How (Not) To Use SpectraLock 1 Pre-Mix Grout | Columbia MO
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- čas přidán 29. 08. 2024
- Using SpectraLock 1 for the first time
Your friendly neighborhood tile guy with another video to share. This is the hardest video I’ve shared to my channel. Things didn’t go as smoothly as I would have liked and I worked hard to save the job and not have a total disaster on my hands. Thankfully I knew a great resource to reach out to when I realized I needed help. I’m also thankful for their quick response and assistance. Ron Nash, the president of Laticrete North America, was my help. Thank you Ron for all you do, I am truly grateful for all your assistance.
Prior to grouting with SpectraLock 1 I read the directions and developed a plan. For better or worse I stuck to my plan. I should have realized sooner that I needed to audible, but I didn’t. Thankfully everything worked out great in the end.
Reading the directions I had 5-15 minutes to spread then clean the grout off the tile. Knowing that I could spread the whole floor in approximately 15 minutes my plan was to do just that. I dampened the floor with a sponge as the directions said, then I began grouting.
I should have realized that I needed to start cleaning the grout once I had to re wet the floor. I didn’t think about that and just continued with my original plan. Once I started trying to remove the grout I realized it was cleaning off the tile as it should and I needed help.
Late in the evening on a Friday night I reached out to the person I felt would be the most likely to respond. That person was Ron Nash. While I waited for his response I kept going with cleaning the tile. The best advice I can give on grouting is to keep working it as long as you can. It’s far easier to clean it while it’s still fresh than to clean it after it hardens.
In barely more than 30 minutes Ron responded to my cry for help. He told me what to do and I was happy to see I was already doing it. He also told me what to use the following day if there was any haze left behind, there was.
I cleaned the tile as best I could on the Friday night and then Saturday morning I went back for final inspection. A Magic Eraser and clean water proved all I needed to get the remaining haze off the tile. Unfortunately I did not video this step, but rest assured it wasn’t a difficult thing to do.
While my experience with SpectraLock 1 didn’t go as planned, I think it’s still a great grout. My joints are full and the tile looks great. I will be using this grout again, I will just work in much smaller areas at a time. Much like I would with most other premixed grouts.
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How do you handle issues that come up on your job? Do you have people you can contact in an emergency?
If you did business in my neck of the woods i would not hesitate to hire you to do my custom tile work. You made an outstanding video and demonstrated what a great person your are. You could have finished up the video without mentioning your concern about your work, but no, you explained what happened and how Laticrete helped your out. This is what makes your instruction so valuable. professionals like you make everything look easy, but you demonstrated that new products may require a more deliberate approach. To newbies, like me, every product is new 🙂 thank you!
Thank you for the kind words
Having used this grout a few times myself I could see from the very beginning that he was headed for disaster. With this grout you do small sections at a time, clean and wipe and maybe start a new section in the interim but returning to the previous section to clean, clean and clean some more... If not then you're going to have quite the mess to deal with!
I also noticed that he's cleaning with only one bucket of water with maybe a half gallon of water for the entire floor. You need quite a bit more water and changeout of water to do a floor that size. He should have two buckets, 2 gallon each and he should have a dirty bucket to rinse the sponge and a clean bucket to start again... So many things wrong in this video but in the end it all works out.
Thank you for the advice
I saw the same, 20 minutes was too long. I was thinking, clean bro, clean.
Videos like this are very helpful; more helpful than the standard drama-free install
That’s why I shared it. Not everything goes as planned.
Good vid, I like your attitude, thanks for posting honest results. Getting ready to use it for the first time myself.
I think you’ll do fine. I’m happy to help any way I can.
When you started spreading the grout on the entire shower floor, I knew it was going to be a problem. The same thing happened to me. Unfortunately, my case was even worse because the tile was small white square mosaic 1" x 1", so had tons of grout lines between tiles and, being white, I couldn't even see where the grout's heavy haze was, but I could feel it was there and drying fast. It stared getting hard real fast and I just knew I was in trouble. It wouldn't come off no matter how much I scrubbed the sponge, so I panicked and in desperation I just turned on the handheld shower and started scrubbing with a heavy nylon sponge to flush it all down the drain. It was a mission but I got it all off the tile and most of it off the grout lines. After a few days I reapplied in small sections and it worked. I think the instructions should mention ypu should do SMALL SECTIONS at a time. That is crucial information.
