How to ensure shower grout dries?

[carly19]

 

Hi! 
Regrouted out shower floor using the dunlops ready made grout, 10 days later some joins washed away. Thought maybe moisture so cleaned it out, left the space heater and hairdryer to ensure no moisture was sitting in there for a good week. 
Regrouted again and it’s been 2 weeks still soft! What’s happening, I miss the ensuite shower. Bottom middle line, and top right corner line. 

[JacobZ]

Hi @carly19,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community and thank you for your question.

I trust your judgement, but I'd like to explore a few things to determine where the issue lies.

You say the grout feels soft, but does it still feel wet? Is it soft in all the joints or just the couple where it has washed out?  Did you press the grout into the joints using a grout float?

You need to pack the grout in so that it is lightly compressed, and the joint is full from top to bottom. It could be that some of the joints weren't packed in tightly enough, which allowed them to get washed out.

Assuming the grout was given a mix before installation and no additional water was added, I can't see why it wouldn't be dry after 10 days, especially considering that you've taken the additional steps with the heater and hairdryer.

What specific premixed grout did you use? When you regrouted, did you use the same grout or different grout? Did you mix any water with it?

If you've used the same package of grout multiple times, it could be an issue with the product. If you feel this is the case, I would be happy to assist you with returning and replacing it.

Let me know what you think.

Jacob

[carly19]

Sorry I should have been more specific. It washed away as in it wasn’t dry, as soon as the shower was on it delsoved and washed out. 

yes used a sponge and float. Same grout used for all the lines just seemed to be the deeper two will not set. It isn’t dry as a finger nail bed dints it.

used the Dunlop 800g ready to go coloured grout both times. Same bottle. I thought that seeings through the other bits dried from the same bottle it wouldn’t be a product issue??

[EricL]

Hello @carly19 

I'm not entirely sure why the grout did not cure properly. It could be incorrect product mixture, or the grout mix has expired or both. I believe that ten days is more than enough time to have the grout totally cure. I propose bringing the bottle back to the store and explaining to them that the grout did not dry properly and to exchange it for a new one. 

Please remove the old soft grout before applying the new grout from the bottle.

Before you apply the new Dunlop 800g Ready-To-Go Coloured Grout, make sure to mix/shake and press the bottle very well so that the content has been activated properly. Leave the shower door, windows and door open and make sure you have adequate air flow in the room. I would even go as far as suggesting in placing an electric fan pointed in the shower to make sure that the moisture is driven out of the room. Air movement is key to get the grout to cure properly.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric