Tile flooring?
Question:How long do you have to wait after applying the motar and the tiles to apply the grout?
Answers:
If you use a regular mortar you need to wait at least 12 hrs.
The textbook answer would be 24 - 48 but that's a little too righteous for practical use.
If you want to get the job done quickly you can use a rapid setting mortar such as Ultraflex RS. This will allow you to grout after only a few hours.
we waited 24hrs and it was set ---- floor turned out great
I am having my entire house tiled in a week. The guys will be coming out on day two to apply the grout, so I'd say approx. 24 hours is good.
fast set cement-- 12 hours-- tile adhesive that looks like paste and water base- 24 hours-tap tiles with end of broom stick after drying time-- any loose tiles will sound different then the ones firmly glued-- use sanded grout where water is not a problem.. use non sanded grout for moist or wet locations
24 hours
After installing thousands of sq. ft of tile I offer that others answer correctly.
That 24 hours is likely to allow set time, though not strictly cure time. Thin set mortar is designed to "kick off" more rapidly that usual concrete. If for example you were tiling a concrete floor at ground level; depending on the season, and any rains that happen for extended periods; you might want to give the mortar 48 hours. Certainly as a DIY, not a tiling contractor, one can afford another day on non grouted flooring.
Steven Wolf
Normally grout dries faster than the motar under the tiles, so if you leave the tiles for about an hour you can then apply the tile grout with out any worries of the tiles moving.
Always remember to apply a small amount of grout to the tiles and then clean it off with a moist sponge. If you leave the grout to dry it is a pig to get off.
24 hours is the industry standard. Also have you considered what you will need to do with the grout after put in. Is the tile going on the floor or wall. If on a floor you will want to lightly mist the grout lines with a misting bottle 2-3 times a day for 3-5 days to correctly cure the grout. After you have done that you will want to seal the grout with a good grout sealer, normally 1-2 aplications of this is adequate. Each grout sealer is a little different so follow instructions to the "T" If you follow these steps your grout will stay cleaner longer and your grout will last longer.
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