This covers both grouts from StarQuartz: QuartzLock 2 & StarGlass and TruColor by Bostik.
*Don't let the grout freeze!
*The buckets have a Vapor-Lock lid. Make sure it is well sealed to insure a 2 year shelf life.
*The day prior to installing, I like to turn the bucket upside down. This will allow the urethane liquid to rise to the bottom (think about it). When you turn the bucket right side up, the liquid will be on the bottom and be a bit easier to stir.
*I like to use a cordless drill and small 2" spiral paddle. Those type of paddles pull from the bottom up so you get a nice even distribution of the urethane liquid. Clean the paddle immediate when finished mixing. Even allowing it to soak in a bucket of water won't delay the grout curing. It will harden quickly and you'd have a lumpy paddle.
*For tile other then smooth glazed, I like to lightly dampen the tile prior to spreading grout. Do not over dampen! Too much moisture and a hard, sharp-edged epoxy float will pull excess water into the grout joint with the grout. That's not a good thing.
*Use an epoxy grout float when using urethane grout. The exception is using StarGlass over easily scratched surfaces.
*I cannot stress how important this part is.....do not spread more than 4-6 sq ft at first. Until you get a feel for how quickly the grout will start hardening, just do a very little bit at a time. Urethane grout can be wiped up immediately. I cannot stress this enough.
*I cannot stress enough the advice given above.
*For the initial wipe on floors, I use an epoxy sponge grout bucket set up. A regular grout sponge will work just fine. Do not over wet the sponge. Do not press too hard and dig the grout out of the joints. Clean up is very simple. Urethane grout doesn't seem to dirty a sponge as quickly as cementitious grout does (IMO). Make sure to do a very good cleaning. Installing in small sections helps. Do not leave the grout unwashed for more than 5 minutes. Use the epoxy float to help remove excess grout.
*Repeat the install/clean in small sections. After initial wipe of second section, use a lightly damp microfiber cloth to do a final wipe on the previous section. Keep the cloth barely damp. This will help remove any leftover haze before it has a chance of really drying. Be careful to not dig out grout with the cloth.
*You have about 15 minutes to easily remove the haze before it becomes very troublesome.
*Using 5 gallon buckets, you can use 2 with clean water to wash about 250-300 sq ft of grout. I also like to have another bucket of water available for cleaning hands and tools. Doesn't have to be a full 5 gal. I like to clean my float after about every 15 minutes. Epoxy floats are expensive. Allowing the urethane to dry on them can ruin one in about 30 minutes.
*Address any haze issues as quickly as possible. I have had very good results with the microfiber cloth to buff haze. If too much time has passed for the microfiber to clean easily, a 2-sided sponge (the side with the scrubbing pad) might be more effective.
*You can pause as often as you like when installing. Just make sure to clean your tools before pausing and that the lid is properly sealed on the grout. You will feel a snap when the lid is secured.
*You can stir the grout as often as you'd like. The more consistent the urethane liquid is throughout, the easier the grout will spread. If too much urethane has risen to the top, when you get to the bottom of the bucket, the grout will be much harder to spread and almost ball up when spreading.
*StarQuartz's Blaze cleaning product is recommended for haze removal. If that's not available, these are the other products and methods recommended: Aqua Mix Heavy-Duty Tile and Grout Cleaner, Miracle Tile & Stone Cleaner, or DuPont StoneTech Professional KlenzAll Cleaner on a white scrubby Doodlebug cleaning pad, rubbing the tile lightly to remove any remaining urethane haze, then using a damp sponge and clean water, wipe the surface to remove the film remover (do not flood surface with cleaner). Finish by drying the tile surface with a clean towel or cloth. If you still can't remove the haze, you're a moron and didn't listen to my advice in the first place :tt2:
*Cure times:
Tack-free: 8 hours
Light foot traffic: 24 hours
Heavy foot traffic (commercial): 72 hours
Stain free: 3 days
Showers, exterior or other wet locations: 7 days
*Do not use enzyme or no-rinse cleaners on urethane grout. Just as with epoxy grout, enzyme or no-rinse cleaners can attack the integrity of the grout. StarQuartz recommends Soft Scrub with Bleach or any orange-based cleaner.
That's about it. I have used QuartzLock (and StarGlass) exclusively for 3 years and have not had a problem. I took my time at first but now it's second nature to me and grouting is usually the fastest part of the project.
