I GROUTED this Shower WITH FUSION and it FAILED!
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- Опубликовано: 28 авг 2019
- In 2014, I grouted this shower and used Custom Building Products FUSION grout. At the time, I don't recall seeing any specific instructions regarding pebble tiles only that it wasn't to be used in joints over 1/2" wide. For reference, sanded grout calls for using between 1/8" and 1/2" so at the time I figured Fusion would be fine.
I admittedly did not download and read the data sheet on the product before we used it, I only read the instruction on the tub. I also cannot state for certain as to what I read, because it was almost 5 years ago and I could be wrong.
The issue I am having is that the grout is working fine in the dry areas. No staining, cracking, or softening is happening in any of the dry areas. The blackening and softening of the fusion is also happening in the 1/16" joints that are in the wall tile in the wet areas so it has nothing to do with the pebbles.
It took us 2-1/2 days to scrape out the grout (being very careful to not disrupt the kerdi membrane) and 1/2 day to grout with matching epoxy grout.
The customer is happy, so I guess that's all that matters in the end. Some days you make money, some days you make friends. 
Развлечения
I've learned from watching this channel that making a mistake is normal, instead of spending time assigning blame, you concentrate on fixing the issue. Where your energy goes is important.
farmerfb yea but it’s been 5 years when is it
Ok
To walk
Away from
A job and not have to
Worry
About coming out of pocket ? Seems like he has
More
Videos ripping out his work then Actually work he’s done.. then he admits on camera he didnt read the directions.. a serious
Question
How long is
Your
Warranty? On workmanship
15 years.. as a plumbing
Company we only
Offer
30 days and material..is the manufacturing deal
Is not
Your
Deal..
But hopefully
You
Get
Paid to
Fix whatever the deal was
5yrs later and u went back!! Wow great job man !! U will never hear that in this day and age , thanks for ur vids always great vids
aleks 1320 hell
Go
Broke.. and these
Company’s who
Continue to
Fuck
The contractors won’t
Because they don’t care ..I understand going back maybe after 1
Year
But after that warranty’s
Done.. and if they want a 5 /10 year
Warranty theres
A
Premium
For
That .. like an extra 1500
Dollar
Deposit..
It
Would be like an insurance .. just Incase something happens and you
Could
Stick that money in a
Special
Account that gains points but also can be used when something goes
Wrong or you’ll
Keep hemorrhaging money out of your
Account
It's marketing for him. Without RUclips, I guarantee he doesn't warrant a 5 year fail.
@@Brad__Gray How can you know that? The simple answer is that unless you know him personally you don't.
Yes it's not common place to stand behind your work .
However not only does it speak of integrity , it is a huge public relations marketing strategy .
I've been doing it for 4 decades . When you start out you want to do a great job , word of mouth . The more work you get as a result of quality , the more money you make .
What I've noticed is that you've got to get past the thought that hey , my install is far past it's warrantee and guarantee .
My strategy was to guarantee my work ......(all work and materials )
For life , yes that right , for life . People said I was nuts , that may be true , however surprisingly call backs are extremely rare , and I've actually gone back to jobs for a complete tear out , not due to product or material failures , it was due only to style , out of date .
Even if I had to do a complete tear out once a year and eat all costs , I'm so far ahead due to reputation it's a minor cost of doing business
I worked for a home builder in Ocala FL that stood behind his homes forever. Normal wear and maintenance of course you take care of, but he backed everything. Very exclusive builder that served a very high end clientele, but I’ve never experienced customer service on that level. One home I recall in particular, 12 years after ownership of a new home. Probably a $3m home 25 years ago. He had a bay window that developed a leak and causes some water damage and he tore it apart, fixed it, and covered it completely. We were there for weeks.
I have an enormous amount of respect for you. Very, very few people would dare to post a "complication" of their own work. However, any reasonable person knows that everyone makes mistakes. Anyone who says they don't have complications is a liar. People who admit their mistakes are people who learn from their mistakes. People who learn from their mistakes are people who are developing a more keen eye and more wisdom. They are the person who will do the job better than others. Thank you for helping to set an example of highest standards.
