What color mortar did they use on your flagstone?

14 years ago

Some of you have probably read my story about my hideous brown mortar or even seen it on the pics. :) Working on resolving this. What color mortar do you have on your flagstone, specifically Oklahoma flagstone. Obviously the stone varies drastically, but I'm trying to make sure I get this right. I want something MUCH lighter than I have, I assumed that would be buff, but I know there is also just the regular gray and I hear any color in between...please share, this problem has tainted way too many of my days lately......

THANKS!

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Comments (3)

Niki Friedman
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
We're doing Pennsylvania flagstone coping and I asked for a gray mortar (vs something lighter like white or cream).
njfolks
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I always appreciate those who respond to my posts and hope that I too can help others at times. I also appreciate those who are brave enough to share there experiences--particularly what they feel are their "mistakes" as it does help to educate the next person. I re-read your entire pool post because I remember your situation and it made me want to check my builder's grout color when they came to install my stone coping. Needless to say ---we made a run to a local store to get (and paid for) our own grout and I'm glad we did. I ended up using a more neutral "buff" or what I'd call a taupe color. The only options our installer gave us was the traditional white or a very dark gray.

As to what might help in your situation -- I tried searching for you under "changing grout colors" and found there were stain products (can go darker only) and products that acted more like a "paint," but would take several coats to go lighter. The other option seems to be to manually chip-out and replace the grout. I would make a trip to a tile specialty store to discuss your product options and to get at least some plastic grout sample sticks to see what color range would look best with your materials. There are actually way too many grout color choices and after I had picked one in the grayer range they didn't have it in stock and I went with something between a tan & gray because I had to get something that day. Nobody but me would know it wasn't my first choice as it does look nice.

Now, you probably don't want to hear this-- but, when I look at your pictures on my monitor it seems that your grout has a slight mauve color that complements your interior pebble finish. It may be less neutral than the tones in your stone (again on my monitor it doesn't look it) but to me it does not look entirely out of place with your stone choice. Not so funny thing is we all have our own opinions of what we think looks best and we are worry about so many things that didn't go as planned, or things that didn't turn out quite as anticipated or we're left dealing with problems that weren't unanticipated at all. Seems as others have said we are left second-guessing even our own choices when it is what we wanted originally and came out as planned--but now we're not happy with it.

I also wanted to ask you if you are using a color enhancer/sealer on your stone? This can dramatically change the color by deepening it and it also may bring out color-tones you would not have noticed otherwise. You may want to test your several pieces of left-over stone with this type of product and then see how it looks with the current color of the grout. Try the enhancer on the sealer also on the grout as this will get coated in the process as well.

As I sit up tonight trying to make some tuff decisions of my own I truly feel your pain. Hope some of this helps. By the way I wish I had done my spillway like yours--you see opinions do vary. I will be probably be paying more to redo some material choices of my own. Ugh!
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I’d call the handyman and ask what specific products were used, then look up the instructions online. (I’d be curious to see if the sealer mfr recommends moisture testing prior to application.) I would assume they waited a week between cleaning and sealing to allow everything to dry out. But like I said before, that corner would probably take a lot longer to dry than the walkway, and if it was sealed before it was thoroughly dry, then either a. it’ll take forever to dry and thus lighten up or b. it’ll take forever to dry and the darkness you’re seeing is actually mold, not wetness. Keep in mind these are all just theories on my part. ;) Do you have before pics, by any chance?
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paradigmdawg
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Jenno,

We used a bone color on our retaining wall which is OK Flagstone.

What color mortar did they use on your flagstone?

Comments (3)

Niki Friedman

njfolks

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