My Response to Jeff from Home RenoVision DIY | Mapei Ultracolor Plus Grout FA

[@trinitylane2202]

I just used this grout on my kitchen and bathroom backsplash. I watched a video with a few tips. 1 - Use cold water. I used filtered water. 2 - Don't use a high speed mixer, mix slowly preferably by hand. 3 - Mix small batches. Use 3.5 ounces of water per pound of grout mix. I made 2 pound mixtures at a time (2 lb grout/7 ounces water). I followed these tips and I had no problem doing it all by myself.

[@tjjones2168]

Mixing it by hand is definitely the best with cold water

[@tongkatali6904]

I had the same positive results on my shower floor by following those tips. I will say that the manufacturer is largely to blame by showing a diagram of mixing with a drill on the bag, the instructions should say “WARNING! DO NOT MIX WITH A HIGH SPEED DRILL!”

[@Rock_Shady]

Did you mix the mud, let it sit for 5 minutes, and mix again? Its called slaking and it allows the polymers to be fully permeated by the water and the second mix is to really break em down and distribute them, making a superior grout.

[@jasperstarr6804]

@@Rock_Shady - Wrong instructions for this grout. The instructions on the bag specifically tell you to start applying it immediately after mixing, and in reading through responses from Mapei reps to questions or reviews, I've seen NO SLAKING! more times than I can count.

[@Rock_Shady]

​@jasperstarr6804 mapei ultra color plus? You gotta let that stuff slake. The old instructions said no slaking- just mix for 5 minutes. Those instructions led to people over mixing their grout which kills your pot life and when the grout cures to fast it doesn't cure as strong. Newer bags of ultra color plus say to let slake for 2-3 minutes. Trust me this is an incredibly common problem that gets brought up between the old and young tile guys at least once a week. Mapei has both instructions on their website aswell so it's really a fuckup on mapeis part for not deleting the old instructions from existance lol.

[@chowsman1]

I've used this grout MANY times. I only mix a third of a bag at once and I use a measuring cup and scale so my quantities are precise. The thing is the once the grout is mixed it can sit in the container for some time. I personally apply maybe 2ft x 4ft and then immediately wipe it off. Then I do the next area so on and so on. The reason for the exact measuring is so when you mix the next batch it matches the previous batch. To save time have like 5 sponges and five buckets (and a helper if you can) of clean water when wiping. Hope this helps.

[@JM-gb7hf]

I was weighing my grout too for smaller portions and then found the PDF on Mapei's website called "Mixing Partial Units of Grout" and it gave me the proper ratios by volume to use. It made things a lot faster for me and I got a very consistent mixture each time.

[@latengocomoburro]

I just did it with you suggestions and it came out great. The grout in the bucket literally lasted me about an hour and 10 min before it got hard. I mixed it with cold water. Thank you so much.

[@luisjorgeandujo5092]

Pure Sarcasm

[@hannahandwadeaaron]

This is super helpful!

[@alfredonavales3379]

You are correct, we had ample time to clean up. Because of his video, I too was nervous in using the said grout and had to get my wife to make it a team effort. We did see another video that explained why the material sets up fast. In that video he explained that the use of a HIGH SPEED device to mix it drastically cured the material faster. So my wife and I used cold water and manually mixed the material by hand. Surely enough we are proud of our finished project. Thank you for your video!

[@stanleybean1220]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/novdo2N9rteaadk

[@arelfarrington9943]

He's not incorrect. Application depends on the situation. I applied this outdoors in the sun and it dried within less than 4 minutes. So while I agree that the situation can change. He was pretty much trying to keep people who have no idea what they are doing from making a huge mistake.

[@TheEnigmaticmuse]

I only watched 45 seconds of that video by Jeff, and he specifically said not to use if you have no experience with tile and grout.

[@vlocash1180]

When u said the son u fd up

[@Jackcuzzy]

I was about to start my bathroom grouting today when I stumbled across that video. It scared me and I started looking for alternatives. I then found your video which made me chance it and it was totally fine. I’m grateful for both videos though as it allowed me to prepare properly and work within a reduced timeframe. It dries quicker than I expected but it was my first time grouting.

[@ASVProductions]

Weird…I’m just about to start tiling and went through same YT journey

[@Jlaudiomustangs10]

Yup that's why I'm here too

[@zozavaljevo]

@@Jlaudiomustangs10 me too

[@prosccr5774]

Me too:) I’m going for it but glad I have the tips.

