 min max Im wiping with a damp sponge agressively to shape the joints from start to finish, then stage 2 damp sponge 2 cleaning buckets and wipe wall and clean sponge over and over, once done touch up grout if needed, if not buff with microfibre cloth and remove any remaing haze and finished for good. All my jobs last a long time and no need to seal!! Unsanded is not too great when you can remove it with a regular cleaning brush. I remove it and replace it with better grout. Keep up the good work.
On the topic of bringing your own lights to the job (lol^):
As a general contractor, I carry a $50 rechargeable (6-12hr depending on brightness) headlamp on me at all times, and probably have it on at least 30% of the time indoors just to ensure consistent lighting anywhere I'm looking at any time. It actively dispels any illusions of light reflections/shadows, and any created by it are tied to the movement of your head, generally preventing you from being tricked by your own light. See everything correctly, the first time you look.
Interior lighting is designed to light up the contents of the room and blend the room itself into the background. You specifically cannot rely on that type of lighting when working on the room itself.
It's a direct improvement to almost every project and is only an issue in the cases where you need incidental/perpendicular light to cast shade on surface imperfections or you don't want reflections from surfaces persistently perpendicular to your face (blinding yourself). Other than that, it's all the light I ever need and easily the most valuable tool in my belt - in fact, when I put my belt down I usually take my light and gloves with me meaning it's even more important than anything else I carry.
On thing i noticed sponging is I do different is wipe with sponge wipe once flip sponge and rinse. It don't matter how dirty the water is tile is clean. just a heads up from a pro.
brilliant Jeff, nice save in the power failure.
Hi Jeff, I'm right there with you regarding small typefaces on packaging. I just take a picture with my cell phone camera and then zoom in.
Man I WISH I had a contractor like you. I have a son with a disability and the state had us in a program to remodel our single bathroom, it's a two contractor bid process, lowest contractor wins. We had to stop work with the first contractor because the quality was SO bad, then had to go through a process of finding another contractor which means we've been without a bathroom in the house for ten months. There is a basement toilet and we used a camping shower tent. The new contractor didn't install the tile to specs and the MAPEI FA is SOFT, so it was mixed improperly. At this point I am going to get out the shitty grout myself and do the new grout myself, I realize now no one will take the time and attention I will. Thanks for all your videos to make this clear. - by the way, the state paid both contractors in full for these jobs. This is not only a case of fraud, but of contractors who are taking advantage of a vulnerable population.
00:12:47 Scrap the sides & bottom with paint stick and mix again🚿
i ALWAYS love it when you do tile, its something different that ive never seen, and the end result is ALWAYS exceptional EVERY SINGLE time. You're a badass Jeff !!
I used that same wall tile in my bathroom 5 years ago/ Love the texture and design if the tile.
I got mine 3 yrs ago. Starting next week. Loved it then. Happy to hear you do as well😊
I'm using a matte grey ceramic tile. Do I need to seal before I grout?
Great video. Thanks for such great information.
When I owned a manufactured home I used this methodology yo make an beautiful tub surround. Might not have been 100% perfect on the grout but it's looked great. Thanks Jeff!
You can find headbands with lights on them for cheap online. Nominally they are for hikers, but they work great for handyman stuff.
I usually paper tape the floor so nothing gets open the floor and then I just take paper out with all that crap that falls from the walls. Cleaner job
Your videos are very educational, thank you for sharing your Knowledge.
Welcome to Florida Jeff and congrats on finding a relatively quiet spot during the great migration.
Solid 2 weeks after I needed this... Went pretty well but would have been helpful
Nice work, makes me want to remodel my bathroom 😊
Thanks for the great video! The grout on my bathroom floor is deteriorating after 2 years of time. Because everyone is using the shower every day, it's impossible to leave it dry for more than 24 hours. Would you recommend any grout suitable for fix situations like this?
Mapei ultracolor plus all day long, brother. Ive been using it for years, with the matching caulk, with no issues whatsoever. (Im knocking on wood) 😅
tiling is beautiful. like you said 99% never continue sealing their grout. that's me. even though it was harder to work with, the waterproof grout will never need sealing and remain beautiful. it was worth it in my opinion when I did a backsplash. more work to put down and clean with less working time but still debating on using it now on a shower 😅
When you refer to waterproof grout, do you mean epoxy grout? Our grout has failed and is bring washed away when i clean the shower. Thinking i might try to use epoxy grout on top of old grout.
