I lost my dad when I was 17. Every once in a while, I find a “TH-cam Dad” who makes me feel like I’m back in my childhood home, listening to my own dad as he’s teaching me to do home renovations. I’m 29 now and have fully renovated and sold my starter home myself. Friends and family call me for help with their renovations all the time. I’m looking forward to buying my “forever home” soon, and I’ll inevitably be leaning on my TH-cam Dads for help when I do. Thanks for being a great TH-cam dad, Jeff!
Lost mine at 18. I understand and feel for you bro. I'm 36 and still say I miss you dad and thankful for everything I learned from you. I didn't understand until he was gone why he was teaching me so many things. I may not of grasped it all. I enjoy being the neighborhood guy kids come to for bike repairs and neighbors call for help. Thanks to my dad!
I am 72 yrs old and after watching your video I tiled the backsplash in my sons house in his kitchen. I am so pleased with the job I did. Love all you videos!
Thanks Jeff. As a person that thought he couldn't do a 'big' DIY job like redoing his whole Kitchen tile from floor to ceiling, it was thanks to your mentorship that all I have left is to grout and now I have a modicum of bravery thanks to you. Im guessing I've saved 10-15k in labor doing it myself.
I really like Jeff. He’s a really good teacher... and he’s funny. That really helps when you have to watch a long video. He also doesn’t skip steps or forget to warn about potential pitfalls. The shower looks good. Great job Jeff!
Literally nothing on YT compares to your content.. the information structure to your tutorials is absolutely perfect. I remodeled our guest house bathroom this year and the only reason I had the confidence to tackle that project was because of your videos. Thank you
Thanks so much for all of your videos! My husband and I quit our careers, moved across country, and built our own house. We have done EVERYTHING, except drilling the well, thanks to your videos! I can’t thank you enough for putting out this high quality content. You never hold back “secrets” or tips, which we greatly appreciate. If only you could see this gorgeous house that you helped build! 👏🏼🙌🏼 blessings to you and your family. Shalom.
@@iTammy sorry, just saw your reply, but we started in fall of 2018 and we are almost finished with the inside, minus some trim and light fixtures, and we still have to put the siding and deck on the outside. We hope to finish this summer so, all in all, about 4 years 🙈☺️💜 we run/own a business so we only get to work on the house when we have free time, but I’m sure it could be done much faster. Thankfully, we have a home, debt free, in our early thirties; all the hard work was worth it.
Thanks so much. My first time tiling and the tile company I bought my tiles from added rapid set grout to my basket and I didn't think much of it until I started watching your videos! Thanks to you, I only mixed a bit at a time and was able to get it down efficiently with very little waste. Buy yourself a beer on me, my friend. Super videos that are much appreciated.
When I watched this a year ago I didn't own a house. Now I do and I'm doing this for a regrout. It's unreal how much better this video is than anything else out there
dont use mapei grout use prism its more expensive but worth the cost dont have to seal it either but if your doing a shower its worth the time and effort to just use epoxy grout
A huge warning to my fellow DIYers- do NOT buy the pink label mapei quick dry grout! I was sold this by the salesman at Lowe’s instead of the blue label version like Jeff used in the video. The grout dried before I could get a chance to wipe it off. Needless to say I spent hours scrubbing and scraping. Thankfully I got it all off and the finished product came out beautifully. Just wanted to share my rookie mistake with ya’ll so you don’t run into the same issue I did.
The worst thing is if you've tiled and grouted before with standard grout which I've done some twenty years ago and you use this stuff without reading you're screwed! Should be sold with disclaimer! Almost go me!
I am a fan period. Of what? A cheerful disposition, smiles, little jokes, tips, tricks and all the rest. It makes a difference and is pleasant to listen to even without a specific project. Well done and THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH! I was quoted 4,000 dollars just to do the tile work in my bathroom! These videos you have done have saved me so much money and the final product in my opinion is better then a pro would have done it! You sir are amazing.
I've been installing tile for 20 years. Non sanded grout can be challenging if you're not used to it. It will crack, crumble, get air pockets, etc. Wringing your sponge almost dry is critical when cleaning to avoid efflorescence, specially with dark grout, and a good quality grout and sponge is a must. Don't rush it or you will have problems later. Always silicone corners and use a grout sealer after it cures to protect it against stains and soap scum. Good tutorial video for beginners.
My contractor used Mapei Flexcolor white grout, but didn't wipe any of it off. The whole counter and back splash was done with expensive tile. I asked him about it and he was defensive. Said that he had a product that was easy to use and it would look great. I tried it and it does not look great...gunked up in the corders and junctions, and I'm afraid to use to hard a sander as it will scratch the time. I fired him, but need some information about what to do...tried vinegar, ammonia, regular cleaners, comet, etc. NOTHING touches this haze and build up. HELP!!!!!!!
Sherry Connolly it'll be hard to give you advice without seeing what he did. I've use muriatic acid diluted with water as a last option but I wouldn't recommend it if you don't know how to use it as you can damage the grout or tile, specially if it's natural stone.
I just redid my whole kitchen from the studs and i did the whole thing watching your videos and this is the last video I need to finish it. Thank you so much! Your videos are great and full of details needed to make sure jobs are done right and look great !!!
Thank you so much Jeff. I just finished waterproofing & tiling my shower. I used your Redgard method from your "4 different methods of waterproofing a shower" video (Amazing BTW). I'm just filing out the excess mortar that squeezed out between the tiles, then I'll apply the grout using your expert advise. You give us DIY'ers a fighting chance with these videos. The world needs more folks like you!
Thanks! I really have learned a bunch watching your different videos. Even on tasked I've been doing for years, I've been able to pick up little tips and tricks.
I'm licensed and do a lot of tile and I still enjoy watching you as even the expenses guys can learn something and remember some of the basics that must be done. Thank you for your videos.
Seriously the best renovation DIY videos out... I could care less about meeting someone famous but if I ever ran into this guy in public I’d have to fan out! 🤩🤣
"Resist the temptation to think that cuz you saw me wash a wall, that you know how to grout..." Hahaha. The master makes it look easy! You have the best DIY videos on TH-cam. Love the presentation. Thank you for your contribution.
You deserve a humanitarian award for your excellent videos. You have saved me a lot of time and frustration, which has probably helped prevent my wife and kids from having to deal with me being grumpy. Thank you. A lot of people will say tile installation is no big deal, anyone can do it. Well, that may be partially true, but anyone who wants it done right knows you can't take shortcuts. You certainly do make it look easy.
Thanks Jeff. Your easy to follow instructions and the fact that we are in Ottawa and I am using most of the same products you are have really helped me out!! Keep up the great work.
Love how you give us all the minor details which can only be learned through experience, but give us the professional results You’ve got the mind of an engineer
As a tradesman in Ottawa, I just wanted to say I really enjoy your videos. No matter what I think I know, I always seem to learn something new. Keep up the great work !!
I can’t even begin to articulate just how many projects you saved my ass on. Thank you so much. Informative, to the point, fun to watch and professional.
Hell of a job. You can tell this gentleman is a pro by the way he moves his hands and the grout float around. No wasted movements, very efficient, didn't make a mess. Wall grouted in 10 minutes.
Amazing. I arrived to this video a broken man after my grouting job went terribly. In the first ten minutes, I learned that I did virtually everything wrong and was able to go back and clean up what I messed up so that I don’t get permanent hazing. I am going to go back and finish what I started in the morning and I am going to crush it. Thanks, Jeff.
I've worked in carpentry my whole life, Renovations galore, I've done a bunch of tile now too on my own houses... and even with being really good with my hands, I still over wash my grout. Thanks for the great video. Really well done.
I only had to put on 5 tiles in my kitchen under my new exhaust hood, watch a 22 minute video and now I have some new skills for the rest of my life. Well worth it. :D
Thanks so much! The part that helped me the most is the amount of grout you put on the wall! Doing the whole wall and then spread it around cut my time so much! I was taking soooooo long!!thanks!!
