The usual technique for grounting tiles with radiused edges is well
known, shape the grout with a dowel etc.
However, I had a problem with some cheap tiles where there was no
glaze round the "edge" of the tile. When you radiused the grout in the
usual manner, it exposed the "corner" where the dark biscuit showed
through. A white biscuit would help here, but the issue remains.
Problems were the dark biscuit but also the lack of glaze on the
edges. The usual technique with a dowel recesses the grout a bit,
which also makes wiping off easier without smudging the grout.
I noticed some tiles recently (radiused edge, not square edged
porcelain) in a commercial building, where the grouting was very
shallow. i.e, near the surface of the tile and flat, not radiused like
when you use a dowel.
If I knew how to do that, it would solve the problem with the cheap
tiles I mentioned earlier. I'm not sure how they got the flat shallow
grout lines whilst managing to wipe off the surface sufficiently.
Anyone know the trick ?
Simon.

In article
,
sm_jamieson wrote:
The usual technique for grounting tiles with radiused edges is well
known, shape the grout with a dowel etc.
However, I had a problem with some cheap tiles where there was no
glaze round the "edge" of the tile. When you radiused the grout in the
usual manner, it exposed the "corner" where the dark biscuit showed
through. A white biscuit would help here, but the issue remains.
Problems were the dark biscuit but also the lack of glaze on the
edges. The usual technique with a dowel recesses the grout a bit,
which also makes wiping off easier without smudging the grout.
I noticed some tiles recently (radiused edge, not square edged
porcelain) in a commercial building, where the grouting was very
shallow. i.e, near the surface of the tile and flat, not radiused like
when you use a dowel.
If I knew how to do that, it would solve the problem with the cheap
tiles I mentioned earlier. I'm not sure how they got the flat shallow
grout lines whilst managing to wipe off the surface sufficiently.
Anyone know the trick ?

If you use an ordinary powder grout, just used a flat spatula (or large
diameter dowel, etc) to finish it and don't worry too much about any
remaining on the glaze. Once it's dried it will come off easily enough.
But not if you're using that combined adhesive and grout. Dunno about
epoxy types.

--


Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On 11 Sep, 17:04, "Dave Plowman (News)" wrote:
In article
,
sm_jamieson wrote:



The usual technique for grounting tiles with radiused edges is well
known, shape the grout with a dowel etc.
However, I had a problem with some cheap tiles where there was no
glaze round the "edge" of the tile. When you radiused the grout in the
usual manner, it exposed the "corner" where the dark biscuit showed
through. A white biscuit would help here, but the issue remains.
Problems were the dark biscuit but also the lack of glaze on the
edges. The usual technique with a dowel recesses the grout a bit,
which also makes wiping off easier without smudging the grout.
I noticed some tiles recently (radiused edge, not square edged
porcelain) in a commercial building, where the grouting was very
shallow. i.e, near the surface of the tile and flat, not radiused like
when you use a dowel.
If I knew how to do that, it would solve the problem with the cheap
tiles I mentioned earlier. I'm not sure how they got the flat shallow
grout lines whilst managing to wipe off the surface sufficiently.
Anyone know the trick ?

If you use an ordinary powder grout, just used a flat spatula (or large
diameter dowel, etc) to finish it and don't worry too much about any
remaining on the glaze. Once it's dried it will come off easily enough.
But not if you're using that combined adhesive and grout. Dunno about
epoxy types.

--

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

I really wonder if using a piping bag to grout would not be quicker.
It takes quite an effort twisting the wrist for diagonal strokes and
pushing the rubber grouting float over the surface, when, especially
for larger tiles, one could just pipe it and finish it.
I wouldn't try that for mosaics though !
Simon.

On Thu, 11 Sep 2008 08:51:18 -0700, sm_jamieson wrote:

The usual technique for grounting tiles with radiused edges is well
known, shape the grout with a dowel etc.

Never heard of using a dowel: sounds inordinately tedious. I use a
grouting float (rubber pad on a handle), which lets you grout almost
flush (then you can get a recessed grout line by wiping over with a damp
sponge before the grout sets.

Mind you I'm a plumber, not a tiler, so maybe this is all bollox ;-)



--
YAPH http://yaph.co.uk

Life is nature's way of keeping meat fresh

On Thu, 11 Sep 2008 21:21:04 GMT, YAPH wrote:

On Thu, 11 Sep 2008 08:51:18 -0700, sm_jamieson wrote:

The usual technique for grounting tiles with radiused edges is well
known, shape the grout with a dowel etc.