Can you do one of your “perfect every time” clips sealing the grout.
The wife wants to put tile in the front hallway. Watching these videos gives me some confidence I can manage to do the job right the first time.
A quick ask: When you speed up the video, could you put an on screen flag as to how fast you're speeding up by e.g: 7x 10x 20x. It would help to understand the speed of the project better in context with the rest of the video :) --That tile looks amazing on video! Cheers!
That is a awesome shower
Custom suppier grout in the cheapest available.
Custom Tec is the way to go for a decent cementious grout with sealer.
I can confirm if you don't mix your grout with same amounts of water, when the grout dries you'll get different shades. I did my shower walls years ago and since then my dual shaded grout has bugged me 😂 Where was this video 7 years ago? Multiple tips I wish I had known, several mistakes made, but still waterproof from schluter system 😉
Another great job ! Wow !😉
Im the QA guy in the plant that makes TEC products. We make a sanded, polymer reinforced material that we sell a ton of. Have no idea what it's for exactly.
As a first time DIY after I laid my kitchen tile , should I have sealed it First then grouted or reverse it meaning grout first then seal ?.
Hi, very informative. how exactly you get rid off the air bubbles on the floors?
If I’m doing a 1/4 grout line for a backsplash should I use sanded or unsanded? I was told large grout lines need sanded grout
Any idea if this impregnator can be used on exterior brick? THX for another enlightening video!
38:46 "All grout needs to be sealed"... Welp, not true. Probably true of traditional grouts in the Mapei line of products. Urethane products such as Laticrete Spectralock 1 requires no sealer in or out of the product. From the product TDS:
"5. Does SPECTRALOCK 1 Pre-Mixed Grout need to be sealed? SPECTRALOCK 1 Pre-mixed Grout never needs sealing. In fact, a sealer would not bond to the SPECTRALOCK® 1 Pre-mixed Grout."
As DIYer I am learning so much from this series! THANK YOU
I have never mixed FA that loose I try to mix it thick enough that it won't fall off a margin trowel when the trowel is held sideways. That said I never mix with more than a sponge's worth of water at a time I never mix the whole bag at once.
Awesome videos jeff! We are currently doing the same tile in our shower, and we love the way its turning out. Question though, did you seal the grout on the walls since you did not use the grout that has the sealer in it? Thanks!
thank you for sharing！
Great video. I like all the pointers and tips that you provide. I was going to ask...but think I know the likely answer..Grout Boost vs. Sealant after completion. I'm guessing a small job might allow use of something like grout boost...but that it will cause faster set-up and make it difficult... Do I understand correctly? I'm just trying to make a shower that will last, without issues...(I never wish to re-grout).
Hope there will be part 2
Every Saturday! Here's the link to watch the full renovation 👉🏼th-cam.com/play/PL34cQkzKfXWbFlHORkoa-81S1aasqUXf8.html
Watching this guy, my faith in human nature is restored.
Your videos are very informative. Thank you for explaining and giving the reasons of whys or why nots! You're the best!
How about mosaic glass floor pebble. Should I seal it before grouting as well. I’m assuming since it’s glass it’s not penetrable but I’m not sure if adding a sealant would be an extra benefit or won’t make a difference.
Do you need to seal the grout on the wall after using the Keracolor unsanded grout? If so can I use the same product you applied to the floor using a small paintbrush over the wall lines?
Thanks for your informative videos.
Cheers.
The straight line down the center of the pebble tiles would drive me nuts. Probably would have popped a few random ones out to break it up and weave the sheets together.
Thank you. You answered my question about whether to grout or silicone the corner in my shower/bath. I'm not going to regrout my whole shower, just patch some loose grout. Is there a good product for that? Also, ten years ago I used epoxy grout for a countertop. I was matching another countertop that a former owner installed. I'd heard that it didn't stain like regular grout. It has held up well and doesn't seem to stain. I'm wondering about sealers to maintain it.