[@monicaconstantin5625]

SAme here had it in car to return saw,,, brought it back in lol Think ill try, 1st time tho but its not hot here

[@danchiasson]

I had a completely different experience the first time I used this grout. (I had used other traditional grouts previously, so it wasn't my first time doing a tile job.) For me, it was exactly as Jeff described -- almost a disaster. I wish I had seen Jeff's video before using Ultracolor Plus FA. The grout hardened like rock hard cement within 20-30 minutes, and I really struggled to scrape (not wipe) it off, joint by joint (and still today the grout job is mediocre when inspecting closely because of this fast hardening incident.) I think results can vary wildly depending on your exact mix ratio, water quality (minerals and municipal chemicals), the ambient humidity, and temperature. It's better to have a stern warning before using something like this (and perhaps have to do a little more corrective work like you did) than the 4-5 hours of dry grout scraping I had to do.

[@williamanderson6006]

sounds like you were trying to go too fast and grouted too big a section

[@insidmal]

It probably depends a lot on the temperature and humidity and whatnot

[@bluelightalarm]

@@williamanderson6006 Sounds like you are leaping to conclusions without knowing all the facts!

[@Trucker-Belly]

Use Prism and be happy

[@alexfabozzi2059]

My results exactly. Rock hard and unable to scrape off. I have done 8-10 bathrooms and this is the only one there were problems with.

[@lungjunky]

Admittedly, after watching Jeff’s video I was contemplating returning my unopened grout bag. However, after watching your video my anxiety level for using this product was reduced by 90%. You are candid about your skill level and you focused on the good things that Jeff passes on to us. Btw, your shower looks great 👍 I will definitely have two buckets of water ready to clean within 15 to 20 min. I can proceed confidently thanks to the experience and lessons conveyed by both you and Jeff. Thx for taking the time and making the effort to post.

[@jl9678]

I used it for the first time yesterday. A disaster. It was 97 degrees and the first half bag (10lb bag)I mixed was hard in less then 15 minutes. Took forever to get it off the wall. Then I read on the bag to read the technical data sheet is the weather is over 80 degrees. Duh. I couldn't throw the rest away since I still had to small walls to do and I wanted the match. All the other half bag I mixed ultra thin. This gave me about 20 minutes working time and I still had to wipe pretty much as I went. I have another bag I'm returning tomorrow. Learned my lesson

[@vmarsfiles]

I took my shii back. Grout sets fast😂😂😂

[@rts3613]

I used this grout again today and had no issues. I used cold water to mix it and the temps were in the upper 50s, pot life and workability were exceptional. I grouted 60 square feet and didn't have any need to do it in sections. I actually had to wait on the grout to start the clean up. Once I was completely done with the job, the leftover grout I saved for touch ups was just as workable as when I mixed it. I really think the issues people are having are temperature related.

[@tguy6121]

great feedback....BUT QUICK QUESTION: WHAT DID YO U USE TO MIX THE GROUT....SPEED DRILL OR BY HAND?

[@SUP3RDAD84]

In fairness: your tile is high gloss (practically glass) which afforded you more time. In most cases, he is right.

[@KellyConcepts]

In "most cases" high gloss tile is used - especially for new people. Ceramic and porcelain makeup the bulk of what improvement stores carry. In most cases, he's wrong.

[@eddiepullman4776]

Yeah he’s right for the most part. If you were to attempt to grout a tile that sucks out the moisture and you grout to much, you’ll have a seriously hard time getting it off.

[@lindamendez6311]

@@KellyConcepts such a hypocrite ( I still love you Jeff ) ( in most cases his wrong) 😒

[@michaelflorez3154]

Your just hating on him. You'll tile is glossy so thats why it worked. I been using this product a few years now and you do need to work it and wipe fast.

[@SUP3RDAD84]

@@KellyConcepts unless, of course the vast majority of your tile is on the floor… where you don’t want it shiny… like glass. So for the MAJORITY of the sq ft of tile being laid… (diyers usually don’t start on a wall anyway) he’s still right. God save the Jeff.

[@gBayCanada]

It all comes down to your definition of DIY. If you are flipping a cabin without professional help, you probably more of a DIYer than most of us. I used the same Ultracolor Plus grout for a small kitchen backsplash and did small sections at a time and worked my tail off to get the tiles clean. One thing for sure is that charcoal grout on white tile requires more experience or more elbow grease. I think you are both right.

[@insidmal]

This kind of stuff is why you don't buy a flip.. this guy is saying he's new to tiling and is doing showers, yikes, just asking for future water problems that he's never even going to know happened and keep making the same mistakes

[@butchjohnson3159]

keep clean water handy, have some help changing buckets, wipe, rinse, ring, wipe, rinse, ring... The streaks go away quickly as long as you keep changing out the water. I installed this on my 130 square foot backsplash and it worked great. Jeff makes entire buckets with almost the entire bag. I made 2 pounds at a time and it worked great.

[@neilp6208]

@@insidmal We bought a flip and I'm now grinding out their sh*tty grout job from the bathroom floor to try again

[@nandoalva]

He is definitely right. I've been doing tile professionally for a long time. Mapei ultra color plus is both my favorite and least favorite grout to use. When it's used on gleazed tile like yours, it's the best grout to use. If your tile is anything else and the room temperature is above 80 degrees DO NOT use this grout because it will ruin your tile job.