Jeff just wanted to thank you and the team who make your videos. I completely gutted my bathroom to the studs and last night I grouted. It's been a long journey but your videos have been an immense help.
Throughout the years I’ve done two home renos, first one complete from the ground up in my old house and another partial one in my new home, all by watching this dude. If everyone put as much effort and pride in their work like this dude and his team (I think his name is Jeff), the world would be a better place.
I always kept a some of grout powder left over, just so I could do touch ups later, if needed. I put the powder into a zip-seal gallon bag, and then put the bag, a mini desiccant pack and a sheet of paper with the color, the lot number, where it was used and the date on it, into a 'seal-a-meal' vacuum bag. Suck the air out and store it in the basement. Sure enough, I had to replace a broken floor tile, ( I kept the extra tiles, too) years after I put it in, and I had the perfect grout right there. You can't see the repair.
I've always used my finger to push the grout in... hours of my life I'll never get back! I have 2 new bathrooms to tile and watching this video will save me hours of work! Many thanks!
I’ve been tiling for 20 years on and off and never been shown how to do it. I learned loads from this, most importantly is how wet you made your mix. Absolutely superb. Thank you
Jeff, I just finished my first tile and grout job on my kitchen backsplash and it came out better than I could have imagined! I followed these steps to a T and triple checked my measurements to make sure I used enough product. Thanks again for being thorough and easily understandable, you're knowledge is invaluable!
You ever of a utility knife to clean any remaining thin set. It's very easy even if you wait 48hrs.also wait 72hrs. Before taking a shower it needs to cure.
Good advice for smooth/ lightly textured tiles. Heavily textured tile using a different technique will leave less clean up and now most of us are using performance grouts that are rapid setting. 17 years ago when I first started doing tile this is pretty much exactly how I was taught. Today since I only use performance grouts I have developed a different technique where you are basically only grouting the lines with very little left on the tile surface. Takes awhile to become fast and proficient with the new method but definitely finishes very well. Great video for DIYers. Grouting can make or break a nice tile job. Even a plumb and flat install can look bad in certain lighting when the grout has been wiped out to much. Sponging is most important and if you use high performance grout grab a micro fiber cloth to do a final buff out when you are finished. Usually I use a clean bucket of water and wipe in a 45 degree pattern followed immediately by a micro fiber. Use this method and you won't have any haze left on your tile. Only use this method if you are using a rapid setting performance grout.
Your video, Grouting For Beginners was very informative. My wife and I just finished a backsplash, with your instructions saving missteps. It looks pretty good to us. One thing we did a bit different, behind the faucet below the window, we cut a sponge down to a 1/3 of the size, it allowed us to get behind the faucet in a very tight area. Thanks again for your ability to explain things, so a 3rd grader can understand.
These vids are actually quite handy, managed to tile my en suite without any major issues & about a week ago I don’t think I’d ever picked a tile up before.
This is the most helpful, stress-free version of doing this that I've seen. I feel MUCH better about attacking this last phase of my self-tiling shower nightmare. I'm actually looking forward to this now!
Be sure your tombstone reads, "Here lies a man who learned to grout perfectly; life well lived." Relax, no one cares about accomplishing perfect home repairs except stay at home moms with too much time on their hands and no purpose in life.
This is my first time tiling and grouting and you have helped me DIY this shower I have installed in a friend’s home. Thank you! I feel like a pro now.
Just did my first ever renovation in my laundry and used your videos to help. Wife couldn't believe what u achieved just from watching TH-cam videos and saved us over $1000 doing it myself
At the 13:52 mark of the video, he's washing / wiping down the tiles - removing excess grout when he pulls the orange bucket towards him. You can hear the bottom of the bucket grinding grout over / on the bathtub surface. That's a great way to SCRATCH the surface finish protective coat ! NEVER move / pull tools or buckets over unprotected surfaces !
The first time I grouted backsplash was a disaster. I watched this video twice before attempting second tile project, and it came out great!!! Amazing video, so helpful.
Home RenoVision DIY is the ultralight an unmodified mortar ?.... I’m asking since I always use the kerdi membrane ... so from what I understand I need to use unmodified cement ?
Tim I install the kerdi showerpans all the time and have always used modified mortar. No problems in the last 10 years and a hundred pans. Usually use Mapei ultraflex 2
I wish I had seen this when I started tiling my house. I watched many other tutorials on grouting before and during the job and nobody mentioned the darn air bubbles, I thought I was doing it wrong-even though I followed all the instructions and tips I could find. Now I see that I’ve been mixing the stuff too fast, incorporating way too much air in; also now I know to look for those air bubbles as I clean and not after it’s dry... usually after I already discarded the leftover mix! 😑 I still have half a hallway and a couple of bedrooms to tile, so all the tips will still serve me well. Thanks.
There are a lot of how to videos out there, but the presentation style and the hard earned little tidbits and tips here are top notch. Really nice demo that doesn't get bogged down and shares a wealth of experience. Bravo!
Great video. Using a microfiber towel instead of a sponge for the second cleaning will leave the tile haze free. Light pressure with a circular motion.
I thought the same way and renoed my entire house in 5 years. I lost a great deal of nights and weekends and was more tired on Monday for work than i was on Friday night. Pace yourself and set some expectations. I'd suggest even taking a year off between big projects.
To those watching this video, as a tile installer, I would highly recommend using a different method, which is likely faster, cleaner, better. take the tip of your float, and scoop a small amount, then take that and apply it directly to the grout line, and push and slide it in, and go along the grout line using all the grout you put on the float, then when there is none left on the float, go to where you started and run the float along the grout line sideways to remove the remaining excess. by the time you sponge it, there will be barely anything to clean off. Also, when mixing grout, dont add water and then the grout mix. Put about 3/4 of the bag in your bucket, and then scoop water in as you're mixing it to make sure you get the consistency you want. I typically go with a slightly less runny than this video. I do agree with him to not mix the entire bag. the biggest reason isn't for touch up, but its incase you made it too runny, you can add a bit to thicken it up. As per grouting corners: specified by manufacturer. "Not for use in movement joints or changes of plane in the tile installation. In these areas, use an appropriate caulk or sealant".
I just got done removing all of the 13+ year old grout from my walk in shower. Tomorrow's grouting day. A Lowe's guy told me that he grouts inside the movement joints first, then applies caulk on top. That seems counterintuitive to me, but this is definitely not my field of expertise. I am assuming I should apply sanded caulk only in all inside corners of the shower/where the floor meets the walls? In a separate area, the tub surround, I removed all the caulk/grout underneath (which seemed to support Lowe's guy's technique). Now the distance between the tub and the surrounding tile is a bit wider than the average I see on TH-cam videos. Do I still use sanded/unsanded caulk only in that area? Thank you.
@@sararose119 typically, a good grout (I use custom Prism grout) is good for corners. Then translucent white silicone on top of the grout in corners will hide any cracks that may appear if your house has movement. only use 100% silicone. the reason I do it this way, is if you dont grout in the corners, and use silicone only, then you are relying on the silicone to form a perfect bond and do all the water proofing at the surface level.
By god Jeff I can’t thank you enough for all the good info. Finishing up a full bathroom remodel this week, couldn’t have done it without your knowledge. Cheers bud
I had looked at other not-so-great grouting videos but this was quality. I regrouted my shower at the amazement of my hubby and in-laws. It looks great! P.S. I have never done anything like this before. You can do it it just takes time and some patience.
Thanks for this clear and detailed video. You really highlighted all the things which could spell disaster. Like Showing how long it takes to mix the grout for it to be properly prepared for application so that the chemical reactions can take place. Those moments where you were making funny faces using the mixer were not lost on me. When I am doing my next project….I think you know which channel I will be tuning into.
Excellent video, thank you! As a designer, however, I’m wondering why someone wanted to put those 2 patterns together! If they loved the Deco pattern, a plain white or gray ceramic tile would have been a better coordinate choice. When using natural stone patterns, keep it simple.
