Changing Grout Color

[Lainey]

We had new tile installed in the kitchen 2 days before Thanksgiving. I wasn't here when he came back to apply the grout. For some STUPID reason, he was given white grout! We didn't seal it since we were planning on having it re-done. The guy has made 3 appointments and had never shown. How difficult is it to re-apply the new grout. The worker told me that the old stuff would absorb the pigmentation of the new (we bought unsanded, 2 shades darker than needed for this project, according to his instructions).

Does anyone know if he is correct? If so, is this something I could do?

Oh, and this is the backsplash, not the floor (if that makes any difference).

[chipshot]

You may want to ask this question here:
http://www.johnbridge.com/vbulletin/index.php?

I would think that it would need to be grinded out and re-grouted. There is an attachment and bit made for the Dremel tool for this. But again, if you really want to know go to the above link.

[y2b]

there's a solution that will etch the grout to prepare it for staining, then you can apply the stain, and then seal it...

I've done it, it's pretty simple, but it is work...so get some knee pads

Lowes or Home Depot would have everything you need to do it yourself

[Redsnapper]

Yep, a hand grout removal tool, or a Dremel with proper attachment, time consuming and thankless. Don't know about grout color change, I'm sure the manufacturer does. Good luck.

[gridfaniker]

use a Sharpie

[fancypants]

Sharpies come in lots of custom shades now too.......this would be the easiest

[THE GUTTER]

Home Depot sells grout paint. But not Lowes. Go figure. Your welcome. It's so easy even a caveman could do it.:toilet:

[Lainey]

Home Depot sells grout paint. But not Lowes. Go figure. Your welcome. It's so easy even a caveman could do it.:toilet:

Thanks for the info, you discriminator, you.:newsmile62:

[Lainey]

Sharpies come in lots of custom shades now too.......this would be the easiest

I was just thinking that it would be funny to lay out some Sharpies and call my husband in to ask him which color I should use on the grout.

[Mudcat]

I was just thinking that it would be funny to lay out some Sharpies and call my husband in to ask him which color I should use on the grout.

If he's smart he'll say any color you want dear.

[Lainey]

If he's smart he'll say any color you want dear.

:xyxthumbs:

[chipshot]

If you can get the guy to re-do it then that is the way to go. It's not worth going this far with it and then settling for some cheap grout paint. Seriously, ask the question at the forum I posted. It is the place to get info on tiling from people who actually know what they are doing.

[THE GUTTER]

I know what the fuck I am doing. The grout paint is fine for a backsplash. You can get a grout saw and chisel that shit out a 1/4" and then grout over that, but the paint will do the trick. Or you can get one of those drimmel saws and cut it all the way out and regrout the whole thing. It's fucking grout. What else is there to do?

[Trace]

poop in the tub.

[chipshot]

I know what the fuck I am doing. The grout paint is fine for a backsplash. You can get a grout saw and chisel that shit out a 1/4" and then grout over that, but the paint will do the trick. Or you can get one of those drimmel saws and cut it all the way out and regrout the whole thing. It's fucking grout. What else is there to do?


I was suggesting re-grouting. What I was questioning was putting new grout on old grout.

I'm not an expert but I've done some tile work over the years. I've not heard of the paint. It may work but if you really want it right you would re-grout.

[Lainey]

This guy was wanting to put dark, unsanded grout on top of the white grout. He said that the white should absorb the pigmentation from the dark grout. There again, we left the grout unsealed and purchased new grout 2 shades darker than we actually picked out. If I have him come back (and I've tried!) this is what his solution for the problem is. Does this sound reasonable?

Right now, my kitchen looks like a gingerbread house!

(And yes, when the tile dude picked up our tile and grout from Lowes, he was given the wrong grout color.)

[JeykleHyde]

Grout Stain.

http://www.askthebuilder.com/507_Change_Tile_Grout_Color.shtml

[THE GUTTER]

Dark over white will work, just not the other way around. But you can grout over existing grout. But yes, if you want it done with 100% certainty that you will not have any future problems, drimmel all that shit out.

[Shrapnel]

drimmel all that shit out.

Lainey, the other night when you were screaming this to me, were you talking about grout?

[Lainey]

The grout stain worked out great. Thanks JeykleHyde.

[JeykleHyde]

Cool!