Grouting & Caulking Tips for a Tub Shower | Mapei FA

🌟Caulking Before Grouting🌟

I'm always learning & trying to improve 😊
I had a suggestion from many contractors about caulking before grouting
Thought I'd give it a try for the corners
In this shower we are using Mapei FA (honey butter) - https://bit.ly/3MwQl1R
Matching 100% silicone (honey butter) - https://low.es/3QQOUhj

Tile with Color 🌈 https://bit.ly/merolatile_

Couple helpful grouting tools:
Troxell Grout float - https://amzn.to/3QPH0ow
Ardex Sponges - https://amzn.to/49oQC0T

🌟Grouting Walls🌟

Wipe down walls with a damp sponge to glide grout over tile more easily
Water is the enemy with this kind of grout
If there is any standing water in grout joints, it will more than likely wash out the joint
Not a big deal if that happens, just come back to the area that is washed out a little later and fill with grout 👍


The main priority at this stage of grouting is to be sure all joints are completely filled
If the joints are not completely packed, it will be tough to get an even grout joint during initial wash

Once you've completed a wall, go back & look over all joints
Fill with more grout where needed 👍

💥Hiring Employees💥

I think I have PTSD from having multiple employees on payroll when I first started out my business.....
My mismanagement of company ultimately lead to Bankruptcy (chapter 13)
I attribute these issues to the following core reasons:
1. Not fully knowing or understanding the complexity of having an employee (overhead costs: Workerscomp, matching SS, Accounting, Liability Insurance)
2. Not charging clients enough of projects to make a profit
3. Not being effiecent with delegating tasks & getting the most out of each employee
4. Investing in real estate without much cash flow
5. NOT knowing how rutheless the IRS can be if you don't pay on time!!!

My advice:
1. Establish your business. If you stay profitable & consistent for 5 years, you are probably financially stable enough to hire
2. Know what you need an employee for; Evaluate the savings & profits on each job. What ever you think you can save, divide that by 50% 😊 Its never as profitable as you think
3. Have cash flow, don't get into a commitment like this without reserves. Hiring a bad employee can be a loss right off the bat and cost you money. You do NOT want to owe the IRS anyting!!

Check out the great discussion that Tile Coach & I had on his live podcast
https://www.youtube.com/live/8dAw5yLo...


💦Initial Wash💦

After setting all grout (took 20-25 minutes for this scenario)
Periodically check the grout
Its all about timing 👊

You want to be able to press and mold the grout, but not pull the grout out of joint
If you are pulling grout out, wait another 10 minutes & test again

Test a small area and see if you can tool the grout joints with sponge without washing or pulling out the grout
The objective is to smooth out the grout joints even with tile
If you pull any grout out, it will cause the joints to be recessed.....which isn't an appealing look for most

Circular motions typically work, but its all about making a smooth joint
Whatever method works to achieve this is the way to go 👍
Keep in mind, you want to be sure your sponge is damp, no excessive water
Water is still the enemy at this stage of the game, too much can easily wash out the joint

As grout sets up, the more pressure & easier it can be to remove and get a nice smooth grout joint

Haze will form again
But wait for at least 2-3 hours before scrubbing it down
Let the grout fully set up before removing haze


🌟Grouting Floor🌟

Don't underestimate the amount of grout a floor like this takes 😄

With tiles that take this much grout, you'll be waiting around awhile for it to set up
Especially if its a cold environment

If you are pulling any grout out of joints, let it set up more
Wait another 10 minutes & try again
You should be able to scrub fairly aggressively without pulling grout out of joints

Couple hours later you can remove haze 👍

🏁Final Wash🏁

This most likely will take a couple of times to fully remove haze
Scrubbing down with grout deep clean & scrubby pad really helps
Especially for textured tiles

🛁Caulking the Tub🛁

From now on I will be caulking all corners before grouting 😁
So much easier & the results speak for themselves

My favorite is this Anvil Caulking tool - https://bit.ly/40yVkow

👉This is just a glimpse of content in my new course
🌟Home Office Bathroom Course🌟 - https://bit.ly/3QMZfJU
Enroll today for step-by-step guidance with checklists & written guides 👍

🎬Chapters
0:00 Caulking Corners before Grouting
0:57 Mapei FA & tools
5:55 Grouting Walls
11:24 Business Talk - Hiring Employees
20:56 Washing & Tooling Grout
28:07 Merola Tile
31:11Grouting Floor
34:28 Final Wash
35:37 Caulking Tub
39:37 Sealing Grout
42:21 Enroll in a Course 😊

#diy #bathroomremodel #tile #bathroomdesign #bathroomremodelingteacher #homeimprovement