The jet black grout that was applied to a newly laid ceramic tile floor a week ago dried with a whitish/gray color in many areas. It does not come off when washed (and looks black when wet). Was something done wrong in mixing the grout? How can this be corrected?
Thanks, Alan.
Replies
Alan
Sounds to me like you mixed the grout with water and did it inconsistantly. Water must be mixed with grout withthe same amouts for each mix. I'm not sure its what happened but that has happened to me in my earlier years of doing tile work. If you didnt totally fill the grout joints to the top of the tiles completely you may be able to regrout over the work youve already done. I'd use a latex mortar additive rather then water and mix it consistantly the same. Also, be sure you really mix the grout up very well with your liquid....Have fun
Be well
Namaste'
Andy
It's not who's right, it's who's left ~ http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Edited 11/3/2002 10:10:36 AM ET by Andy Clifford(Andybuildz)
If you haven't sealed the grout yet, you can buy grout dye. Promising as it sounds, I'm lukewarm at best on it's performance, but it may be worth trying in an inconspicuous area. There's times it works, times you just punt and cut deep enough to regrout.
If it looks black when wet, it may be worth trying to just put a sealer on. Try it by putting sealer on a few inches of grout line and see if you like the result.
Tom
Andy had the number one reason for uneven grout color.
Another is while the grout may have been perfectly mixed, too much water might have been sloshed on when cleaning the tiles off after grouting. You can get somewhat of an efflourescent effect, which may be the white/gray discoloration you're getting. Not sure, though.
Other reasons are that the thinset wasn't raked out from between the tiles before grouting. Doens't sound like your problem.
Yet another is using contaminated water. Well water with too much iron or other impurities. That can be more of a problem with light-colored grouts. Use distilled water in the future, though again, that really doesn't seem to be your problem.
I've never used a dark grout...but if this is some sort of efflourescence, maybe someone could comment on the idea of using a diluted muriatic acid wash, followed by sealing Don't consider this idea until better minds have commented on it.
Edited for speling errers
Edited 11/3/2002 3:28:03 PM ET by Mongo
Probably mixing and washing . I just had the same problem and I checked a tile site , and went back to work. Turns out mappei grout is starting to sux!
Tim Mooney
Oh yea , dye it .
Tim Mooney