Why can you not walk on a freshly grouted floor when the tile adhesive is dry?
Question:Just grouted a floor and the instructions on the grout say I can't walk on the floor for 24 hours. The tiles themselves were fixed to the floor about 2 weeks ago, so the adhesive itself will be fully dry.
The grout is already pretty solid after 12 hours. Why is it that I am not allowed to walk on it for a full day? I can't believe that the tiles will move given the adhesive is dry?
Will it ruin adhesion between tiles, or is it just that there is a risk I might step on the grout?
Thanks
Answers:
The portland cement and latex polymers in grout do not fully cure for 24 hours at 72F. Moisture does not fully evaporate, either.
Walking on the tiles causes seismic vibrations, which will ultimately loosen the uncured grout, burn off the water and leave you with nothing but powder on the surface.
It will ruin the grout.
You've already been told why in your previous posting of the same question
it can still shift when weight is put upon it , fully set it wont shift position
Tiles won't move, you're right-its just the risk of fouling your grout lines with a misstep or a shoe tread.
Grouting is basically done to cover up the gaps between the tiles and also improve the asthetics. Though the grout might look dry but it might not be dry from inside and once the upper layer of the grout dries up it takes a little while for the inner layers to dry.
Moreover if you walk on the tiles when the grout is still not fully set it might shift the grout & tile position and it might come out in days to come
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