Prism is the only grout by customs that worth using. Good for you on telling the truth about reps and warrantys, been saying the same thing for yrs.
Won’t be using fusion 👍🏻
I only use prism and I mix it with grout shield instead of water. mix with a margin trowel being sure not to "overmix" (whatever that means. maybe thats why they suggest not using a drill to mix), let it slake for 7 minutes, remix briefly and then go to town. Water is used to clean wipe it. They claim prism has a sealer in it already. I dont do many showers but I never have any issues with it changing colors or turning white after it dries.
Polyblend has fucked me almost every time I used it. Turns white in spot no matter what I do. It might not agree with our local San Diego water supply. I dont use pre mixed grouts like fusion. I dislike the consistency
big respect for dealing with the customers issue and you're honesty
Man you couldn't have said it any better brother love honest straight shooters
Hey there just wanted you to know how much my hubby and I appreciate your helpful and caring words of advice! Your honesty and humility speaks of genuine integrity and makes your advice and words of wisdom so valuable. Blessings on you and keep up the good work!
I like your comment on always keep an open mind on product and procedure.
A great friend of mine always said about so-called professionals,
"Some people have 30 years of experience and others have one year of experience 30 times".
You are an amazing teacher, keep up the great work. Thank you so much.
I work in the trades as well, for 26 years. I stumbled on your channel while doing our bathroom remodel and just want to say thank you for the positive inspiration in doing your everyday job. It's easy to get stuck in our ruts while working the trenches, but I wouldn't "trade" it for a desk job anyday. Wish u were in San Diego so I could support your business. 👍👍
Totally agree with you, we try our hardest to do a perfect job & rely in these products ,
But anything goes wrong always the installers fault.
Feel your pain.
I have learned a lot watching these videos along side being a tile setter. I lay tile day after day and still see new things every time I click on a tile coach video! Thanks for leading by example.
Love the videos. Honesty is rare these days, your crew is lucky to have you dude. Keep it up!
I love watching DIY channels. Seriously enjoy your channel and its honesty. Keep up the great work and being personal.
I am not a tiler but I enjoy the problem solving aspect of your videos. Very interesting and informative. Thanks for sharing and kudos for standing behind your work.
Bro - I love your vids! Who else puts out videos of their own work that runs into problems?? The fact is, whatever business we're in, things go wrong. Trick is to not get too mad, deal with it, and learn from it. Thanks again!
This is my second time watching this video and I gotta say your speech at the end is so inspiring. One of the best videos on RUclips man!
Boy, you are the man! I saw few of your videos about fails on your own work and you redoing it. Some work like 8000 sq. ft store floor fail and you stick to your word - you are a real man of the word! Awesome character and an example. May God bless you!
I have the pebble shower floor with sand grout which has just disappeared over the last 5 years. I do use pretty strong cleaners which I have learned my lesson on that. I just wanted to say you are a great guy for coming back and redoing the grout. Luckily my contractor has made the same offer for me. I've been doing a lot of tile work myself the floor in an enlarged laundry room and two backsplashes one in the kitchen in a herringbone pattern that I wished I never started and a glass backsplash behind my utility sink in the enlarged laundry room. You guys should be proud for going back out and fixing the grout regardless of whose fault it was! Wished you lived in my community!
Appreciate the info. Always good to hear others troubles shooting issues if and when unfortunates do occur. Great job going back, integrity matters. Good lookin bathroom. Work hard fellas!
Great video! You were way more grounded and unbiased that I could have been in the same situation. Bravo!
Huge respect to you. 5 years later and you go back and sort it all out for them. Who on earth would do that nowadays. Your attitude to work is second to none. This clearly is the fault in their product but they clearly would not admit to it in a million years. I can see all that time and effort removing the old grout and reinstalling. Don’t blame you for not filming..
From now on I can pretty much ignore any guarantee on any building materials as it all means fuck all even if it was guaranteed for life.... thanks for sharing the video and your honesty showing not just your great work but things that had gone wrong. A lot would not do that nowadays!