[@KellyConcepts]

That's great to know for future projects. I'll avoid this for stone and other porous tile work but use it on porcelain

[@markme4]

If your tile is that porous use a grout release or an inexpensive penetrating sealer. Any grout, not just Ultracolor, will burn into a porous tile. If I went home everytime it got above 80 degrees I would go broke. Did you say you are a professional?

[@LMCARR1993]

@@markme4 well said. I just cant comprehend how nonchalant this video is. Ultracolor is my favourite grout, but its an absolute beast of a product that can quickly destroy.

[@GustavoBRZ]

I watched a mapei training last week and this grout is very good is recommended for most of the tiles and situations. I think he just said to not use with porous materials as stones or use a sealer first. A great hint he gave that day was to always take a piece of tile as sample and apply the grout on the surface of the tile you’re installing. This you can check first what to expect and communicate any problems with your customer. Even with the fine aggregate it can scratch surface of a marble tile for example. You can make your customer see what gonna happen if he’s not willing to pay for sealing work. One product that really surprised me is that pre mixed bucked grout and I’m willing to use in all my projects now. It’s not just recommended for exterior I think and submerged places likes pools etc. it comes pre mixed you can apply right away. You don’t have to wait it dry a little bit like the other, it’s a different composition. Another important point was that I never saw anybody mixing the grout the way he said it’s the right way, takes a lot of time and you can mess the color of the grout if you put too much water, if you to repair it you can have different color because of the mixing. Also we always waste material when doing grout in the bucket etc. with the pre mixed product you finish the work and put it back in your shelf of grout and it’s ready to use in the next job.

[@mariatorres9789]

Thank you. I'm taking this shit back right now, before I f*CK up my beautiful shower trying to touch up some small patches. What a nightmare, from every comment I've seen. I have travertine. Yikes! Lol 😂

[@ivandred3655]

One of my first time tiling was doing full mosaic walls on the custom shower. I used the Ultracolor plus. I did it in summer with no AC on. I just did portions at a time. Jeff is right, if it is hot, the grout will set up real quick.

[@raphaeldumont-lavoie1985]

I just learned this the hard way 😢

[@MrMikeyPayne]

The right way to critique someone. Thanks for video. I bought the Ultracolor Pluss FA last night and saw Jeff's critique and your response right afterwards. Thanks! You didn't throw out the baby with the bathwater. Jeff is really great!! I also found his critique fo the cheapo chinese drywall lift was not legit for a DIYer. I had to watch a lot of vide3os to recover my confidence to purchase the cheap one. If I was a pro, the pro version would be what I would buy, but even then only as the business paid for it.

[@bernardpatterson7441]

Do you use a sponge first and then a rag/towel?

[@michaelcooper9523]

Jeff has by far the best channel for learning to DIY....I follow his videos to the T and has never failed me. I don't see the point of criticizing his video, he just doesn't want anyone to make a simple mistake which can ruin an entire job.

[@KellyConcepts]

He's talking his thousands of followers out of using a premium product (his own words). I love his content but I'm just demonstrating that he's incorrect here.

[@williamanderson6006]

he clearly misrepresented this grout heck under different conditions you can screw any kind of grout up

[@samuelhowie2780]

Hey thanks for your vidéo. Can you tell me how much Time to wait after doing thé grout before cleaning thé shower with vinagar to remote Any remaining powder?

[@bob6168able]

Thanks.. excellent info. But Do you have to remove the old grout out before applying the new one. ?!

[@warrenmichael918]

If you are asking that question, im not sure you should really be using this grout.

[@abbysisson8580]

thank you coz i'm about to return this ultracolor bag after watching his video last night but since you've use it then il do mine tonight as well but i will surely set a timer making sure il be done within 15mins and then wipe out after

[@KellyConcepts]

I just did my backsplash in my kitchen with this. Had plenty of time to do all the grout and come back and wipe it down by myself. From the comments I get, it’s best in low temperatures and on slick tiles.

[@abbysisson8580]

@@KellyConcepts thank you for makes me less scared now... but what was the water ratio to grout did you use? coz i'm planning to just do a small mixture at a time and use my kitchen wooden spoon to mix instead of the high speed mixer

[@KellyConcepts]

@@abbysisson8580 I eyeball it. Mix it and add water until it has a peanut butter consistency. A good way to look at it - when you pull the mixer out of the grout bucket it will make a little mountain peak (or pyramid), you want that peak to curl over like a Santa hat. You do not want the grout to keep a firm mountain shape.