Thank you for sharing your experience. I think this is a good product, I just didn’t use it correctly.
Just title of the video I knew what the problem was going to be. That Tile Chick has a great video on her technique with this grout, it’s all she uses and has great tips.
She has good videos
You demonstrate a great example of humility. I learned a lot from your video and the comments. Thank you for the education!
That’s the reason I shared the video. I wanted so badly to have a smooth installation. Unfortunately that didn’t work out for me. It isn’t a total loss, my floor did turn out great. Learn from the mistakes I made and you’ll have a great looking floor without nearly the amount of effort. Thank you for the compliment, I appreciate it.
Thanks for sharing! Missouri proud.
Thank you for watching
thanks for sharing ,I used sp1 twice,the grout is always a little lower than the tile platform. i'm appreciated that i choosed laticrete ,someone ever said good product can tolerate little mistake i had done,and back on track.
Laticrete makes great products, we use their mortars and grouts.
Thanks for the video, and taking the time to make an honest, practical on-site evaluation and depiction of using a product for the first time kudos! Some suggestions that I’m learning by gathering information and personal experience is 1… having two clean buckets of water, dipping & ringing my sponge out in one and dipping clean fresh water it in the other, as not to contaminate the sponge to keep a very clean surface on the initial wipe. Second, I think I would’ve done that floor 2 sections just to stay ahead of it, I ran into the same thing with walls and only grout what I can finish myself in a half hour from initial grout application to final cleaning. Keep up the good work & videos!! I’m a one man show and feel your Paine and successes!
Thank you
I typically let it set for 5 to 10 minutes. I know it's ready to clean when my float will no longer pick it up off the face of the tile. I also use a 5 gallon bucket for wash water. It really reduces the amount of haze that needs to be cleaned off later. The white scrub pad suggested in the directions does a better job than the microfiber at removing the remaining grout during the second wash. Final wipe is with a dry microfiber to remove the haze once the grout is set.
I made several errors with this application. I’m just happy everything worked out in the end.
People go nuts over the hazing with this stuff and how long it takes to clean up etc… but in reality working just the joints, not covering the whole floor and cleaning up how the instructions clearly say has always worked for me no problems.
I made it clear that I’m not blaming the product, I should have used it like a urethane grout. The directions do say to spread and wait 15 minutes before initial rinse. Everything worked out, that’s what matters.
My gripes aren’t directed at you, just in general. I see a bunch of people online afraid of this stuff. You did well recovering once you realized what was going on. Soon as you spread it like traditional grout I was hooked to see what you’d do. Recovery from that was great and I bet messy.
I’ve learned that keeping after fresh grout goes a long way. The biggest mistake I see people do is get frustrated and walk away. I stayed after it and it took a couple of hours of cleaning that night to get it close. I did have another hour or so the next day with haze remover to get it finished up. Everything looks good and I’m happy (it was my own job, I’m the customer) and that’s what is important. I do appreciate you watching and commenting. Thank you.
I use a grout release always with spectra lock 1 and I only have to wipe it once
Just used it on small bathroom floor,had good results using small amounts (grout lines only)and cleaning with sponge followed by microfiber towels
I’m glad you had great success, Spectralock1 is a good product
I just experimented with Spectralock 1 on a subway tile mockup. I applied it to 2mm grout lines and found it quite easy to apply with a fairly stiff float. Waited 12 min then sponged off lightly. Then let it sit 45 min and then scrubbed with pad then fibre cloth. Had no problem with that although obvious a 3x3’ area is about max between application and first rinse. This stuff does set up fast. It did a great job except being a fine sand grout applied to a gloss tile, under a bright direct light i could see a few very fine scratches. Under normal lighting in a shower, floor, or backsplash, i doubt very much they would be noticeable. Thanks for the video as it helped a lot. In a few days i will be doing 2 floors and a bath surround and looking forward to it.