Great commentary on company reps. Had a job 2 years ago, LVT. Tiles had a curl to them in corners. Used the manufacturer’s adhesive, and installation recommendation. Yet the corners returned to their curled state. Right out of the box they had a curl. Reps did nothing. Sent an “ independent inspector” who did a report on the floor. 3 pages stating the floor has a flaw, yet one sentence blames me, the installer. Company denies claim. Finally threatened legal action against them, matter was resolved immediately!
Independent inspector that was paid by the manufacturer.... they always place blame on installation issues and never the product or manufactures
Isaac, Thanks or all the coaching its much appreciated. I do appreciated your words of encouragement and guidance at the end of your videos, your a inspiration to new people in this trade and a mentor.
Love your videos!! Keep up the great work!! You're an awesome teacher!! Honest and factual regardless of what the outcome might be. Appreciate the advice about getting into the trades and enjoying doing the hard work. It can be fulfilling and profitable if done right. Also on the money about the manufactures warranty coverage. They will do whatever it takes to avoid paying out any claims. Throw you a little material and move on, while you eat all the labor!! Glad to have you show us all the proven products and methods that will save us all the headaches. FYI - learning more than most of the pros by watching your channel so I can do my own house projects as a hobby. I'm very OCD and a perfectionist. You're inspiring me to educate and train better techs for the HVAC field that I'm in. We all need more people in the trades that want to work and take pride in their craft!!
I enjoy your videos Isaac, and u really respect you not hesitating to show failed work. I have only used custom products a couple times and wasn't happy with it. I really like the Uzin products, I find them easy to work with and they are a good quality.
All the best
I'm so glad I've shared the things I've encountered,and my dealings w team orange,I'm still repairing mine,that was hacked ,its a shame theres bad contractors,who make it hard to trust,in the end I've done it all myself,and I have to be happy with it,were still excited to see it done
iSAAC Im a retired attorney and i think you learned the best lesson in life.. use the legal system when common sense says you are right !When they changed their product applications THEY KNOW THEY HAVE A PROBLEM! i I watch your videos often as i am doing a curbless shower with a schluter presloped pan ..coated with Ardex 8 plus 9 and a pebble honed stone matrix floor. I learned from your testing and the real life problems you encounter. Your honesty and open expression of learning new and better practices are refreshing. I subscribe to the mold issue as the black grout that is failing. Shame on Custom Products for taking the the LOW road of denial...and blaming others workmanship. I am taking back all their products i bought from Home Depot and buying Ardex products .
Learn more from these videos than most others. Thank you for being humble enough to share mistakes.
I like your channel because you will show the good, the bad and the ugly of the trade, honesty, thanks
That sucks but you are a good man for fixing it. Wish more contractors had your ethics
I feel your pain on this one. I'm a 20yr veteran of ceramics but started installing the groutible luxury vinyl tile 7 or 8 yrs ago. It was a newer product for our city and for this particular distributor. Also used the recommended grout as well as.all recommended products and tools, since it was a newer product. Product is awesome. Good durability, nice to work with.
Had an issue with a project of the grout separating from the tile. But only in particular areas. In front of some old, glass garden doors, under the stove and working outwards and same with around the washer dryer. So at.the ti.e.is was my opinion that it was heat sources causing the lvt to expand and contract causing the failure. I removed the grout and replaced it, and it happened again. This time we brought the rep in. We pulled a tile in these areas and he put the blame on wrong trowel size. (I used recommended from the glue pail and not the tile box. Same company for both. And was the recommended adhesive). I tried to plead my case showing the areas it happened the worst to no avail. I ended up replacing everything there. Many 1000's of dollars.
Fast forward 3 yrs after that, glue pails now have a warning on them that they it is not to b used in direct sunlight or high heat source areas. Can cause excessive expansion and contraction. Just shows how much protection we actually have under warenttee.
love all the hard work in your videos brother so greatly appreciate somebody out here actually knows what they're talking about professional and will put it out there I've had so many bad experiences with people who think they're the pros and they tell you their way and it's always wrong
Glad you posted this. Good information.
I learned all I know about guarentees from Tommy Boy.."If you want me to take a dump in a box, and mark it guaranteed I will... I've got spare time."
I tell my customers that fusion pro is the best grout I have used. This video and many of your older ones have inspired me to use new products, maybe I should try different grouts. Thanks for another inspiring video
Cement grout with latex additive is the best
Going back after 5 years...SUBSCRIBED is the least I can do. Awesome.