[@enriquea.9061]

Thank you very much for your video. I have watched Jeff's for quite a few videos and started to believe his confidence 100%. I got the same impression about that grout and decided against using it because of Jeff's recommendation, even though it would had been my preferred choice. So thank you again for keeping him honest.

[@TheDailyPracticeBlog]

What's your stance on grouting the vertical corners versus only using silicone? Getting conflicting answers

[@KellyConcepts]

I always silicone the corners with the matching grout color (silicone made by mapei). I've always heard grout cracks there.

[@TheDailyPracticeBlog]

@@KellyConcepts thanks, I think I’ll try it. There seems to be alot of hype about this spectralock1 product. I have the same bagged mapei product you used but I’m on the fence to go the spectralock route… It was such a nightmare ripping the old grout out I never to do this again! I want something that is borderline epoxy.

[@jamesjett1561]

Does it scratch glass mosaic or polished porcelain?

[@tonygennusa8086]

Can you use mapei maximizer with ultra color fa ?

[@steveche42]

what color did you use? was it charcoal or black

[@nan5715]

So when do you know when you can wipe away? Do you just test periodically to see if it’s set as in no product comes off when you touch it?

[@tomfoley879]

How did you do the corners?

[@BelindaCracchiolo]

Help, this stuff dryed way to fast doing an outside bar on stone . How do i get it offfff ughhh i just ruined the walls. 😢. Ive grouted a lot in the past we got this thoufht it was the same as other stufff.

[@tjjones2168]

Did you mix it by hand because if you mix it by hand, it takes a while to set up if you use a power mixer drives really fast

[@philosopherhobbs]

A lot of people don't know that you can get in trouble with this stuff if you use a high speed mixer. It will get hard in 10-15 minutes. There's another video on KZbin from a guy who had this problem. Mix slow or even better by hand.

[@KellyConcepts]

Another great tip!

[@davidwhitman9609]

I watched that video and almost returned the FA but I wanted to fill a wide range of gaps and liked the no seal feature. I ended up doing it thinking if it starts to set I’ll quit immediately. It worked great. I did it in two batches. I wish I had seen your video beforehand for a little stress relief!

[@racerzl1]

Thanks for this video. I had purchased the Mapei Ultracolor grout and saw the other guys video, and I was gonna take the grout back and exchange. After watching your video , I proceeded, and everything came out just fine. you saved me a lot of trouble !

[@leeguitarmcr]

Hand mix or via Drill? Im about to use this same grout later on my first tiling job and Im nervous about ruining all my hard work. Do you recommend a 15 min drying time before wiping off?

[@ahmadOrlando39]

Don't use this shit product. Use regular grout with Portland cement

[@gray5857]

Thank you so so much. I literally am in the exact situation you found yourself in. And I haven't attempted my grouting yet due to the grout... thanks a ton! ❤ I'm going to go for it!

[@swagobill]

so I added Mapei grout maximizer to the ultracolor....oops....did I ruin my job? I hope not. Is it overloaded with additive to the point of future failure? or have I made it super strong?

[@Poor_Mans_DIY]

A truly fair and respectful assessment! The end result speaks for itself.

[@KudzuDigital]

Thank you! I just bought a house and have to regrout and this is the grout we have from the previous owner! So, now I feel good about using it.

[@fakeworld6822]

So how long did you let it sit?

[@jeffreymadej3207]

I just used this grout and loved it. I think the big x factor is the ambient temp. The instructions do clearly state if you are doing this in hot weather read additional instructions. I did this in 72 degree weather and was able to work and clean the grout for 30 minutes at least. I did an entire shower without issue. I was also using high gloss tile but I honestly dont think it would have been an issue either way. Great video glad you posted or I would have an inferior grout right now. This stuff is next gen and well worth it.

[@JamesTaylor-wp3bf]

Do you have to use Mapei grout maximizer or can you still use water?

[@jackdolphy8965]

Great call Kelly. I saw this Jeff video too, and since my bathroom re-tile project is many weeks away, I just filed the info out of mind for the time being. Many thanks for showing your experience with the stuff.

[@michaelzientara668]

Jeff's video almost made me try something else. Thankfully, I saw your video before I changed my approach and you gave me enough confidence to keep going. You made all the difference! I used that grout and it worked great - with plenty of time to clean up. Thanks.

[@craigslaunwhite579]

Hey Kelly. I went through your videos. I was looking for a vid of you installing the tile. Looks great. Do you have a video of you installing that tile. Would be super helpful. I have similar project.

[@thetruthyes]

Always start grouting from the top down, and after you clean it with a sponge use a microfiber cloth to wipe residue.

[@Chanmantroop10]

Makes a huge difference if your tiles are porous or polished. Polished makes cleaning a cinch. If you have porous stone it'll dry way faster too.

