I'm installing floor tile throughout a 1300 sq home and am using this grout. Completely agree with the other comments - apply it in very small areas at a time and immediately clean it. If you don't you'll be in a world of hurt if it's left until the end of the day! Another issue that very much affects things is temperature - don't do grout on hot days. Cool weather definitely keeps it from "going off" quite as fast, so you can do a bit larger area at a time, just don't overdo it!
The designer we hired to help select bathroom colors/finishings picked this grout and I ordered it without researching its application. I’m a DYIer and have installed or helped install a decent amount of tile over the years. My very first tile job left grout residue that took weeks to remove. I haven’t repeated that mistake but it left a lasting impression so reading the reviews on this stuff definitely put the fear in me. Applied the grout this morning with no issues. It did require as much time cleaning tile as applying grout. I set my watch and grouted for 4 minutes then cleaned for 4-5 minutes and it cleaned up fine. I agree if you let this stuff remain on the tile to dry you’ll have a tremendous amount of clean up to do. Just follow the manufacturer’s instructions and you’ll be fine. If you’re slow like most DYIers are compared to the pros, just plan to apply grout for 5 minutes or less before starting to clean. That said, I’m not sure why you’d use this for the average tile job. I used it because I could not return it. Sure it’s premixed but it’s about 4 times the cost and if you make an application mistake you’ll lose any time you may have spent mixing not to mention the frustration. Saw one reviewer that said after 2 years he found it very useful in areas where the cleaning crew power washed the floor to clean it and this grout stayed in place better. Seems this stuff is a speciality grout for special applications. If that’s what you have, just follow the instructions to the letter. If you’re tiling your bathroom, just get the regular stuff. Also for what it’s worth, the online Mapei calculator we used to determine how grout to order underestimated it by about 35%. Maybe an application mistake, deeper grout lines, poor tile installation, or maybe the stock clerk skims a 1/2 pound out of each bucket and sells it on the black market. No idea. But as a specialty product (or at least our color was) the tile store doesn’t even carry it so I’ll wait another week on the special order bucket of grout to arrive. If I’d used regular mortar, I’d just go pick it up at a big box store.
Hello Paul, thank you for taking the time to provide feedback. Flexcolor CQ is not a cement-based grout so cleanup will be different. The upside to the product is that you can open the bucket and apply a very small amount to do a test area to determine time to clean and the best way to clean up without wasting an entire bag. It does offer very high water and stain resistance as well. With respect to the grout calculator, the factors you mentioned will affect coverage. If you have voids under your tile this grout will flow under the tile causing you to use more. Also, if you don't have the correct thickness of tile, that as well will affect the coverage. We hope you have become more comfortable using the grout as we feel it is an exceptional product. Always feel welcome to call our Product Support line at (800) 992-6273 if you ever have any questions. We are here to help!
After using the usual mix it yourself grout and got uneven coloring, this grout is very good. I followed the directions and tested it on the back portion of my bathroom. After sponging, I followed with a microfiber towel to remove any potentially haze, as a precaution. Then continued with the remainder of the room and got great results. Highly recommend this if anyone got bad results with the mix it yourself grouts. It costs more but it'll save you the headache of potential uneven coloration. The only unexpected thing for me was that the 'warm grey' color turned out closer to white/eggshell. But it still looks nice.
As a professional installer I like this product, just beware it dries fast!!!! I normally spread approx 200sf at a time with regular grout, with this I do about 10 sf at a time.
+jason roamer You are absolutely correct, the window to begin cleaning is around 5-7 minutes. Treating it like a typical cement grout and letting it sit 30 minutes before you start cleaning won’t cut it. Once an installer understands the difference, Flexcolor CQ is easy to work with to get excellent results.
Watch Grout Dude carefully and follow his steps exactly! Note that he's applying Flexcolor CQ to large tiles with half-inch grout lines. If you are DIY like me, you may find that grouting with Flexcolor is a bit more challenging. I applied Flexcolor to 12x12 polished marble with 1/8 grout lines. I have to push the grout into my thin grout lines with a trowel then refloat more grout once or twice to fill the lines. The grout sets a latex-like film within 5-10 minutes, which takes elbow grease to remove. Keep the sponge rinsed and the film will come right up no matter how thick it sets. Once the sponge gets clogged, it stops removing the film. So, work on one or two 12x12 tiles at a time, and keep your sponge rinsed!!! For thin grout lines you should grout only 6 tiles at a time, then clean them up. You'll be unhappy if you are faced with cleanup for 15 or20 square feet. Apply grout sparingly to make clean-up easier. If there's a tool for grouting thin grout lines, I'd love to know about it. Mapei should sell Flexicolor CQ in tubes (like caulk)... or maybe provide a re-loadable caulk tube. I chose Flexcolor CQ because I wanted a tough grout that wouldn't have to be sealed. But, it turns out I have to seal my polished marble anyway, so a regular grout may have been a better choice. Nonetheless, my Flexcolor CQ looks great and I expect it to stand up far better than regular grout.
+Jim Forcum Thanks for choosing Flexcolor CQ and taking the time to comment. You are right that starting to clean within 5-10 minutes is key to using an acrylic grout, it does differ from cement grouts. A 1/16” grout joint is a challenge to force any type of grout into so your experience with the extra effort required makes sense. Keeping your sponge clean is also an important point, thank you for reinforcing it. There are commercially available ‘grout bags’ that may help applying only to the grout joints but they can be somewhat challenging to use which is why we suggest the more traditional route of using a grout float.