Hey Jeff @homerenovisiondiy, thank you so much for this video. I've never laid tile or grouted before and this presentation was so helpful. I followed your steps, tips and tricks and could not be more happy with the result and more proud of myself for doing it myself (with you in my ears and eyes!). My new outdoor bbq kitchen is the best part of our house.
Where were you 20 years ago when i did my first and only tile job (floor)... i waited 24 hours before removing the ciment between the tiles. I still remember it since !!! lol Great infos Jeff !
I don’t see anyone mentioning gloves while grouting. Grout has small amounts of lye in it (you’ll remember from fight club). Different techniques and philosophy from what I was taught but accomplishing the same thing. Good video!
As a rule of thumb, always use gloves on everything, cheap insurance and hate having cracked skin from all the house work. Rather burn a box of gloves than the skin on my hands :)
Jeff, Your always the man! You speak my normal language and I can follow you perfectly. I'm not even Canadian?? Go figure. Thanks for you always putting yourself out there for us to learn from and enjoy. Keep up the good work and hopefully someday great rewards!
One of my coworkers is the same way.he can tape and mud drywall (or any messy crap)efficiently all day and never get any on his clothes.while im over here bieng asked if i got any product on the wall...pretty sure he's a witch 🤣
I'm doing an art project with tile and just happened upon your channel while I was surfing for a grouting tutorial. WOW. I am totally impressed by your clarity and practical tips. I'm heading out to do my grouting now with the information you presented. I feel much more confident. I've subscribed because I am a DIY person involved with myriad projects. Good work on this video! I'll recommend you to friends. Many thanks!
This video was hugely informative not leaving out any info on how or importantly why things are done the way they are, really helps me understand the process better to avoid any mistakes and resolve most of the issues that might arise. Also your pro tips are very useful, great video!
Had a bath tub faucet start to leak. Daughter found it early while taking a shower. To replace it was above my level of skill so we hired a plumber to do it. He informed us that the wall had to be opened up and we should select to replace all the tile with whatever we wanted. I asked 3 of the top tile installers in my area to do the job but all ignored my request. The plumber stated he was skilled in tile as well since he was the ‘trouble shooter’ for 2 of the plumbing shops in town. Good enough we thought. Wrong! The tile looks like hell. Raised in some spots. Grout left to dry on the tile. He said just wipe it off the next day and it will be fine. Has been 9 years and it’s still there. Now it’s time to remodel and guess what? DIY project!!
I am always stunned when people turn work down Like the tile installers in your area who would nord your request. Come heck or high water I find a way to help people. I have rarely ever had to turn work down. And when I do I try like heck to find somebody to fulfill the request.
Thank you SO MUCH for this video, Jeff. Watched it last night and enjoyed your humor while prepping, then tonight I grouted after work. It has been about an hour after my careful second cleaning exactly how you showed, and there is almost zero haze!
I watched this three times, then grouted a new mosaic tiled vanity sink unit with ease... Thank you so much for posting this fantastic and well-presented video...
Dude! WOW! You are a life saver. I just tackled the long time feared and prolonged backsplash project and it was nice and painless. Thanks to you! I'm not watching anyone else from now on. You're my guy for all projects now! lol
I know this video is 4 years old. But appreciate all your videos, tips and tricks. Helped my wife and I a bunch in knocking out our own mosaic backsplash (counter) and subway tile (range/hood). Yet before you dive into this job. I have some advice to make it go smoothly. As we had some painful lessons learned when grouting our mosaic. So if you want to save yourself from the same headache, read on.... My advice. Mix the grout a little on the "runnier" side, and don't let it sit too long before washing/wiping. By "runnier" I don't mean excess water. But if you use Mapei Keracolor like we did, there's a range for how much water you should add. Err on the maximum side. We played it conservative, and just used the minimum amount of water. We also played it conservative with how long before doing the first wash (the bag says 15-30 minutes). Well, that combination of the minimum water and the maximum time before washing almost spelled disaster. First, since it was a thicker consistency, it really didn't wipe that well with the float when applying the grout. Which meant that quite bit remained on the mosaic that would need to be washed. The best I can describe it is that it was super tacky. We then compounded that mistake by letting it sit for at least 30 minutes before starting the wash. This left a grout coating that pretty much covered the whole mosaic, and was incredibly tough to wipe. It was nothing like in the video. We thought we were playing it safe by letting it sit for the full amount of time. Figuring it would also help ensure we didn't "wash" the color out of it. What a terrible decision. We ultimately had to resort to using a razor blade to scrape the grout off around 75% of the mosaic pieces. With the stone and frosted glass pieces being particularly stubborn. It was a nightmare. And was completely gutting after doing so well up until that point. We had perfect application of the Type 1 adhesive. Perfect placement of every sheet of tile. Incredibly precise cuts to work around outlets. I mean, I even managed to rip one 7 inch segment of glass to an 1/8" strip. Not to mention cutting a perfect "dado" in another piece. We were the home-stretch, and suddenly were thinking the whole effort was wasted. For a moment, we were genuinely thinking we might have to rip it all down and start over. Fortunately, hours of blood, sweat, and tears proved to be worth it. And we were able to scrape the majority of grout off every single tile. Yet the stone and frosted ones weren't quite perfect. Some google-fu to the rescue, and we took a shot at a mix of vinegar and water. As this was frequently recommended to remove stubborn grout haze. However, there was an indication that it could harm certain types of stone. So I first tested things by placing one of each style of mosaic in a container, and drowning it in straight vinegar. I let it sit for hours, and it didn't seem to have any impact on the stone. So I found one of the worst looking stone tiles in the backsplash, and tested trying to clean it up with a 50/50 vinegar and water mix. I was SHOCKED at how well it worked. Little bit of elbow grease. But it immediately went from hazed/stained with grout, to as clean as when it came out of the package. We immediately did the entire run of mosaic (roughly 1.5' x 20'). And it cleaned up WONDERFULLY! What a relief! Just to be safe, we followed it up with a damp rinse/wash of only water to help dilute/neutralize the vinegar. I even left the mosaic test pieces sitting in the pure vinegar. Just to see if some issue would pop up. If it did, I figured we'd still have some time to research a solution to stop the same from happening to our backsplash. As the concentration we actually used was quite a bit weaker. Fortunately, it never came to that. Even the vinegar soaked stone remained unchanged after nearly a week of soaking in pure vinegar. Tonight we were back on track, and moved on to knock out the glass subway tile. In spite of a little PTSD from the backsplash, we forged ahead. First, I tested a more watered down mixture (but still within the "spec" listed on the bag). It was only about 6 more ounces of water. But man did that make a difference. It wasn't "runny", by any means. Just so much easier to spread and work with. When wiping with the float, I was able to remove so much more grout than previously. Even before doing the first wash, it was clear this time was going to be so much better. We let it sit for maybe 15 minutes (probably a little less), and started the wash. Again, what a massive difference! It cleaned up so much easier. To the point that the water bucket and sponge remained basically clear when doing the final wipes. And virtually zero grout haze! Although we still plan to hit it with a 50/50 vinegar and water mix once everything dries. It looks amazing. But this time only took about an hour vs. 8+ hours on the mosaic. What a satisfying relief! *TL;DR* - The videos on this channel are super helpful. But could have been a little more descriptive on the risks of letting the grout sit for too little or long a time before wiping. If you're a weekend warrior tackling tile/mosaic for the first time, learn from our mistakes. One, mix the grout on the "runnier" side. Still follow the directions. But if, for example, the package says to add between 48 and 54 oz. of water, use 54 oz. Even if you go a little over it won't be a big deal. It'll apply so much smoother and will be significantly easier to clean up. Of course, do this in conjunction with only letting it sit for the minimum amount of time advised in the instructions. In our case, the package said to let it sit for 15 to 30 minutes. Don't do what we did and think you're playing it safe by giving it the full 30 minutes. Instead start your washes/wipes as soon as the instructions allow. Again, even a little sooner won't hurt a thing. If you ignore my cautionary tale. Because I'm just some random DIY-er on the internet. And you find yourself in a predicament with stubborn grout that won't wipe off. It can be salvaged. Take a deep breath, and apply a good bit of elbow grease scraping off what you can. And then vinegar and water will be your best friend. Just make sure to test it first. Especially if you are working with stone. Preferably with a scrap pieces. And go overboard with the testing (i.e. use a stronger concentration and more prolonged application than you'll do on the actual tile/mosaic). If no harm is done, have at it. Just make sure to wipe it down with some clean water immediately after using the diluted vinegar.