[@jimdolceamore3005]

I just used it and it worked out fine. My only lesson learned for future, I would have mixed 2/3 of the bag and then later the remaining 1/3 because I just barely completed the job before it became unworkable.

[@JrJagsFootball]

I needed to see this video a week ago. Ironically, yesterday I grouted for the first time and used this product. I had the same experience as you. Mine turned out fine as well. I will finish my last back wall tomorrow.

[@chaseblanchard1405]

Appreciate the video. I watched Jeff's video first and was going to try it myself anyway. Glad to know I'll be fine. Thanks!

[@mrman7431]

Thanks for making this video. I procrastinated a month second guessing choosing this grout after seeing Jeff's video. I finally did the job the week after watching your video. Grouting 24sq/ft of pebble tile I mixed slowly with a drill using cold water (2) 10lb bags. I had no issues and had plenty of time to apply and clean up.

[@ericastier1646]

Which is useless post because you didn't mention the temperature and humidity level of your work environment which is the main factor.

[@stevho6353]

Thanks for this video. We were 1st time tile grouters and I almost gave up on the MAPEI Ultracolor Plus FA we had purchased for our tile entryway project after seeing Jeff's video. I really like his content and appreciate that he warned us about the potential pitfalls of this product. You video gave us hope and other KZbinrs ID'd and detailed other Failure scenarios. Bottom line is we used it and got a great result. Kept the room cool, used cold water, mixed by hand in smallish batches, followed package instructions TO THE LETTER and watched the applied grout like a hawk. Turned out we had more than enough open time and it was pretty easy.

[@alanellsworth5961]

We used the Mapei FA grout this weekend. Cold water. Hand stir. High gloss porcelain tile. We ended up about 20 minutes to start wiping. Thank you.

[@freshjive416]

For people who were having trouble with this product, did you hand mix or use a drill/paddle? A different video mentioned that his problems of a very fast set time came from mixing it at high speed. When he mixed it by hand, he had a lot of time to work with it.

[@NativeNYerChicHK]

First of all ALWAYS READ INSTRUCTIONS!! On my first DIY shower I did use Ultracolor, but I am a bit of a perfectionist so I not only read the instructions but I watched about 30 pro KZbin videos first and took a few tips & tricks from the pros. I worked in small sections. Did the first small section and started another section which took about 10-15 minutes, went back to the first and cleaned it off and then started the third section, went back to the second and so on. Timing is KEY. At the end I cleaned everything with a grout haze remover. And my shower looks GREAT!!!

[@TheFlamingEyeball]

Glad I saw this! I just saw Jeff's video (and you are correct, he did save me a lot of work) but I too read instructions, and will go read them again! Thanks for saving me some distress!

[@الطيرالحر-خ8خ]

Thanks for the feed back. Jeff is one of top go to professionals and i agrre that sometimes he just want to make it simple for his followers... in fact the plus fa was reported by a lot of people as being tricky to work with.

[@muddyriverdogz]

I have used it extensively and have never had a problem.

[@undonesofficial]

I don't think Jeff said anything wrong in his video. If you're a DIY'er and you're first grouting experience is going to be the tile shower you installed, I'd recommend you stop and try a floor or something too first. If you use an epoxy, urethane, or say power grout, if it sits on the wall too long and you didn't get to it in time you'll end up chiseling it off; in that instance you'd have no choice to start over. As a fellow contractor and tile setter, wiping it in 15-20 minutes is for best results. It would be a terrible situation to have spent 3k on materials and fail at the grouting stage. If you have any questions before you start, it's always a good idea to consult with a professional if you're unsure of something. Also, when washing grout, use warm water, it's breaks the grout up better than cold water.

[@skol4life297]

This is absolute facts cold water makes it infinitely more difficult the chemical reaction that cement grouts have are heat induced. Once you reintroduce heat into the equation it softens the grout for you to manipulate.

[@YannisFyssas]

Absolutely agree about that video - I had teh EXACT same experience, wipe too soon, ruin the grout, regrout. Solution - wait 20-30min THEN clean !

[@markhueffman6859]

Just used this video as a guide for doing my small shower. Saw Jeff’s video and it scared me too but decided to go for it. Mixed small batches, 2.5 lbs with 8 ounces of water. Mixed with a drill slowly. Had plenty of time to use up each batch and happy with the results.

[@larryrock3333]

I can’t agree more. I bought the fa and sat around until noon drinking coffee building confidence. Lol But like you said Jeff made us pay attention to this product. I built a large shower in my basement. I shut the dehumidifier off and turn down the temp and I believe that gave me more working time. I wouldn’t go past a half a batch at a time in hot weather. Grout came out beautiful. The product offers to much to not use it. Thank you for the confidence to try it and Jeff for making me aware of what I’m using.

[@gregstewart7966]

Thank you!! I was panicking about this grout. Now I feel so much better!!!