The MAPEI Flexcolor i used started getting hard on the top of the tiles while i as still grouting.. I had to scrape it off with a scraper.. then i could use a sponge.. this happened in just a few minutes.
+BZ1340 The key with Flexcolor CQ (and any ready-to-use grout) is to get on the grout right away. Within 5 minutes of floating the grout, you should be starting to wash with clean water and then wiping. A spritz of water prior to applying Flexcolor CQ will also help removing the residue. If residue is still an issue, MAPEI makes grout haze removers that will help, give us a call at (800) 992 6273 to discuss your particular situation.
Can you please upload HD version? Even for 2014 video quality of 360p is just an offense for eyes to watch on. People used to 4K, adapting 10k, but you as manufacturer upload video which is not even DVD quality.
Hello, thank you for taking the time to write us about the video. I don't believe we are changing what is posted. I will certainly make the recommendation to the marketing department on your behalf! ua-cam.com/video/Zo52a8auRiQ/v-deo.html You can view the link here showing the installation of Flexcolor CQ from a New-England based installer that we work with. It gives a full demo.
Hello, thank you for your inquiry and I apologize for the delay in getting back to you! You will need to contact your local municipality for proper disposal requirements.
@@MAPEIUSA They don't care about the city sewer system, they want to know if it will clog their home pipes. Will the product set up in the house pipe, or does it wash out easy. No one cares about the sewage system.
Hello, thanks for reaching out! Yes, it blends when you have to stop and start. Please contact an advisor at Product Support (800) 992-6273 if you have additional questions.
I’ve been doing tile work as journeyman for 22 years, I used this product did everything to specs and 2 months later the grout is still soft and it is staining!!!
Hello Sergio, thanks for reaching out and we apologize that you are having trouble with Flexcolor CQ. Please contact us at (800) 992-6273 to discuss the application and how we can help.
Hello Paul, the shelf life of Flexcolor CQ is 18 months. If you open it and cover it well it should still give you about the same shelf-life. You can also place a piece of plastic wrap on the surface of the grout before covering to ensure that no air gets inside. Please contact us at (800) 992-6273 if you have additional questions.
Since this grout maintains a little flexibility, can it be used in shower wall corners (wall to wall and floor to wall) where I'd normally use caulk instead of grout?
Hello keve1212, thank you for your inquiry. While Flexcolor CQ is a more flexible grout, it is not flexible enough to take the place of caulk. Caulk/sealant is still recommended for any change of plane or corner. Please feel welcome to contact our Product Support line at (800) 992-6273 if you have additional questions.
I have a wood-like tile , as a result the grout stay on the grain because the color is kinda same with tile. I would like to ask if there is a chemical to remove these grout/grout haze of my tile.
Hello Dina, We would love to chat with you about your questions regarding Flexcolor CQ. Please give us a call at 1-800-992-6273 so we can offer any possible assistance. Thank you very much for commenting.
Hello Keith, Flexcolor CQ is a fantastic choice for shower environments! However, we do not suggest using this product in steam showers, or to grout pebble/river rock mosaics. Otherwise, be sure to wait 72 hours after grouting before returning the shower to use. For more detailed product info, be sure to visit our website at: www.mapei.com/US-EN/ Thank you very much for choosing MAPEI products!
@@MAPEIUSA why is it not ok in steam shower? It doesn't say this in the tub. So I wasted 42$. I opened it up by mistake as I was doing a test board using frosted glass fir my wavy glass backsplash. The 3"x 12" test board of 1 sq ft was stuck on dried on the surface as quick I I floated I the grout lines and excess off. Pre Water just evaporates off glass surface so fast. I will try spray bottle and a case of white scrubbies that are now supplied in the tub that's only 60% full of product.
If it's not working right you're doing something wrong. This is a great product and I have never had an issue with it. Just do small sections and clean as you go, it's not that hard.
All you have to do is follow the above video. We use it on 100% of our jobs and do over $600,000 worth of tile per month. It is a great product that makes customers very happy.
Hello Kurt, thank you for your comment! We are happy to hear of your success with Flexcolor CQ, and you are absolutely right, the positive customer feedback has been overwhelming! Keep up the good work, Kurt, and thanks for choosing MAPEI.
I did follow the instructions. This stuff was a gritty mess that splattered and had dry bits flying everywhere. It left haze on everything including anything my wet sponge touched. I had an assistant changing out water more than I've ever done too. Maybe lowes is selling expired product,. I don't know, But then put a date on the thing not a code. Best part of this stuff is the sponge that comes with it. This stuff ate more time than regular grout. Also, it says in the Mapei videos to wait 6-7 days before water exposure. On the tub it says fully cured in 3 days. For the record, I used Mapei thinset all the time including this job so no bias against them or their regular grouts. This stuff was a let down.
Hello, and thank you for your inquiry! You can use either sanded or unsanded. The sanded will have a more similar texture to the Flexcolor CQ. If you are caulking in a shower, a 100% silicone caulk is most recommended, and that would be our Mapesil T. www.mapei.com/public/US/products/2028301489-mapesilt-en.pdf Please call our product support line at (800) 992-6273 if you have additional questions.