*Bonus Tips* - If you read the whole first post, I'll add some semi-related tips and tricks we learned from this project. One, buy a wet saw. I know it'll be tempting to save some coin by using manual nippers. Don't do it. They're slow and make inconsistent cuts. You don't need a crazy high end wet saw. The one we bought was only around $80. The most important thing is that you buy a good blade for it. Ours came with a cheap-o blade. But I immediately swapped it for a nice glass and tile blade. It cost around half of what the whole saw cost. But it cut wonderfully in all the glass and stone I threw at it. Unlike a table saw blade, it doesn't have teeth. So you can make all sorts of cuts I'd never even consider attempting with a wood saw. Stuff like freehand and sideways cuts (i.e. moving a piece of tile across the blade to shave off some of its thickness). I cut notches/dados. Thin rips. Everything. That saw and blade were worth every penny and more. And being able to make those more complex cuts helped a ton in working around outlets and obstructions. For your more normal cuts. Those where you just need to trim a sheet of mosaic or tile to size. When doing this, leave the mosaic/tile sheet in the packaging when making the cuts; cardboard and all. It helps keep everything supported and in place. And makes it a lot easier to push the tile through the cut. And one final thing. Depending on where your backsplash/tile is going, you may need to drill some holes. For us, it was behind the range hood. As the main housing bolts to the wall about 30" above the cook top. I could have just rough cut the tile around the mounting holes. As it'd be completely hidden by the range hood. But if we ever decided to swap out the hood/unit, those rough cut portions could become exposed. Instead, I wanted to cover the entire wall. With the only exception being six 1/4" holes for the mounting bolts. I thought this would be easy enough, but I seriously underestimated just how hard glass can be. And how easily it can shatter if you're not applying just the right amount of pressure. I first bought carbide a glass and tile bit made by Bosch. They make good stuff. And I had no reason to believe it wouldn't work. Well I was wrong. Tried it on a couple test pieces and it was terrible. Barely made a dent, and eventually just shattered the glass tile. So, given the amazing cut quality of the diamond wet saw blade, I jumped on amazon and bought a 5-pack of diamond hole saw bits for around $6. The reviews suggested they wear out quickly. Hence why I bought the 5-pack. But if you do it right, they'll actually last a long time. Similar to the wet saw, the key is keeping the material and bit wet. A drill press will really come in handy here. To keep the glass and bit wet, I placed the tile in a food container lid. Which was just deep enough to keep the tile submerged in water. I set the drill to a low speed setting of around 600 RPMs. And used slow, even pressure. It's not a race. Let the diamond bit do the work. You may get a slight bit of tear out on the bottom of the hole. So I'd suggest placing the tile face-side up when drilling your holes. When you're done drilling any holes, you may find some of the colored backing of the glass may have been removed. Leaving it clear around the hole. No problem. I broke into my wife's nail polish and mixed a couple grays together to get a perfect color match. Once I had the color just right, I simply applied a coating on the back of the tile; where the paper backing used to be. It's a super OCD step. As the tile looked fine with the small bit of tear out. But why not take an extra second and do it right. I really can't speak highly enough of a cheap set of diamond hole saw bits. I ultimately ended up needing just one bit for all the holes (at least a dozen when factoring in some test drills). And it looked as good as new once I was done. Bottom line, by keeping the tile and diamond drill bits wet, the holes came out great. Alright, I think that's enough. Odds are, no one will ever take the time to read this. But if you do, hopefully you come away with some insight into things that will make your tile/mosaic job go all the more smoothly. Knocking out this sort of DIY project is incredibly satisfying. And in spite of the hiccups along the way. It was actually a lot of fun. If you're on the fence about whether or not you can handle this type of job. Do it! Just take your time, test and practice when at all possible. It'll be well worth the effort. Our kitchen has a completely transformed look and we couldn't be happier! And thanks again to Home RenoVision DIY for the great content.
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Excellent instructional Video! -. 👍
However, would have loved to see/learn how you "Seal" the grout, and apply the Silicone...
I've done the figure 8 pattern across the seams and it works great job
@@johnathandoerty1021 Yes, we would love to see that too!
Lollop was it
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9pmjn by ggvhhgbg TV gc a gb
I lost my dad when I was 17. Every once in a while, I find a “TH-cam Dad” who makes me feel like I’m back in my childhood home, listening to my own dad as he’s teaching me to do home renovations. I’m 29 now and have fully renovated and sold my starter home myself. Friends and family call me for help with their renovations all the time. I’m looking forward to buying my “forever home” soon, and I’ll inevitably be leaning on my TH-cam Dads for help when I do. Thanks for being a great TH-cam dad, Jeff!
Lost mine at 18. I understand and feel for you bro. I'm 36 and still say I miss you dad and thankful for everything I learned from you. I didn't understand until he was gone why he was teaching me so many things. I may not of grasped it all. I enjoy being the neighborhood guy kids come to for bike repairs and neighbors call for help. Thanks to my dad!
Never had a dad. I have to google almost everything. Mom helps with pot roast and cornbread recipes though!
Nothing as important as a father.
Not everyone grew up with a positive father figure but I have mentors that give that Dad feeling. @@paulwilton735
Check out Essential Craftsman. He’s as great TH-cam dad as well.
You’re the Bob Ross of DIY. Gentle voice and give the listener confidence they can do it!
Bob Ross videos help me to fall asleep 😴 so are Jeff's videos 😂
I am 72 yrs old and after watching your video I tiled the backsplash in my sons house in his kitchen. I am so pleased with the job I did. Love all you videos!
My procrastination led me here. Learned more than I should.
Same!
Bro... I scratched off my shower grout to redo and its been 4 months.. im doing it TODAYYYY.. or tomorrow.. or.. dammit
😂
Currently procrastinating 😂😂
@Get on the cross and don’t look back Bro Jesus was a carpenter, I think you are in the wrong video.
Thanks Jeff. As a person that thought he couldn't do a 'big' DIY job like redoing his whole Kitchen tile from floor to ceiling, it was thanks to your mentorship that all I have left is to grout and now I have a modicum of bravery thanks to you. Im guessing I've saved 10-15k in labor doing it myself.
Watched this 2 years ago when I grouted our shower. Rewatching as a refresher grout our kitchen backsplash. Thanks Jeff!
I really like Jeff. He’s a really good teacher... and he’s funny. That really helps when you have to watch a long video. He also doesn’t skip steps or forget to warn about potential pitfalls. The shower looks good. Great job Jeff!
@LeftyOmega What do you mean?
They stop talking so much, this video could be about 15 min shorter.
His voice is nice too, makes the lessons memorable
@Get on the cross and don’t look back gay
Literally nothing on YT compares to your content.. the information structure to your tutorials is absolutely perfect. I remodeled our guest house bathroom this year and the only reason I had the confidence to tackle that project was because of your videos. Thank you
Same here. Thanks Jeff!
Thanks so much for all of your videos! My husband and I quit our careers, moved across country, and built our own house. We have done EVERYTHING, except drilling the well, thanks to your videos! I can’t thank you enough for putting out this high quality content. You never hold back “secrets” or tips, which we greatly appreciate. If only you could see this gorgeous house that you helped build! 👏🏼🙌🏼 blessings to you and your family. Shalom.
Really?? That must be the best feeling you can get! Build your own house 😍🥳
May I ask how long it took to build it from start to finish?
@@iTammy 1hour we have several tents
Bless your heart. I would've been divorced 10000 time by now if I build a house! Renovation have done enough to me...
