Tile Grout In Kitchen Backsplash - Too Light... Can I darken it?

Question

I just had a new tile backsplash installed in my kitchen. Unfortunately, the tile grout is WAY lighter than it was on the sample card. The tile stands out and it is way too light. Is there a way to darken the grout? The guy who installed the tile put a sealer on the grout immediately after he finished the job today. The grout looks WHITE and it is supposed to be BEIGE. Please help!!!

Answer 1

sounds like to guy used the wrong grout. and i don't think sealing the grout the same day it was it was grouted is correct practice. i'd be calling him and having him correct it.

outside of this the best advise i can give is to go to:
http://www.johnbridge.com/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=1
and post a question there. you'll get good options from a group of friendly tilesetting experts

i think you'll find that there are grout sealers that'll darken it without doing something wrong. worst case you may need you cut down the surface and add a layer of darker grout.

Answer 2

I don't believe that your installer used the wrong grout. It's that at times the grout that comes in the bags are mislabled. It's happened to me several times. Most of the times the installer will catch the mistake but, like in your situation, the installer didn't know any better or it did not seem "off" in color to him, so why worry. Most of the times when the grout is right and is labled right, it may be the grouters fault, if you use too much water when wipeing down the grout, the grout will tend to lighten up more than usual. Talk to whoever you did your backsplash through and see what your options are. If everything fails what you do is go down to your nearest "Home Depot" and buy some sulfamic acid, it will be in the flooring department and acid wash your backsplash first in order to strip your sealer off. Follow the directions on the back of the acid to know your water to acid ratio. This acid is very mild but, if you wish, you can wear some rubber gloves. Once your sealer has been stripped, buy some grout stain, which ever color you decide to get and stain your grout. It's pretty simple, it will be like painting, just be careful, it is stain after all. If you have any more questions write to me at [e-mail]. Good luck. Oh by the way, I've been a tile installer for 7 years and running.

Answer 3

With all due respect to others answers, some valid, and to you, and even to the installer, and after having installed thousands of sq. ft. of tile, and miles of grout lines, I have a few things to offer.

First of all the installer may have just been a SUB, and not at all liable for what YOU chose.

Second: Without knowing the "dealer" I suggest that any Decent / vaild / reliable Tile sellers would currently have Grout samples of the REAL color choices. Those are usually in a demo kit type form in 1/4 inch strips, maybe 4 inches long.

With no offense to you, choosing a grout color from a "card" is like choosing a paint color from a card, and I've applied thousand of gallons of paint as well.

At this point the tile grout stain may be your best option, and may in fact work for awhile over sealed grout. in any case it will be an issue you may have to maintain, just as you would a normal cleaning program for any tile surface and even sealer isn't a forever thing. Personally I don't use sealer. I use a quality poly blend, sanded grout, that once set needs no more than proper cleaning on a regular basis.

Steven Wolf

Answer 4

I work for a tile and setting materials manufacturer.

Interesting answers that precede mine. For starters, kudos to Mr. Wolf for using latex-modified grout-- the best assurance of color-fast and stain resistance this side of epoxies.

El Toro states that often times, manufacturers mislabel the package. I'd like to know the brand he buys, as my company and my competitors are held up to ISO 9001 standards... and a mislabeled package is a rarity indeed.

On to your issue: you ordered Beige and it looks White. Here's your likely culprit: water. Your grout was mixed in a bucket with-- assumingly-- the recommended amount of water. It probably mixed up Beige in the bucket, kept its shading during install, and dried light. Chances are, some pigment was washed out on the final wash.

But that's just one of about 146 possibilities. There are so many factors-- porous tile, porous thinset, soft water, the grout was not allowed to "slake" before applying, installer rushed the job, etc., that it's impossible to nail down the cause.

The bottom line is, you will need to wash off the sealant. As another poster suggested, use a sulfamic acid. Then buy a grout colorant from a dealer or home center, mask your tile, and paint away.


Good luck.

Answer 5

Use a grout stain. If it is a huge difference between the work promised and the work delivered, take it up with the installer and ask them to redo it. Be nice. But be persistent.

Answer 6

he rushed the job you've been screwed. get him to redo the job at no cost. grout really shouldnt be applied until the adhesive has dried and the grout has been applied professionaly and wiped off with a wet sponge or tilers float. i'm not a tiler by profession but i work with tradesman as a labourer. but honestly he sounds like a cowboy.

Answer 7

color kitchen walls greyishlight blue tile backsplash white cabinets white countertop

Answer 8

you can get grout pens from good d.i.y stores you just pen over what you want doing i did my bathroom grout in a funky colour they are good.

Answer 9

coffee as the marines used in ww2 for their uniforms works good ...start out with one application ,if you want darker apply more ,make sure all sealer is removed first good luck

Answer 10

I would complain to the guy who did it and tell him that it looks nothing like the sample card. Maybe he would fix it.