"Permasoft?" My tile ktr HATES this stuff now. He and his guys used ~ 8 half-gallon buckets of the stuff on my renovation project. We'd settled on this grout because we didn't want to forever be enslaved to re-sealing conventional grout. Ktr was marginally OK with the process of floating it in, though they found that it was very difficult to detail the tile surface without raking out more grout than they wanted to, leaving joints hollow. Also, shower-surround wall joints frequently refused to be properly filled, tending instead to form air-bubbles below the grout-line surface - leaving them hollow. Being a fussy guy, after a few days, ktr decided he wanted to replace a few floor tiles due to lippage. That's when he found that the grout - some of it more than a week old, none less than several days - is soft enough that a dull putty-knife can easily be pushed through the grout down to the concrete subfloor. I watched him raking the stuff out; it had the consistency of cured latex caulk, if that. And yes, the putty-knife pushes right through shower-surround joints with a slight 'pop', right into the substrate. Joints had looked great until 'tested'. It's making me ill seeing this - especially discovering it on a Friday afternoon when Mapei tech support is days from re-opening. Project is in Honolulu, where low temperatures of course can't be considered a factor in curing. And Mapei tech data says it's supposed to cure to Shore A 80 - commonly compared to the hardness of a shoe heel. NOT EVEN CLOSE.
Hello again David, Thank you for the feedback! Flexcolor CQ does not dry as hard as cement grout, as this product is acrylic, and remains flexible to a degree. We would love the opportunity to help you and your contractor troubleshoot this issue you are experiencing. Please give us a call at 1-800-992-6273 (M-F 8-5:30 ET) or reach out to your local MAPEI Representative through your distributor. Thank you very much for your interest in MAPEI products.
That process is pretty much concluded at this point. By phone, over the course of about two weeks, Mapei denied that there was a hardness issue. When I expressed my dissatisfaction with this brush-off, they seemed to be redeeming their concern by offering to look at/test remaining fresh grout I've got on hand. I asked them to email me with return information, assuming it would include something like a UPS return call-tag. Nope. So I'm supposed to pay for the return myself, apparently - thus give them back any remaining grout I bought, wait for them to tell me there's really no problem with it, and then give up. Neither my contractor nor I can wait for this BS pointless brush-off to play out, and certainly not at further expense to me. Instead, I'll be taking this up with Lowe's regional mgr. Tech specs for this stuff call it out as having Shore A hardness of 80 - which commonly translates to "boot heel" hardness. Show me a boot heel that can be permanently embedded with moderate pressure from a screwdriver, and I'll take back all my complaints. VERY disappointed with the long delay and poor support from Mapei on this.
Just bought some. I swear it set up less than a minute. I look at this guy on the video using it and the consistancy of his grout is far looser than mine. I have to really force it into my 1/4" grout lines and this guy is just sweeping it in like its nothing. Maybe my product went bad sitting on the store shelf. Its been hellish to remove the grout haze.
Hello, thank you for your inquiry! As with any natural stone, it is suggested to do a mock up prior to installing or grouting a surface to confirm compatibility. We suggest that you call in to our Product Support line at (800) 992-6273 and talk to a technical support specialist to assess whether Flexcolor is an appropriate option. Have a wonderful day!
Hello ihike 916! Thank you for your inquiry. Flexcolor CQ can work with glass, however, we do recommend that you do a small, inconspicuous test area first to confirm compatibility; it could potentially scratch the glass. With respect to it being waterproof, no grout is 100% waterproof, not even epoxy. Flexcolor CQ does have very high water and stain resistance. Please feel welcome to call our Product Support line at (800) 992-6273 if you have additional questions.
I did not like the product at all! I applied on marble floors with 1/4" space. Now after cleaning up for more than a week I still have residue and scratches on the floors!
Hello Vanamala Dutt: We are very sorry to learn that you have experienced a stubborn haze from our Flexcolor CQ. There is a relatively simple procedure for removing this haze with a high-alkaline cleaner of ours known as UltraCare Heavy Duty Stone Tile & Grout Cleaner. Please give us a call at 1-800-992-6273 and we will be happy to walk you through the haze removal process! Thank you very much for choosing MAPEI products.
Hello! Thank you for your inquiry. I'm wondering why you want to remove the grout? Please call our Product Support line to discuss what is going on with the installation, and the best solution. Our phone number is (800) 992-6273 and we are open 8:00-5:30 PM EST. Thank you !
If something were to happen to it or if my wife wants to change the color 10 years down the road. I hope I never have to remove it but just want to make sure it isn't too bad to do. I just removed our previous sanded grout and it was not too bad. I purchased the flexcolor yesterday. Installing it on Tuesday. On the directions it does not say to wet the tile before applying. How wet does the tile need to be? would a couple of squirts from a squirt bottle be sufficient or better to sponge down the area?
Hello, I understand about being prepared to potentially remove the existing grout. Honestly, the easiest way to remove Flexcolor CQ is to apply an Epoxy Grout Haze Remover and let it sit for a while; it will eventually break down the grout so you can easily remove it out of the joint. Clean it well after the fact and let dry. We do recommend dampening tile on a floor only prior to grouting to aid in cleanup. It will help the grout from sticking so readily to the surface of the tile. If you have particularly rough-textured, or porous tiles we recommend sealing first or applying Grout Release. We do not recommend dampening wall tiles prior to installing. Please feel welcome to call our Product Support line at (800) 992-6273 if we can assist you further.
Ruined marble tiles from the inside out. It stained the perimeter of 90% of the pieces. I was able to get all the residue off but it left a dark section around the perimeter. Seems like it leached in from the edges. Job is basically ruined.
Hello Michael, we are sorry you had trouble with the Flexcolor CQ with your marble tiles. We encourage you to call in to our Product Support line at (800) 992-6273 to discuss what happened and to see what we may be able to do to help.