*Don't let the grout freeze!
*The buckets have a Vapor-Lock lid. Make sure it is well sealed to insure a 2 year shelf life.
*The day prior to installing, I like to turn the bucket upside down. This will allow the urethane liquid to rise to the bottom (think about it). When you turn the bucket right side up, the liquid will be on the bottom and be a bit easier to stir.
*I like to use a cordless drill and small 2" spiral paddle. Those type of paddles pull from the bottom up so you get a nice even distribution of the urethane liquid. Clean the paddle immediate when finished mixing. Even allowing it to soak in a bucket of water won't delay the grout curing. It will harden quickly and you'd have a lumpy paddle.
*For tile other then smooth glazed, I like to lightly dampen the tile prior to spreading grout. Do not over dampen! Too much moisture and a hard, sharp-edged epoxy float will pull excess water into the grout joint with the grout. That's not a good thing.
*Use an epoxy grout float when using urethane grout. The exception is using StarGlass over easily scratched surfaces.
*I cannot stress how important this part is.....do not spread more than 4-6 sq ft at first. Until you get a feel for how quickly the grout will start hardening, just do a very little bit at a time. Urethane grout can be wiped up immediately. I cannot stress this enough.
*I cannot stress enough the advice given above.
*For the initial wipe on floors, I use an epoxy sponge grout bucket set up. A regular grout sponge will work just fine. Do not over wet the sponge. Do not press too hard and dig the grout out of the joints. Clean up is very simple. Urethane grout doesn't seem to dirty a sponge as quickly as cementitious grout does (IMO). Make sure to do a very good cleaning. Installing in small sections helps. Do not leave the grout unwashed for more than 5 minutes. Use the epoxy float to help remove excess grout.
*Repeat the install/clean in small sections. After initial wipe of second section, use a lightly damp microfiber cloth to do a final wipe on the previous section. Keep the cloth barely damp. This will help remove any leftover haze before it has a chance of really drying. Be careful to not dig out grout with the cloth.
*You have about 15 minutes to easily remove the haze before it becomes very troublesome.
*Using 5 gallon buckets, you can use 2 with clean water to wash about 250-300 sq ft of grout. I also like to have another bucket of water available for cleaning hands and tools. Doesn't have to be a full 5 gal. I like to clean my float after about every 15 minutes. Epoxy floats are expensive. Allowing the urethane to dry on them can ruin one in about 30 minutes.
*Address any haze issues as quickly as possible. I have had very good results with the microfiber cloth to buff haze. If too much time has passed for the microfiber to clean easily, a 2-sided sponge (the side with the scrubbing pad) might be more effective.
*You can pause as often as you like when installing. Just make sure to clean your tools before pausing and that the lid is properly sealed on the grout. You will feel a snap when the lid is secured.
*You can stir the grout as often as you'd like. The more consistent the urethane liquid is throughout, the easier the grout will spread. If too much urethane has risen to the top, when you get to the bottom of the bucket, the grout will be much harder to spread and almost ball up when spreading.
*StarQuartz's Blaze cleaning product is recommended for haze removal. If that's not available, these are the other products and methods recommended: Aqua Mix Heavy-Duty Tile and Grout Cleaner, Miracle Tile & Stone Cleaner, or DuPont StoneTech Professional KlenzAll Cleaner on a white scrubby Doodlebug cleaning pad, rubbing the tile lightly to remove any remaining urethane haze, then using a damp sponge and clean water, wipe the surface to remove the film remover (do not flood surface with cleaner). Finish by drying the tile surface with a clean towel or cloth. If you still can't remove the haze, you're a moron and didn't listen to my advice in the first place :tt2:
*Cure times:
Tack-free: 8 hours
Light foot traffic: 24 hours
Heavy foot traffic (commercial): 72 hours
Stain free: 3 days
Showers, exterior or other wet locations: 7 days
*Do not use enzyme or no-rinse cleaners on urethane grout. Just as with epoxy grout, enzyme or no-rinse cleaners can attack the integrity of the grout. StarQuartz recommends Soft Scrub with Bleach or any orange-based cleaner.
That's about it. I have used QuartzLock (and StarGlass) exclusively for 3 years and have not had a problem. I took my time at first but now it's second nature to me and grouting is usually the fastest part of the project.