Not much, grout has to be mixed extra properly.

 

If you open a bag of grout and look at its contents along with the cement you will see little tiny colored clusters. That’s the powdered dies they use. It’s not totally mixed so unless the installer mixes an entire bag at a time, you cannot get a consistent color.

 

Now imagine applying grout for the first time on limestone installation, it dries so fast there is almost no way they can pull a full bag unless they have an assembly type of system where one guy applies , one guy cleans and another follows. I have rarely seen this!  Now imagine a larger area, you are suppose to dry mix all the bags together as well. A

 

Most mix a small amount at a time.  Also if the installer doesn’t use the exact same amount of water, coloration will further be affected.

 

And when you clean up the grout residue during installation, you should clean it using a consistent amount of water on the sponge as well as keeping the water clean.  What they are asking to do is never done especially during a commercial job, so it’s almost normal to get shades of whatever color they used.

 

Below is a few lines of what is written on a bag of grout

 

 

2.1 For best results, have the same person mix all of the grout.

Consistent mixing and cleaning techniques will promote

more uniform results.

2.2 Before mixing the grout with water, dry-blend the product

to avoid color variations in the finished grout, which may

arise from pigment settling during shipment. If two or more

cartons or bags are to be used, dry-blend all the contents

together.

5.5 To prevent discoloration and soft or powdery joints, avoid

cleaning with excessive water.

 

 

Anthony Masecchia

Master Stone Consultant
Marble Maestro
T. 514.777.7797
F. 514.904.1815
E. antonio@777-7797.com

W. www.777-7797.com

 

Active President of BNI Westmount

www.bniwestmount.com

 

Marble.Maestro  on facebook

 

Please take note of my new email antonio@777-7797.com

 

 

With a lot of limestone in homes or other honed surfaces, we frequently use honing powders. No matter how thorough we are in cleaning the grout lines, some always end up with some grout lighter or different color from the rest of grout.  Why is this? What can be done to prevent or correct this problem?   Thanks, RK

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