I recently replaced bath tiles that had mold problems. Installed new cement board, new tiles applied and when it came time to grout - went to Menards to get the go ahead as to proper application. Did the grouting and let it cure for more than recommended time. I did apply a sealer and was told this was up to me if I wanted to do it. When all was cured and ready to be used - found out that when the water spray from the shower hit the grout it just softened up and when you rub your fingers on the grout it is almost like chalk coming off. And you can almost put your fingernail into the softened grout. In talking to the gentleman at Menard's he has no answer for me other that file a complaint. And when I commented what would I get out of that "just another tub of grout" he said "yes". I did take a sample from the same tub of problem grout and let it cure for time recommended and it is hard as a rock and water has no effect on it. I really need help as this was done in my daughter's home and she would really like her shower back to working order.

Thank you to anyone who can help this puzzled grouter!:confused:

Only thing that makes sense... did you apply sealer AFTER two weeks of grout application? Must let grout cure (I recommend two weeks.. some say 1 week minimum.. I always lean hard right... hence 2 weeks)!

Applying a sealer too quickly would not allow water to evaporate from grout... that is, the grout could not cure properly if evaporation did not occur appropriately.

Anyway, get back on this... other then that someone turned on shower prematurely and won't admit it ;)

You can seal grout in some cases a few hours after grouting... look on the back of tile and grout sealers most I've read will say that, never the less you don't have a sealer problem you have a grout problem that the sealer just helped show. Look on your box of grout, does it say part A or add part B. something to that nature? To me it sounds like you part the 2part mix, its very easy to buy the wrong thing because they look very similar.

Regular grout would have dried in 30 minutes enough to wipe it down, by the next morning it would have been totally set and hard.

If you hadn't of sealed it the grout you installed would have turned back into the powder, good news is the grout probably won't harden so you can get it all back out , bad news is its going to be a pain,if you have a shop vac id try and suck it up because it needs to be all out for when you grout again. Let me know if I was right on this, thanks...

One of the reasons I think this is what happened is that I've bought this grout before that did that, all I did wrong was not read the directions and assumed it was just like any other grout.

I think "glavine" just nailed it!!

Menards sells several grouts, some redi-mixed and others powdered. Which did you use? I have done many installs using their product with no problem at all. My most recent grout job was with their stainproof stuff, $25 per quart bucket, and it dried like a rock in less than a day. Did you have to mix yours or what?

Menards sells several grouts, some redi-mixed and others powdered. Which did you use? I have done many installs using their product with no problem at all. My most recent grout job was with their stainproof stuff, $25 per quart bucket, and it dried like a rock in less than a day. Did you have to mix yours or what?
I used a product called MAPEI Adhesive & Grout that was ready mixed. I have since cleaned out all the faulty grout and want to know what would be a better product to install this time and hopefully the last time? I have taken out as much old grout as I can get at with a grout removal tool and wonder if I should keep going deeper with my Dremel tool that has a grout removal bit. How far do I need to remove old grout before I begin?


you can seal grout in some cases a few hours after grouting........look on the back of tile and grout sealers most ive read will say that, never the less you dont have a sealer problem you have a grout problem that the sealer just helped show. look on your box of grout, does it say part A or add part B. something to that nature? to me it sounds like you part the 2part mix, its very easy to buy the wrong thing because they look very similar.

regular grout would have dried in 30 minutes enough to wipe it down, by the next morning it would have been totally set and hard.

if you hadnt of sealed it the grout you installed would have turned back into the powder, good news is the grout probably wont harden so you can get it all back out , bad news is its going to be a pain,if you have a shop vac id try and suck it up because it needs to be all out for when you grout again. let me know if i was right on this, thanks......

one of the reasons i think this is what happend is that ive bought this grout before that did that, all i did wrong was not read the directions and assumed it was just like any other grout.
I used a ready mixed MAPEI Adhesive & Grout. I have taken out all the old grout and want to know how deep I have to remove old stuff. I used a grout removal tool and want to also know if I should use my Dremel tool that has a grout removal bit? You are right this has been a real pain - but I appreciate your help in getting me back on track. What would be a good or rather product to use for doing this hopefully one last time. I would rather use a ready mixed product and not too pricey if possible. And I DO NOT plan on sealing this next batch.

I can't tell you much about premixed grout. I simply don't use it, not that its not as good, but Ive always mixed it myself. My advise is to just go to Lowe's or whatever home center is near you and get the brand they sale there in a 5 or 10lb bag, just mixs with water is all. Id mix it to a thick paste, not to runny. Almost like peanutbutter.
I can tell you this if you go with one you have to mix yourself it will be try within a few hours and by next morning it would be solid.

What type of grout did you use? I recently used a premixed grout advertised to not require sealing. Sounded really good! It installed very poorly - shrinking more than acceptable. The good news was you can simply apply more of the grout right over the cured grout. So I reapplied and filled all of the holes that had appeared the first time. This installation was in a shower. The owner never used the shower for 8 days after installation so the grout had ample time to cure. Unfortunately the manufacturer never mentioned that every time you get the grout wet it softens. It was a complete disaster. I am in the process of removing all the grout, using a box cutter to scrape out the inferior grout and will be applying a traditional cement based grout instead.

I suspect you used a similar premixed grout since your problem seems to be the same as mine. I suspect also that an aggressive law firm could mount a class action suit against the manufacturer and, perhaps, the retailer of this type of product. I hope so.

Murphster, I like to refer to either premixed grouts or premixed caulks as "failure in a bucket". I don't follow blogs, but there was one that someone at a tile site I frequent posted a link to about "Trafficmaster premixed grout" that HD carried a couple years ago. Some of the funniest reading ever. If I can find it, I'll post the link so you can have a really good laugh. The reason they fail so easily is they are not much more than acrylic caulks in a bucket, being too deep to cure all the way down to the bottom, and not being very resistant to regular exposure to water.

I've posted here and at other sites, though, about a product that has been on the market for just over a year now. Specialty Construction Brands, which is the parent company of Tec Specialty (one of the leading tile setting materials manufacturers) makes a product called "Grout Boost." This additive is used in place of water with any regular portland cement based grout. There are 3 size bottles, one for your 10 lb container of unsanded, one for your 7-10 lb container of sanded and one for your 25 lb bag of sanded grout, so you buy the bottle for the bag you use. Mix the product by hand, don't use a drill with a mixing paddle. Grout and clean up as you normally would. When you are done, allow the grout to set and remain dry for 10 days. If kept dry and allowed to cure for 10 days, you get a 20 year warranty against not only water based, but also oil based stains. The grout cures so dense, it won't take a sealer. While it isn't cheap, it's not any more expensive than any quality sealer on the market. Any Sealer that is below $25/quart is going to be useless anyway and ammonia based cleaners strip away sealer and acidic cleaners eat at the top layer of grout, thereby removing the sealer in the process, requiring the sealer to be reapplied every couple years, even though the sealer might say it gives 10-15 years of protection, the consumer really only gets 2, maybe 3. You can purchase or order grout boost wherever Tec brand setting materials are sold. You can use the dealer locater at their site www.tecspecialty.com