Officially, the worst grout ever to work with. 5 minutes before you need to start wiping it, very wet mixed to spread at walls. The perfect slogan for this grout should be: "Mapei Flexcolor, the grout that dries fast on the surface but stays wet in the joints"
Jose, I’m sorry you have had difficulty with Flexcolor CQ. You are correct that cleaning must start at around 5 minutes after installation, this is common to all ready-to-use grouts. If you treat it like a cement grout and wait 30-45 minutes to clean, you will have grout haze. As for working with walls, make sure the grout joints don’t have any water in them before you start grouting. The typical practice of using a wet sponge to wet the walls before grouting should be replaced with a light mist of water from a spray bottle instead. This will help keep the grout in place on vertical installations. Please give Flexcolor another try, it requires a different approach to grouting but once they get the hang of it, most installers say they prefer it to standard grout. Hopefully your next slogan suggestion will be “The only grout I’ll ever use from now on."
I really don't use "ready-to-use grouts, but my main store started suggesting it to the customers after a Mapei launch party. Cleaning after 5 minutes of spreading is not costly effective, not even epoxy requires that fast of a time to start washing it after spreading. And come on, I don't know who replied to me but, what would be a method of getting water in walls grout lines? lol
Hello again Jose, the quick cleanup time is due to the high amount of polymer within the composition, which gives the product its superior stain fighting abilities and water repellency. Using the traditional washing process may often times introduce water into the grout if the sponge is a bit too wet. This is why we recommend utilizing a spray bottle to mist the surface. We would love to talk with you more in detail on your concerns. Please feel free to give our Product Support Line a call at your convenience; we are available Mon-Fri 8-5:30 (Eastern Time) 1-800-992-6273.
I used it for the first time today and it is the worst. I've used prisim and fusion and no where near as bad as this grout. Im a licensed tile contractor with over 20 years exp and rather used old school epoxy grout.
Yup. Took forever to clean this stuff up. I did a 3X3 celing. Took way longer than regular grout due to that nasty haze it leaves on tile. It simply took about 50 cleanings and 20 clean bucket refills to get this flexcolor off the damn tile. Ceiings are messy but this stuff - FORGET IT. It was falling like rain. Had no problem putting the thinset on this ceiling, never had a problem with regular grout. This stuff was all problem and a real time taker.
All acrylic products suck. (floor varnish, grout, etc) Beyond just installation issues (why does it have to dry so fast when a slow amine addition could solve this issue) the physical properties are just not there. Want better performance, use epoxy grout ~ but the people who make these products really don't know what they are doing, exampled by the short pot life of the product during install that has been noticed (ya got about 1/2 hr of decent installation time and 1/2 hr of dealing with very thick grout after the initial 1/2 hr).
+David Mcbeth Acrylic grouts do set up faster than cement grouts and the cleaning process is different. Once an installer understands the difference, the process goes quickly with excellent results. While acrylic grouts are not a replacement for epoxy grouts when chemical resistance is required, for most installations they are completely adequate. Because the grout bonds to itself and doesn’t require mixing two parts together, it is much simpler to do repairs too.
Mapei has terrible reviews on Lowes.com. My internet wouldn't work at Lowe's and they didn't offer wifi. I got home and read the reviews. No way am I going to use this stuff. I want black not gray.
Hello Curt, thank you for taking the time to express your concern with using one of our products. Please understand that reviews are one-sided and you do not always know all the details. Flexcolor CQ is a very easy-to-use grout that dries consistent. The CQ are recycled colored quartz beads (the pigment is physically attached to the beads) suspended in a clear acrylic base. This is how we do not experience color issues with this grout. If you buy black Flexcolor CQ, you will get a black grout joint. I encourage you to call in to our product support line at (800) 992-6273 to discuss the grout in detail and hopefully put your concerns to rest.
I'm in Toronto Canada and on lowes.ca it gets 4.5 stars out of 5 with 99 reviews. www.lowes.ca/grout/mapei-189l-flexcolor-cq-premixed-grout_g2664192.html?searchTerm=mapei-grout That's pretty good in my books. Maybe Canadians just don't complain as much as Americans. (Har.) Who knows. But I did learn a few things about this grout from reading these posts before I grout my tiles in a few days. So coming to youtube was time well spent.
Hello Christopher, we are sorry you did not have a good experience with Flexcolor CQ. Please call our Product Support line at (800) 992-6273 to discuss what happened and how we may be able to help.
I'm installing floor tile throughout a 1300 sq home and am using this grout. Completely agree with the other comments - apply it in very small areas at a time and immediately clean it. If you don't you'll be in a world of hurt if it's left until the end of the day! Another issue that very much affects things is temperature - don't do grout on hot days. Cool weather definitely keeps it from "going off" quite as fast, so you can do a bit larger area at a time, just don't overdo it!
The designer we hired to help select bathroom colors/finishings picked this grout and I ordered it without researching its application. I’m a DYIer and have installed or helped install a decent amount of tile over the years. My very first tile job left grout residue that took weeks to remove. I haven’t repeated that mistake but it left a lasting impression so reading the reviews on this stuff definitely put the fear in me. Applied the grout this morning with no issues. It did require as much time cleaning tile as applying grout. I set my watch and grouted for 4 minutes then cleaned for 4-5 minutes and it cleaned up fine. I agree if you let this stuff remain on the tile to dry you’ll have a tremendous amount of clean up to do. Just follow the manufacturer’s instructions and you’ll be fine. If you’re slow like most DYIers are compared to the pros, just plan to apply grout for 5 minutes or less before starting to clean.