I used this grout on my first 2 tile jobs and had no issues using it. Followed directions and done. I was so afraid of doing it after your firdt video that i thiught it would setup so quick i had to be fast but it didnt do that. Its not a difficult product.
i had such a different result. literally the advice jeff gave, contributed to me doing a terrible grout job on my bathroom. i watched this entire video, fuming mad and enraged waiting to cool off, and provide a longer explanation of my experience and where i went wrong, as well as some tips he did not mention, that he had mentioned in other videos.
About the silicone in the corners, any specific silicon's attributes?. Thank you.
can you do a video for putting tile on an outside concrete patio, would you use red guard or a waterproofing membrane, then tile is porcelain tile better to use over ceramic can you use a self-lever i know that I need a modified polymer mortar too set the tile and to seal it after all is grouted like a shower like you show here and i know to stay away from the box stores thanks to your videos
Sal Diblasi, on his channel, says to push grout in at a low angle and wipe with a wider angle.
What tools is good to remove the old grout sir? I would like to redone our shower grout
solid prep work to beautiful finish just 2 things if there doing all that work and spending all that money why not do the ceiling as well and i would have put a marble piece for the seat
Excelente video, thanks
Your work looks 👍
I have a question, does it have silicone around where the water will drain or does it have grout in the shower?
Do you put that 511 sealer on the rest of the tile also? Not just the floor?
Hello Jeff
Is the video out for how to seal the grout ?
HELP:
Jeff, I love all your videos and your so detailed which makes it easy to understand. Here is my issue I'm having with laying LVT and I will try to be short.
Bought a house built in 1962. Harwood floors throughout except in hall and dining room which has carpet, why, who knows!!! I ripped up carpet&padding in hall thinking I would find hardwoods. I did, problem is they glued down some type of black sealer on the floor like a rubber sealant, guess to keep drafts from coming up from crawlspace. I went crazy trying to scrape & sand it off and floors look like crap.
Dining room is the same except it has a subfloor under padding & carpet.
I want to put LVT on these areas. Should I put down a new OSB board on top of black tar stuff and then LVT? What size OSB?
Thanks for your help and maybe someone has the same problem.
I’m a little confused, are you suppose to seal your wall grout ? Using the sealer from the beginning of the video? or not? Also should you reseal the floor again once you put the grout on?
Bud.. Used customer supplied mapei grout ultracolor plus for first time. You scared me with other video. You know the one. Thankfully, from experience not a problem. Homeowner using yeah could potentially see a problem.
My main thing from very beginning of this video was the hard line with the tile in the pan. What happened? I would like to avoid if possible. Thanks!
Hey Jeff can you do a breakdown video similar to your flooring type breakdown video on just natural stone tile install? I'm going to be redoing my only bathroom and was hoping for slate everywhere but I would like to know what i'm up against.
51:00 I don't know if this is a result of the loss of power and lighting but the floor has a very distinct grout line right down the center of the shower floor. The randomness of the stones is clearly not there. This is just aesthetics of course but I'm wondering if it was the design of the mosaic tile sheets, or is this a mistake of the installer to properly lay them that caused this?
yup stands out like a sore thumb
@HomeRenoVision DIY how do I clean very dark colored grout? I never would choose a dark kitchen grout but it was placed before we purchased our home. It’s about 2 years old and I can not keep it looking clean. It was sealed but looks like there is yogurt or white areas through out the house and nothing seems to help. 😢 I typically use zep neutral for tile.
Wow, I hired a guy to retile my 1930's row home with the old black and white tile original to the home. I was so exited to see my new bathroom floor and all the white tile had a grey hue to them. I was pretty upset. Now I know what he did.
Great job!
Would you recommend this sealer for grout only?
Could you put silicone in the corner, let dry, before grouting?
Looks decent. Whenever a customer would ask about Mosaic I'd just tell them it was $500 a square foot and hire someone else to do it for me. I hate that garbage. I'll do dimensional tile all day but I can't stand mosaic sheets.
