black grout turns white?

[scoobie]

Hi, we've just had black quartz floor tiles and black grout used in our shower room, only on the outside of the shower tray which is about 2.5 sq m - looks super. Only completed just before Christmas and looks (to me anyway) like it's getting limescale marks in the grout already. We also had underfloor heating installed. We are now getting paranoid about drying the floor, can you advise please, should we be looking at doing the oil thing to keep it's colour? Or look at using the black concrete stain when required to keep it looking smart or does it need a more permanent solution?

Any help/advice greatly appreciated 🙂

 

[Gazzer]

Try using Aquamix grout colourant.

 

[DHTiling]

Hi, we've just had black quartz floor tiles and black grout used in our shower room, only on the outside of the shower tray which is about 2.5 sq m - looks super. Only completed just before Christmas and looks (to me anyway) like it's getting limescale marks in the grout already. We also had underfloor heating installed. We are now getting paranoid about drying the floor, can you advise please, should we be looking at doing the oil thing to keep it's colour? Or look at using the black concrete stain when required to keep it looking smart or does it need a more permanent solution?

Any help/advice greatly appreciated 🙂

Pics would help..?

 

[scoobie]

Try using Aquamix grout colourant.

Many thanks Sir Ramic - will try this.

I know you didn't ask, Dave did ..... I did try to take pics but because they're a quartz mirror tile, the problem doesn't show up in the photo, just me and the camera are reflected. :smilewinkgrin:

 

[Ken Bruty]

Hi Scoobie,

A point that hasn't been mentioned yet, is that washing up liquid should never be used for cleaning tiles, because it has salt dissolved in it, so when the liquid dries you are left with white patches in your grout (looks like efflorescence), and a sticky residue that attracts dirt like a magnet, that's why it shouldn't be used to wash cars either (rusts the metal!) I always advise my customers to use cleaning products that have no suspended solids in them, that way the grout isn't affected, provided that the cleaner isn't acidic, as this removes pigment from the grout.

 

[scoobie]

Thanks Ken, don't use washing up liquid on the floors or cars :lol:

 

[jwatson]

efflorescence can also be caused by using dirty/comtaminated water in the grout

 

[DHTiling]

efflorescence can also be caused by using dirty/comtaminated water in the grout

Does it.. can you explain more..?... Do you actually know what Efflorescence is..

 

[triciab]

I have had the same problem and followed your advice. The grout is still black. Please can you let me know what the sealer is. many thanks