Mixing small amounts of grout

[JTsyo]

I have about 5 tiles in the kitchen that has the grout crack off. I just need a bit of grout to fill these in. What's a good way to mix small amounts? Can I just use a wooden spoon or something? Don't think I have enough to warrant a drill mounted mixer.

 

[tracerbullet]

I've done small amounts, I just used a wooden paint can stirrer and a small jelly sized Ball jar. Didn't have any problems.

 

[JTsyo]

Follow up. The grout has cracked again. I'm thinking that there must be small flexing going on. I've tried standing on the tile and bouncing and don't get much movement but the cracks are all in high traffic area (by sink, stove and basement stairs). I was thinking about trying Urethane Grout but they only seem to sell them in large quantity. Anyone see with anything less than 5 lb or know of another type of grout that would flex without cracking?

 

[Greenman]

Follow up. The grout has cracked again. I'm thinking that there must be small flexing going on. I've tried standing on the tile and bouncing and don't get much movement but the cracks are all in high traffic area (by sink, stove and basement stairs). I was thinking about trying Urethane Grout but they only seem to sell them in large quantity. Anyone see with anything less than 5 lb or know of another type of grout that would flex without cracking?

Use colored caulking instead. You can get it to match just about any grout color.

 

[NutBucket]

Yep, definitely caulk if you can find one that's close in color.

 

[bfun_x1]

They even have sanded caulk to give it texture. Try the major tile stores to find it.

 

[JTsyo]

Alright, I'll give that a shot.

 

[paperfist]

Can you get to the floor from underneath? I'd look into beefing up the joists instead. You'll never get a caulk to match until it gets dirty.

 

[Greenman]

Can you get to the floor from underneath? I'd look into beefing up the joists instead. You'll never get a caulk to match until it gets dirty.

Most likely the problem is deflection in the floor joists, that's a tough one to fix as you have to reduce the span or beef up the joists.

 

[paperfist]

Most likely the problem is deflection in the floor joists, that's a tough one to fix as you have to reduce the span or beef up the joists.

Pretty crazy they deflect that much under normal walking, but like you said span is an issue too.


It's a small bathroom floor I did in marble, maybe 6x6, but in the basement I sistered up the 2x6 and cross braced them. Up top I went over hardwood floor with cement board.

From what I read at the time the key to tile floors is to have at least 1.5" of sub flooring if I remember correctly. Obviously not something the op can do now.

 

[Greenman]

Pretty crazy they deflect that much under normal walking, but like you said span is an issue too.


It's a small bathroom floor I did in marble, maybe 6x6, but in the basement I sistered up the 2x6 and cross braced them. Up top I went over hardwood floor with cement board.

From what I read at the time the key to tile floors is to have at least 1.5" of sub flooring if I remember correctly. Obviously not something the op can do now.

It takes very little movement to crack grout.
The 1.5" of sub floor is simply a way of reducing deflection.The extra layer of plywood spreads the load over more joist, and adds some stiffness on it's own.