I used that stuff in a shower once. Waited over a weekend before installing the grout... Roughly 60 hours before grouting Monday morning. It all turned black and started falling out within months. Called Fusion:. They said it was all my fault for not waiting 72 hours... Fair enough, I'd missed that 72 hours hidden in their literature. But there is no way that 12 hours was the cause. It was hot and dry all weekdend. That product is crap
All grouts have said 72 hours going back to early 80's . used to argue with bosses about that all the time
@@jpstap2306 sorry, hut that's not correct. Standard cement grouts aren't that sensitive. But I just re-read the instructions for Polyblend and it says 24 hours. I used to see guys grout the same day sometimes.
Exactly old cement grout can be installed immediately and used 12 hours later, the longer it’s wet the harder it dries.
Fusion is junk
The Custom Fusion Pro Grout honestly it is not such as what they advertised. I grout the little hex tiles with Fusion Pro on my shower base, just 2 years later it completely runs off then I had to re-tile the shower pan anyway. Disappointed.
Thank you Issac, you are a very kindly life coach.
Very much appreciate your videos very informative. People forget seeing what not to use or do is just as, if not more important than to know the right way.
Thank you for your great videos. My grandson and grand daughter watch your videos and they want to get into building custom kitchen and bathrooms :)
Amazing that you stood behind your work that many years later. Unheard of today!
Your so right about the sales reps! I’ve seen it so many times, always the installers fault in their eyes. Keep up good work!
Thanks for the encouragement brother...may God Continue to Bless You.
Great video Issac! As a contractors we definitely have to take responsibility for the products we use. Good luck getting help from a manufacture/sales rep
Love all ur videos just bought a fixer upper and watch most of ur video on tile and did it my self turn out awesome thanks
Damn! First of all, you're a really great dude. I was literally just about to go out and grab some fusion for my new shower install for the flooring but I'll be going with Prism after seeing this.
Don’t use prisom either just regular grout with additive
The timing of this video is insane. I literally changed my mind about using Fusion Pro a few days ago and just told my tile guys to go with cement grout that they normally use.
Part of business is aligning with good product, a company is based on what happens after the sale, and some companies get this, hope you find the complete package.
Great vid and great of you to fix it. I’m surprised you expected the company to do anything! I had a problem with a similar product, emailed the company, they offer nothing worth the time of even emailing. I didn’t even respond back to them
Just finishing my schluter system with a 5 foot linear drain. I am following your lead and adding Ardex 8+9 as well over the banding ect... Love what you do. Thank you for sharing. I love watching you and Sal. I appreciate your integrity! I will read all the data sheets before using a grout in my shower. I was thinking Tec power grout 550 but have herd about issues with it hardening. I think I will go with Mapei instead.
Thanks for your time. Always amazed at what you and your team can do. Looking forward to more of your epic vids.
Power grout is actually a great product. Been in the tile trade for 32 years and used power grout in my personal shower at home. The shower is almost a year and a half old and looks like the day I finished . Used it on several jobs now , it has the same specs as some epoxy but not the difficulty in workability
John Hewitt I agree. That’s all I use. Have used other products and have not had the best results. Tec is just a good product IMO
I wish this dude was near me. I would hire him for anything. Stand up guy and company.
I used Fusion Pro for a couple of years. Stain resistant, no sealing, it sounded so good. I just had too much trouble with soft mushy joints and showers and I got tired of having to use grout haze remover the next day on probably half the jobs. Customs kept lengthening the required cure time for wet areas. I just don't want to take a chance with it anymore.
I have been using prism for a while now and am generally pleased with the results.
try grout sheild for sealing. you mix it with grout in place of water and then clean wipe with water. no going back to seal 3 days later
I love you bro, you rock and I really enjoy your honesty. You rock!
This is another great informative video! Thx. A follow up repair video on this would have been awesome to see. I can't seem to be able to find any videos on ground repairs done on the whole shower basin with river rocks. I can only find minor spot touch up videos.