Jeff, your a life saver man. Just finished a "Semi-Emergency" tiling of my ladies main bathroom (shower) that had paint/wetness issues. We watched one of your other videos on the Mapei Ultra FA grout and how quick the working time is, and you were absolutely right! We were using the Flexcolor 3D with Penny Tile on the wall and damn did it haze up/set fast. We literally worked in 1ft increments for a lot of it due to tight spaces/corners/non tiled areas. And One wall/area we had to do with lights out due to the switches and outlets and lights powered down. So we did it with a headlamp and 2 camping lights. I'm arguing to buy some big battery work lights. :P Would you seal the UltraFA/Flexcolor 3d? Cheers man!
my husband loves your energy
Funny about the colors being different after. We painted part our our kitchen with some Behr Dolphin color it looks white in the can but when it goes on the wall it is actually a light grey but if a little bit ends up on the ceiling you almost cannot tell.
0:29 😊0
9
different light at different angles creates a different effect. Cheers!
Hi, Marpai is not available in Australia - are you aware of a similar grout product that has the polymer and sealant added?
What do you suggest for those of us who have the mold issues you speak of. Help!
Hi Jeff. As a DIYer, I really appreciate your video and the detail that goes into them. I’m making a marble tile accent wall and want to use white grout. After watching your other video on sanded fast setting grout vs unsanded, I’m going with unsanded to get more working time. But since unsanded could stain marble, is it necessary to seal it first? It’s an accent wall and won’t be getting wet like a shower wall..
Nice job man..I would like to bring u to my town and help me to renovate the bathroom. Is a mess. U must be very costly. But it would be a great video.
Jeff, I'm at the very beginning and I have to laugh...sounds like you're in my country! Let's hope you don't have a water outage too!
Thank you for all your highly instructional videos, Jeff. Had you not been a contractor, you should've been a teacher.
49:40 I'm not in the trade, but don't you need clean water for that step? (See, I'm paying attention, lol)
All the heavy particles fall to the bottom of the bucket. The rest of the water is clean enough. Just don't rub the sponge against the bottom and you're good. You also do this at least twice starting with fresh water each time.
If 99/99 bathrooms dont have sealed grout can you do a video on how you remove mold and save existing grout?
Clean it with alcohol and a brass brush then seal it.
The mold is growing from behind the tiles…it will always grow back…improper waterproofing, no pre slope, or clogged weep holes
Yeah after 30 years i love it when a home owner watches over my shoulder😂
Hi Jeff, I am laying a tile which is combination of small pieces of stone and glass. Can I apply the sealer to the entire surface? How does sealer affect the glass area? Thanks!
Can I seal grout that has been in a shower for several years?
Always educational ❤
Cheers
Can someone clarify why you dont use grout with sealer on the wall, besides shorted working time? And why corner gaps are not grouted but silicone is used. Thanks
Corner gaps are at a change of plane or direction. A building is usually moving or expanding and contracting slightly from things like settling, changes in temp, changes in humidity, strong winds, movement of people. This will tend to show up where the tile plane changes such as in corners. Grout is not very flexible and prone to cracking under these conditions. Silicone is flexible so it can handle it and not crack.
I just tiled my kitchen and I used MAPEI Ultracolor Plus FA grout in Warm Grey color. It states that you don’t need to seal the grout, If you don’t need to seal the grout why is it that when I wipe the floor with a wet rag or sponge the grout darkens as if the grout is absorbing the water? As it dries it lightens up back to its original color. Would this not allow the grout to be stained if a liquid containing color, gets spilled on the grout line?
Homedepot used to sell LED worklights (like the halogen ones), but they were battery powered.
They were never available in Canada, but I know many canadian contractors would explicitly go to the US to buy them.
They have fantstic battery life, and plug in using a regular 3-prong plug. Durable, excellent battery life, and relatively inexpensive.
Sadly, HD stopped making/selling them even in the US.
Now, there's no good options for these lights.
Looks exactly like HD model# FTWL011, but with a larger back (which houses the battery).
Sealer will not prevent water from getting through the grout. The goal of sealer is to help the grout resist staining.
Still new to messing with tiling and grout work..so once the grouting is done and cleaned do you need to use a sealer over the grout lines?
Not a professional but yes you seal the grout lines - helps it from becoming discoloured. I have terrible well water that turns my grout lines orange. I’ve sealed it but it seems inevitable with how bad the water is. But you should still seal as Jeff said it helps repel water.