That said, I’m not sure why you’d use this for the average tile job. I used it because I could not return it. Sure it’s premixed but it’s about 4 times the cost and if you make an application mistake you’ll lose any time you may have spent mixing not to mention the frustration. Saw one reviewer that said after 2 years he found it very useful in areas where the cleaning crew power washed the floor to clean it and this grout stayed in place better. Seems this stuff is a speciality grout for special applications. If that’s what you have, just follow the instructions to the letter. If you’re tiling your bathroom, just get the regular stuff.
Also for what it’s worth, the online Mapei calculator we used to determine how grout to order underestimated it by about 35%. Maybe an application mistake, deeper grout lines, poor tile installation, or maybe the stock clerk skims a 1/2 pound out of each bucket and sells it on the black market. No idea. But as a specialty product (or at least our color was) the tile store doesn’t even carry it so I’ll wait another week on the special order bucket of grout to arrive. If I’d used regular mortar, I’d just go pick it up at a big box store.
Hello Paul, thank you for taking the time to provide feedback. Flexcolor CQ is not a cement-based grout so cleanup will be different. The upside to the product is that you can open the bucket and apply a very small amount to do a test area to determine time to clean and the best way to clean up without wasting an entire bag. It does offer very high water and stain resistance as well. With respect to the grout calculator, the factors you mentioned will affect coverage. If you have voids under your tile this grout will flow under the tile causing you to use more. Also, if you don't have the correct thickness of tile, that as well will affect the coverage. We hope you have become more comfortable using the grout as we feel it is an exceptional product. Always feel welcome to call our Product Support line at (800) 992-6273 if you ever have any questions. We are here to help!
After using the usual mix it yourself grout and got uneven coloring, this grout is very good. I followed the directions and tested it on the back portion of my bathroom. After sponging, I followed with a microfiber towel to remove any potentially haze, as a precaution. Then continued with the remainder of the room and got great results. Highly recommend this if anyone got bad results with the mix it yourself grouts. It costs more but it'll save you the headache of potential uneven coloration. The only unexpected thing for me was that the 'warm grey' color turned out closer to white/eggshell. But it still looks nice.
Hello J Locke, thank you very much for taking the time to provide feedback on your experience using our Flexcolor CQ grout! Have a great day.
Worked great in my entry way and laundry room. It has been 2 years and still looks great. Like flexcolor cq better than other grouts i have used
Thank you very much for your feedback! We are happy you had a good experience.
As a professional installer I like this product, just beware it dries fast!!!! I normally spread approx 200sf at a time with regular grout, with this I do about 10 sf at a time.
+jason roamer
You are absolutely correct, the window to begin cleaning is around 5-7 minutes. Treating it like a typical cement grout and letting it sit 30 minutes before you start cleaning won’t cut it. Once an installer understands the difference, Flexcolor CQ is easy to work with to get excellent results.
MapeiAmericas
Watch Grout Dude carefully and follow his steps exactly! Note that he's applying Flexcolor CQ to large tiles with half-inch grout lines. If you are DIY like me, you may find that grouting with Flexcolor is a bit more challenging. I applied Flexcolor to 12x12 polished marble with 1/8 grout lines. I have to push the grout into my thin grout lines with a trowel then refloat more grout once or twice to fill the lines. The grout sets a latex-like film within 5-10 minutes, which takes elbow grease to remove. Keep the sponge rinsed and the film will come right up no matter how thick it sets. Once the sponge gets clogged, it stops removing the film. So, work on one or two 12x12 tiles at a time, and keep your sponge rinsed!!! For thin grout lines you should grout only 6 tiles at a time, then clean them up. You'll be unhappy if you are faced with cleanup for 15 or20 square feet. Apply grout sparingly to make clean-up easier. If there's a tool for grouting thin grout lines, I'd love to know about it. Mapei should sell Flexicolor CQ in tubes (like caulk)... or maybe provide a re-loadable caulk tube. I chose Flexcolor CQ because I wanted a tough grout that wouldn't have to be sealed. But, it turns out I have to seal my polished marble anyway, so a regular grout may have been a better choice. Nonetheless, my Flexcolor CQ looks great and I expect it to stand up far better than regular grout.
+Jim Forcum
Thanks for choosing Flexcolor CQ and taking the time to comment. You are right that starting to clean within 5-10 minutes is key to using an acrylic grout, it does differ from cement grouts. A 1/16” grout joint is a challenge to force any type of grout into so your experience with the extra effort required makes sense. Keeping your sponge clean is also an important point, thank you for reinforcing it. There are commercially available ‘grout bags’ that may help applying only to the grout joints but they can be somewhat challenging to use which is why we suggest the more traditional route of using a grout float.
The MAPEI Flexcolor i used started getting hard on the top of the tiles while i as still grouting.. I had to scrape it off with a scraper.. then i could use a sponge.. this happened in just a few minutes.
I used 4 or 5 pails of this CQ with mixed results. The wipe down process is definitely more labor intensive. The glaze over residue is an issue
+BZ1340 The key with Flexcolor CQ (and any ready-to-use grout) is to get on the grout right away. Within 5 minutes of floating the grout, you should be starting to wash with clean water and then wiping. A spritz of water prior to applying Flexcolor CQ will also help removing the residue. If residue is still an issue, MAPEI makes grout haze removers that will help, give us a call at (800) 992 6273 to discuss your particular situation.
MAPEIUSA and sI
Can you please upload HD version? Even for 2014 video quality of 360p is just an offense for eyes to watch on. People used to 4K, adapting 10k, but you as manufacturer upload video which is not even DVD quality.