Glad I could help, hopefully you avoid some mistakes I made.
I think its a great grout but i find it is quite a sandy grout. A bit more sandy than id like when paired with glossy tiles. However, i found that some of the sandiness (if thats a word) can depend upon how the float is applied. Haven’t quite worked out the technique yet for consistent results but will post if and when i do
I just grouted a shower pan today using spectralock 1. The shower pan was 4 foot by 5 foot using 2 inch hexagon tile. My job went real well but I had to work fast and fortunately the area was small. I don't know if doing a larger section in segments would be the answer because of "cold joints". But if you cant break it up into small areas then you need a second guy doing almost immediate clean-up as you go.
I wouldn’t worry much about cold joints unless you leave the areas for really long periods of time. Typically there’s two of us. With single component grout one of us spreads grout and the other rinses. For large floors I agree that it’s a two man job at a minimum.
I did one today, If you use the scratchy side of a sponge, it comes off much easier, then go over it with the sponge side (similar to doing epoxy grout) I waited an hour and went over it a second time with the sponge and it was clean. I did about 3x6 sections at a time. Tomorrow I'll wipe the haze off.
Thanks for the tips, I appreciate it.
As I watched the video I realized it was going to be a Nightmare for clean up. I'd rather spend the extra 5 min mixing up a batch and stick to a product that I know and used to rather than spending the extra hours on cleanup. Definitely not worth it. I'm like you. I can spread the entire room faster than the first wash is even ready with ultra color FA. And clean up is super easy with mapei. As long as it's not super hot in the bathroom. I make sure the heat is turned off until grouting is complete or if it's summer I lower the temp in the home to 65 even prior to cleaning the grout joints in the morning. I tell my customers the importance of temperature control for the grout to come out perfect. I've been looking at specktralock 1 but have seen videos like yours that keeps me away from it.
Anyhow been watching you for years now. Love your videos. Thank you
Happy New year!
I do think this should be handled like any other single component grout and be spread and cleaned at the same time. Like you I have my favorite grout and it performs very well. It’s hard to use a different product when nothing is wrong with the product you prefer. Thank you for watching, I appreciate it.
Tile Coach said to use micro fibers to get the haze off after sponging, its the only thing that works well that he has found.
A microfiber works well if the grout doesn’t get away from you
Nice
I just used this on shower floor featuring shaved pebbles. I’m a dyir so I was a bit nervous. However everything went very well as far as I can tell. I did pre seal the floor before grout and will again after grout cures realizing the grout doesn’t need it but for the pebbles. Hopefully the walks go well also. I’ll be using 12x24 tiles horizontal
Sounds great, good luck with the rest of your project
yeah, you did too big an area before cleaning up the part you did. Obviously you cannot use it like regular grout and spread the whole area before cleaning up. Glad you got it cleaned up. looks good.
I was able to salvage it. Had the directions said to clean as I went (same with urethane grout) I wouldn’t have spread the whole area. I’m just glad that the technical support guy I used never sleeps, he’s always ready to lend a hand and help out.
never seen such a tiny bucket used for washing
It was all I had that day unfortunately. My employee was tiling a different project and I didn’t think to grab a different wash bucket before I left.
New subscriber! Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
I have mixed feelings about this. I haven’t published this video publicly yet, I just discovered it shows up in my end screens (I assume that’s how you found it). Do you mind if I ask how much you watched?
@@friendlyneighborhoodtileguy I watched all of it and then started reviewing the others you have posted. If you're in Columbia, I'm in Warrenton down the road. I have been watching tile videos and your video popped up in the suggested viewing home screen.
so would you recommend only grouting about a 1/3 of the floor then clean up?
Actually as fast as the tile was drying I would grout and clean as I went. In the video when I first started to wet the tile again I should have cleaned up what I had already spread. I tend to make a plan for myself and stick to it regardless of the circumstances. My plan was to spread the whole floor, so that’s what I did. Luckily it worked out, it just took far longer than it should have.
