Mapei Ultracolor Plus Grout, Mapei is an Italian-based company that has been a part of everyone in the building industry. It has thousands of unique products with properties and characteristics to meet their needs.
They provide a wide range of products and solutions for all building industry sectors and guarantee flexibility and savings in materials and energy. One of the products is Mapei Ultracolor Plus.
In this particular write-down, we shall dive deep into the Ultracolor Plus and especially on the problems and how you can counter the issues. Let’s dive write in
Table of Contents
What is Ultracolor Plus?
It is a high-performance, quick-setting cementitious mortar for grouting joints from 2-20mm wide. This product is available in 2kg and 5Kg bags in various colors and a matching Mapesil AC Silicone.
Ultracolor Plus is easy to apply and clean, thus keeping the surfaces hygienic and healthy. Its presence in multiple colors brings out the elegance of any tiled surface and adds a touch of originality to any setting.
Its use is internal and external grouting of floors and walls in ceramic and stone materials such as granite, marble, natural stone, terracotta, glass, and marble mosaic.
So, its application can be in public areas with heavy traffic like shopping centers, airports, restaurants, etc., and residential areas such as private houses and hotels, terraces, balconies, facades, and swimming pools.
Mapei Ultracolor Plus Problems
Some problems with Mapei mortar for grout emerge due to installation errors or the grout mixing. Here are some of the issues you may encounter are:
Porosity
The floor may tend to be porous upon drying. You can notice numerous tiny holes that absorb dirty liquids making light-colored grout look stained and dingy. In such a scenario, scrubbing will worsen the situation, causing discoloration if the surface absorbs more colorants in the cleaner.
Additionally, in some circumstances, there is no amount of cleaning or scrubbing that can remove the absorbed dirt from the surface of the grout.
Solver
You can prevent the stains from the grout’s porosity by applying a clear sealer to the cement-based grout.
However, according to Mapei, it is advisable to reapply the sealers repeatedly to keep the grout free of stains. You can also recolor the grout with a colored sealer if it has already stained.
Leaching
If you find some white spots on the surface, it is due to the rise of polymers because of leaching. Polymers are added to the grout to reduce, minimize porosity and improve stability. They are white; hence when leaching occurs due to too much water during grout mixing, the excess water evaporates, leaving behind white spots.
Solver
The simplest way to solve the issue of polymer leaching (white spots) is to cover them with a colored sealer that matches the grout.
Efflorescence
It is the appearance of a white, chalky substance on the grout surface or joints due to the salt crystals carried by water upon drying. It is easily noticeable on dark-colored grout. The top cause of the efflorescence is too much water when mixing grout by installers.
Solver
Sometimes you can remove efflorescence by scrubbing grout with a stiff nylon brush dampened with a clean water can.
According to Mapei, a grout haze remover may also annihilate efflorescence on grout.
Benefits of Ultracolor Plus
- It is mold-resistant due to the BioBlock technology
- It is water-repellent and easy to clean due to the drop effect technology
- It is anti-efflorescence for uniform color
- It is available in a variety of colors.
- Grouted areas are quickly ready for use.
- It is resistant to abrasion, compression, and flexural strength, thus durable.
- It is shrinkage compensated and therefore crack-free.
5 Steps on How to Seal grout
The last thing you want to see is your new project gradually removed by stains and dirt daily, especially after a successful DIY tile installation. Even though all grout needs maintenance to retain its sparkle, some products (sealers) such as Mapei’s Ultracare Grout Sealer can enhance easy cleaning and lessen the staining.
Sealers are structured to penetrate grout filling the voids to prevent dirt and stain from ruining the tile design. How then can you ward off the unsightly stains via grout sealing?
Ensure the Grout is Dry
New grout should cure entirely so that all the moisture evaporates to achieve the right color. Wait for at least 48hours after installing grout to apply a sealer.
For older grout, clean them thoroughly before they are left to dry while protecting the grout from spills and stains at this moment, or else you will seal dirt instead of locking it out.
Apply Mapei’s UltraCare Grout Sealer
Using a brush, a foam sponge, or a small roller, coat sealer on the grout lines whichever way you like but most importantly, make sure the joints are entirely and evenly covered.
Let it Settle
Let the sealer sit for about 10 minutes, after which you can wipe off the excess sealer with a damp towel. Sealers tend to leave a residue on the tile surface. However, it is easy to get rid of at this stage.
Test the Sealer’s Effectiveness
Use water to test the sealer’s effectiveness. After the sealer has completely dried as per the instructions on the label, put a few drops of water onto the grout line, and if it beads up, then your grout has adequately sealed and is ready for the next step.
Reapply (optional)
If the water test failed, that is to say, the water lay flat and didn’t bead up; you need to wipe it off and wait for another 30 minutes to reapply the second coat to ensure you acquire the best results for the work.
Therefore, it is essential to remove spills often, change the mop water, and promptly clean grout joints to maintain pristine-looking grout. Sealing aids in keeping stains from forming and enhances cleaning.
Although, it is paramount to take note that regular cleaning is mandatory for an absolute beautiful grout look. Also, remember that all sealers are susceptible to wear or lose their effectiveness, thus reapplying the sealer yearly or at the point, you notice that the water doesn’t bead up.
Always follow the steps above, and you will be guaranteed a fresh grout look all year round.
Conclusively, the issues that arise after applying Mapei Ultracolor Plus are due to installation mistakes or the wrong mixing procedure. Nonetheless, they are manageable. Therefore, it is crucial to follow the instructions given on the manufactures’ label to guarantee the best results, thus enjoying the beautiful grout look.