Hello, thank you for taking the time to write us about the video. I don't believe we are changing what is posted. I will certainly make the recommendation to the marketing department on your behalf! ua-cam.com/video/Zo52a8auRiQ/v-deo.html You can view the link here showing the installation of Flexcolor CQ from a New-England based installer that we work with. It gives a full demo.
Can I dispose the dirty water from the rinse in the toilet or shower?
Hello, thank you for your inquiry and I apologize for the delay in getting back to you! You will need to contact your local municipality for proper disposal requirements.
@@MAPEIUSA They don't care about the city sewer system, they want to know if it will clog their home pipes. Will the product set up in the house pipe, or does it wash out easy. No one cares about the sewage system.
Does this grout blend together well with the grout you just spread ? Being that you have to start and stop much more often than normal?
Hello, thanks for reaching out! Yes, it blends when you have to stop and start. Please contact an advisor at Product Support (800) 992-6273 if you have additional questions.
I’ve been doing tile work as journeyman for 22 years, I used this product did everything to specs and 2 months later the grout is still soft and it is staining!!!
Hello Sergio, thanks for reaching out and we apologize that you are having trouble with Flexcolor CQ. Please contact us at (800) 992-6273 to discuss the application and how we can help.
I have 2 bathrooms to remodel and what is the shelf life after i open the Flexcolor CQ ? Thanks
Hello Paul, the shelf life of Flexcolor CQ is 18 months. If you open it and cover it well it should still give you about the same shelf-life. You can also place a piece of plastic wrap on the surface of the grout before covering to ensure that no air gets inside. Please contact us at (800) 992-6273 if you have additional questions.
@@MAPEIUSA one more question, it is OK if I apply sealing after grout even it said no need to,I know is a overkill but can I do it ?
Since this grout maintains a little flexibility, can it be used in shower wall corners (wall to wall and floor to wall) where I'd normally use caulk instead of grout?
Hello keve1212, thank you for your inquiry. While Flexcolor CQ is a more flexible grout, it is not flexible enough to take the place of caulk. Caulk/sealant is still recommended for any change of plane or corner. Please feel welcome to contact our Product Support line at (800) 992-6273 if you have additional questions.
I have a wood-like tile , as a result the grout stay on the grain because the color is kinda same with tile. I would like to ask if there is a chemical to remove these grout/grout haze of my tile.
Hello Phu, please contact us either by phone at (800) 992-6273 or email at productsupport@mapei.com so we can help you. Thank you!
What do you have to do for the grout to not fall in through the cracks ? Add more or repeat cleaning ?
It's not worth buying . Worst grout ever in installations
Hello Dina,
We would love to chat with you about your questions regarding Flexcolor CQ.
Please give us a call at 1-800-992-6273 so we can offer any possible assistance.
Thank you very much for commenting.
Will this product work in a shower floor were it is going to get wet everyday ? Looking for a good grout for this application!
Hello Keith,
Flexcolor CQ is a fantastic choice for shower environments!
However, we do not suggest using this product in steam showers, or to grout pebble/river rock mosaics.
Otherwise, be sure to wait 72 hours after grouting before returning the shower to use.
For more detailed product info, be sure to visit our website at: www.mapei.com/US-EN/
Thank you very much for choosing MAPEI products!
@@MAPEIUSA why is it not ok in steam shower? It doesn't say this in the tub. So I wasted 42$. I opened it up by mistake as I was doing a test board using frosted glass fir my wavy glass backsplash. The 3"x 12" test board of 1 sq ft was stuck on dried on the surface as quick I I floated I the grout lines and excess off. Pre Water just evaporates off glass surface so fast. I will try spray bottle and a case of white scrubbies that are now supplied in the tub that's only 60% full of product.
If it's not working right you're doing something wrong. This is a great product and I have never had an issue with it. Just do small sections and clean as you go, it's not that hard.
Hello Andrew, thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback! We are happy you enjoy working with Flexcolor CQ Grout.
How small are you talking at a time?
I have 35 sq ft of mosaic floor and 70 sq ft of shower wall. Do the floor in 2 batches and the walls in 3?
All you have to do is follow the above video. We use it on 100% of our jobs and do over $600,000 worth of tile per month. It is a great product that makes customers very happy.
Hello Kurt, thank you for your comment! We are happy to hear of your success with Flexcolor CQ, and you are absolutely right, the positive customer feedback has been overwhelming! Keep up the good work, Kurt, and thanks for choosing MAPEI.
I did follow the instructions. This stuff was a gritty mess that splattered and had dry bits flying everywhere. It left haze on everything including anything my wet sponge touched. I had an assistant changing out water more than I've ever done too. Maybe lowes is selling expired product,. I don't know, But then put a date on the thing not a code. Best part of this stuff is the sponge that comes with it. This stuff ate more time than regular grout. Also, it says in the Mapei videos to wait 6-7 days before water exposure. On the tub it says fully cured in 3 days. For the record, I used Mapei thinset all the time including this job so no bias against them or their regular grouts. This stuff was a let down.
if I need to match color for Flexcolor CQ and buy caulk which one do I buy? MAPEI Keracaulk S or Keracaulk U ? sanded or unsanded one? thanks!
Hello, and thank you for your inquiry! You can use either sanded or unsanded. The sanded will have a more similar texture to the Flexcolor CQ. If you are caulking in a shower, a 100% silicone caulk is most recommended, and that would be our Mapesil T. www.mapei.com/public/US/products/2028301489-mapesilt-en.pdf Please call our product support line at (800) 992-6273 if you have additional questions.