Yeah this dude is really really good and gives great practical advice. Im an average joe and just started my conversation upstairs bath tub to walk in shower; so far so good just watching his videos
Mold my friend.
A result of using an acidic cleaner eroding the grout and allowing water to stand in the eroding grout depressions. The air in the room is stagnant when the rooms air should be evacuated after each shower use. Allow an exhaust fan to move and evacuate room air for three hours after every use.
Bud Rowe well said
I have a downstairs bathroom behind a kitchen, the plaster was coming off the walls in the kitchen, all turned out to be condensation from that bathroom, I didn't really notice how bad the condensation was until I had the heating off for a few weeks and it became extremely apparent (even the door delaminated) previously owners had not fitted any extraction, I fitted a humidity controlled fan which is great, I don't know what the convention is in the US but here the UK it's normally triggered by the light switch so if the light is on the fan is on, which is a little silly in my opinion having a humidity controlled extractor fan obviously means it's independent of the light and you don't have to listen to it if its not humid, and you don't have to leave the light on after the shower.
what cleaner do you recommend
@@naegleriafowleri2230 Aqua mix (Home Depot)non-acidic cleaner and sealant.
First thought in my head when I saw all the black, mold and dirt has gotten into the grout, because the grout has broken down.
I am a tile contractor in Woodland, Ca. I used Fusion Pro in a shower with a mortar pan. I grouted it and it failed within a few months. I called Customs Building products and they told me that I would have had to wait 10 days after tile
installation to grout it. I dug out all the grout joints which was gummy and a pain to do. I waited 2 weeks to regrout it and it failed again. Fusion Pro is nothing but caulking in a tub and their caulking says " Not suitable for wet areas."
Your 100 percent truthful. Thank you Sir for your honesty.
Glad I saw this. The product is rated exterior use, anything but submerged. So obviously, pebble tiles might not do well near a swimming pool. Best thing Custom Building Products can do is discourage its use for pebble tile across the board. It also contains MicroBan to kill germs. This may sound like a good feature. But it may indicate a problem with with the formula. Cementitious grout doesn't need an anti-microbial.
I love Prism it is a superior product over standard grouts , holds it color and doesnt errode or soften soo far. I agree totally it is on us i havnt had a company back a faulty product yet they find a reason to blame you. Save yourself some aggravation stick with what works and do your repairs. Respect for coming back after 5 years also. Good job
Thank you very much, Isaac. I am currently renovating my bathroom and I am in a quandary on what to use. At least I know never to use Fusion products.
Very good video. Positive ending about finding your passion and enjoy what you do.
I'm a desk jockey..lol Anyways kudos and much respect to you for not leaving your customer hanging.
maybe thr was some wrong cleaning stuff used to clean the floor
@@001rein but no where else was black except the wet areas.
Nicely put! The sales rep 9 times out of 10 will always find something wrong with the install! I’ve had to eat a few jobs myself knowing everything was done right. Awesome videos like always!!!
Totally true Issac. Keep an open mind.....we can all get inside.
Used some F/A grout on thin joints this week...first and last time. Raked it out, went with regular unsanded.
Thank you!! I’m having the same issue with the fusion grout where my tile meets the shower pan!!
I agree on the rep point.
With the amount of water the shower gets I would consider it a install that is water submerged, and wouldn't use any of that type of grout other than standard, and epoxy grout.
Thanks for sharing the issue.
That’s ridiculous! A shower floor is not a water submerged area... it is not a swimming pool... it is considered an intermittent wet area. You do not run the shower constantly so it has probably 22-23 hours a day to dry out.
Youre right about reps for manufacturers products. Im in the concrete trade and do a lot of resurfacing, staining..etc. When a product fails, its always "installer error". Thats what they are trained to say. Its pointless to have a rep come out as they will never admit product failure.
