6 QuartzLock Grout Problems (Explained)

QuartzLock is a premixed urethane grout made to be used on natural stone, glass, porcelain, and ceramic tile. It’s a quart-based grout that is resistant to stains, and household products and doesn’t need a sealant.

It comes in a ready-to-use package. Therefore, after purchase, all you have to do is pop the seal and start applying it to the tiles.

Of the many grout brands, QuartzLock is one of the oldest brands. Made by Bostik, QuartzLock has been around for years.

Even though its formula has been revised severally, this grout is known to have some issues, that we will discuss in today’s article.

Popular QuartzLock Grout Problems

• Breaks Down Easily When Installed in Wet Areas

The manufacturer of QuartzLock advertises it as a grout that can be used even in exterior areas where there is moisture exposure.

However, from the experience of most people who have installed QuartzLock in wet areas, it tends to become soft over time. If it’s continuously exposed to constant moisture, QuartzLock also becomes sandy and falls out of the joints.

If you intend to use Quartzlock, make sure that you don’t install it in a wet area like bathrooms or any place that is cleaned frequently, such as kitchens. Otherwise, too much water will damage it over time.

Please note that this isn’t an installation issue. It has got more to do with the formula of QuartzLock not being able to withstand water or moisture.

• Difficult to Remove from Tiles

It’s normal for you to stain your tiles with some grout during installation. If you accidentally spill some of the grout on the tile and forget to clean it immediately, you will have a hard time cleaning it off later.

QuartzLock stains are super difficult to remove from tiles. It won’t come off unless you scrub it thoroughly with a brush. If you find yourself dealing with stubborn QuartzLock grout stains on tiles, you can always use sandpaper.

Another pro tip when using QuartzLock grout is not to wipe it with a wet sponge immediately after installation. Make sure that you give it some time before wiping it.

• More Expensive than Most Grouts

Compared to other grout brands, QuartzLock costs twice as much. The fact that it is a premixed grout contributes more to its high cost. Therefore, it will be an ideal solution for smaller tiling jobs.

• Discolors and Stains with Time

Bostik is very keen on praising how their QuartzLock grout is resistant to stains and even chemical household cleaning products. Unfortunately, when you read reviews about this grout, it stains pretty easily.

When you install QuartzLock grout on high-traffic areas such as living rooms and corridors, it will lose its color with time.

Even though this is a drawback, you will be glad to know that it doesn’t happen overnight or in a few weeks. It will discolor with time. By the time that happens, it will have served you for a long time.

• Takes Too Long to Cure

One of the biggest issues associated with QuartzLock grout is how long it takes to cure. Experts recommend ten days. That’s a lot of time, meaning that area will be inaccessible for more than a week if you want the grout to dry.

QuartzLock grout takes so long to cure to the point that it feels soft to touch a day or two after installation. Grouts that take too long to cure usually have a short lifespan because there is a lot of room for error.

Once it cures, it turns into a hard surface that can last for a very long. But if you accidentally spill some water on the soft QuartzLock grout, it may fail.

Should you decide to use QuartzLock grout, ensure that you avoid foot traffic for at least three days. If you use it on a bathroom floor or wall, give the grout about a week to dry.

You also need to remember the risk of using QuartzLock grout in high-moisture areas such as steam showers.

• Finding QuartzLock Grout is a Bit Problematic These Days

This problem doesn’t have much to do with the formula or installation, but it’s an issue that can be irritating. Assuming you want to use QuartzLock on tiles, the first step is to buy it from a local store or order it online.

QuartzLock is extremely rare to come across these days. A few years ago, it was a popular grout brand. But these days, that doesn’t seem to be the case.

It seems that Bostik, the manufacturer is mostly interested in promoting other grouts, such as the TruColor RapidCure or the Dimension Urethane Based Grout.

If you are interested in sourcing your grout from Bostik, you will have better luck finding its other variations.

Are There Any Benefits of Using QuartzLock Grout?

QuartzLock grout isn’t all bad. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be so popular amongst tile installers. Apart from the issues mentioned above, there are other positive attributes of using QuartzLock grout. Here are some of the pros of QuartzLock grout;

• It can be used on a wide range of tiles, from porcelain to glass. It can also be used on textured surface tiles and frosted glass. Therefore, there aren’t limitations on the surfaces you can use QuartzLock grout on.

• Secondly, QuartzLock grout is as smooth as butter. This makes spreading and removing any excess from the joints very easy. If you are new to tile installation, this is a feature you will enjoy.

• Cleaning QuartzLock grout is also pretty straightforward. You only need to wipe it with a sponge and clean off any stains on the tiles. Don’t let them sit for too long because they will be stubborn to remove them. Since there is no cement involved in the formula, the cleanup isn’t nasty.

• In the introduction, I mentioned that QuartzLock grout is sold in a ready-to-use package. Therefore, there is no mixing involved.

All you need to do is open the bucket, and mix the ingredients that may have settled at the bottom during storage. And you can then apply it immediately. It’s that easy. That’s one of the perks of using premixed grout.

QuartzLock Grout Alternatives

QuartzLock grout has an extensive list of both pros and cons. Therefore, you may be interested in another alternative.

There are many grout brands out there. Some are made of epoxy, and others of cement. Out of the many grout brands you can find, QuartzLock’s main alternative is SpectraLock by Laticrete.

SpectraLock is cheaper than QuartzLock. It has a working time of around 1 hour and 20 minutes. This is way longer than what you get from QuartzLock. It is durable, tough, and crack-resistant.

Spectralock can be found in most shops, unlike its counterpart. You can also order it online. It is easy to clean and retains its original color for a long time.

I love how Spectralock dries into a uniform color. This is a feature you rarely get in most tiles these days. Plus, you can get it in more than 40 grout colors.

Other than being better than QuartzLock in so many ways, Spectralock outperforms most grouts, including cement-based ones.

There are plenty of reasons why you should consider Spectralock. Before choosing between these two, make sure that you weigh the pros and cons of each.