Grout not uniform colour

[linton1990]

Good evening,

I'm about to pull my last few hairs out!!!! I have just grouted a bathroom with BAL micromax 2 gunmetal grout, I have never had a problem with it until now!! The tiles were glazed porcelain. I went in today after grouting yesterday, and the grout is very very patchy! The colour is darker in some places then others. I told the customer i thought it was 'still drying', I know it isn't, but I've come away desperately looking for a solution. Is there something I can go over the grout with to make it look a more uniform colour? Has anyone else had this happen to them before?! Im really grateful for any replays to help out a very stressed tiler in need. Thanks

 

[White Room]

Try something like this Universeal Grout Rescue - Colour & Seal 237ml Mid Grey £16.50 in stock - next day UK delivery plus Tile Cutters and Tiling Tools - http://www.tradetiler.com/universeal-grout-rescue-colour-seal-237ml-mid-grey.html

 

[Simon Cooper]

I've had this exact problem with this coloured bal grout. Technical advised I'd applied too much water during the buffing process and caused the salts to surface. They advised scrubbing bleach in to the joints - I never tried this so can't advise if it was successful or not.

 

[Chalker]

Was it a full, or part bag mix?

 

[Dumbo]

I've had this with mapei . I don't like modern grouts but have learn to live with them . Apparently light application of grout remover well diluted is good never tried it . White vinegar is another never tried it but I gave mine a light dusting over with sand paper and it removed a surface laitence. Don't use coloured sand paper green or yellow as will colour grout . I am stuffed if I know how grout manufacturers expect us to clean grout off textured tiles with out using to much water .

 

[Dumbo]

Was it a full, or part bag mix?

I remember when that didn't use to be an issue and reckon if they made user friendly grouts it wouldn't be now

 

[jobdone]

Never had a problem with mm2 but have with ardex. it so so bad that after leaving for 3 weeks and washing down again with power clean and it still being very patchy went over the whole lot with mapai fuga seal in grey. worked a treat and was very pleased. the tiles were ceramics.

 

[Tile Shop]

It could be either efflorescence caused by too much water in the mix (this draws all the salts in the cement to the surfaces as its drying giving you lighter patches). Using something like LTP Grout Stain Remover will shift that (try a test area first).

Or it could be too much water during the clean off, which draws the polymers of the grout to the surface (which gives darker patches). For that you need try the LTP Power Stripper first, then Solvex if you need something a little more........ brutal.

From experience of past issues, Micromax 2 throws a real hissy fit if you don't get it 100% spot on. Other grouts are way more forgiving. If you want a good flexible anti-mould grout in the future, Mapei Ultracolour Plus takes some beating and its efflorescence free. But you still need to make sure you don't over wet it when cleaning it off.

 

[Italy]

It could be either efflorescence caused by too much water in the mix (this draws all the salts in the cement to the surfaces as its drying giving you lighter patches). Using something like LTP Grout Stain Remover will shift that (try a test area first).

Or it could be too much water during the clean off, which draws the polymers of the grout to the surface (which gives darker patches). For that you need try the LTP Power Stripper first, then Solvex if you need something a little more........ brutal...



hoooo, music to my ears. thanks

 

[Flintstone]

I had the same problem with dark grey Mapei rapid set grout on some pebble mosaic, real bad

 

[Dumbo]

I had the same problem with dark grey Mapei rapid set grout on some pebble mosaic, real bad

I bet you would not of had that problem on pebbles if you could of used a traditional w

 

[Dumbo]

I had the same problem with dark grey Mapei rapid set grout on some pebble mosaic, real bad

Wide joint grout

 

[macten]

Diluted phosphoric acid works a treat if it's caused by excessive polymers. Obviously you wouldn't use that on natural stone but will be fine for your porcs.

 

[hmtiling]

I thought mm2 was efflorescence free?
I find it more user friendly than ucp and ucp 113 is the only one I've had go patchy.
I used the fuga fresca which sorted it nicely.

 

[andy-p]

I mostly use mm2 and dont have any problems with patching but as for Mapeis ultra ? well...

 

[On one]

I used an old part bag of Gun Metal MM2 to do 4m2 of floor tiles on Thursday (so old it most likely was out of date)
It was OK when I left it!..................................
Not sure about the morning after though

 

[One Day]

I think too many tilers like their grout too wet.
I like mine to be firm, so there's less water in the mix to begin with.

