Tile Grout Color Too Light

fsbr

My daughter bought a home with some cracked tile in the kitchen. I replaced eight tiles. I bought two bags of grout to try and match what was on the floor. I mixed a small portion, let it dry in a clump, and put it next to the existing grout and thought I had a match. Now the new grout I used is a shade lighter than old grout. Is there anything I can I do, to darken the grout, before I seal it, or do I have to scrape out the grout and do it over?
Thanks.

Taranis

Most probably the original grout has darkened through age. Either that or you weren't lucky and got a shade difference. The chances of that not happening are remote so you will either live with it or take out the old grout and redo.

Forry

It's possible that the color you mixed was pretty good, but that while sponging off the top, you either used too much water and leached out some color, or that minerals in the water left a residue on top of the grout. If it's the latter, a vinegar wash (rinse well) will take off the residue and even out the color. Good luck!

fsbr

Taranis, Thanks for the reply. When grout was wet, it was darker than original, of course. Is there an oil based spray I can use to darken grout and then spray sealer over that, to retain the darkened color?

fsbr

Forry, Thanks. How do I cut the vinegar? Straight, 50-50?

Taranis

There are a number of different ways you can alter the colour. Everyone has there own way of doing it. You can wet - not soak - the existing grout then brush unmixed new grout over old. The old grout will take on some of the colour of the new then seal if you wish. Each way you do it will have it's own success rate dependant on how it's done and how old/contaminated the original grout is.

Forry

Try 50/50, if that doesn't work, you can dump it on straight and mop it up with a sponge. If it's been a couple of days, you can use a scrub brush and agitate a bit, just don't over scrub, you can damage the grout.

Forry

Oh, p.s. Use WHITE vinegar! Not red wine or apple cider or whatever!

Mike Finley

You guys must know something I don't or I know something you don't.

I've never heard of doing what you guys are proposing. New grout and old grout always are going to be different because of age, dirt, UV, the longer the time between the old and the new the better the chances of them not matching.

There is only one guaranteed solution that I have ever been aware of:

Aqua Mix Grout Colorant



You will have to do the entire floor.

Taranis

I think I said that earlier. These and the rest are tricks of the trade that have been known to work.

fsbr

Thanks to all. This was my first post and I was apprehensive of asking a simple question of pros. I've read alot of other threads on many subjects and appreciate all the excellent input.

Bill_Vincent

BINGO!! We have a winner!! Thank you all for playing!

I don't care if you had the right color name, and even a perfect color match to the original grout batch. You're still going to see a difference due to aging. What Mike recommended is the only way to get it all to match, short of carving out ALL the grout and regrouting the entire floor, which is ridiculous. One other good thing about the colorant. Being that it's topical and epoxy based, not only will it permanenetly seal the grout, it'll also make it MUCH easier to keep clean!



Now for the bad news-- those cracked tiles you replaced-- expect them to crack again, if you didn't find the cause of the cracking. The cracked tiles are just the symptom, not the problem, and until you find out where the cracking is coming from and alleviate the problem, it's going to keep happening.

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Jerry T

I've been able to get new grout to match several times by mixing a slurry and blending it in over the old grout. Does not work in all situations , but if the older grout has not been sealed and you can stiff brush the joints good it works well.

MattCoops

you'll go through 3 or 4 techniques 5 or 6 times
when you could just start and finish a grout colorant application in a day
and as Bill stated, it seals the grout at the same time

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Jerry T

If any one is applying a grout colorant to grout that was installed that same morning... well, I think it needs a little longer cure time than that. If the slurry doesn't work come back in a few days and then use the colorant...

Bill_Vincent

I agree. Colorant shouldn't be used for a minimum of 3 days, and I'd much prefer to see a week. I don't agree with the slurry idea, though, only because of all the nightmares we've all heard about the grout turning out too light, or having a chalky look from being mixed too loose. I know you've used it, Jer, and I'm sure it worked for you, otherwise you wouldn't be supporting it. But it would make me nervous.



And What the heck are you doin up so early!! Only thing gets ME out of bed at 4:30 in the morning is FISHIN!!

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PrecisionFloors

Jerry is silly like that Bill....that boy can't wait to get to work!

I can think of one other thing 'sides fishin that'll get me up that damn early. Wife ain't usually awake then though

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Bill_Vincent

Read both our posts. I said gets me OUT OF BED-- not gets me UP!!

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Jerry T

Don't everbody roll out at 3:00 in the morning?