@@iTammy sorry, just saw your reply, but we started in fall of 2018 and we are almost finished with the inside, minus some trim and light fixtures, and we still have to put the siding and deck on the outside. We hope to finish this summer so, all in all, about 4 years 🙈☺️💜 we run/own a business so we only get to work on the house when we have free time, but I’m sure it could be done much faster. Thankfully, we have a home, debt free, in our early thirties; all the hard work was worth it.
@@iTammy must be loaded then
Thanks so much. My first time tiling and the tile company I bought my tiles from added rapid set grout to my basket and I didn't think much of it until I started watching your videos! Thanks to you, I only mixed a bit at a time and was able to get it down efficiently with very little waste. Buy yourself a beer on me, my friend. Super videos that are much appreciated.
When I watched this a year ago I didn't own a house. Now I do and I'm doing this for a regrout. It's unreal how much better this video is than anything else out there
This is an excellent tutorial. I do this from time to time as a member of a remodeling company. This guy is pro, with a great attention to detail.
Haha I’m in the same boat Cameron. I closed a year ago and remodeled the kitchen, watched this a year ago. Back here again to refresh my mind
dont use mapei grout use prism its more expensive but worth the cost dont have to seal it either but if your doing a shower its worth the time and effort to just use epoxy grout
A huge warning to my fellow DIYers- do NOT buy the pink label mapei quick dry grout! I was sold this by the salesman at Lowe’s instead of the blue label version like Jeff used in the video. The grout dried before I could get a chance to wipe it off. Needless to say I spent hours scrubbing and scraping. Thankfully I got it all off and the finished product came out beautifully. Just wanted to share my rookie mistake with ya’ll so you don’t run into the same issue I did.
best to have some experience before using a quick dry product. Cheers!
I had the same thing happen to me. 🤦♀️ I found that a wooden dowel helped speed up the process.
The worst thing is if you've tiled and grouted before with standard grout which I've done some twenty years ago
and you use this stuff without reading you're screwed! Should be sold with disclaimer! Almost go me!
How to fix cracks in concrete driveway
@@ctsimaging what I almost got you? I’m about to do the same thing.
"Leave a mess so you'll find it later"
I like this tip. This also explains the behavior of many people around me
if your touch up is to perfect you will have a nasty grout line.
😁😁
I am a fan period. Of what? A cheerful disposition, smiles, little jokes, tips, tricks and all the rest. It makes a difference and is pleasant to listen to even without a specific project. Well done and THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH! I was quoted 4,000 dollars just to do the tile work in my bathroom! These videos you have done have saved me so much money and the final product in my opinion is better then a pro would have done it! You sir are amazing.
Glad I could help!
I've been installing tile for 20 years. Non sanded grout can be challenging if you're not used to it.
It will crack, crumble, get air pockets, etc. Wringing your sponge almost dry is critical when cleaning to avoid efflorescence, specially with dark grout, and a good quality grout and sponge is a must. Don't rush it or you will have problems later. Always silicone corners and use a grout sealer after it cures to protect it against stains and soap scum. Good tutorial video for beginners.
cheers!
accieentaly wet the tiles and those have non dry tile grout. that's bad aint it?
also how long till grout dries
What do you mean wet the tile with non dry grout? Did you run water before the grout was dry?
My contractor used Mapei Flexcolor white grout, but didn't wipe any of it
off. The whole counter and back splash was done with expensive tile. I
asked him about it and he was defensive. Said that he had a product that
was easy to use and it would look great. I tried it and it does not look
great...gunked up in the corders and junctions, and I'm afraid to use to
hard a sander as it will scratch the time. I fired him, but need some
information about what to do...tried vinegar, ammonia, regular cleaners,
comet, etc. NOTHING touches this haze and build up. HELP!!!!!!!
Sherry Connolly it'll be hard to give you advice without seeing what he did. I've use muriatic acid diluted with water as a last option but I wouldn't recommend it if you don't know how to use it as you can damage the grout or tile, specially if it's natural stone.
I just redid my whole kitchen from the studs and i did the whole thing watching your videos and this is the last video I need to finish it. Thank you so much! Your videos are great and full of details needed to make sure jobs are done right and look great !!!
Thank you so much Jeff.
I just finished waterproofing & tiling my shower. I used your Redgard method from your "4 different methods of waterproofing a shower" video (Amazing BTW). I'm just filing out the excess mortar that squeezed out between the tiles, then I'll apply the grout using your expert advise.
You give us DIY'ers a fighting chance with these videos. The world needs more folks like you!
Cheers, happy to help!
Thanks! I really have learned a bunch watching your different videos. Even on tasked I've been doing for years, I've been able to pick up little tips and tricks.
Thanks for the Top tips!! I am 56 and have done 40 years of D.I.Y and I am always learning.I am now inspired for my next tile project👍🤩
I'm licensed and do a lot of tile and I still enjoy watching you as even the expenses guys can learn something and remember some of the basics that must be done. Thank you for your videos.
Seriously the best renovation DIY videos out... I could care less about meeting someone famous but if I ever ran into this guy in public I’d have to fan out! 🤩🤣
LOL< cheers!
Me too!
Me three!
"Resist the temptation to think that cuz you saw me wash a wall, that you know how to grout..." Hahaha. The master makes it look easy!
You have the best DIY videos on TH-cam. Love the presentation.
Thank you for your contribution.
You deserve a humanitarian award for your excellent videos. You have saved me a lot of time and frustration, which has probably helped prevent my wife and kids from having to deal with me being grumpy. Thank you.
A lot of people will say tile installation is no big deal, anyone can do it. Well, that may be partially true, but anyone who wants it done right knows you can't take shortcuts. You certainly do make it look easy.
Thanks Jeff. Your easy to follow instructions and the fact that we are in Ottawa and I am using most of the same products you are have really helped me out!! Keep up the great work.
Love how you give us all the minor details which can only be learned through experience, but give us the professional results
You’ve got the mind of an engineer
As a tradesman in Ottawa, I just wanted to say I really enjoy your videos. No matter what I think I know, I always seem to learn something new. Keep up the great work !!
I can’t even begin to articulate just how many projects you saved my ass on. Thank you so much. Informative, to the point, fun to watch and professional.
Hell of a job. You can tell this gentleman is a pro by the way he moves his hands and the grout float around. No wasted movements, very efficient, didn't make a mess. Wall grouted in 10 minutes.
Amazing. I arrived to this video a broken man after my grouting job went terribly. In the first ten minutes, I learned that I did virtually everything wrong and was able to go back and clean up what I messed up so that I don’t get permanent hazing.
I am going to go back and finish what I started in the morning and I am going to crush it. Thanks, Jeff.
I've worked in carpentry my whole life, Renovations galore, I've done a bunch of tile now too on my own houses... and even with being really good with my hands, I still over wash my grout. Thanks for the great video. Really well done.
You present so well and relaxing with all the knowledge to make sure I’m not intimidated to do it myself. Thanks so much !
Q
supposed to be studying, but this dude got me hooked with putting tiles!
I only had to put on 5 tiles in my kitchen under my new exhaust hood, watch a 22 minute video and now I have some new skills for the rest of my life. Well worth it. :D
Thanks so much! The part that helped me the most is the amount of grout you put on the wall! Doing the whole wall and then spread it around cut my time so much! I was taking soooooo long!!thanks!!
Jeff just wanted to thank you and the team who make your videos. I completely gutted my bathroom to the studs and last night I grouted. It's been a long journey but your videos have been an immense help.
Throughout the years I’ve done two home renos, first one complete from the ground up in my old house and another partial one in my new home, all by watching this dude. If everyone put as much effort and pride in their work like this dude and his team (I think his name is Jeff), the world would be a better place.
Great job. Cheers!
I always kept a some of grout powder left over, just so I could do touch ups later, if needed.
I put the powder into a zip-seal gallon bag, and then put the bag, a mini desiccant pack and a sheet of paper with the color, the lot number, where it was used and the date on it, into a 'seal-a-meal' vacuum bag. Suck the air out and store it in the basement.
