Here is a photo

Pre-grout

A close up of the tile I used. I guess I’m just curious if I have any recourse or do I just need to take it as a loss and pay for it twice

Was the crackle finish visible before the installation? Is it the crackle that bothers you or the dark colour. I think the colour is a bit too dark in contrast to the white tile. But did he seal before he grouted, because I think that is possibly the issue.

Sealing is mandatory for crackle glazes. It is recommended that you seal your tile with a penetrating sealer before and after grouting. In addition, it is recommended that you reseal every twelve months or so.

Have an on site meeting with your tile guy and discuss what was done or not done. Were there instructions on the tile boxes?

If the sealing was not done prior to grouting, I think you have a case for a redo or at least partial refund on the job. Hopefully a reasonable discussion with your tiler will yield results that will make you happier.

subway tile is boring anyway. i dont think what you have is so bad its worth the cost of a redo but if you do consider something else entirely

It always had a crackle finish on it : ) Grout doesn't change the tile. When he grouted, the barely noticeable crackle, was "filled" with dark grout.

If you hate it, rip it. If you want a handmade appearing tile ? Try Elyse Edwards " Tongue in Chic" in you "you don't snow me" color.More updated size too........2.5 x 10 inch. No crackle, just a nice hand made wavy look.

Kitchen redo with butler · More Info

Interior Design Work · More Info

If you hired a tile professional, as a professional, and then consulted with him on the tile and grout choices in advance? Then he ordered it, and inspected it over once it arrived, before setting your install date? And then he followed the manufacturer’s installation requirements to seal it twice etc. before installing it? And it still stained? Your tile professional should be proactive in reaching out to the manufacturer about the issue. A tile pro would have already told you that he was going to deal with a warranty claim with the manufacturer.

If the tile person was paid as work for hire labor to “arrive and set” with no prior assistance with the selection of the tile or grout, then the tile should have been sealed and ready to go upon his arrival. It would be up to the person specifying, ordering, and inspecting to comply with the manufacturer’s installation requirements. And it is up to that GC/Designer to resolve any issues created by them not relaying or following the manufacturer’s installation requirements. A work for hire situation puts the responsibility onto the person doing the hiring.

It’s easier and cheaper to hire a professional the first time.

https://www.ceramictilefoundation.org/homeowners-guide-to-hiring-qualified-tile-installer 

The tile was not a “crackle” finish tile it was plain white there are no visible lines on the tile. Both the tile and grout were ordered through a tile store not bought from a big box store and they never mentioned anything when ordering the dark grout about sealing it beforehand. I did manage to find the same tile on Wayfair and in the specifications it states “sealing required - no”. Tile contractor states he has never seen anything like that before. Anyway thank you all for the input I’m really just ready to have this redone so I have purchased a few different tiles and plan on making some sample boards with different color grout before I have them redo it. Luckily it’s a very small kitchen so not too costly.

FYI - this is the tile I purchased

https://www.natucer.es/en/producto/serie/manhattan

Jan Moyer thank you for the recommendation. I like the look of that tile. Do you happen to know what color grout was used with it in the pictures you posted??

That tile does not look like it's supposed to be "crackle." Since it stated that sealing was not required I would, at the very least, reach out the the company that sold you the tile. Perhaps the tile itself was defective??

There is the possibility that the tiles you received are defective. Those cracks now show up as they are holding onto the pigment used in the black/charcoal grout. If you can't see them before grouting I'm not sure how the tiler would be able to see them.

I think the crackle looks great!

I couldn't find the specifications sheet for your tile from the link, but I'm sure your installer had it. I agree with others who think is possible there was a defect in the tile. Talk with your installer, and get a quote for the work that needs to be done, then call the manufaturer. They should provide you with the tile you wanted and did not get, and you can talk about the cost associated with the re-do.

I also agree that you might want to change your grout choice next time around if you find the contrast a little stark. Whatever comes of it, I hope you get the backsplash you are hoping for.

