I just broke my record for using Custom's Charcoal, a 17-bag job. Oooompah. Residential, not comercial.

As the name implies, it's not a "black" black. It'll dry to charcoal, a "dark" dark gray, or a "light" black if you want to twist things that way.

Aqua Mix colorants are excellent. There are a few ways to apply it, either just on the grout or with a technique that Bill described on another forum. I'm sure he'll pipe in with a link.

You can be a bit sloppy in the initial application, but the big caution is to not let the colorant dry on the glazed tile surface. If a natural stone, then I'll be very very precise in applying the colorant just to the grout.

I'm honestly not sure if the negative press about Custom is due to the product itself or that the product is carried in HD box stores and as such it's used more by the DIY crowd. Or used by "pros" that shop at the box stores. Who knows. I know a few DIYers that put supposed pros to shame.

I did have one bad experience with Custom's grout many many years ago. They did have a bad lot, it seemed a bit off when I was mixing it, and the grout failed as it cured. They totally backed my claim and then some, no argument from them at all. That's one bad experience that was back in the mid-90s.

Charcoal might be the darkest CBP has, but there are others that go all the way to black. Unfortunately, you're right-- charcoal does NOT stay as dark as the pics you had over on the Kitchens forum. For that you need a black grout, and at this point, the colorant will probably be the best bet, short of scoring out all the grout again.

As for using the colorant, no, you don't have to be real careful with it. Take it a section at a time-- however much you can cover in about 15-20 minutes-- and then use a white scotch pad (found in the tile aisle at any of the box stores-- called doodlebug pads), and that will take it off the tile while still leaving it on the grout. There used to be a forum thread that explained it very clearly, but that forum has been taken over by new owners, and I can't seen to find it in the archives. I've got an email into them to see if they can locate it for me, but I don't have much hope. We'll see.

Hi, all. Thanks for the replies.

I don't even mind the grout not being black. I had wanted it to be a really dark gray. But some parts look light gray, while others look like the dark gray I like. I don't know why it's not consistent. I was thinking that it was because of the original mishap of them having applied a light gray grout earlier, and then scraping it up. But maybe some of it was still there? I don't know. I just can't stand how it's uneven looking. If it were all one color, fine, I'd live with it. Like you're saying, I think coloring it now might be the best way to go!

We just finished our master bath remodel, and the grout is the one thing I'm P-O'd about. We used CBP "Light Smoke", which in theory should have matched our dark grayish brown concrete-like tile perfectly. Unfortunately, it cured practically white. Ugh. Our designer said that is just what can happen, as the mineral content in the water can alter the grout color.

Calypsochick-- if the uneven grout color is the problem, give it a month to completely dry out and cure. It might just be that different areas of the grout joints were shallower or deeper, which would cause the drying rates to be different, giving it that mottled look. Give it a month, and if it still looks like that, then you want to consider coloring it. I thought it was the color you didn't like, which is why I suggested going forward with the colorant.

I think I can live with the dark gray, just not the parts that seem to be light gray. Some parts of the floor look great. Others, meh. I guess it's really the uneven color that bothers me. So I'll give it some time and then see about the colorant. Thanks!