The only time Ive ever been able to get an actual manufacture warranty is when we had a rep come out to job and watch/document the entire installation and that is a very rare thing
and cudos to you for repairing a job done 5 years back on your own dime..Shows how you care about your work
Your biggest mistake was allowing that guy out of there alive LOL! For years I've been using MAPEI Keracolor Sanded grout, and mix it with MAPEI Grout Maximiser sealer instead of water. But lately, they introduced MAPEI Ultracolor Plus FA Grout, which replaces sanded and unsanded grouts, has a fine aggregate, avoids color mismatching, and does not need to be mixed with a sealer, as there is one built in. It is a fast setting grout, I mix have the bag at a time unless I have someone with me washing the tiles within 5 minutes. You should take a look into it.
jeffostroff Tec power grout is the best that I’ve used. It’s calcium aluminate ...there’s no pigment added,it’ll never bleed and very easy to use.
Wait til you read about Powergrouts issues
@@Ed___341 Oh no, what's up with Power Grout?
jeffostroff
the issue they claimed was a bad batch but it’s been a known issue that every once and a while you will get a bag that’s bad and you don’t know it’s bad till it’s on and Someone decides to clean It to with a brush or use their nail on it and it will scrub off or dig into with ease. Had two showers come up like that.
Isaac, I love your videos. Thank you so much for posting these. I've learned so much from you. In this issue, you talk about epoxy grout. I am interested in the brand you used and where you purchased it. I can order the Mapei brand, but it will take weeks to get it. Do you know of a place that carries it? Thanks again.
I applaud your honesty and all. I’m 34. But Ive been in the business for 12 years full time working with my father who’s had his own business for 30+ years and the only type of callbacks we get are to do another bathroom/kitchen in the peoples house or do upkeep on other stuff in their homes. Never for a leak or cracked tile or anything like that. For shower curbs, try using Caesar stone or granite instead of tile. Looks nicer and no grout lines. With work like this, you have to make sure there is absolutely no water leaks and everything is done correctly. We wouldn’t be able to survive if we kept ripping out our own work. We’ve never advertised and have been working steady for at least the whole time I’ve been working with him, and have people lined up for jobs 6-12 months at the most in advance. Quality workmanship goes a long way. These days, there’s fewer and fewer guys who do things the right way. You look like you do it the right way, just maybe take a few extra steps to ensure it’s done 100% proper on your part. But your honesty is refreshing. Alotta people are crooks these days and it’s disgraceful with the amount of stuff some contractors get away with this day in age.
Sales reps suck for the most part. It has and will always fall on us to make our customers happy. That in itself separates good tile guys from the bad. Thanks for the vids dude.
Very well said my friend! I have had a very similar issue with a very popular and well trusted company. I don’t want to name names, although my claim was not satisfied in their eyes I was compensated with materials etc. enough so that it wasn’t a total loss. Remember you own everything you do regardless of said “warranty” so make it count, try and keep records, pics anything as much as possible to help safe your a$$ in the long run.
Just FYI for everyone. I've had sort of a similar issue with Fusion grout in showers, but I think the issue is that it just never dried properly. Whatever that label says, double it in a shower, let it dry completely - it doesn't dry well to begin with and when you start putting water on it, it never dries and starts getting moldy. I've had to re-grout 2 showers and the second time I let it dry for like 10 days, no problems after. So I think it's all in the dry time. Probably depends on where you are / humidity levels.
Just a follow up on my 5 showers done with Fusion Pro, including one just done a month ago - all holding up fine. Once again, secret is to let it dry - give it a week to be safe.
@@adeptds get back to us in 5 years
@@Jack-russell103 The one I was referring to was done in early 2020. So far so good. No problems with constant use. What exactly makes you think it would fail at exactly 5 years but not in any time within 3 years? Just because someone installed grout incorrectly, doesn't mean it's bad grout. Clearly if the grout does not dry completely, it will fail. This is not your typical grout, and it dries differently. In fact I have another 2 showers with identical Fusion Pro grout. One was done in 2018 (absolutely no issues) and another done about 4 months ago. no problems. These 2 were in a dry climate (California) and died completely in probably 4-5 days. The original one I was referring to that had issues, was in Florida and I let that dry for 2 weeks to be safe after I re-grouted it. Frankly, you don't know what you are talking about. On the contrary - I have a shower with standard grout, and that grout has washed out completely in several spots. So again, Fusion Pro SPECIFICALLY states its good to use on shower floors, it's right on the website. So if you want me to get back to you in 5 years, sure, just post another comment in 2 years and I will even send you a picture of that shower I initially referred to that I had issues with (high humidity location). I am going to bet it's going to look the same in 2 more years as it has for the past 3.