Sure enough, I had to replace a broken floor tile, ( I kept the extra tiles, too) years after I put it in, and I had the perfect grout right there. You can't see the repair.
Great "real world" use of your suggestions. Thank you for sharing them.
I've always used my finger to push the grout in... hours of my life I'll never get back!
I have 2 new bathrooms to tile and watching this video will save me hours of work! Many thanks!
Me too! I did loads when I was younger, all with a wet finger, now at 69 I'm learning how to do it properly!!
I’ve been tiling for 20 years on and off and never been shown how to do it. I learned loads from this, most importantly is how wet you made your mix. Absolutely superb. Thank you
No one should ever post a DIY video until they see how this guy does it. Fantastic videos!
Jeff, I just finished my first tile and grout job on my kitchen backsplash and it came out better than I could have imagined! I followed these steps to a T and triple checked my measurements to make sure I used enough product. Thanks again for being thorough and easily understandable, you're knowledge is invaluable!
You're the "Bob Ross" of home remodeling
Haha i was actually thinking this! How funny the first comment is what I was thinking while watching
You ever of a utility knife to clean any remaining thin set. It's very easy even if you wait 48hrs.also wait 72hrs. Before taking a shower it needs to cure.
Without the fro
Gives me more of a Red Green vibe, only he actually knows what he's doing. The "no pressure" comment was definitely Bob Ross-esque though. XD
LOL, I was about to say exactly that! :)
Good advice for smooth/ lightly textured tiles.
Heavily textured tile using a different technique will leave less clean up and now most of us are using performance grouts that are rapid setting. 17 years ago when I first started doing tile this is pretty much exactly how I was taught.
Today since I only use performance grouts I have developed a different technique where you are basically only grouting the lines with very little left on the tile surface. Takes awhile to become fast and proficient with the new method but definitely finishes very well.
Great video for DIYers. Grouting can make or break a nice tile job. Even a plumb and flat install can look bad in certain lighting when the grout has been wiped out to much.
Sponging is most important and if you use high performance grout grab a micro fiber cloth to do a final buff out when you are finished. Usually I use a clean bucket of water and wipe in a 45 degree pattern followed immediately by a micro fiber. Use this method and you won't have any haze left on your tile.
Only use this method if you are using a rapid setting performance grout.
Your video, Grouting For Beginners was very informative. My wife and I just finished a backsplash, with your instructions saving missteps. It looks pretty good to us. One thing we did a bit different, behind the faucet below the window, we cut a sponge down to a 1/3 of the size, it allowed us to get behind the faucet in a very tight area. Thanks again for your ability to explain things, so a 3rd grader can understand.
These vids are actually quite handy, managed to tile my en suite without any major issues & about a week ago I don’t think I’d ever picked a tile up before.
I can always count on Jeff to answer every damn question I have about working on my house. Thanks for doing what you do man!
This is the most helpful, stress-free version of doing this that I've seen. I feel MUCH better about attacking this last phase of my self-tiling shower nightmare. I'm actually looking forward to this now!
Lookin forward to it?...you need to get out more girl...lol
@@francisblair1345 why? What's wrong with enjoying your projects and getting stuff done?
@@francisblair1345 sad..
Jeff is the embodiment of the word professional.
You're the best DIY teacher on TH-cam. Thanks for the straightforward approach to doing this stuff.
933 thumbs down? WTF? This video just saved me a ton of time and aggravation! Thank you!
I missed a teacher like this great man in my childhood.
Be sure your tombstone reads, "Here lies a man who learned to grout perfectly; life well lived."
Relax, no one cares about accomplishing perfect home repairs except stay at home moms with too much time on their hands and no purpose in life.
This is my first time tiling and grouting and you have helped me DIY this shower I have installed in a friend’s home. Thank you! I feel like a pro now.
You are the Bob Ross of how to videos. I can watch them over and over. After watching I feeling confident and calm. Thanks for the tutorial.
Just did my first ever renovation in my laundry and used your videos to help. Wife couldn't believe what u achieved just from watching TH-cam videos and saved us over $1000 doing it myself
I used your tutorial to grout the walls around the bath just a few hours ago. Everything went smooth. Thank you very much for your help ! :D
Jeff's been such a HUGE help for my bathroom remodel!! Makes me feel almost competent!!
At the 13:52 mark of the video, he's washing / wiping down the tiles - removing excess grout when he pulls the orange bucket towards him. You can hear the bottom of the bucket grinding grout over / on the bathtub surface. That's a great way to SCRATCH the surface finish protective coat ! NEVER move / pull tools or buckets over unprotected surfaces !
Isn't that non sanded grout? But I do agree with your comment cause you are right.
@@JBpineapple even non-sanded grout will scratch a bathtub surface.
@@jefftaylor844 okay thats good to know
The first time I grouted backsplash was a disaster. I watched this video twice before attempting second tile project, and it came out great!!! Amazing video, so helpful.
Clean the thinset off the tile as you go! Saves a ton of time when you’re prepping for grout. I’ve learned the hard way.
I did that and ended up moving the tiles .. Never again. my tiles moved.. Just dont wait two days
Cheers!
That is why I love using ultralight. it has much better bonding power.
Home RenoVision DIY is the ultralight an unmodified mortar ?.... I’m asking since I always use the kerdi membrane ... so from what I understand I need to use unmodified cement ?
Tim I install the kerdi showerpans all the time and have always used modified mortar. No problems in the last 10 years and a hundred pans. Usually use Mapei ultraflex 2
You are a gift to TH-cam diy'ers, thanks!
I wish I had seen this when I started tiling my house. I watched many other tutorials on grouting before and during the job and nobody mentioned the darn air bubbles, I thought I was doing it wrong-even though I followed all the instructions and tips I could find. Now I see that I’ve been mixing the stuff too fast, incorporating way too much air in; also now I know to look for those air bubbles as I clean and not after it’s dry... usually after I already discarded the leftover mix! 😑 I still have half a hallway and a couple of bedrooms to tile, so all the tips will still serve me well. Thanks.
Wow, Jeff. As a DIY'er I've done probably 15 tile jobs, mostly floor but 3 or 4 tub/shower installations. I learned SO MUCH from your video.
There are a lot of how to videos out there, but the presentation style and the hard earned little tidbits and tips here are top notch. Really nice demo that doesn't get bogged down and shares a wealth of experience. Bravo!
Great video. Using a microfiber towel instead of a sponge for the second cleaning will leave the tile haze free. Light pressure with a circular motion.
Buying my first home and I am really looking forward to doing some of these home renovations for the first time .... thanks for the videos
You'll be looking forward until you start lol good luck with your remodel
I thought the same way and renoed my entire house in 5 years. I lost a great deal of nights and weekends and was more tired on Monday for work than i was on Friday night.
Pace yourself and set some expectations.
I'd suggest even taking a year off between big projects.
To those watching this video, as a tile installer, I would highly recommend using a different method, which is likely faster, cleaner, better. take the tip of your float, and scoop a small amount, then take that and apply it directly to the grout line, and push and slide it in, and go along the grout line using all the grout you put on the float, then when there is none left on the float, go to where you started and run the float along the grout line sideways to remove the remaining excess. by the time you sponge it, there will be barely anything to clean off.
Also, when mixing grout, dont add water and then the grout mix. Put about 3/4 of the bag in your bucket, and then scoop water in as you're mixing it to make sure you get the consistency you want. I typically go with a slightly less runny than this video. I do agree with him to not mix the entire bag. the biggest reason isn't for touch up, but its incase you made it too runny, you can add a bit to thicken it up.
As per grouting corners: specified by manufacturer. "Not for use in movement joints or changes of plane in the tile installation. In these areas, use an appropriate caulk or sealant".
I just got done removing all of the 13+ year old grout from my walk in shower. Tomorrow's grouting day. A Lowe's guy told me that he grouts inside the movement joints first, then applies caulk on top. That seems counterintuitive to me, but this is definitely not my field of expertise. I am assuming I should apply sanded caulk only in all inside corners of the shower/where the floor meets the walls? In a separate area, the tub surround, I removed all the caulk/grout underneath (which seemed to support Lowe's guy's technique). Now the distance between the tub and the surrounding tile is a bit wider than the average I see on TH-cam videos. Do I still use sanded/unsanded caulk only in that area? Thank you.
