Anyone ever use spectralock by Laticrete

Has anyone on here proffessional or DIY'ers had any experience with Spectralock grout by Latricrete. My tile dealer gave me a brochure on it and it sounds very interesting. It requires no sealer yet works and applies like a standard cement based grout. I plan on doing a floor in 13X13 tile and a backsplash in 4X4, anyone other suggestions on grout type would be appreciated.

True enough, in theory it does apply like a standard cement based grout but BE WARNED, this product is not at all easy to work with and in the case of a DIY'er I wouldn't consider it very "user-friendly" at all.

It is however a quality product and has it's applications but I'm not sure you would need it.

I wouldn't recommend it for a DIY residential project.

Ditto to Bud's reply. Good for countertops, showerpans, and that's as far as I would go with it. Just had an architect (who obviously knows more than me) spec it for 970 ft. Of quarry tile. Grout color: dk. brown. This was in a hallway that never sees water or any other crap that could harm grout. 2800$$ of taxpayers $ down the drain, plus it shrinks a little.

A few years ago I did about a 2000 square foot quarry tile job in the kitchen of a Catholic school cafeteria. Wasn't SpectraLok back then but was Laticrete's epoxy grout.

Every time I think about that job I start to cry. It was the sh*tz.

THEN, like a big dummy I turned right around and did a dentists office, 12" tile and epoxy grout. I gotta tell ya, I must have been nuts.

Just did another kitchen for the Army Reserve recently and this was SpectraLok and frankly I don't see where the epoxy products are improving any at all as far as being easy to install. The Reps show up with four tiles glued to a piece of plywood and demonstrate the epoxy grout and tell of what a simple to use great product it is. Liars one and all.

Obviously they have never done more than 4 sq. ft. And if they did they would appreciate they're job as a rep that much more. Thank you for all of your help Bud! As well as all the others too.

I will be grouting in the next week or so. I have bought Mapei almond color sanded grout. Should I use an additive or just use bottled water. 180sf kitchen.

I am using thinset Karabond with additive what a bit_h to use mixed 25lbs and 1gal of mapei additive seamed too thick hard to spread out but combed ok. If useing water Mapei said to use 6qts water what gives. Also let set 10 min then remixed, My 5/8 dewald got one heck of a work out smoking, had to remove mixer and run few min unloaded to cool. A'm I doing something wrong. Thanks Rich

Add the powder to the water when mixing not the water to the powder.

As far as the grout, Mapei is one of the better products out there and I think they already have all the necessary bells and whistles in their bag. Just add water.

Or again, start with water and 'just add grout'.

Just finished a Spectra-lok job yesterday with (17.5)" X (17.5)" exterior floor tile - all 180 sq ft. Of it.

NEVER, EVER again. Experienced tile man almost killed himself working with the Spectra-lok grout and even after following directions to a TEE - we still have a epoxy-tacky floor today that will require somekind of further cleaning.
Material did not cover as mfg. Stated, first and second washpacket woefully inadequate.
My suggetion - if you have more than 40 sq. Ft, - you had better have multiple experienced people there to putit down AND primarily - clean it. You need many more sponges, a lot of changes of water and somehow - find out what the wash chemiclas are or buy MUCH MORE than given with product.
God luck folks
Dan V.

Dan-- Look into a product called Petra 7.

http://www.domrest.com/products/petra7.htm

I have had good luck using TSP, tri sodium phosphate to clean the haze off of the tile. Can't wait more than 12 hours or so to clean, it won't come off very well. Other than that I think epoxys have gotten a little better.

You could go back a year later with the Petra 7 and it'll clean the tile up. No foul smell, either. It IS slippery, though, till you take it back up off the tile.

I'm a 5'4", 50 yr old woman, and I had little problem with Spectralok, so there's not much excuse for all this whining.

Follow the instructions. Lay it down only as quickly as you can clean it off within the allowed timeframe and you'll be fine. It's best to have 2 people doing it together so one can be applying and the other cleaning.