I use sp1 the same as flex color and only spread out about an arms reach before first wipe. Then come back with microfiber, then come back with windex or a stone tech cleaner. I think real epoxy grout is easier to work with and has better performance
@@ashtondaviston5051 that’s a good way of using SP1, thanks for the reply.
hahahahah i take pity on you mate, old school doesnt work here. lol
👍
man your overworkinbg it, just put it in and get going,
End result is great and that’s what matters
I watched your video and you are not suppose to walk on the grout for at least 48 hours to dry that is why you only grout what you can reach.
According to the manufacturer it’s ready for light traffic in less than 24 hours
I can't imagine working this hard to like a product, especially when you consider the outrageous cost of SpectraLock 1. I'm sorry to say this, but at $100-a-tub, the rep better be available at 3 am if you need him. IMO, that's his job. Having to clean as you grout is INSANE. It's two separate jobs, requiring two differing areas of focus. Who thought up this genius idea? At least the product looks creamier. Perhaps they have worked on the chemistry. I've seen videos from 2-3 years ago and watched users really struggle to keep the product from falling to the floor in clumps. It appeared quite thick and difficult to work. I was surprised that your single water bucket was so small. Some pro guys I've watched with this product use three 5-gallon buckets during the cleaning process, just to make sure to keep the sponge clean, clean, clean as you swipe, especially if the tile is dark. You had an absolute mess on your hands that could have turned more serious. Without the rep's assistance, I would have panicked. I can't be on the floor that long, especially without knee-pads. I'm surprised you do this kind of work being overweight. It puts a lot of strain on your heart. If you love your wife, try and lose some weight. Good luck.
What is nice about this product, after the job ios complete, there is no sealing of the grout and it is pretty much mantenance free for years and years. I've never had an issue.
@@kenschneider2100 I'm happy to revisit the product in 20 years, if I'm still around, to see if your words ring true. The bottom line remains: if you want to work with this product, you had better be PREPARED. My gut is telling me, it won't be long before the competition comes up with something easier to work with and harder, because that's what professionals and the market want. With VOC regulations, the tile industry is experiencing the same changes as paint. The high-paid chemists are at work, attempting to discover a new holy grail, and companies are passing their R&D costs onto the consumer. We'll have to wait and see what the future holds in construction.
The important thing with grout is to keep after it. I didn’t watch any videos (obviously) before my attempt, I just read what the label said. I knew I was in trouble early and I didn’t change my plan. I should have realized what was going on sooner and saved myself a lot of extra work. Weight loss is on the agenda. Hopefully if you keep watching you’ll start to see improvement there as well.
@@friendlyneighborhoodtileguy I'm glad to hear about your weight-loss plan. I had to lose 100 lbs in my youth, and it saved my life. The tiling business (as well as construction) requires a ton of strength and stamina. As we age, the extra weight zaps us, and wreaks havoc on our skeletons. As for watching CZcams videos, professionals shouldn't have to watch. The reps should do more to educate their pro customers. However, IMO, reps just want to make money and be lazy. Most aren't interested in really working for the customers anymore. I just happen to be doing grout and tile research for an upcoming personal project. Thank goodness for pro-guys like Sal DiBlasi, Isaac Ostrem, and Jeff Thorman; all super generous! When Spectralock 1 first hit the market 2-3 years ago, a rep appeared on-video with Sal DiBlasi, who decided to video himself using the product for the very first time. If you listen carefully, you can hear Sal struggling to breathe. The product was giving him a cardio workout he hadn't quite expected. You also get to see how thick and clumpy the early chemistry was. Grout was flying everywhere, nowhere near where it was supposed to go. It takes a lot of work and convincing to convert a pro into paying double, triple for a grout product. I don't know the numbers, but I wonder how they're doing financially with this investment.
no no no, technique all wrong,, your still thinking in old grout , this is epoxe type, your heading for trouble mate, did you read the instructions,, OMG
All worked out in the end
All these CZcamsrs that talk and talk are desperate for viewers.
I have plenty of videos with little talking, if you prefer that kind of thing.
Love that tile.
@@jenniferblumer9539 I think it turned out great