@@sararose119 typically, a good grout (I use custom Prism grout) is good for corners. Then translucent white silicone on top of the grout in corners will hide any cracks that may appear if your house has movement. only use 100% silicone. the reason I do it this way, is if you dont grout in the corners, and use silicone only, then you are relying on the silicone to form a perfect bond and do all the water proofing at the surface level.
No I like Jeff's way lol
By god Jeff I can’t thank you enough for all the good info. Finishing up a full bathroom remodel this week, couldn’t have done it without your knowledge. Cheers bud
Well done Cam. Happy to be of some help!
I grout for a living an u make make me feel so proud of myself
Why? You do it better?
I had looked at other not-so-great grouting videos but this was quality. I regrouted my shower at the amazement of my hubby and in-laws. It looks great! P.S. I have never done anything like this before. You can do it it just takes time and some patience.
Thanks for this clear and detailed video. You really highlighted all the things which could spell disaster. Like Showing how long it takes to mix the grout for it to be properly prepared for application so that the chemical reactions can take place. Those moments where you were making funny faces using the mixer were not lost on me. When I am doing my next project….I think you know which channel I will be tuning into.
You have made me believe that I can do this. Thank you, if all goes well, I'll post a pic as another thank you. Great tutorial.
Obviously didn't go well
@@stephenduffy6837 lol
Did it go well?
🤔Dude, this is TH-cam, you can’t post a pic.!!
Excellent video, thank you! As a designer, however, I’m wondering why someone wanted to put those 2 patterns together! If they loved the Deco pattern, a plain white or gray ceramic tile would have been a better coordinate choice. When using natural stone patterns, keep it simple.
Hey Jeff @homerenovisiondiy, thank you so much for this video. I've never laid tile or grouted before and this presentation was so helpful. I followed your steps, tips and tricks and could not be more happy with the result and more proud of myself for doing it myself (with you in my ears and eyes!). My new outdoor bbq kitchen is the best part of our house.
Very helpful and practical tips from start to finish leaving no stone unturned. Many thanks for sharing.
Where were you 20 years ago when i did my first and only tile job (floor)... i waited 24 hours before removing the ciment between the tiles. I still remember it since !!! lol Great infos Jeff !
Ouch Dave, that sounds like a lot of work to get that job finished. cheers!
I did the same thing about 20 years ago on a bathroom floor. Many days of scraping and chiseling, I learned my lesson lol
ah, the hard way...a great teacher. Cheers!
I don’t see anyone mentioning gloves while grouting. Grout has small amounts of lye in it (you’ll remember from fight club).
Different techniques and philosophy from what I was taught but accomplishing the same thing. Good video!
As a rule of thumb, always use gloves on everything, cheap insurance and hate having cracked skin from all the house work. Rather burn a box of gloves than the skin on my hands :)
Jeff, Your always the man! You speak my normal language and I can follow you perfectly. I'm not even Canadian?? Go figure. Thanks for you always putting yourself out there for us to learn from and enjoy. Keep up the good work and hopefully someday great rewards!
Thanks!
Very well done just like a teacher pro. Love the humor. Thanks!
I told my brother I will learn how to tile. he just laughed his ass off. 2 weeks later this was brought up by yt algorithm. THIS IS A SIGN
You explain everything so simply, thank you. How do you keep so clean, your clothes are perfect!
One of my coworkers is the same way.he can tape and mud drywall (or any messy crap)efficiently all day and never get any on his clothes.while im over here bieng asked if i got any product on the wall...pretty sure he's a witch 🤣
I'm doing an art project with tile and just happened upon your channel while I was surfing for a grouting tutorial. WOW. I am totally impressed by your clarity and practical tips. I'm heading out to do my grouting now with the information you presented. I feel much more confident. I've subscribed because I am a DIY person involved with myriad projects. Good work on this video! I'll recommend you to friends. Many thanks!
I'm grouting my son's bathroom tomorrow. Thank you for the excellent grouting tips!
Just about to grout my new bathroom. Thanks for the tips!
Love the video! Could you drop a timeline for how long everything should take and how long you should wait in between each step?
See 13:30 for some of that info.
This video was hugely informative not leaving out any info on how or importantly why things are done the way they are, really helps me understand the process better to avoid any mistakes and resolve most of the issues that might arise. Also your pro tips are very useful, great video!
Excellent teacher. Easy to follow. Easy to listen to. What you say seems to stick. Not too fast not to slow. Thank you very much.
Just grouted my first tilewal using this video as a guide, looks great allready! Thanks for sharing your knowledge sir
Had a bath tub faucet start to leak. Daughter found it early while taking a shower. To replace it was above my level of skill so we hired a plumber to do it. He informed us that the wall had to be opened up and we should select to replace all the tile with whatever we wanted. I asked 3 of the top tile installers in my area to do the job but all ignored my request. The plumber stated he was skilled in tile as well since he was the ‘trouble shooter’ for 2 of the plumbing shops in town. Good enough we thought. Wrong!
The tile looks like hell. Raised in some spots. Grout left to dry on the tile. He said just wipe it off the next day and it will be fine.
Has been 9 years and it’s still there.
Now it’s time to remodel and guess what?
DIY project!!
Beware of the person who can fix the problem they created.
I am always stunned when people turn work down Like the tile installers in your area who would nord your request. Come heck or high water I find a way to help people. I have rarely ever had to turn work down. And when I do I try like heck to find somebody to fulfill the request.
Thank you SO MUCH for this video, Jeff. Watched it last night and enjoyed your humor while prepping, then tonight I grouted after work. It has been about an hour after my careful second cleaning exactly how you showed, and there is almost zero haze!
Thank you for all your tutorials. This DIYer really appreciates it.
Thank you very much Ant D. We appreciate you taking the time to comment. Cheers!
I watched this three times, then grouted a new mosaic tiled vanity sink unit with ease... Thank you so much for posting this fantastic and well-presented video...
Jeff, you are a gifted teacher.
You explain the process very well, and make it easily comprehensive. Appreciate your time in making this, God bless you sir!!
Cheers Eddie, happy to help!
I love all of your videos. You explain everything so well. I really appreciate your thoroughness and attention to detail!
Wow, great explanation. Finished setting the wall tile today. Tomorrow I will try your grouting method. Thanks for your help!
Cheers send us a picture on instagram. !
Dude! WOW! You are a life saver. I just tackled the long time feared and prolonged backsplash project and it was nice and painless. Thanks to you! I'm not watching anyone else from now on. You're my guy for all projects now! lol
I know this video is 4 years old. But appreciate all your videos, tips and tricks. Helped my wife and I a bunch in knocking out our own mosaic backsplash (counter) and subway tile (range/hood). Yet before you dive into this job. I have some advice to make it go smoothly. As we had some painful lessons learned when grouting our mosaic. So if you want to save yourself from the same headache, read on....
My advice. Mix the grout a little on the "runnier" side, and don't let it sit too long before washing/wiping. By "runnier" I don't mean excess water. But if you use Mapei Keracolor like we did, there's a range for how much water you should add. Err on the maximum side. We played it conservative, and just used the minimum amount of water. We also played it conservative with how long before doing the first wash (the bag says 15-30 minutes).
Well, that combination of the minimum water and the maximum time before washing almost spelled disaster. First, since it was a thicker consistency, it really didn't wipe that well with the float when applying the grout. Which meant that quite bit remained on the mosaic that would need to be washed. The best I can describe it is that it was super tacky.
We then compounded that mistake by letting it sit for at least 30 minutes before starting the wash. This left a grout coating that pretty much covered the whole mosaic, and was incredibly tough to wipe. It was nothing like in the video. We thought we were playing it safe by letting it sit for the full amount of time. Figuring it would also help ensure we didn't "wash" the color out of it. What a terrible decision. We ultimately had to resort to using a razor blade to scrape the grout off around 75% of the mosaic pieces. With the stone and frosted glass pieces being particularly stubborn.
