Charcoal Bloody Grout!!

[thegwads]

never seem to be able to get granfix charcoal to set charcoal, always a shade or two lighter!
never seem to have this problem with other makes, but just done a 50 metre slate floor, and customer provided granfix. did suggest it will not dry the colour his sample said, but anyhow
it may be fine as a mid grey, but, what are the options available to darken the grout which is already set?

when it is wet - the look is perfect.
have tried fila enhancer, but the grout goes dark to start, then lightens again.

heard loads of old wives tales about darkening, but wondering if anyone else has done this before, and if so what did they use etc......

i.e. anyone used grout dye, or even the silly black grout pens?

cheers in advance

 

[sWe]

Really dark grout can be tricky, because cementious grouts tends to lighten when they cure. It's really really imortant to measure the amount of water you use when mixing, so that you use only what the product spec says to use. If you do that, the lightening of the grout will be minimized as much as it's possible. If you use to much water when mixing and/or washing though, dark grouts lighten very very easily.

So, in short, less water is better, especially with dark grouts. Some brands are more sensitive than others.

 

[Terry Cottar]

never seem to be able to get granfix charcoal to set charcoal, always a shade or two lighter!
never seem to have this problem with other makes, but just done a 50 metre slate floor, and customer provided granfix. did suggest it will not dry the colour his sample said, but anyhow
it may be fine as a mid grey, but, what are the options available to darken the grout which is already set?

when it is wet - the look is perfect.
have tried fila enhancer, but the grout goes dark to start, then lightens again.

heard loads of old wives tales about darkening, but wondering if anyone else has done this before, and if so what did they use etc......



i.e. anyone used grout dye, or even the silly black grout pens?

cheers in advance

Aqua Mix enrich & seal

tel

 

[thegwads]

enrich and seal was my thoughts for ease - but tried fila enhancer and nowt happened!!

so - how much is enrich and seal for 50 sq metres - i am guessing a lot!!!

it is such an hit and miss thing though getting the grout mixtures right - the say mix a stiffer mix for wider joins, and a runnier one for narrower joins, so is confuses me as to why the colour difference!

in hindsight, i may have washed down too soon, but on slate you do not really have a choice.

has anyone tried linseed oil and have the long term effects been good
???

 

[thegwads]

nice one, i may try this, if i can get hold of it before friday!
on another not, i take it any sealer already down needs to be removed - even though the sealer supplied was crap, and i have reservations if it has sealed anything properly!!

cheers