Is this acceptable color variance for grout lines?
4 months ago
last modified: 4 months ago
Our kitchen backsplash was completed by our tile contractor last week and now that it should be fully dry I am pretty unhappy with blotchy looking grout throughout the tile. The grout is Custom Prism and the color is ”bleached wood”, which was supposed to be a very slightly greyish off white color according to the sample. The tile is Fireclay ceramic handmade tile. I did have the tiler back after 48 hours as there were some really dark spots (not in these pics), which I said I couldn’t live with and he suggested touching it up with more grout which he did (but then some of the touched up areas dried whiter than the surrounding grout and it changed the depth). The tiler says he thinks the blotches are because he used grout release, which I asked for as it was ”highly recommended” by the tile manufacturer and in the instructions given to me by the design consultant who sold me the tile. And now I notice that when I wipe over the grout lightly with a damp rag, I get these very white patches that don’t darken in the surrounding color. Is that normal? My husband is exasperated with me because he says it would take a lot to fix it, but to me I just see what looks like dirty spots which ruins the overall look. Are my expectations too high? Should I contact the grout manufacturer? This is my first time hiring a tile installer so I am not sure what to expect.
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4 months agoRelated Discussions
What's my best grout choice for tight grout lines in a shower???
Comments (7)How about TEC XT? Comes in both Sanded and Unsanded versions (for most colors), and is supposed to be more stain resistant and mold and mildew resistant than other cement-based grouts. It does require a longer cure time 7-10 days before getting wet or sealing (doesn't need to be sealed, but can be, with a solvent-based sealer, which we did when we sealed the marble and trav tile in both bathrooms). I sealed it in the MB at 7 days because I needed that bathroom functional "now" LOL. It also requires a drier clean-up (just wring sponge out well when wiping off excess grout, according to the rep with whom I spoke during my grout "research"--there's a video you can watch, too). It's a little stickier than the reg TEC grout, so you might need a bit more elbow grease to remove grout haze, but that's about it. We used the Bright White for the field tile in both upstairs baths (used the reg TEC in Bright White for our kitchen and guest bathroom since the XT either wasn't around then or we just didn't know about it at the time). We used both the Sanded and the Unsanded. The Unsanded is a bit whiter than the Sanded (because the sanded has actual grains of sand, which I'm sure you know), but both seem white enough. We used a very glossy, very white, Porcelanosa large format tile in the MB. Our grout lines are very tight, except for the White Thassos mosaic/border (which came pre-mounted on mesh), and the Unsanded worked very well. We also used it (in Almond) with the split faced trav mosaic in the hall bath which had practically non-existent grout lines in spots. Of course, when I say "we" used any of these products, I mean our wonderful tile guys used them for us!...See MoreWhat kind of tile for tightest grout lines?
Comments (20)Thank you all! Because we want a curbless shower, I have decided against a pre-cast shower pan. I considered trying to do something custom (corian maybe) for the shower area, but in addition to expense, that left the bathroom floor and the need for that transition from one material to the other to be waterproof as well. Which led me back to tile. And if I'm having tile for the bathroom floor, I've got the cleaning issue anyway and I might as well go with just one material to get the continuous look and save some money. I'd be willing to re-consider though if someone has information about making a pre-cast shower pan for a curbless shower work well with a non-tile bathroom floor. I'm definitely planning on somewhat dark grout. I'm figuring a medium grey tile and matching grout are going to hide dirt the best. But I also want it to be as easy to get really clean as possible when I do clean. Thanks for the information about ceramic tile working well for tight grout lines!...See MorePaint Tile Grout Lines
Comments (2)Yes, there are a few companies that make these products. They are commonly referred to as grout stains, or grout colorants. Do an internet search. One site with a wide selection of colors would be thisoldgrout.com. A little goes a long way, so the supplies to do this should not be too expensive...it's really the labor that will cost you. From what I've heard, not a difficult job at all, just time consuming. Also, I don't think most of these products need to be sealed after.....they are very effective grout sealers as it is. I believe they are basically epoxy paint, and once applied are very easy to clean thereafter. I'd do it if I had light grout. Light colored grout looks great when clean, but it's an ongoing lifetime chore!...See More1/16 inch grout lines on subway tiles?
Comments (7)Agree with Mongo that you should consider a more rectified tile. Any variation of facial dimension or wedging will impact how closely the tiles can be aligned and yes, must be compensated for by a larger grout joint. We like Adex Neri tile for this purpose (as ONE example), and while not available at big box stores, it is not an expensive tile AND (very important for us and our clients), it has many finishing pieces available for a very tailored and custom look. Here's a link to Adex: http://adexusa.com/portfolio-item/adnz836-neri-field-tile/ Second point, the grout selection must meet the specifications for the tile and the installation. It is true that sanded grout requires thicker grout joints, however there are newer high performance grouts specified for wet areas AND can be used with 1/16th grout joints. There are several but we prefer Laticrete PermaColor and they also have a Laticrete Select specified for this application. Here's a link: https://laticrete.com/~/media/marketing_information/permacolorsellsheet.ashx Obviously the surface prep is important for any installation to obtain a flat and even tiled surface. Keep in mind that professionals will have different products they are comfortable with. Specifying a 1/16th" grout joint is not unreasonable for your installation as long as the tile you choose is appropriate (flat and rectified with minimal facial dimension and uniform size), the appropriate grout is used, and the installer is qualified (as Mongo stated). That being said, we have never installed a subway tile with more than a 1/16th" grout joint. Our clients, like you, would never accept the appearance (nor the excessive maintenance). Here's a tub surround we just completed with Adex subway tile, 3x6. Good luck with your project....See More- 4 months ago
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S. DanielsOriginal Author