I can imagine that if you let it stand too long without cleaning that it could be a problem -- that's probably what these whiners did.

Yes, it is more work than a regular grout, but it is very resilient thereafter. Just wash it off well. Use some vinegar if the packet they give you isn't enough. No big deal.

I'm a 5'4", 50 yr old woman, and I had little problem with SpectraLOCK, so there's not much excuse for all this whining.

I been using SpectraLOCK exclusively for the past couple of years. These fellas still have their doubts because they think it goes on like the Laticrete Sp-100 epoxy stuff I used to use. In their defense the Sp-100 epoxy would kill anybody, especially on vertical surfaces like shower walls.

The best way to ease someone's fear is to try it out on a small bath or shower floor. The timing is everything, follow that to the letter. I just finished grouting 237 sf with the same ease as regular sanded grout. Next week I will be grouting 335 sf.

I am happy to charge more labor for no more effort, but in doing that the folks should not have any sealing issues to fret over later.

Someone has already said it, but I need to stress this again. Bring plenty of sponges, one sponge goes about 40 sf w/ 13 x 13 tiles. At any rate, when you notice the sponge getting "softer" or loaded up, toss it and get a new one.

I have discovered several tips on my own and pros could email me if they need any help with this.

I have had good luck with this grout and would recommend it!

I just finished doing 80 sq ft (shower enclosure) with it. I'm a diy'er and this was my first (and most likely last) project. It was easy to work with, but must be cleaned up meticulously. Once it sets up, it is almost impossible to get off the epoxy residue, although straight vinegar (a mild acid) helps with spot problems.

I did this job in sections. My first section turned out OK, but had a couple of "haze" spots and some sand on the tiles (which I scraped off with a razor. Although it wasn't noticable, it just bugged me). For the remaining sections, I just cleaned and cleaned and cleaned per directions and it looks great. After each cleaning, I looked over the area with a light to see if there was any residue. Gotta use clean sponges as someone else recommended.

I'm in the process of redoing my 1950's bathroom. I just have the floor to do, and will use the product on the floor.

This is a great board. Thanks for the help and hope this helps, too!

Mikey

I have always turned down jobs that had epoxy grout.
I find that if its not in a hospital, its not needed.
Mapei makes a epoxy product that is very easy to work with.
Try it

What a bunch of whiners! I've used SpectraLock for a couple of years on large and small mosaic projects and it's a DREAM! You fix your clean up water with 3 or 4 cups of apple cider vinegar in a five gallon bucket and go! Work in moderate temperatures, not under 60 and not over 90-ish and it's the BEST to use! Cleans up like a charm, no residue, no film if you finish off with a clean wet sponge as the final, glowing pass. I use it on enormous concrete birdbaths and it works like a charm, no stains, holds up like a million dollars under constant standing and often dirty water. I'd recommend it for any project as it leaves a finer grain (hand) than traditional bag grout. Will be regrouting my whole kitchen floor with it in a couple of weeks. Forget what those guys say. Use and enjoy!

I too have used it on large (200+ sq ft) and small (<25 sq ft) jobs. Price is my only complaint. But it works well. Easy to use. Can do it in stages due to small lot size. If tile is shiny (glazed) you have to be more careful of cleanup due to hazing, but the vinegar trick is one I can attest to, too. I am not handy at all. If I can use it, anyone can.

I used all types of grout and honestly I believe Spectra Lock gives the best result with no more work than regular cement grout. After the Spectra Lock is spread and pressed into the tile joints, if you hold your stiff rubber float at almost a 90% angle and pull it diagonally across the grout line, the grout will almost be entirely removed from the tile surface and clean up will be that much more easy to clean. If you follow the directions exactly you should have no problems. There are a few recomendations and a few different steps than a cement grout, and probably those who complain did not read the directions and/or follow the recomendations.

Good luck.