[@MrNeptunebob]

Can you get this grout off of your new yellow cargo pants?

[@starrylight8819]

He almost scared me from using it but I already bought it..i saw your video..got my confidence back and got it done:)

[@vanessap8717]

Same experience as you, also used black. Plenty of time, I’m in a basement and it’s October in Toronto so I’m sure that matters. I have a matte finish green ceramic tile. Wet the tile down before grouting, says in the bag.. may help with the dry time.

[@rauljosegarcia]

5:25 "building up my self esteem" Ah, yes, the DIY dilemma. I have felt this on numerous occasions LOL. I'm sure my mom thinks I'm the laziest, but I really just 1) like to prepare a lot before starting a project (most of which I am doing for the first time) and 2) have to work up the courage to be ready to fail at any moment (despite all the preparation). #diy

[@richeyrich6855]

I just saw your video and I feel your pain after also watching Jeff's video and I agree with you and also understand where Jeff is coming from and that he has at least put out the PSA regarding this type of FA grout. Great Job on the bathroom!

[@pkwilliamson4579]

I just grouted our 13 x 20 foot room with Ultracolor FA with my wife. It was good to have the warnings. We waited until the weather cooled to 60F, then mixed about 3 cups material with 1.5 cups of tap water at a time using a gloved hand, applied it over about 15 minutes, then wiped it off and we then wiped a total of 3 times with a damp sponge and fixed a few areas at the end where there were a few airholes. We did a one dry rub over the entire job at the end of the job. It doesn't seem to be much of a problem for a do it yourselfer, but it is nice to have a second person on big jobs. Was nice to have the warnings, as well, thx to both Jeff and Kelly.

[@ericastier1646]

yeah well you cannot order temperature to be 60 degrees or even 70 degrees for most part of the year in most places so it IS a problem.

[@normapatrick3056]

Thank you I just watched the other video also and was going to go and buy more grout, now I feel more confident to use the one I already purchased!

[@tonyoliveira5769]

Thanks man I bought this same product and just watched Jeff's video so I was stressed out about it but then I watched your video and that put my mind at easy thanks for the video bro keep them coming.

[@dogwalkinginc6371]

I appreciate you, thanks. I bought that exact product (black too) and was glad to see Jeff's video as it kinda scared me into really getting prepared, but really glad to see yours as I'm not as afraid anymore. I think I'll go ahead with it and just follow instructions, but pay attention to my time (wipe before 20 mins maybe). Thanks!

[@timothylee9350]

It depends what tile you use if your tile is not glazed it can stain the tile. As a professional contractor when you wipe the tile it will always have the colour streaks you just have to wipe it one more time.

[@garydahmer]

Thank you for this video. I was seriously nervious about using this grout after Jeff's video. After watching your video I decided to give it a try. With 250 ml of water to roughly 2 lb 6 oz of mix the grout was nice and creamy and easy to work with. Ambient temp in the room was 70-71F. I broke our new shower into 3 grout sections. After 30-40 minutes from grout float touching the wall I was able to do the first wipe. On glazed tiles and glass the haze easily came off at 30 minutes and 1 hour. Was a piece of cake!

[@mattjessup8376]

Instructions state 73 degrees at 15 to 30 minutes before cleaning, depending on Temperature and humidity. So did you read the instructions and what were your weather conditions?

[@germanvillalba4720]

Man, I have to say you’re still on my mind. I was thinking about Jeff (I like that guy too), but for some reason, he exaggerated his experience with that product. You did a great job demonstrating that there's nothing to be afraid of when using this product, as long as you follow the instructions. Another lady explained everything very well, too, including how to use it.

[@revilolavinruf]

Thanks! After watching his video I started to second guess whether I should use this stuff or not. I have a habit of overthinking before I even start the job and usually prove myself wrong with how easy most tasks end up being. It seems we've both arrived at the same conclusion! Great vid and thanks for taking the time to share your findings. It certainly helped me make my decision easier.

[@klaudiaklutz]

Thank you for this...I too just watched Jeff's video about this grout as I had some left over from a bathroom remodel a contractor did last year and it's the right color for my kitchen backsplash (marble). Needless to say your timing was perfect as I was in my head about it too-although I am not new to tile, I am a diy'er and do not do tile often. I just mixed small batches and worked in sections. It is winter and house temp set to 65. No problems even with the marble.

[@mecaptkirk]

I just finished grouting my bathroom with the Mapei Ultracolor grout with complete success. This was only my 3rd tile job in my life and I would definitely recommend this product. It did not setup too fast, it was easy to use and looks great. Read the instructions, make small usable batches (I did 2 pounds of grout at a time) and don’t panic. Thank you for sharing your experience with this product. FYI: Jeff has a wealth of experience but I really wonder if he has actually used this product based on his video that would scare any amateur tiler.

