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Why would grout be darker in places & can it be fixed?

4 years ago

Hi all - We’re at the tail end of renovating the hallway/daughter’s bathroom and master bathroom. The master bathroom looks more polished than the hallway bathroom, where i keep finding problems (I don’t think I noticed them all at once because it’s a total house reno, so lots to think about, and the biggest issues got my attention first). Most recently, I noticed that the grout in the bath/shower is not all the same color but is definitely darker in spots. I might even prefer the darker color, but the grout has to be all light or all dark, not both. I can’t imagine the tiler used different color grouts, so why would it have happened? And Is this fixable without risking chipping tile?

The grout line is also sloppy, especially at the seams.

You’re advice on how to proceed with the tiler welcome.

Thanks!

Featured Answer

PRO

Creative Tile Eastern CT

4 years ago

Never add heat or a fan to expedite the grout drying process. That would undermine the science designed into the product for curing resulting in a weaker joint, random shading or possibly a complete failure of the grout itself..

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Comments (8)

PRO
Bspoke Homes
4 years ago
Is it possible the installer didn't scrape out high spots of thinset? For example, did he/she use white thinset for setting? Are all of the internal corners lighter? Are there light spots out in the field tile away from the corners....if so, it is quite possible you have thinset poking through the grout. Just a thought.
D. B.
Original Author
4 years ago
The grout is generally light, so I don’t think so. I’ll get more photos where grout looks correct.
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How long after grouting did you start scrubbing the floor? Is the grout epoxy or usual cement based? Did you do the shower floor at the same time? You should not use too much water or any kind of acid until the grout dries completly, otherwise the colour can change (at least 24 hours) - but usually it lightens, not darkens. Also, was the grouting a DIY job? I'm asking because with some types of grout you have to use an electric mixer otherwise you can have inconsistencies in color. I, unfortunately, experienced this first hand as my grout color varies greatly because it was mixed by hand. Lucky for me, you can't really tell unless you look closely, because the tile has a lot of movement. There are 3 options that I can think of: 1. Call the manufacturer and explain the problem. They might know what happened and suggest a solution 2. Use a grout sealer that has a wet look, you will at least have the same grout color all over your bathroom 3. Remove and regrout. This will be a pita, I removed the grout from a few tiles and used a dremel rotary tool and a grout bit and it took like half a day. It is doable as a last resort tho... I wish you best of luck :)
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Why would vinegar darken the grout color itself? It might have removed what is a light colored effluorescence from the surface, often caused by too much water by the installer, and a common occurrence. Vinegar is a first chemical resort for doing that before hitting it with stronger acids manufactured by grout companies for that purpose. You do need to wait a period of time for curing so as not to break down the cementious material. It is not something you want to do repeatedly for that reason, early on or over the years. You might check over on john bridge tile forums. It is very active and run by pros who assist on all discussions. Show them some pictures. It's a very friendly and laid back place. A wealth of information. This post was edited by snookums2 on Sat, Sep 13, 14 at 12:58
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why does the cut in on walls look darker than the rolled walls?
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I know Houzzers hate old posts with a new life, however Brian also commented this year and didn’t get a reply. And I’m not sure all the above posts are truly answering the issue that I, and others, experience. We have a room with a contrast wall where we have that weird banding from the cut in a couple years ago. We are re-painting the other 3 walls and while up on the ladder and cutting in I can see on the contrast wall it is shiny for the cut in, like semi-gloss while the rolling is eggshell. My husband rolls heavy, he cuts in 2 inches heavy, I cut in 3-4 inches not as heavy. We use Cashmere Sherwin Williams and Purdy brushes. In our case the look difference is sheen. It’s strange and searching the internet doesn’t answer the sheen issue. I get the color replies being heavy vs light, but that’s not our issue. Why the sheen difference using the same paint with the brush?
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Shower caulk a darker color than the grout....?
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I've been in touch w the contractor. He'll be coming here to review. I'm confident that we can get this fixed/resolved. As a novice, my post really was intended to determine that this was a problem, not typical....and to learn about remediation. These forums are a terrific educational tool, and my thanks to those who offered helpful comments & opinions.
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mcguirks
4 years ago
Perhaps he caulked the corners and forgot to get color matched caulk?
PRO
StarCraft Custom Builders
4 years ago
Most likely the dark spots are caused by mold - a common problem in shower areas not properly sealed (next time use a urethane grout which is largely impervious to mold).

Clean with a good grout cleaner and toothbrush, then reseal with a grout sealer. Your local tile store will help you select the right products. Do it soon because the problem is not going to get better by itself.
D. B.
Original Author
4 years ago
I don’t think it’s mold - the dark areas are too even. The tiler is going to swing by later to look at it. From the pictures, he thinks the caulk may not have darkened properly
PRO
Creative Tile Eastern CT
4 years ago
Clearly a sign of the wrong color caulk / sealant at the change of plane. When correcting issue confirm 100% silicone sealant is used according to TCNA standards. Yes the manufacturers also make color match in Silicone. Not siliconized acrylic which is garbage IMO.
Lisa Dipiro
4 years ago
Ours did that and once we put a heavy duty light like contractors use, the heat of it dried it good and the color ended up uniform.. it just was the areas (mostly near corners) were not drying as fast as the rest

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