There's also a tendency to not bother waiting until that golden few minutes when it's started to harden up in the joints.
Some grouts, i.e. TM 3000 - it seems you can get away with washing-as-you-go.
Others don't like it though.

 

[Dumbo]

I think too many tilers like their grout too wet.
I like mine to be firm, so there's less water in the mix to begin with.

There's also a tendency to not bother waiting until that golden few minutes when it's started to harden up in the joints.
Some grouts, i.e. TM 3000 - it seems you can get away with washing-as-you-go.
Others don't like it though.

Trouble is mapei ucp dries a lot faster on Tile face than in the joint you then scrub Tile and wash grout out of joint . Why use mapei ucp well because customers want the right shade of gray . I remember when their was one colour of gray

 

[Viceroy]

I've have had issues with coloured grouts for years, Mapai being the worst to use, drying to quick on tile surface and still soaking wet in the joints, I have stopped doing a 2nd wash with clean water now on coloured grouts, I'm letting them dry for longer and using clean towels to polish off, I deffo think its too much water during the washing off process that causes patchy colours, out of all the coloured grouts I'm finding ultra's grouts are drying the best

 

[One Day]

The best I've used by a long shot is grout 3000. Especially natural grey which basically seems to go with everything!

 

[hmtiling]

For me with porc I'm edging towards Ultra. 3000 give more time to play but ultra seems to suit me the best being somewhere in between 3000 and ucp.

 

[One Day]

Can't get ultra round these parts. Strangely, can't really get tm either, even though it's made locally!

 

[Stustunz]

If you put a fan pointing into room on last wash till it looks dry your grout will dry even everytime.

 

[bansko]

Had the same problem with mapei grouts for years ie drying patchy. Next time try giving the bag a good shake to ensure it's thoroughly mixed prior to using it. We have been using grout supplied by porcelanosa recently which is actually mapei ultracolor plus slightly modified by porcelanosa, we mentioned problems with shade difference and we measure the water content with every mix. The rep says the contents of the bag should be mixed thoroughly prior to mixing, I never knew this but give it a try there's nowt to lose.

 

[Two-Trowels]

I thought giving the bag a good shake was part of the mixing instructions? it's something I have always done with all grout and must have seen it on a bag somewhere.

 

[bansko]

I thought giving the bag a good shake was part of the mixing instructions? it's something I have always done with all grout and must have seen it on a bag somewhere.

Not something I have done, having said that I don't do much grouting, 95 per cent of my work is commercial and very large floors and the grouting is done for me. On the occasions I do grout especially with ultracolor plus I mix it as per the recommended water content but have never shaken the bag, it's opened and straight n the bucket.

 

[macten]

Had the same problem with mapei grouts for years ie drying patchy. Next time try giving the bag a good shake to ensure it's thoroughly mixed prior to using it. We have been using grout supplied by porcelanosa recently which is actually mapei ultracolor plus slightly modified by porcelanosa, we mentioned problems with shade difference and we measure the water content with every mix. The rep says the contents of the bag should be mixed thoroughly prior to mixing, I never knew this but give it a try there's nowt to lose.

Only needed if using a part bag. Though must admit I do it even when using full bags.

 

[Kevbos]

I've found that the problems with patchy grout colouration !have been occurring since they changed the additives in grouts and adhesives to prevent dermatitis.mix grouts up thick not runny .don't over wash . and with a lot of tiles wash them down and get film off them .

 

[andy8758]

Had exactly this problem with Micromax2 gunmetal grout in a kitchen splashback at the start of the year. In exasperation I ripped off the tiles and redid it.

Retailer suggested it was over hydration (too much water in mix or overwashing). Saw BAL rep a few months later, and they advised that some porcs are known to cause this even when the mix is correct - they suggest washing over the grout again as it starts to dry patchy. I wondered if it was because I used an old bag (over 12 months old). The tiles in my job tiles were bog standard metro ceramics.

Its good to read some feedback from others who have had this problem with MM2.

 

[Flintstone]

I've had a couple of patchy grout jobs recently using grout 3000 in dark grey.

 

[John Benton]

I've been using Mapei UCP 113 for about 400m of tiling recently and the colour has been uniform throughout, 2 and 3mm joints, mixed it slightly thicker and left it for about 20-25mins before first wash and yes it seems to dry perfect for me. Previously when using UCP I think maybe I was washing off a tad too early and there tended to be lighter patches, but as with everything it's just getting used to it