@@adeptds what home owner is ok having to wait two weeks to use the shower after job completed? Thats completely unacceptable. Id never use fusion. Its garbage
Fusion is junk basic cement grout worked for a thousand years. These “new “ products are for profit not improvements
What’s the benefit if you have to wait 5/10 days not for pebbles ect….
Cement grout doesn’t wash out for hundreds of years, Pompeii thousands. Didn’t have Fusion, Schluter or any other scams back then
I've laid a lot of tile, but it's been many years, so I am really enjoying your vids and learning a lot about the latest and greatest methods and products. Here's a question.....why don't you use epoxy grout more, particularly as it was the 'fix' this this particular problem? I've used it in the past, and I realize that it's no fun to work with, and a lot more headaches than conventional grout. However, when it's finished, it seems to be practically bulletproof. So where there is water, and the potential for staining, mildew and failure, it seems like the way to go. I've developed a lot of respect for your opinion, so I'd love to see you do a vid on your take on epoxy grouts. Thanks for all your great vids!
I am really sorry that you had to go through that. It absolutely sucks that they do not back their product.
Sorry to hear that. I used fusion in my shower about two years ago and no issue. The one thing I can think of is the grout is supposed to set for 7 days prior to use (exposing to water). I did not use pebbles however.
Great video, you're right on. I had a similar problem with the same grout and it was all that I could figure the Lysol cleaner she used that was acidic that softened the grout.
Also, stay away from Customs, its total garbage, I don't even know why i used it on that shower, I always try and stay away from that crap.
I wish there was a contractor like him in my area.
Lesson learned: Warranties are just a load of marketing malarkey.
Not if you follow abide by manufacturers specs...
@@mikeo6525 i personally like the warranty that says, claims not excepted for installed materials... lol so if do the install and 6 months later the glaze is breaking off the tile, the asshole manufacturers will blame me the installer for their product failing. warranty's are a joke in the tile industry. those people coulda been dirty mf's that never cleaned this shower once in years, why should you the installer be held liable for that mold? lol
Yep, I'm a carpet cleaner and saw it recently. A client spent $10k on new top of the line carpet and it was showing wear in all traffic lanes after just 6 months. We cleaned it for the installers to make sure it wasn't soiling, and they still refused to honor the warranty. They tried to say it was because the clients walked bare footed and their skin oils were ruining it, what a joke!
he wasn't superposed to use it on pebble and he did.. why would the warranty people cover this. Of course Grout is more likely to fail in wet areas than dry ones his argument that it worked fine in the dry areas makes no sense. If i was the field rep I would have done the same thing.
I have never seen that problem with fusion grout.but good job going back to take care of the customer.
I totally feel for you, we have Trex Decking which is crumbling like oatmeal, there are a few boards that are OK but for the most part the rest is terrible, sent info to them and they never replied to us. It is so depressing. That they don't stand behind ther product. Enjoy your videos thanks
I've actually used fusion in commercial kitchens for several years.... For very limited repairs. That said, I've gotten to where I only use epoxy grout (spectralock) in wet areas. It's pretty much bomb proof.
Good to know. Your videos have positively convinced me of one thing: I will NEVER EVER use tile & grout in a wet location. I'll never understand why people insist on using porous materials in a shower.
What are you going to use then? Those one piece plastic inserts? 🤔... Definitely curious
@@Mansa_Musa.
Maybe a pre-fab acrylic shower pan. They have their downsides too and certainly not as pretty but at least they're made of non-porous stuff. But to be fair I suspect the shower in the video may not have got the seven day cure time that Fusion grout calls for.
@@Mansa_Musa. Fiberglass pan embedded in cement so there is no flexing. And fiberglass surrounds. I coated the plywood floor with Redguard to protect the wood and keep the proper water ratio in the cement.
The grout is the bit that ages,it's possible the fat from the soap feeds bacteria & rots the cement. Use extra admix in the new grout then seal with dry treat or your relevant sealing products. I've had problems in wet trays when the fall is shallow. Epoxy helps for kitchens splash & pool's. Re grouting is tricky on pebbles.
