A. Mask off any
portion of your project you do not wish to grout such as borders and absorbent tesserae. B. Wearing gloves, mix a
small quantity of DiamondCRETE (usually 1 cup or less) to a fairly thick paste and grout your project by pressing the paste
into the spaces left between the tesserae of your mosaic. DiamondCRETE has water reducers in the mix which act as fortifiers
and prevent the need for excess water when mixing. You will notice the DiamondCRETE mixture will thin as it is being worked
so use caution when adding water - a spray bottle can be very handy for controlling the amount of water used. If the grout
is too thin, add more dry powder to bring the grout back to a thick paste consistency before applying to the mosaic. Using
less water strengthens the grout by reducing shrinkage, and minimizes the efflorescence (a white mineral deposit) that forms
on the grout during the curing process. C. As the grout begins to dry,
a haze will develop over the project. Gently clean the project as needed throughout the grouting process. To clean your project,
use dry paper towels or lint free rags and lightly buff the tesserae and shape the grout where necessary. Avoid using watered
down sponges as the water will wash away much of the creamy cement in the grout mixture and leave a grainy finished surface.
D. Continue to grout and clean in small sections repeating steps B &
C until the mosaic is complete. E. After the DiamondCRETE has begun to
set, but before it has hardened, remove any masking applied in step A so the grout can be shaped if needed. Allow the grout
to dry naturally overnight or longer. F. Seal your mosaic with DiamondSEAL.
Sealing your mosaic protects it from staining, retards efflorescence, and prevents the grout from taking on additional moisture.
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Important
DiamondCRETE is well suited as a grout for both interior
and exterior applications, however, it is not rated for underwater mosaics. For underwater mosaics, such as birdbath bowls
or fountains, use a grout and sealer rated for such applications usually found in pool and tile supply stores.
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