"Permasoft?" My tile ktr HATES this stuff now. He and his guys used ~ 8 half-gallon buckets of the stuff on my renovation project. We'd settled on this grout because we didn't want to forever be enslaved to re-sealing conventional grout. Ktr was marginally OK with the process of floating it in, though they found that it was very difficult to detail the tile surface without raking out more grout than they wanted to, leaving joints hollow. Also, shower-surround wall joints frequently refused to be properly filled, tending instead to form air-bubbles below the grout-line surface - leaving them hollow.
Being a fussy guy, after a few days, ktr decided he wanted to replace a few floor tiles due to lippage. That's when he found that the grout - some of it more than a week old, none less than several days - is soft enough that a dull putty-knife can easily be pushed through the grout down to the concrete subfloor. I watched him raking the stuff out; it had the consistency of cured latex caulk, if that. And yes, the putty-knife pushes right through shower-surround joints with a slight 'pop', right into the substrate. Joints had looked great until 'tested'.
It's making me ill seeing this - especially discovering it on a Friday afternoon when Mapei tech support is days from re-opening. Project is in Honolulu, where low temperatures of course can't be considered a factor in curing. And Mapei tech data says it's supposed to cure to Shore A 80 - commonly compared to the hardness of a shoe heel. NOT EVEN CLOSE.
Hello again David,
Thank you for the feedback!
Flexcolor CQ does not dry as hard as cement grout, as this product is acrylic, and remains flexible to a degree.
We would love the opportunity to help you and your contractor troubleshoot this issue you are experiencing.
Please give us a call at 1-800-992-6273 (M-F 8-5:30 ET) or reach out to your local MAPEI Representative through your distributor.
Thank you very much for your interest in MAPEI products.
That process is pretty much concluded at this point.
By phone, over the course of about two weeks, Mapei denied that there was a hardness issue. When I expressed my dissatisfaction with this brush-off, they seemed to be redeeming their concern by offering to look at/test remaining fresh grout I've got on hand. I asked them to email me with return information, assuming it would include something like a UPS return call-tag. Nope. So I'm supposed to pay for the return myself, apparently - thus give them back any remaining grout I bought, wait for them to tell me there's really no problem with it, and then give up. Neither my contractor nor I can wait for this BS pointless brush-off to play out, and certainly not at further expense to me.
Instead, I'll be taking this up with Lowe's regional mgr. Tech specs for this stuff call it out as having Shore A hardness of 80 - which commonly translates to "boot heel" hardness. Show me a boot heel that can be permanently embedded with moderate pressure from a screwdriver, and I'll take back all my complaints.
VERY disappointed with the long delay and poor support from Mapei on this.
Agreed grout seems to stay soft forever having trouble using it myself
Just bought some. I swear it set up less than a minute. I look at this guy on the video using it and the consistancy of his grout is far looser than mine. I have to really force it into my 1/4" grout lines and this guy is just sweeping it in like its nothing. Maybe my product went bad sitting on the store shelf. Its been hellish to remove the grout haze.
Is this ok for limestone?
Hello, thank you for your inquiry! As with any natural stone, it is suggested to do a mock up prior to installing or grouting a surface to confirm compatibility. We suggest that you call in to our Product Support line at (800) 992-6273 and talk to a technical support specialist to assess whether Flexcolor is an appropriate option. Have a wonderful day!
Will it work on glass mosaics?
And is it water proof?
Hello ihike 916! Thank you for your inquiry. Flexcolor CQ can work with glass, however, we do recommend that you do a small, inconspicuous test area first to confirm compatibility; it could potentially scratch the glass. With respect to it being waterproof, no grout is 100% waterproof, not even epoxy. Flexcolor CQ does have very high water and stain resistance. Please feel welcome to call our Product Support line at (800) 992-6273 if you have additional questions.
I used it on a glass mosaic backsplash for a cooktop, saw it recently, it looks perfect years later, no stains or discoloring.
I did not like the product at all! I applied on marble floors with 1/4" space.
Now after cleaning up for more than a week I still have residue and scratches on the floors!
Hello Vanamala Dutt:
We are very sorry to learn that you have experienced a stubborn haze from our Flexcolor CQ.
There is a relatively simple procedure for removing this haze with a high-alkaline cleaner of ours known as UltraCare Heavy Duty Stone Tile & Grout Cleaner.
Please give us a call at 1-800-992-6273 and we will be happy to walk you through the haze removal process!
Thank you very much for choosing MAPEI products.
@@MAPEIUSA i hate this crap of product, i just apply to 600sf and loojs like cristal glue on top of thr tile
What does the removal of this grout entail? Would it be the same process as removing sanded grout? Any issues using this with porcelain tiles?
Hello! Thank you for your inquiry. I'm wondering why you want to remove the grout? Please call our Product Support line to discuss what is going on with the installation, and the best solution. Our phone number is (800) 992-6273 and we are open 8:00-5:30 PM EST. Thank you !
If something were to happen to it or if my wife wants to change the color 10 years down the road. I hope I never have to remove it but just want to make sure it isn't too bad to do. I just removed our previous sanded grout and it was not too bad. I purchased the flexcolor yesterday. Installing it on Tuesday. On the directions it does not say to wet the tile before applying. How wet does the tile need to be? would a couple of squirts from a squirt bottle be sufficient or better to sponge down the area?