Update - sent a picture to the tile store. She asked if I had taken the sample board home with me to see how it looked before purchasing the tile I told her yes but that there are no visible cracks in this tile either on the sample board or straight out of the box. She informed me that it could be rectified and sent me a link to some heavy duty tile and grout cleaner which could be purchased at Home Depot. I promptly went and bought it and followed the instructions and attempted to “clean” several of the the tiles to no avail. I will be returning the one unopened box of tile I still have for a refund and plan on discussing with them any chance of a full reimbursement. Not holding my breath but figure it’s worth a shot. Thanks again for all the input!

The person at the tile store doesn't know what she is talking about. Rectified has nothing to do with the finish, it's an additional process where the tiles are cut after firing to produce a more precise size.

Good luck to you - I would not rest until I got an answer, and I would not use that tile for the redo, as the same thing could happen. Select another subway you like. It's a timeless beautiful look. I agree with others, that I would go for a lighter grout. Let us know how it ends up.

I think the OP was using the term 'rectified' as a synonym for 'fixed.' Not 'rectified' as in the process of trimming tile edges as part of production.

To the OP - since you're going for an edgy look with rustic white tile and contrasting grout, I think the dark crackles are a happy accident and look cool as hell. I'd leave it and love it :)

If you can't get it replaced, take note of Gretel's comment. You can actually BUY tile that looks like that and it does look good in some settings. I don't know if it would look good in yours but if it's even, you can pass it off as intentional.

But yeah, I'd want it redone. :(

arch13, thanks for the clarification, my apologies to the store rep.

Did you try an actual Grout Release product? not a grout cleaner, a grout release?

didn't the tile guy notice this as he was grouting???

that tile glaze has 'crazing'. so it should have had a sealer applied to it first. but since you didn't know, you wouldn't have thought to do so.

As for the Tile Store nitwit, forget her and ask for the manager so he can contact the actual company that makes these tiles. you may have gotten a bad batch

Thanks all! Will check into the grout release product mentioned. As far as the tile guy noticing it is just two small sections so he grouted the whole thing and then went back and cleaned it off. And guys in general don’t seem to be very particular when it comes to that kind of stuff. I may go with a lighter grout this time but the look I was going for was somewhat like this...

Can you post a photo made from a distance, like the second one above?

It’s not noticeable from a distance which is why everyone thinks I’m crazy for wanting to redo it but I spend a lot of time looking at it close up and while I like the looks of some of the crackle tile this just doesn’t look quite right.

A redo can happen at any point down the road. Why don’t you live with it through the holidays and plan for a redo during late winter? It gives you plenty of time to select something else, and you won’t be stressed trying to achieve an almost impossible deadline. The good tile pros here are booked 2-4 months out.

Beautiful kitchen. Sorry about the tile, but from what I can see your tiler did a very nice job. I hope the grout release can solve the problem, so that you don't have rip it out.

I had grout haze on my new bathroom tiles that nothing would remove. Then I tried Norwex's cleaning paste on it and it came right off. I'd hate for you to rip it out if there is an easier solution.

As others have said the crackle must have always been there but was brought out when dark grout was applied. There are a number of cleaners that should clean off the haze or at least reduce it. Some of the cleaners contain acid. So, be careful if you use them. You can apply with a nylon scrub pad to apply and then rinse and dry. Let up know how thing end up.

Crackle tiles have a crazing on the surface which are really tiny fissures; once the grout and it's moisture penetrate that surface it's really not coming out of those lines.

You know, if you can just get a refund for the tile, that might be best. Look at how the texture repeats itself on those tiles with that installation. With or without the crazing, that would drive me mad.

Quick update for anyone who might care or finds themselves in a similar situation... I ordered some more matte finish tiles to play with and while playing I thought I would grab some of the leftover tiles I already have and try it with the grout I had bought at Lowe’s which was Mapei Flexcolor CQ in pearl gray. Well needless to say the crackle issue did not appear at all. So I’m assuming it was the unsanded grout that was recommended to me when I ordered the tile that was the problem? The Mapei grout that I used does not specify sanded or unsanded but there are no visible lines after grouting with it.