Well - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

angus242 · 06-10-2009, 06:23 AM

I was wondering about the use of well water for mixing thinset. I know there has been some talk that using softened water isn't a good idea but any problems using water from a customer's well?

HS345 · 06-10-2009, 03:54 PM

I've never had a problem with it, been doing it for years. Even on jobs where I have to bring my own water, all I have is well water.

I wouldn't recommend using it for grouting though.

Bill_Vincent · 06-14-2009, 08:37 PM

Hey Angus-- It depends on the minerals in the water. I know up here in New England, it's not that bad using well water, where the biggest mineral to worry about is iron. Down in south Florida, where the well water's heavy in calcium, sometimes it tends to set thinset off pretty quick, and in so doing, weaken the bond.

As has been mentioned already, I wouldn't suggest using it to mix your grout, though.

naptown CR · 06-14-2009, 09:55 PM

Why not for grout? Have always used well water for everything as that is all that is available

angus242 · 06-14-2009, 10:37 PM

Thanks for the replies. The well water didn't have any typical smell to it which is why I was surprised it was well water at all. Apparently, years ago, they added city water to the house too but the HO left the well for the exterior spigots. I checked the inlet to the home and there wasn't any sort of filtration or softener on the supply, just a 100psi tank. I checked any of faucets for mineral deposits and didn't see any of the normal build-up that's common on well-supplied water.
As for grout, I have no idea why it's not good to use well water however, I've just started using Quartz-Lock, so no water needed!

TileArt · 06-15-2009, 12:12 AM

You don't want to use well water (or really hard water) for grout because excess minerals in the water significantly increase the possibility of efflorescence. That happens when the minerals in the water migrate to the surface of the grout and become hard mineral deposits on the surface. The white splotches on grout - that's what that is.