[@latengocomoburro]

Thank you I almost returned it and it came out great. I have some tips for everybody. *1) USE COLD WATER TO MIX, AS COLD AS YOU CAN, 2) MIX A GOOD QUANTITY BUT LEAVE IT IN THE BUCKET, DON'T APPLY IT ALL AT ONCE, WORK IN SMALL SECTIONS 3) LOWER THE AC IN YOUR HOUSE.* I got a pitcher and put some ice and water and that is what I used to mix the stuff (without the ice of course) It literally lasted me a little more than an hour on the bucket before it got hard. I applied it in small sections, if you are doing a bathroom lets say I did half of a wall. I used a timer and when I got to 15/20 min I started wiping with the sponge.

[@johnrichmond5561]

good thing its winter here in Michigan...I will be using it tomorrow. Thanks for the tips.

[@zaiboozaibboo6819]

This is good advice. I always portion a little at a time to prevent from wasting.

[@theshark2005]

this is funny cuz just like you i was just about to grout and i saw his video and right after the recommendations put me to your video lol ahha thanks man, great video!!

[@LuckySawdust]

Thanks for this video! I had watched Jeff's video and almost threw away my bag of Ultracolor FA -- then I watched this video, and tonight I finished grouting some ceramic tile (with a 'slate'-like appearance), and it works great. My house was at 67 F, and even at 30 minutes, it was ready enough to wipe off with a sponge and blue shop towels. Looks fantastic, and by the time my kids are up in the morning, it will be ready for foot traffic. Thanks for making this video, it definitely restored some confidence in my DIY abilities to get this done!

[@tonyc7090]

You are absolutely right. I've used that product since it came out and never had problem. I wait 15 to 30 mins and wipe it clean. It will never stain a tile unless it's porous. That's the case with any grout. I remember watching his video and thinking he was completely exagerrating. I think he was confused with epoxy grout. Now that's a mess!

[@patrickdriscoll9962]

Kelly I used Mapei Ultracolor Plus FA grout on an entire shower. I mixed ONLY 2 pounds at a time with 204 ml water, did a say 3' x 4' section ONLY , then wiped. You NEED two people. My wife sat in a chair with seven (7), count em, SEVEN sponges, and three (3) five gallon rinse buckets, and kept the room temp between 60 and 70 degrees. FANTASTIC RESULTS TWO PEOPLE.

[@seanoshirak4938]

I'm trying this grout out now. Using little less then a 3/1 grout to water mix, doing a 110 sqare foot floor with about 600 4x8 tiles. I mix 8 laddles of mix to 2 and 1/3 of water. Doing 30 square at a time. It's gonna take a while but the time between applications is working

[@starrylight8819]

I'm glad I saw this..his video had me freaked out all day lol..getting my confidence back to do it tomorrow.first time..im real good with a putty knife so here's hoping I can work with the float

[@cfomusic73]

I want to start by saying I am a home remodeler and have been doing this for many years. I used to use cementrous grout and until I found this product about 2 years ago hated grouting due to the haze that cementrous grout causes. That being said......Jeff is right about being careful with this grout. I have had a couple issues that burned me using that grout due to the porcelain tile being textured with a lot of grooves and the temperature in the home was above 75. We spent a day trying to clean off the grout that adhered to the textured tiles because of leaving it on the tile for 30 minutes. That's it it was only 30 minutes and it's still almost ruined the home we were working. That being said... If you're dealing with glossy tile that's glazed then you will not have any issues and can grout the entire shower without any problems....... I still typically ask the homeowner to please turn the temperature down to about 68 in the home on grout day. The typical response I get from my customers is are you going to pay for my electric bill! Ha ha ha. But I always respond with do you want your grout to look horrible! So please be careful with this product......know what tiles you are using it for and temperature and adjust the wipe time........again with that being said this is the only grout we use on all our tile work.

[@dougmartin2762]

So there are many many factors. Are you mixing it correctly? Too much water, too little. What is the temperature and humidy like where and when you are doing it. Irronically my very first time tiling i used this product, two bathroom floors, it was a major remodel in a cabin, over the winter, and i had not yet i installed the new baseboard heat. I was able to grout the whole floor, take a 30 minute break, then go back and start polishing and cleaning. However, also though it was my first time, i did my research and read the directions. I do love his series! But always there are factors, and we often do things differently in different areas/circumstances.

[@radian2323]

Your assessment is completely accurate. That dude video freaked me out pretty good. When it starts to dry out in the bucket you can still wipe down what you have on the walls just fine.

[@thefirstkingridge]

I mixed a batch with a mixer, and it got hard really quick. I mixed another batch manually with a metal stake and it stayed workable for quite awhile. If you choose to use a mixer, mix only a small batch, apply and wipe off soon. If you choose to mix manually, you can make more and not have to wipe down immediately.

