Epoxy Grout Sealant Available In Thailand?

[Jingthing]

Grout. I hate grout. It gets dirty. It is the worst thing about tile in my view.

A friend of mine in the US did this with his tile and he loves the results:

1. Clean the existing grout of major grease and dirt, does not have to be free of all dirt and stains

2. Paint the grout using epoxy grout sealant with a small paintbrush

(You can choose any color you want, including something to hide the grout if you want (same color as tile)

Possibly two coats of sealant desirable for wet areas like showers

The result is a more or less permanent grout that no longer gets dirty and mops up like tile instead of grout which tends to not get cleaned with a mop.

Questions

-- is epoxy grout sealant easily available in Thailand?

-- have you done this, happy with it?

-- how much time would it take someone who has practiced doing this to do for example a 75 square meter condo fully tiled including bathroom/shower walls, balcony, kitchen walls ...

Yes, I know a lot of time, but I have no idea how much even roughly.

Another question also hard to answer, what would an acceptable daily rate of pay for an urban Thai worker to work at this boring back breaking task all day for many days?

Edited July 24, 2009 by Jingthing

[rgs2001uk]

Grout. I hate grout. It gets dirty. It is the worst thing about tile in my view.

A friend of mine in the US did this with his tile and he loves the results:

1. Clean the existing grout of major grease and dirt, does not have to be free of all dirt and stains

2. Paint the grout using epoxy grout sealant with a small paintbrush

(You can choose any color you want, including something to hide the grout if you want (same color as tile)

Possibly two coats of sealant desirable for wet areas like showers

The result is a more or less permanent grout that no longer gets dirty and mops up like tile instead of grout which tends to not get cleaned with a mop.

Questions

-- is epoxy grout sealant easily available in Thailand?

-- have you done this, happy with it?

-- how much time would it take someone who has practiced doing this to do for example a 75 square meter condo fully tiled including bathroom/shower walls, balcony, kitchen walls ...

Yes, I know a lot of time, but I have no idea how much even roughly.

Another question also hard to answer, what would an acceptable daily rate of pay for an urban Thai worker to work at this boring back breaking task all day for many days?

Answers,

1. yes

2. yes, yes

3. depending on tile size and number of coats required, 1 week is plenty (for a Thai worker).

4. 400 baht per day, if Somchai decides to sub contract and bring a friend, thats up to him, do not pay 2 wages, pay Somchai and let him divide as he sees fit.

[Jingthing]

http://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/infxtra...utcolorant.html

The above link explains how to do it. I will check the stores here now.

[citizen33]

http://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/infxtra...utcolorant.html

The above link explains how to do it. I will check the stores here now.

I don't have a full answer to your questions but I have used epoxy grout (I don't think this is the same product as paint-on epoxy sealant) to finish tiled work tops and surrounds in a kitchen. This job was only about 20m2 and just took a few hours, with myself and a Thai tiler working together. The grout has been there 6 years with no cracks or other problems and is easy to clean. I used it on thick orange terracota tiles and it gave a slight shine to the surfaces. I probably should have used the same product on the floor but it was quite expensive, as I recall about 3000 baht for the smallest of the advertised packs. I found a company in Bangkok on the internet and got them to post the pack to Isaan. If you go anywhere near this stuff be careful of the effects on bare skin. i was using disposable plastic gloves but still got some itchy reactions. Epoxy grout may be a stronger alternative to the epoxy sealant, more suitable for new tiling.

Edited July 27, 2009 by citizen33

[wpcoe]

I was at HomePro yesterday looking for ceramic tile cleaner and epoxy grout sealant.

I found something called "grout colour" which the label says is "for (re)colouring of joints between glazed wall tiles." Do you suppose there is any reason why it can't be used for floors? I did notice on the instruction sheet inside that said the grout would be scrubbable *three weeks* after application(!), although it claimed that one-hour after application the grout was waterproof.

For ceramic tile cleaner, the only thing they had was "cement grout film remover" which said it was good for ceramic tiles as well. It was about B500. I wonder, though, if a bathroom cleaner like Vixol would work? ISTR commercials on TV where they show a grungy bathroom (with ceramic tiles) and after using Vixol the entire room (including the floor) is sparkling white. Vixol is a lot cheaper than the "cement grout film remover". Any thoughts?

I'm in no hurry, but will continue my search for "ceramic tile cleaner" and "epoxy grout sealant" at other stores, like HomeWorks, Kanyong and Boontavorn.

[JRinger]

I was at HomePro yesterday looking for ceramic tile cleaner and epoxy grout sealant.

I found something called "grout colour" which the label says is "for (re)colouring of joints between glazed wall tiles." Do you suppose there is any reason why it can't be used for floors? I did notice on the instruction sheet inside that said the grout would be scrubbable *three weeks* after application(!), although it claimed that one-hour after application the grout was waterproof.

For ceramic tile cleaner, the only thing they had was "cement grout film remover" which said it was good for ceramic tiles as well. It was about B500. I wonder, though, if a bathroom cleaner like Vixol would work? ISTR commercials on TV where they show a grungy bathroom (with ceramic tiles) and after using Vixol the entire room (including the floor) is sparkling white. Vixol is a lot cheaper than the "cement grout film remover". Any thoughts?

I'm in no hurry, but will continue my search for "ceramic tile cleaner" and "epoxy grout sealant" at other stores, like HomeWorks, Kanyong and Boontavorn.

Vixol does work albeit too good....it contains muratic acid. "caution: don't use without nose/respiratory mask and never, never mix with bleach/heiter": .try squirting some on some ordinary concrete. You'll see that it literally dissolves concrete as well as the porcelain finish on ceramic tiles. If you use it in and on toilets it will also 'eat' the porcelain finish leaving little alternative except replacement. If you're using vixol for the first time, seal it directly after it drys. Silicone grout sealers are also available. Never heard of epoxy grout sealers, grout additive yes. great for swimming pool tiles as well as adding to the thinset adhesive.