It was a nightmare. And was completely gutting after doing so well up until that point. We had perfect application of the Type 1 adhesive. Perfect placement of every sheet of tile. Incredibly precise cuts to work around outlets. I mean, I even managed to rip one 7 inch segment of glass to an 1/8" strip. Not to mention cutting a perfect "dado" in another piece. We were the home-stretch, and suddenly were thinking the whole effort was wasted. For a moment, we were genuinely thinking we might have to rip it all down and start over.
Fortunately, hours of blood, sweat, and tears proved to be worth it. And we were able to scrape the majority of grout off every single tile. Yet the stone and frosted ones weren't quite perfect. Some google-fu to the rescue, and we took a shot at a mix of vinegar and water. As this was frequently recommended to remove stubborn grout haze. However, there was an indication that it could harm certain types of stone. So I first tested things by placing one of each style of mosaic in a container, and drowning it in straight vinegar.
I let it sit for hours, and it didn't seem to have any impact on the stone. So I found one of the worst looking stone tiles in the backsplash, and tested trying to clean it up with a 50/50 vinegar and water mix. I was SHOCKED at how well it worked. Little bit of elbow grease. But it immediately went from hazed/stained with grout, to as clean as when it came out of the package. We immediately did the entire run of mosaic (roughly 1.5' x 20'). And it cleaned up WONDERFULLY! What a relief!
Just to be safe, we followed it up with a damp rinse/wash of only water to help dilute/neutralize the vinegar. I even left the mosaic test pieces sitting in the pure vinegar. Just to see if some issue would pop up. If it did, I figured we'd still have some time to research a solution to stop the same from happening to our backsplash. As the concentration we actually used was quite a bit weaker. Fortunately, it never came to that. Even the vinegar soaked stone remained unchanged after nearly a week of soaking in pure vinegar.
Tonight we were back on track, and moved on to knock out the glass subway tile. In spite of a little PTSD from the backsplash, we forged ahead. First, I tested a more watered down mixture (but still within the "spec" listed on the bag). It was only about 6 more ounces of water. But man did that make a difference. It wasn't "runny", by any means. Just so much easier to spread and work with. When wiping with the float, I was able to remove so much more grout than previously. Even before doing the first wash, it was clear this time was going to be so much better.
We let it sit for maybe 15 minutes (probably a little less), and started the wash. Again, what a massive difference! It cleaned up so much easier. To the point that the water bucket and sponge remained basically clear when doing the final wipes. And virtually zero grout haze! Although we still plan to hit it with a 50/50 vinegar and water mix once everything dries. It looks amazing. But this time only took about an hour vs. 8+ hours on the mosaic. What a satisfying relief!
*TL;DR* - The videos on this channel are super helpful. But could have been a little more descriptive on the risks of letting the grout sit for too little or long a time before wiping. If you're a weekend warrior tackling tile/mosaic for the first time, learn from our mistakes. One, mix the grout on the "runnier" side. Still follow the directions. But if, for example, the package says to add between 48 and 54 oz. of water, use 54 oz. Even if you go a little over it won't be a big deal. It'll apply so much smoother and will be significantly easier to clean up. Of course, do this in conjunction with only letting it sit for the minimum amount of time advised in the instructions. In our case, the package said to let it sit for 15 to 30 minutes. Don't do what we did and think you're playing it safe by giving it the full 30 minutes. Instead start your washes/wipes as soon as the instructions allow. Again, even a little sooner won't hurt a thing.
If you ignore my cautionary tale. Because I'm just some random DIY-er on the internet. And you find yourself in a predicament with stubborn grout that won't wipe off. It can be salvaged. Take a deep breath, and apply a good bit of elbow grease scraping off what you can. And then vinegar and water will be your best friend. Just make sure to test it first. Especially if you are working with stone. Preferably with a scrap pieces. And go overboard with the testing (i.e. use a stronger concentration and more prolonged application than you'll do on the actual tile/mosaic). If no harm is done, have at it. Just make sure to wipe it down with some clean water immediately after using the diluted vinegar.
*Bonus Tips* - If you read the whole first post, I'll add some semi-related tips and tricks we learned from this project. One, buy a wet saw. I know it'll be tempting to save some coin by using manual nippers. Don't do it. They're slow and make inconsistent cuts. You don't need a crazy high end wet saw. The one we bought was only around $80. The most important thing is that you buy a good blade for it. Ours came with a cheap-o blade. But I immediately swapped it for a nice glass and tile blade. It cost around half of what the whole saw cost. But it cut wonderfully in all the glass and stone I threw at it.
Unlike a table saw blade, it doesn't have teeth. So you can make all sorts of cuts I'd never even consider attempting with a wood saw. Stuff like freehand and sideways cuts (i.e. moving a piece of tile across the blade to shave off some of its thickness). I cut notches/dados. Thin rips. Everything. That saw and blade were worth every penny and more. And being able to make those more complex cuts helped a ton in working around outlets and obstructions.
For your more normal cuts. Those where you just need to trim a sheet of mosaic or tile to size. When doing this, leave the mosaic/tile sheet in the packaging when making the cuts; cardboard and all. It helps keep everything supported and in place. And makes it a lot easier to push the tile through the cut.
And one final thing. Depending on where your backsplash/tile is going, you may need to drill some holes. For us, it was behind the range hood. As the main housing bolts to the wall about 30" above the cook top. I could have just rough cut the tile around the mounting holes. As it'd be completely hidden by the range hood. But if we ever decided to swap out the hood/unit, those rough cut portions could become exposed. Instead, I wanted to cover the entire wall. With the only exception being six 1/4" holes for the mounting bolts.
I thought this would be easy enough, but I seriously underestimated just how hard glass can be. And how easily it can shatter if you're not applying just the right amount of pressure. I first bought carbide a glass and tile bit made by Bosch. They make good stuff. And I had no reason to believe it wouldn't work. Well I was wrong. Tried it on a couple test pieces and it was terrible. Barely made a dent, and eventually just shattered the glass tile. So, given the amazing cut quality of the diamond wet saw blade, I jumped on amazon and bought a 5-pack of diamond hole saw bits for around $6. The reviews suggested they wear out quickly. Hence why I bought the 5-pack. But if you do it right, they'll actually last a long time.
Similar to the wet saw, the key is keeping the material and bit wet. A drill press will really come in handy here. To keep the glass and bit wet, I placed the tile in a food container lid. Which was just deep enough to keep the tile submerged in water. I set the drill to a low speed setting of around 600 RPMs. And used slow, even pressure. It's not a race. Let the diamond bit do the work. You may get a slight bit of tear out on the bottom of the hole. So I'd suggest placing the tile face-side up when drilling your holes.
When you're done drilling any holes, you may find some of the colored backing of the glass may have been removed. Leaving it clear around the hole. No problem. I broke into my wife's nail polish and mixed a couple grays together to get a perfect color match. Once I had the color just right, I simply applied a coating on the back of the tile; where the paper backing used to be. It's a super OCD step. As the tile looked fine with the small bit of tear out. But why not take an extra second and do it right.
I really can't speak highly enough of a cheap set of diamond hole saw bits. I ultimately ended up needing just one bit for all the holes (at least a dozen when factoring in some test drills). And it looked as good as new once I was done. Bottom line, by keeping the tile and diamond drill bits wet, the holes came out great.
Alright, I think that's enough. Odds are, no one will ever take the time to read this. But if you do, hopefully you come away with some insight into things that will make your tile/mosaic job go all the more smoothly. Knocking out this sort of DIY project is incredibly satisfying. And in spite of the hiccups along the way. It was actually a lot of fun. If you're on the fence about whether or not you can handle this type of job. Do it! Just take your time, test and practice when at all possible. It'll be well worth the effort. Our kitchen has a completely transformed look and we couldn't be happier! And thanks again to Home RenoVision DIY for the great content.