Tile Floor Help

[TonyPSchaefer]

I figure there's a few DIY people here. So here's a question.

I'm tiling the floor in a power room. Everything's out of the room. It's the bottom floor on a concrete slab that's around 14 years old. The floor is level and the room measures approx. 30 sq-ft. I'm using 12x12 light-brown porcelain tiles with a brownish 3/16 grout line. Those are really not important to the question I'm about to ask but I know how some of the more detail-oriented people like to get wrapped around the details.

I've put the tile in last weekend; I dare say that part was relatively easy. The other night I grouted. There was a haze which was expected. I used a damp sponge and removed it. There was a little more haze so I damp sponge removed it. Now, since I didn't want to disturb the potentially still-setting grout, I tried to avoid it. So now, a couple days later, I think that there's a haze on the grout which makes sense because I was intentionally not wiping it.

So my question is: is this a big screw up now that it's set for a couple days or can I just work on the grout with a damp sponge or scrub brush (being careful to not dig out the grout of course)? At this point I have not sealed the grout yet.

[onerpm]

Not sure if I understand your Q, but let me throw this out (I just did the exact same project, same tile and grout size/colors as yours, in a utility room of over 300 s.f.):

1. the haze on the tiles themselves is from the grout. to get that last bit off, use a dry towel instead of a wet one. you'll have to hit it a few times. try to avoid the grout (especially when you use something wet) as you'll then pick up a bit of grout and spread it over the tile again, creating more haze.

2. there's no haze to worry about on the grout itself. go ahead and just seal it. toothbrush works great.

rpm

[KK6PD]

Originally Posted by TonyPSchaefer

I figure there's a few DIY people here. So here's a question.

is this a big screw up now that it's set for a couple days or can I just work on the grout with a damp sponge or scrub brush (being careful to not dig out the grout of course)? At this point I have not sealed the grout yet.

Tony P, hi there, well NO its normal. the grout should have set up overnight, and yes you have to keep wiping, and wiping, and wiping, the haze off the tiles. The trick, and I know this is really time consuming, wipe ONCE, flip sponge, wipe ONCE, rinse sponge, repeat, repeat, repeat, kinda get the idea!!
Constant rinsing will get the crap out of the sponge and will prevent you from just spreading it around.
When you are all clean, and dry, you can seal the floor, and sit back and admire your handi work!!

Been there, done that!

Good Luck de Pat KK6PD

[Neohybrid]

Tony,
One thing you can try is a little white vinegar in the water -- and change the water frequently. When sealing -- depending on the type of tile you used -- you will only want to seal the grout and not the tile. There is an inexpensive applicator you can get at Lowes or HD that has a small brush applicator on the end that makes the job easier. Good luck.

[TonyPSchaefer]

Thanks guys.
There is still a slight haze on the tiles and I'm planning on working on that some more. But what I'm talking about really is on the grout itself. It looks like a white-ish haze on the grout. That's why I was thinking, "I got the haze off the tiles but not the grout."

[KK6PD]

Well until you seal it, the grout will assume a dry unsealed look!!! It did for me. as soon as the sealer penetrates, it should darken up nicely!!!

KK6PD

[TonyPSchaefer]

My wife called. She is displeased with the grout color. The overall grout is non-uniform in color. Splotchy is the way she described it.

What do you know about splotchy grout?

[mojo]

Certain aerosol sealers are deadly.
Careful.

[PriuStorm]

Were you meticulous in maintaining cleanliness while mixing the grout as well as using clean water, clean hands and clean buckets?

The non-uniformity could be due to differing drying times... sometimes it may take a little longer to dry in certain areas. Was the grout all from a single mixed batch (i.e. was it all consistently the same moisture when you applied it?) or is there a chance that some of was 'wetter' when it was applied?

I think what you are referring to as 'haze' on the grout may be effervescing. When my tile shower was grouted, there was one area that did this. I am not sure why this happens but I'm happy to tell you that it has disappeared over time. I think someone said it had to do with the minerals in the water, but that still didn't explain why it happened in certain areas and not others. Is yours all over the grout or only in certain places?

If it's only been a few days since you grouted, I would just give it a few more days to dry and set up. Apply your sealer, let it dry. Then see if you can't wipe it off (the haze) once and for all.