Never heard of using a dowel: sounds inordinately tedious. I use a
grouting float (rubber pad on a handle), which lets you grout almost
flush (then you can get a recessed grout line by wiping over with a damp
sponge before the grout sets.

Mind you I'm a plumber, not a tiler, so maybe this is all bollox ;-)

Doing it the way you suggest surely leaves the grout level with the
tile face ? I have tiled a few times and have always used a dowel
to recess the grout between the tiles . I have used other things like
those Plasplug things like a square piece of plastic with a blunt
pointy end ..

On Thu, 11 Sep 2008 12:34:50 -0700 (PDT), sm_jamieson
wrote:

On 11 Sep, 17:04, "Dave Plowman (News)" wrote:
In article
,
sm_jamieson wrote:



The usual technique for grounting tiles with radiused edges is well
known, shape the grout with a dowel etc.
However, I had a problem with some cheap tiles where there was no
glaze round the "edge" of the tile. When you radiused the grout in the
usual manner, it exposed the "corner" where the dark biscuit showed
through. A white biscuit would help here, but the issue remains.
Problems were the dark biscuit but also the lack of glaze on the
edges. The usual technique with a dowel recesses the grout a bit,
which also makes wiping off easier without smudging the grout.
I noticed some tiles recently (radiused edge, not square edged
porcelain) in a commercial building, where the grouting was very
shallow. i.e, near the surface of the tile and flat, not radiused like
when you use a dowel.
If I knew how to do that, it would solve the problem with the cheap
tiles I mentioned earlier. I'm not sure how they got the flat shallow
grout lines whilst managing to wipe off the surface sufficiently.
Anyone know the trick ?

If you use an ordinary powder grout, just used a flat spatula (or large
diameter dowel, etc) to finish it and don't worry too much about any
remaining on the glaze. Once it's dried it will come off easily enough.
But not if you're using that combined adhesive and grout. Dunno about
epoxy types.

--

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

I really wonder if using a piping bag to grout would not be quicker.
It takes quite an effort twisting the wrist for diagonal strokes and
pushing the rubber grouting float over the surface, when, especially
for larger tiles, one could just pipe it and finish it.
I wouldn't try that for mosaics though !
Simon.

But isn't the whole point to force the grout deep in to the gaps and a
piping bag would not do that .

On 12 Sep, 00:31, wrote:
On Thu, 11 Sep 2008 12:34:50 -0700 (PDT), sm_jamieson



wrote:
On 11 Sep, 17:04, "Dave Plowman (News)" wrote:
In article
,
sm_jamieson wrote:

The usual technique for grounting tiles with radiused edges is well
known, shape the grout with a dowel etc.
However, I had a problem with some cheap tiles where there was no
glaze round the "edge" of the tile. When you radiused the grout in the
usual manner, it exposed the "corner" where the dark biscuit showed
through. A white biscuit would help here, but the issue remains.
Problems were the dark biscuit but also the lack of glaze on the
edges. The usual technique with a dowel recesses the grout a bit,
which also makes wiping off easier without smudging the grout.
I noticed some tiles recently (radiused edge, not square edged
porcelain) in a commercial building, where the grouting was very
shallow. i.e, near the surface of the tile and flat, not radiused like
when you use a dowel.
If I knew how to do that, it would solve the problem with the cheap
tiles I mentioned earlier. I'm not sure how they got the flat shallow
grout lines whilst managing to wipe off the surface sufficiently.
Anyone know the trick ?

If you use an ordinary powder grout, just used a flat spatula (or large
diameter dowel, etc) to finish it and don't worry too much about any
remaining on the glaze. Once it's dried it will come off easily enough.
But not if you're using that combined adhesive and grout. Dunno about
epoxy types.

--

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

I really wonder if using a piping bag to grout would not be quicker.
It takes quite an effort twisting the wrist for diagonal strokes and
pushing the rubber grouting float over the surface, when, especially
for larger tiles, one could just pipe it and finish it.
I wouldn't try that for mosaics though !
Simon.

But isn't the whole point to force the grout deep in to the gaps and a
piping bag would not do that .

I guess I mean something like a sealant gun (you can buy empty ones I
believe) that would allow forcing into the gaps. I've seen lots of
lazy "professional" tiling where the grout is coming away, say around
corner beading, and you can see it only ever formed a thin crust over
thin air.
Simon.

On Thu, 11 Sep 2008 23:43:13 +0100, wrote:

Doing it the way you suggest surely leaves the grout level with the
tile face ?

No a grout flost is a smooth tough but flexable face on soft foam it
deforms into the grout lines how much depends on how hard you push. You
should be pushing reasonably hard to squidge the grout fully into the gaps
anyway.

