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kitchen remodel 42
Oct. 16th, 2021 08:47 pmThe tile has been grouted. I just need to clean it up tomorrow. And caulk.
I asked the guy at the Tile Shop if I could have unsanded grout, after he had sold me the sanded grout. I was mostly worried about the sand scratching the glossy tile, but also most sources said to use unsanded grout on gaps of 1/8". He said sanded is fine for a gap this size. A friend said not to worry that it would scratch, since the stuff is so durable. Also, they were out of premixed grout.
So I had only a little trouble mixing it. Not enough water to start with, then too much. I finally got it OK, after doubling the amount I'd intended to make. It was still thinner than I would have preferred, but it turned out OK in the end. I got just over halfway done, just before suppertime (good timing), when the grout hardened up. It said "rapid set" on the bag, but I think it might not have hardened that quickly if I'd kept stirring it. So I had to mix more. The second batch wasn't quite as wet, and performed slightly better. It was still very messy.
Doing grout is:
Squeegee it on, trying to get it into the gaps.
Squeegee it off, trying to leave it in the gaps.
Let it harden a few minutes then wipe it down with a damp sponge, to take off the excess and smooth it out.
Wipe it down with a damp sponge again to clean up the face of the tile.
Wipe it down with a damp sponge again to clean up the face of the tile.
The more you wipe it down, the easier it will be to clean it up the next day, after everything has dried. But you're picking up a lot of grout, so you need to keep rinsing your sponge and changing the water.
The whole thing took me from 12:30 to 8:30, with the usual amount of procrastinating beforehand, and the usual putziness when getting started and the usual trip to the hardware store somewhere in the middle. So it took slightly less time than putting the tile up, but it was a lot less difficult and stressful.
Cindy got curtains, but we still need curtain rods. And probably to repair the wall when the old ones come down. And paint that wall. We ordered new (expensive) table and chairs. Still a month and a half out for the light fixture. Cindy is figuring out the best way to clean the new "luxury vinyl" floor.
Tomorrow I wipe it down to remove the rest of the haze. And caulk the corners. I update all the switches, outlets and switchplates. And hopefully I can connect that exhaust duct.
I asked the guy at the Tile Shop if I could have unsanded grout, after he had sold me the sanded grout. I was mostly worried about the sand scratching the glossy tile, but also most sources said to use unsanded grout on gaps of 1/8". He said sanded is fine for a gap this size. A friend said not to worry that it would scratch, since the stuff is so durable. Also, they were out of premixed grout.
So I had only a little trouble mixing it. Not enough water to start with, then too much. I finally got it OK, after doubling the amount I'd intended to make. It was still thinner than I would have preferred, but it turned out OK in the end. I got just over halfway done, just before suppertime (good timing), when the grout hardened up. It said "rapid set" on the bag, but I think it might not have hardened that quickly if I'd kept stirring it. So I had to mix more. The second batch wasn't quite as wet, and performed slightly better. It was still very messy.
Doing grout is:
Squeegee it on, trying to get it into the gaps.
Squeegee it off, trying to leave it in the gaps.
Let it harden a few minutes then wipe it down with a damp sponge, to take off the excess and smooth it out.
Wipe it down with a damp sponge again to clean up the face of the tile.
Wipe it down with a damp sponge again to clean up the face of the tile.
The more you wipe it down, the easier it will be to clean it up the next day, after everything has dried. But you're picking up a lot of grout, so you need to keep rinsing your sponge and changing the water.
The whole thing took me from 12:30 to 8:30, with the usual amount of procrastinating beforehand, and the usual putziness when getting started and the usual trip to the hardware store somewhere in the middle. So it took slightly less time than putting the tile up, but it was a lot less difficult and stressful.
Cindy got curtains, but we still need curtain rods. And probably to repair the wall when the old ones come down. And paint that wall. We ordered new (expensive) table and chairs. Still a month and a half out for the light fixture. Cindy is figuring out the best way to clean the new "luxury vinyl" floor.
Tomorrow I wipe it down to remove the rest of the haze. And caulk the corners. I update all the switches, outlets and switchplates. And hopefully I can connect that exhaust duct.
