procedure for grouting porous stone listello

Calling on all experts! HELP

I am at my wits end. I hired a contractor to remodel my bathroom. I purchased an Italian imported stone, porous listello. This is the accent piece in the bathroom. It gives the room a classy, elegant yet simple look. It is a 10 inch piece with tiny prous stones. Evey 4th suare has a polished bronze accent which is abosutley beautiful.
I am concerned that grouting over this listello would create haze and cover the tiny natural crevices of the small stones.

Do I seal the listello first, then grout, afterwards re-seal? Do I grout with sanded or unsanded grout?

Evy

Well first find yourself a bakers supplies shop and purchase the pouch that bakers use to decorate cakes. You will also want to purchase the fine tip that makes all the fancy designs. Put ur tip at the end of the pouch and ur grout in it. Then gently squeeze ur grout into the line let sit for about 5 minutes then wipe off.
Im asuming that u used 1/16 or smaller grout joint for the tile that u have used. U would use unsanded grout---seal before and after grout is dry. Only seal on clean surface.

Also, mix grout to a med to thick consistency

Well first find yourself a bakers supplies shop and purchase the pouch that bakers use to decorate cakes.

All of the tile shops and major hardware stores sell "grout bags". You just as well spend you money on a bag that is going to last more than fifteen minutes, you aren't decorating cakes here.

Then gently squeeze ur grout into the line let sit for about 5 minutes then wipe off.

Pack the grout into the joint tightly. Push it in with a grout float until you see it wanting to push itself back in your direction. Being timid will only create voids in the grout and a poor grout job.

The "tiny natural crevices" will be a pain not to fill. Good luck with that approach.

Hello John and Bud,

Thank you both soo much for the great advice. Intuitively, I thought of getting something similar to a bakers tip bag. Both of you have really assauged my concern. So. I seal first, then gingerly grout using the outlined method (which sounds great!) then seal again? Is this the procedure? Please forgive me for not responding sooner, I work until very late weekdays!
I will be reading your responses and responding quicker since besides working late, I really didn't know how this site worked.
Again, thank you!
Evy

That should work for you. It may not be possible to save all of the holes, a toothpick and a toothbrush may come in handy.

Thank you! Will try. Hank you soooooo much!
Evy

Unfortunately, the contractor JCA in Mahopac, New York and us had to go to court. Bob Mayer, the contractor did not pre seal the listello, which is very tiny and porous, heavily grouted and did not wipe immediately after applying the grout creating a hazy, soap scum dingy effect in our bathroom. We took pics at every juncture of the process everytime this man was in our home. He worked only hous a day. Some times 2 hours others, 3, the most 4 hours a day for which he was paid a total of 1,090. We had gutted the bathroom and tiled the lower part of the bathroom walls. We had instaled cement wet wall in the shower as well as installed the shower base. However, we felt we should go with a professional contractor to finish the process with the beautiful listello accent since we did not want anything to take away from our intended vision for the ultmate outcome of the bathroom. We have never had experience with any of this sort of thing before. Lamentably, not only was the listello improperly treated, stones fell off, some broke off, others were pushed back into place, other pieces were misaligned and c**keyed. The contractor, upon my request, stated that "You do not pre-seal this porous stone. You grout then wait a month to seal" We have secured written statements from 17 reputable (we now know who these people are, not so at the time of remodeling) contractors and expert tilesetters who have come to the home and inspected the job a day sometimes 2 days at the least 3 days after the installation of the border by JCA Construction. The concensus is overhwelming: Substabdard installation, grouting and treatment of stone, In addition, these written evaluations also pointed overwhelmingly to the fact that othe areas done by Mr. Myer were not up to standards: Shower body installed to low; shower frame not sealed on the sides, door frame cut too high creating draft coming inside the bathroom; ceiling needed another coat of paint, walls needed a second coat of paint; the upper portion of the shower tiled by this man was not flushed, not in alignement with the rest of the wall. There are lumpy areas along the way, vaniity not secured to side wall, the penci borders had yellow paint and grout all over them on top of them, to mention a few. The contractor was allowed two days within which to address these concerns none of which were done. We therefore terminated his services since he faied to address the issue of damage control with the imported listello and the substandard application of the above mentioned items. Bob Mayer's, aka JCA, defense has been that: "I was not allowed to finish my work" He came to our home uninvited and unannounced after we terminated his job wanting to finish in order to get paid the balance of what the job had been stipulated to be! We have filed a grievance against him with consumer affairs and plan to take this to other forums so that others are not beguiled. THIS PERSON SHOULD BE BANNED FROM WORKING ANYWHERE! A contractor came to the house 2 days after this man was at ur home and asked me: "What's the carpenter doing in your house". He was recognized by someone who knew him. (I should have known then and not waited till the following workday when the disaster ocurred!) Well. If carpenter by trade, he can't even cut a door straight enough not to allow drafts of air from seeping in. JCA Construction, BOB MAYER is a substandard, unreliable, unreputable company. To date, Mr. Mayer does not take responsibility for the disaster he created nor the fact that he did not know how to install this type of border. BUYER BEWARE! Handiman Connection has terminated his contract with them.

You have already posted this slam here elsewhere it doesn't do much good to keep it up. I suggest you contact your attorney and persue this guy in that fashion.

While you are talking with your attorney you might ask him what your liability is in repeatedly lambasting this guy on the Internet without giving him the opportunity to voice his side.

I'd sue your a*s if it was me!

"sue his a*s" on what grounds? Truth is an ultimate defense against defamation. I bet my attorney can beat up your attorney.