Lingering Lanai Tile Installation

We had hoped to move patio furniture back into our newly-tiled lanai today, but that is not yet meant to be.

As Rodney was putting down the tile yesterday, he started to mutter about, "I hope I have enough tile to finish this job."  He wasted absolutely NOTHING, and with one clever cut on a tiny piece next to the wall, he was able to finish the whole floor, but he had no tile left for any future repairs.

The grouted tile helps make the lanai a more
unified room.  Rodney did an excellent job of
adding tile in front of the laundry room door.

Then he started to grout the tile.  Sigh.  The tile's rough sand finish tore up his sponges as he was wiping off the excess grout, and he seemed to be having trouble stretching it as far as he had hoped.    He said that the grout was difficult to put down but that it was the most durable grout on the market.  He said it would last forever, and for that I am happy.

I was a little upset at the color of the grout.  It seemed very dark to me, but Rodney assured me that the grout would dry "at least two shades lighter."  He was correct.  This morning when I looked at the floor, the grout had dried and lightened so that it blends in beautifully with the tile.

This corner of the lanai still needs grout.

Sadly, Rodney did not have enough grout to finish the floor.  He used a whole bag of grout, (which, on paper, should have been enough), but we have about a 3 x 6 foot area left that needs grout.  Rick said that would not be a problem, so he went out on Wednesday to get more grout.

First he tired Floor Decor because they were closer to our house than Pro Source, which is where we purchased the materials and tiles.  Floor Decor did not carry that type of grout.  OK.  His next stop was Pro Source.

The clerk at Pro Source apologetically informed him that although they usually have that grout in stock, they were out of that color.  The clerk tired to rob a bag of that color of grout from another job, but that did not work out either.

Rick had to order a back-up box of tile and the final bag of grout to finish the job.  The grout is supposed to be on the truck tomorrow (Friday),  but we probably won't hear from Pro Source until Monday.

We are SO glad that we did not try to put down this tile floor
ourselves.  This was a challenge even for the professional.

Of course, that means that the patio furniture will stay in the garage and off the lanai until next week some time when Rodney can come back to finish the job.  We had hoped to enjoy it this weekend, but we will have to wait for that pleasure just a bit longer. I guess all good things DO come to those who wait.