Hello, I understand about being prepared to potentially remove the existing grout. Honestly, the easiest way to remove Flexcolor CQ is to apply an Epoxy Grout Haze Remover and let it sit for a while; it will eventually break down the grout so you can easily remove it out of the joint. Clean it well after the fact and let dry. We do recommend dampening tile on a floor only prior to grouting to aid in cleanup. It will help the grout from sticking so readily to the surface of the tile. If you have particularly rough-textured, or porous tiles we recommend sealing first or applying Grout Release. We do not recommend dampening wall tiles prior to installing. Please feel welcome to call our Product Support line at (800) 992-6273 if we can assist you further.
Ruined marble tiles from the inside out. It stained the perimeter of 90% of the pieces. I was able to get all the residue off but it left a dark section around the perimeter. Seems like it leached in from the edges. Job is basically ruined.
Hello Michael, we are sorry you had trouble with the Flexcolor CQ with your marble tiles. We encourage you to call in to our Product Support line at (800) 992-6273 to discuss what happened and to see what we may be able to do to help.
Officially, the worst grout ever to work with. 5 minutes before you need to start wiping it, very wet mixed to spread at walls. The perfect slogan for this grout should be:
"Mapei Flexcolor, the grout that dries fast on the surface but stays wet in the joints"
Jose, I’m sorry you have had difficulty with Flexcolor CQ. You are correct that cleaning must start at around 5 minutes after installation, this is common to all ready-to-use grouts. If you treat it like a cement grout and wait 30-45 minutes to clean, you will have grout haze. As for working with walls, make sure the grout joints don’t have any water in them before you start grouting. The typical practice of using a wet sponge to wet the walls before grouting should be replaced with a light mist of water from a spray bottle instead. This will help keep the grout in place on vertical installations. Please give Flexcolor another try, it requires a different approach to grouting but once they get the hang of it, most installers say they prefer it to standard grout. Hopefully your next slogan suggestion will be “The only grout I’ll ever use from now on."
I really don't use "ready-to-use grouts, but my main store started suggesting it to the customers after a Mapei launch party. Cleaning after 5 minutes of spreading is not costly effective, not even epoxy requires that fast of a time to start washing it after spreading.
And come on, I don't know who replied to me but, what would be a method of getting water in walls grout lines? lol
Hello again Jose, the quick cleanup time is due to the high amount of polymer within the composition, which gives the product its superior stain fighting abilities and water repellency.
Using the traditional washing process may often times introduce water into the grout if the sponge is a bit too wet. This is why we recommend utilizing a spray bottle to mist the surface. We would love to talk with you more in detail on your concerns. Please feel free to give our Product Support Line a call at your convenience; we are available Mon-Fri 8-5:30 (Eastern Time) 1-800-992-6273.
I used it for the first time today and it is the worst. I've used prisim and fusion and no where near as bad as this grout. Im a licensed tile contractor with over 20 years exp and rather used old school epoxy grout.
Yup. Took forever to clean this stuff up. I did a 3X3 celing. Took way longer than regular grout due to that nasty haze it leaves on tile. It simply took about 50 cleanings and 20 clean bucket refills to get this flexcolor off the damn tile. Ceiings are messy but this stuff - FORGET IT. It was falling like rain. Had no problem putting the thinset on this ceiling, never had a problem with regular grout. This stuff was all problem and a real time taker.
All acrylic products suck. (floor varnish, grout, etc) Beyond just installation issues (why does it have to dry so fast when a slow amine addition could solve this issue) the physical properties are just not there. Want better performance, use epoxy grout ~ but the people who make these products really don't know what they are doing, exampled by the short pot life of the product during install that has been noticed (ya got about 1/2 hr of decent installation time and 1/2 hr of dealing with very thick grout after the initial 1/2 hr).
+David Mcbeth
Acrylic grouts do set up faster than cement grouts and the cleaning process is different. Once an installer understands the difference, the process goes quickly with excellent results. While acrylic grouts are not a replacement for epoxy grouts when chemical resistance is required, for most installations they are completely adequate. Because the grout bonds to itself and doesn’t require mixing two parts together, it is much simpler to do repairs too.
Product is terrible. Dries on surface of tile but wipes out of joints leaving rough uneven grout lines. I will never use Mapei again
Mapei has terrible reviews on Lowes.com. My internet wouldn't work at Lowe's and they didn't offer wifi. I got home and read the reviews. No way am I going to use this stuff. I want black not gray.
Hello Curt, thank you for taking the time to express your concern with using one of our products. Please understand that reviews are one-sided and you do not always know all the details. Flexcolor CQ is a very easy-to-use grout that dries consistent. The CQ are recycled colored quartz beads (the pigment is physically attached to the beads) suspended in a clear acrylic base. This is how we do not experience color issues with this grout. If you buy black Flexcolor CQ, you will get a black grout joint. I encourage you to call in to our product support line at (800) 992-6273 to discuss the grout in detail and hopefully put your concerns to rest.
@@MAPEIUSA I'll try the product since I haven't been able to return it and just you know.
Hi Curt, I would download the product data sheet on our website, www.mapei.com/US for more detailed instructions prior to installing the grout.
I'm in Toronto Canada and on lowes.ca it gets 4.5 stars out of 5 with 99 reviews.
www.lowes.ca/grout/mapei-189l-flexcolor-cq-premixed-grout_g2664192.html?searchTerm=mapei-grout
That's pretty good in my books.
Maybe Canadians just don't complain as much as Americans. (Har.) Who knows.
But I did learn a few things about this grout from reading these posts before I grout my tiles in a few days. So coming to youtube was time well spent.
Junk grout
Hello Christopher, we are sorry you did not have a good experience with Flexcolor CQ. Please call our Product Support line at (800) 992-6273 to discuss what happened and how we may be able to help.