Very good advice from an experienced perspective
Great vid! Insurance and warranty claims are a joke! Sage advice though which is before you pledge your loyalty - understand what kind of support you have when call backs happen!
Well said
Wow, I'll be sure to steer clear. Thanks for the heads up
I wondered how you were mixing brands for shower installs and dealing with a guarantee. I now see you're taking care of yourself, using the products together to get a result you trust to put your own guarantee on. Kudos
In the last couple of weeks I’ve seen like 10 videos of your failed work .... your a brave man
I wouldn't say this is his fault
steve beuchert I’m
Not particularly saying that either .... just most people would try and hid this is my point
Isaac, I admire your dedication to your customers and jobs even 4 years later.
Agreed! One year is standard warranty in my area.....
@@justinofboulder same in my area. That's my standard with my jobs but usually go back after a year if it's a reasonable call back
Just want to commend your work ethic and share my experience with this product. I had an almost identical with not only this custom product but also with one of my favorite grouts mapei flexcolor cq. The custom turned black and the mapei turned red and was said to be mildew by the manufacturer rep. Now this shower was less than 3 months old and these customers kept an immaculate home just the 2 of them no children. What ive taken away from these issues is when a new product comes along and claims to cut your time in half and be a superior product just let that info go right on out your other ear. The standard for me has always been epoxy in wet areas and honestly i cant think of one problem ive had with them other than being more labor intensive. I agree with you on the brand thing. Ive used all of the epoxy grouts out there and guess what, they are all hard to work with but give superior end results in showers. Ive used the flexcolor and the fusion pro literally 100's of times on backsplashes or kitchen floors without issues but once you get burned its tough putting your trust back in that company. Unfortunately as long as you have the big box stores out there selling people whatever they can with such inexperienced sales associates it puts us in a bad spot. Ive gone up against these manufactures more times than id like to remember and after so long its turned installations into 85% research and record keeping and 15% actuany price al installations. There is no way to get around the fact that if they want to blame the installer than they basically have a way to do it even if it means sending 3 seperate inspectors out until they get one to say what they want. ( yes thats actually happened to me) Anyways sorry for the book i wrote here but again the main thing i took away from your video is Your work will speak for itself when you have the integrity you have demonstrated and in the end your clients will have such respect for you that it wont matter what these Reps end up saying. The flooring business is in serious trouble from what ive seen in the last 5-10 years and if more true crafstmen dont get involved with the trade then guys like you and I will be able to charge pretty much any price we want because there wont be any competent competition.Its hard enough to simply find a decent helper anymore let alone an actual Installer.
@Independent Flooring
So true, really seems the trades are suffering for lack of "willing to work & learn" helpers. You'd think the DYIer explosion would have inspired more people to go into the hands on trades.....
Thanks for the honest Video. It was really interesting
Awesome and inspirational brother!!
Isaac, you must have a great karma rating. You are protecting many people.
You should use epoxy based grout for areas like this with high water exposure since it's much less porous.
I really love the epoxy grout, bit expensive but love putting it on
Great video I've been a tile contractor for 30 years always looking for better ways to do my job. I will embrace new materials , but I have found you will get burned eventually . I wait awhile until they come out with the new and improved version before I try anything new . I feel bad for you having to scrape out those pebbles , that's a bitch . But you took care of your customer and that's what it's all about . Keep up your great work educating the trade , and thank you !
I really love watching your content. I’m fairly new to tiled shower installation. I’ve just recently installed a pebble tile floor in a shower. I noticed a few contractors mentioned sealing the pebbles prior to installation and also sealing after the grouting application. Of course I had already installed the tile before reading the part about sealing the tile prior to install, so I ran the sealer over tiles after installation, but before grouting. One thing that ran across my mind was, if you seal the pebbles completely before install, wouldn’t this have an effect on the adhesion? If the surface of every pebble is completely sealed, then what is the thinset and mortar gripping to?
I've been in the custom home industry for 15+ years, and have had customers requesting Fusion grout. So, I was going to start using Fusion on the custom homes that we build, but after watching your video I'm definately not.
Thanks for telling us how it is