Bought self-leveling compound (LIP 226), adhesive (LIP multi), and grout (Kiilto tile and joint grout) in March last year for the bathroom renovation. This has now been delayed, and now when I'm about to use the self-leveling compound, I hear that there is apparently a limited shelf life on the products...
Getting tired.
The self-leveling compound was manufactured in Feb 07 and has a 6-month shelf life, the adhesive was manufactured in Oct 06 and has a 1-year shelf life, and the grout was manufactured in Dec 06 and has a 1-year shelf life. Can these still be used, or is it just better to buy new ones? I don't want the floor to lose its strength, the tiles to come off the walls, or the grout to become discolored.
Getting tired.
The self-leveling compound was manufactured in Feb 07 and has a 6-month shelf life, the adhesive was manufactured in Oct 06 and has a 1-year shelf life, and the grout was manufactured in Dec 06 and has a 1-year shelf life. Can these still be used, or is it just better to buy new ones? I don't want the floor to lose its strength, the tiles to come off the walls, or the grout to become discolored.
Diversearbetare
· Göteborg
· 11 191 posts
In general, the "shelf life" of fix and grout is nothing more than the period during which it does not risk causing allergic reactions during handling. I can't remember exactly right now, but an iron compound has been added to keep chromium compounds in check. Usually lasts 12-18 months. When that time has expired, you should wear protective gloves if you have sensitive skin or are prone to eczema. The use itself is as good as when it was newly manufactured.
As for the self-leveling compound, I'm unsure.
As for the self-leveling compound, I'm unsure.
Just talked to a salesperson at a flooring company, and he said that there shouldn't be any problems at all. What apparently happens is that it might take a little longer to dry, but that's about it. The product's properties aren't changed according to him. As for silicone, it's not quite as significant since it doesn't affect the tightness or construction in the same way.
Self-leveling compound, I know from experience, is a pain when it's expired. It takes forever to dry. A tiler buddy and I were redoing a bathroom at home, and I didn't have enough fresh compound, so we had to use a bag that was about a year old. Everything dried as usual - except for the area where we used that bag.. 
Diversearbetare
· Göteborg
· 11 191 posts
Silicone, even unopened, also has an expiration date. I made the mistake of using Höganäs silicone that was six months out of date (unopened). It didn't even dry after three weeks and was still sticky. Had to scrape off the mess, and it wasn't an easy job. Luckily, acetone took care of most of it since it hadn't cured.Farzan said:
Styx, how was the result then? Did you notice any difference? I have time but not money
There I must say you are wrong.Johan Gunverth said:
Cement, regardless of type, is a perishable item. After a certain time (how long = depends on the type), it loses strength and ultimately ends up in nothing, and that is also what makes an old cement-based product cure slower (or not at all). To be precise, you should say: it dries as it would have if it didn't have the binder in it, but it doesn't cure. The binder has lost its total ability, which also means that the strength does not become what it should be or may even be completely absent.
The risk of using an old product is not only that it is allergy-causing. Strength is a significant risk. You simply can't rely on an old, expired product. You can never claim a product defect if something happens. If you are a contractor, claims can be costly because you have "no one to back you up."
Diversearbetare
· Göteborg
· 11 191 posts
The information comes from Höganäs in my case. I have personally used 12-year-old ROT-fix at my dad's place, and it became just as strong as newly manufactured fix. There are more here on the forum who have received the same answer about old fix/grout from their respective manufacturers. Is it not self-leveling compound you're thinking of when you use the words "dries" and "cures"?ktm250 said:
Preserves and floor plaster! I'm getting absolutely crazy. I've been fretting and stressing over having to throw away adhesive, filler, and grout worth 5-6000 SEK and buying new ones. Yesterday I was at Krauta for other matters when I found a wrapped product sheet for the multi-adhesive and it said, "when stored dry, the durability is unlimited." On the product sheet on their website, it says 1 year. http://www.lip.dk/Media/PDFSvensk/Produktinformation/multikakelfix.pdf
I went down to the basement and read the bag again. Now I found the information in small text on the side. "when stored dry, the durability is unlimited..." Angry as a French farmer, I also looked at the self-leveling compound and the small text on the side; "when stored dry, the durability is unlimited." On Lip's product sheet, it says 6 months... http://www.lip.dk/Media/PDFSvensk/Produktinformation/226 fiberspackel.pdf
What is wrong with the manufacturers? If I had thrown everything away and then bought new stuff unnecessarily, I would probably, after a quick visit to Lip, have spent the rest of my life in Kumla's security bunker.
Is it so hard to get the right info out there? Also, no one at Lip's support knew anything about this and I think that's really lousy. Now they said on support something like; "well, we can't take responsibility if you've used a product that has become too old"
Apparently, it can't become too old! Grr.
I went down to the basement and read the bag again. Now I found the information in small text on the side. "when stored dry, the durability is unlimited..." Angry as a French farmer, I also looked at the self-leveling compound and the small text on the side; "when stored dry, the durability is unlimited." On Lip's product sheet, it says 6 months... http://www.lip.dk/Media/PDFSvensk/Produktinformation/226 fiberspackel.pdf
What is wrong with the manufacturers? If I had thrown everything away and then bought new stuff unnecessarily, I would probably, after a quick visit to Lip, have spent the rest of my life in Kumla's security bunker.
Is it so hard to get the right info out there? Also, no one at Lip's support knew anything about this and I think that's really lousy. Now they said on support something like; "well, we can't take responsibility if you've used a product that has become too old"
Apparently, it can't become too old! Grr.
Drying and curing are two different things and, of course, apply to all cement-based products. If, for example, a plaster dries before it has cured, you can simply sweep it away.
If Höganäs says it's okay with their products, then it probably is.
If Höganäs says it's okay with their products, then it probably is.
Cement-based products often do not meet their specifications and characteristics when 6 months or more have passed since the expiration date. The material itself still has the same ingredients in the bag, but the properties after mixing appear slightly different.
For example, a self-leveling compound may not flow as much, the flow additive has clumped/bound and does not have as much effect, another effect could be delayed drying time. Usually, the finished product does not become worse in terms of strength, but who wants to use a self-leveling compound that doesn't flow if they purchased the product specifically for that property?
Best regards,
jawen
For example, a self-leveling compound may not flow as much, the flow additive has clumped/bound and does not have as much effect, another effect could be delayed drying time. Usually, the finished product does not become worse in terms of strength, but who wants to use a self-leveling compound that doesn't flow if they purchased the product specifically for that property?
Best regards,
jawen
Doesn't sound completely unreasonable, but if that's the case, it should obviously be stated on the packaging. Unlimited shelf life means in my world, where I live, that I should be able to take out the putty after 20 years and it should flow and work without any issues.