Designing Kitchens and Bathrooms - grout is blotched
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avfarag
12-08-07, 05:45 AM
I installed tile in a small area in my basement 9x9, I used a grout called Liticrete, bought it from lowes and I mixed it ith a special additive which the manufacturer recommends.
Few hours later the grout lines are blotched, I used a dark beige grout and now it is white, and looks ugly. I washed it several times with soft water, added baking soda, tried vineger, nothing seems working and it is so frustrating and I don't know what went wrong . Is this a problem with the product ?, any suggestions I am actually thinking of removing the grout , I don't know how easy this will be
Few hours later the grout lines are blotched, I used a dark beige grout and now it is white, and looks ugly. I washed it several times with soft water, added baking soda, tried vineger, nothing seems working and it is so frustrating and I don't know what went wrong . Is this a problem with the product ?, any suggestions I am actually thinking of removing the grout , I don't know how easy this will be
Tilebri
12-08-07, 07:23 AM
Sounds like you washed the color pigments right out of the top of the grout. Over washing and the use of an acid (vinegar).
You can go over the whole thing with a grout colorant or regrout. The sooner you get at the grout the easier it will be to remove. Utility knife, grout saw, whatever. You will need to go to a depth of at least 1/8" of 2/3 the thickness of the tile, whichever is greater.
Next time, dry mix the grout to ensure even colorant distribution. Some separation will occur when products sit for a while. Follow the grout directions on mixing, it should pack into the grout lines, not flow. If mixed too loose, the colorant will float to the top and get washed away with your clean up water. Too much water can also lead to a whitish haze as the polymer additives float to the top.
Don't over wash the grout and wring your sponge as dry as you can and wring it frequently. Once, using a circular motion to shape the grout lines, wring it out and then lightly float it over the tile at a diagonal to the grout lines to just clean the surface of the tile. That's it. Different rates of curing will also affect grout color, a drafty door, an area with sun beating through a window, etc will all affect color uniformity. Since you used the 1776 additive, I'd say it was not efflorescence and primarily a case of over washing/over working the grout.
You can go over the whole thing with a grout colorant or regrout. The sooner you get at the grout the easier it will be to remove. Utility knife, grout saw, whatever. You will need to go to a depth of at least 1/8" of 2/3 the thickness of the tile, whichever is greater.
Next time, dry mix the grout to ensure even colorant distribution. Some separation will occur when products sit for a while. Follow the grout directions on mixing, it should pack into the grout lines, not flow. If mixed too loose, the colorant will float to the top and get washed away with your clean up water. Too much water can also lead to a whitish haze as the polymer additives float to the top.
Don't over wash the grout and wring your sponge as dry as you can and wring it frequently. Once, using a circular motion to shape the grout lines, wring it out and then lightly float it over the tile at a diagonal to the grout lines to just clean the surface of the tile. That's it. Different rates of curing will also affect grout color, a drafty door, an area with sun beating through a window, etc will all affect color uniformity. Since you used the 1776 additive, I'd say it was not efflorescence and primarily a case of over washing/over working the grout.
HotinOKC
12-08-07, 09:20 AM
I did the same thing as you but I had alot of efflorecense. I ended up getting grout colorant and the floor is now perfect.
Take a look at groutdye.com (http://www.groutdye.com)
Thats where I got mine and was very pleased. It's not really a dye, but that's just the name of the company.
Take a look at groutdye.com (http://www.groutdye.com)
Thats where I got mine and was very pleased. It's not really a dye, but that's just the name of the company.