I completely undersand your frustration, it's awful how fast something could go wrong.

I'm not a tile expert but I was once told you could scrape the grout down and regrout on top. Hopefully, someone with more expereince can chime in.

Also, in my experience the grout looks darker wet and usually dries a bit lighter, maybe give it 24 hours to completely dry.

You are correct. It could be residual moisture that still needs to escape that's keeping the grout darker than you'd like. Most people complain that the grout cures lighter than they'd prefer.

It's too bad that no specific color lines and names were given to the installer. In the grout world "gray" can extend over a wide range of shades. And "light gray" can more often mean a platinum or silver versus something with "gray" in the name.

White versus gray thinset? Gray is definitely gray. I suppose white on its own could look off-white. But next to gray the difference would be obvious.

Hope it works out for you!

Thanks, I actually had told my contractor the "palest gray" possible.

Anyhow, positive update: my contractor is indeed taking today to scrape off the grout. He said not all needs to be taken off, so he's just scraping off the top. It's a lot of work but he was completely understanding about it.

My concern with this was whether the scraping might chip at the glass mosaic tiles. It seems to be ok so far (he just started).

I'm going to have the tile place send me the light gray themselves that they were referring to, which I suspect is one of the more "silvery" ones on the lefthand side of their grout color chart (link below):

Here is a link that might be useful: Grout color chart

Thanks for the thoughts so far. I really appreciate it.

Well the disaster got worse. The mosaic tile has a bit of texture to one of the tiles in the blend. Therefore, the dark gray grout 'filled in' those valleys within the textured tile. Barely noticeable when the walls are dry, but when wet, the white tiles look literally speckled with BLACK.

I had my contractor stop all scraping and all work on the tile. Gonna remove it and re-purchase the tile. The tile vendor is going to send the grout AND the thinset that they recommend for this tile (I previously didn't know they sold it).

The grout color they have recommended is "Silverado." Bill, I have noted your suggestions (Pearl or Birch), and will discuss this with them tomorrow but having seen the Silverado, it looks like it should be just right. Do you (or anyone else!) agree?

Again, thanks for all help.

By the way, here's a picture of the tile I bought, installed in a shower (it's actually the very picture that inspired me to buy this tile). The photo of the shower is a few photos down the page:

Here is a link that might be useful: white glass mosaic tile shower

The silverado should be fine. It's maybe a shade darker than the two I picked.

As for the pic, that's very similar to one I just did for Staceyneil, except that like the picture, we used white grout.

Thanks Bill... just curious, what made her (or you?) go with white grout instead of a pale gray?

Just to chime in, we used white grout with our Artistic Tile Opera Glass mosaic kitchen backsplash--our tile color is called Wolfgang White. We also used white grout with our Daltile white field tile in one bathroom, and plan to use white grout in our other two bathrooms (white field tile in both, and White Thassos mosaic in one).

We prefer the grout to blend in with the tile color as much as possible, so I'm guessing that's one reason why others choose it as well. Some people like to use light grey with white tile, saying it makes the tile "pop."

HTH

duchamp-- she was looking for a seamless almost "zen" type look.

Catmom-- funny you should say that-- that curb is also thassos. :-)

I love it (your tile job and Thassos in gen'l)! :-)

Bill, you've got mail.

Cats mom, could you possibly post pictures of yours too? Especially the white glass mosaic.

I also would like to see any examples of white glass tile with light gray grout, to compare them visually. If anyone has pics of such.

Thanks!

Catmom-- no I don't. Just checked both emails, including junk folders.

I will re-send it, Bill. I sent it through reg email not GW, BTW.

Here are some pics for you, duchamp. We used TEC Bright White grout in the ktichen and guest bathroom, BTW (but might use Laticrete Permacolor on the new baths).

Bathroom:

duchamp,

I would recommend pure white grout. I am with catmom on this. White glass tiles look best with the whitest grout you can find. Gray will muddy the look. Gray will also make the tile look like a screen mesh:) The idea is to make the delicate glass tiles not get overpowered by a darker grout.

I used avalanche white grout from mapei on my clear glass tiles.

As soon as I clicked on the grout color link and saw it led to Jablon, I wondered if you were using the "Jill mix".

I'd recommend staying with a lighter grout. The delorean, what a huge mistake. I understand your angst now.

I'd go as "white" as standard white grout, stepping down just a tad in grayness to the pearl if you want to avoid the white. The Silverado they recommend is on the dark edge for me. That's as dark as I'd go.

My hokey analysis? With that tile I wouldn't want a grout that's darker than the tile. I'd go similar to slightly lighter, and I'd actually lean towards lighter. A darker grout will come to the visual forefront and break the wall into a grid, emphasizing the gazillion individual tiles. A similar to slightly lighter grout will sort of disappear into the background and let the tiles be the focal point, and allow the tiles to blend with one another across the wall.

Just my opinion, and that's what this is about...how you personally perceive color, shade, and pattern. Your eye may be different than mine, your end goal may be different than what I'm picturing in my head.

But the delorean gray? Ouch!

Thanks everyone. Cats Mom, beautiful job with your tiles.

Mongoct (love your screen name, lol), I completely see what you're saying. The Jablon chart shows the Standard White that I think you referenced, and also they have the "Bright White", which I am curious about - I think it might overpower the glass though... so I think I'll buy a bag of Standard White AND Pearl, test out both to see what would look best. What do you think...

Thanks everyone for all your help. I'm SO glad I found this site!

Gorgeous tiles! That is going to look so great when it is finished.

I was going to recommend getting a couple extra square feet and making a test board. Try a couple different grout colors and then decide what you like. Personally, I'd third (fourth?) the recommendation for white grout. It will put the spotlight on the tiles, not the grout. But do a test board and it'll be really clear. I did one when deciding on our shower tile & grout color.

You're welcome duchamp and good luck! I'm looking forward to pics of yours with your newly selected grout choice, whichever it may be.