[@laureltownley1817]

After watching your video I pushed forward with the dreaded grout. I didn’t get it thick enough and this was my first grout project. It was an awkward backsplash but I persevered with paranoid optimism. I’ve got to go back and touch up a couple spots but I’m calling it a success. I don’t think it would have been any easier if I made another trip to Home Depot and exchanged the grout. Thanks for the reassurance, it can be done.

[@ericastier1646]

that's not reassuring at all !

[@jonathanhurst8629]

Glad I found this. I saw his video as well and have been stressing.

[@boomcity4942]

I am glade Jeff made his video. I used this product on a small area with no problem. I am getting ready to grout the kitchen, dinning room and hallway floors. Without Jeff’s warning it could have been a costly disaster. I subscribed to Jeffs channel. Thanks for giving direction to his channel.

[@brekkoh]

it probably depends more on relative humidity and how aggressively you mixed the grout, as to why your cure times were longer

[@pfabulous2000]

I watched his video and I just used that grout as well and followed the instruction on the bag and had no issues with it at all

[@sjohn8016]

I really appreciate your video. I was the same way. Almost carried this stuff back. But I came across your video and decided to try it anyway. And glad I did! This stuff worked great. I kept waiting for a "white flash" from the bucket and it immediately go rock hard, lol. I mixed exactly to the directions and did what they said. I was surprised that I had to wait quite some time before it set up so I could wipe it down with my sponge. About 22 minutes. I believe that temperature and humidity is the trick to this stuff for an armature like me. My day was 50° outside and 70° inside. If I hadn't seen this video and one other on KZbin I would have returned it for a basic grout. Glad I didn't.

[@chutasan8299]

It comes down to how much water you mix into it, the heat and humidity in the area.

[@Garanon5]

I discovered this immediately after seeing the Jeff DIY video and I had been just as intimidated as you were. Thank you for adding your experiences! I just bought this grout without realizing this key difference. But after I did some careful reading, research, and looked into customer reviews, I decided to use it. I'm in southern LA (it's warm here), so I turned the a/c down to 68 Fahrenheit, and I used cold water to mix the grout. Just like you, I had MORE than enough time to grout my backsplash which is about a 3x5 foot area. I had someone help me sponging the area, but I likely would've been able to do it on my own despite being a first timer. You just have to read up and work purposefully. If you're in my shoes but have any doubts, or want to give yourself plenty of leeway, get the Keracolor.

[@Bigbacon]

i had a contractor use this on our shower walls and floor in a bathroom. I ended up cleaning the tiles about a day or two after the grout was put down and I had no problems getting it off. It took many hours to do but water and a sponge was fine to do it.

[@BostonJoe620]

Can’t use a high speed mixer for this grout. That’s the game changer. I’ve used it myself and did well like you. About to do my second shower and stumbled onto another video where the gentleman called the manufacturer. The high speed and incorrect mixing paddle whips air into the mixture affecting the cure time.

[@thelog86]

I experienced the same thing, if you wipe it off to early it smears, so actually I waited until the next day to do my final 2 wipe downs and it was much easier after I waited and let it dry. It was no different than any other grout

[@jakehelton708]

Impressive and respectful argument. Your video provided the confidence I needed to pursue a first time DIY 50 sqft backsplash grouting with Ultracolor FA. Like many others, Jeff's video sucked what little confidence I had right out. However, after completing the project, I had virtually no issues with the Ultracolor FA while adhering to MAEPI's technical bulletin to the letter. I sponged ~15-20 minutes after floating the grout in a 68° degree kitchen with no concerns of rapidly setting grout on the tile face. The tile was buffed with a dry cloth ~45-55 minutes after sponging to showcase the luster of the marble we expected. Thank you once again for your insight and consideration. Relax folks. You can do this!

[@johngoldsworthy7375]

My thoughts exactly. Had the same reaction to Jeff's video and even returned the grout. I talked myself into buying it again. Saw this video and decided I could do it. Ended up being easy. If you're worried at all about this grout, mix it a little thinner than usual. I actually had time to go over it twice with the same bucket of grout. I like Jeff, but his video was way over-dramatic.

[@jeremy225]

I have to agree with Jeff. I haven’t done a lot of tile work but some. Used the FA in my shower and ended up with a complete mess. Thought if I went fast I could do the whole shower one shot by the time I went to wash my first wall I was screwed.

[@fearlv1rattata]

When I was at Floor & Decor I actually could not find the color I wanted in anything other than the product Jeff said not to use. I ended up swapping to something unsanded instead that was slightly different. I spoke to an employee there and he actually said they're phasing out the unsanded stuff. So eventually this distinction won't really matter. I loved Jeff's original video and erring on the side of caution for new tilers is good advice. I do appreciate you showing the other side of this though. That bathroom looks great!