--
Cheers
Dave.

On Fri, 12 Sep 2008 10:19:10 +0100 (BST), "Dave Liquorice"
wrote:

On Thu, 11 Sep 2008 23:43:13 +0100, wrote:

Doing it the way you suggest surely leaves the grout level with the
tile face ?

No a grout flost is a smooth tough but flexable face on soft foam it
deforms into the grout lines how much depends on how hard you push. You
should be pushing reasonably hard to squidge the grout fully into the gaps
anyway.

Yeah ..I do know what a float is .I use that myself to spread the
grout but I still use a dowel to get the finish I desire which I
guess is also why others use one too. as mentioned here
http://www.diyfixit.co.uk/diy/tiling/grout/grout.html
and
http://www.diynot.com/pages/de/de050.php
and
http://www.channel4.com/4homes/diy-s...06-18_p_1.html

wrote:
On Fri, 12 Sep 2008 10:19:10 +0100 (BST), "Dave Liquorice"
wrote:

On Thu, 11 Sep 2008 23:43:13 +0100, wrote:

Doing it the way you suggest surely leaves the grout level with the
tile face ?
No a grout flost is a smooth tough but flexable face on soft foam it
deforms into the grout lines how much depends on how hard you push. You
should be pushing reasonably hard to squidge the grout fully into the gaps
anyway.

Yeah ..I do know what a float is .I use that myself to spread the
grout but I still use a dowel to get the finish I desire which I
guess is also why others use one too. as mentioned here
http://www.diyfixit.co.uk/diy/tiling/grout/grout.html
and
http://www.diynot.com/pages/de/de050.php
and
http://www.channel4.com/4homes/diy-s...06-18_p_1.html


It certainly saves the index finger, which can pretty damned sore.
A lot depends how flat the tiles are. No amount of creative grouting can
disguise a wavy wall

On Fri, 12 Sep 2008 12:21:29 +0100, stuart noble
wrote:

wrote:
On Fri, 12 Sep 2008 10:19:10 +0100 (BST), "Dave Liquorice"
wrote:

On Thu, 11 Sep 2008 23:43:13 +0100, wrote:

Doing it the way you suggest surely leaves the grout level with the
tile face ?
No a grout flost is a smooth tough but flexable face on soft foam it
deforms into the grout lines how much depends on how hard you push. You
should be pushing reasonably hard to squidge the grout fully into the gaps
anyway.

Yeah ..I do know what a float is .I use that myself to spread the
grout but I still use a dowel to get the finish I desire which I
guess is also why others use one too. as mentioned here
http://www.diyfixit.co.uk/diy/tiling/grout/grout.html
and
http://www.diynot.com/pages/de/de050.php
and
http://www.channel4.com/4homes/diy-s...06-18_p_1.html


It certainly saves the index finger, which can pretty damned sore.
A lot depends how flat the tiles are. No amount of creative grouting can
disguise a wavy wall

No indeed.....Nothing looks better than a perfectly flat wall well
tiled and grouted but uneven tiles stick out like a sore thumb..

On 11 Sep, 16:51, sm_jamieson wrote:
The usual technique for grounting tiles with radiused edges is well
known, shape the grout with a dowel etc.
However, I had a problem with some cheap tiles where there was no
glaze round the "edge" of the tile. When you radiused the grout in the
usual manner, it exposed the "corner" where the dark biscuit showed
through. A white biscuit would help here, but the issue remains.
Problems were the dark biscuit but also the lack of glaze on the
edges. The usual technique with a dowel recesses the grout a bit,
which also makes wiping off easier without smudging the grout.
I noticed some tiles recently (radiused edge, not square edged
porcelain) in a commercial building, where the grouting was very
shallow. i.e, near the surface of the tile and flat, not radiused like
when you use a dowel.
If I knew how to do that, it would solve the problem with the cheap
tiles I mentioned earlier. I'm not sure how they got the flat shallow
grout lines whilst managing to wipe off the surface sufficiently.
Anyone know the trick ?
Simon.


I have achieved that 'flush' look but totally by accident. The grout
batch I used went bloody rock solid in 6 hours and I was desperately
trying to remove it.

On Thu, 11 Sep 2008 08:51:18 -0700 (PDT), sm_jamieson
wrote:

The usual technique for grounting tiles with radiused edges is well
known, shape the grout with a dowel etc.

Having seen a kitchen fitter grouting with a sponge I did my bathroom
the same and found it very satisfactory Needs to be a grouting sponge,
mind. The one I got free from a petrol station with a car cleaning ket
was quickly ripped to shreds.