I have just laid a floor using bal grout grey. It has dried very patchy in colour any suggestions what when wrong?? Same bag used throughout.

Was it the standard grey or super flex..?

I have not used BAL grout but have had the same thing accur when I have used Mapei Ultracolour Plus. It is sometimes down to the grout not being mixed properly (It was in my case). I mixed up a batch of Grey to use on a display, looked fine until it dried and then it went like a zebra, very patchy

Some times Matt ,as you say it is just incorrect mixing of the pigments....not leaving the grout to slake then remixing...

Also over washing can bring polymers to the surface leaving lighter patching...

Even grouting to early before adhesive has set can cause efflorescence and patching...

But some grouts have had issues with this shading....i have had probs with the make above with the grey and limestone grouts others have had probs with the black...but no definate answer has been given why when i have spoke to a pst about it.


But other makes have the same issues..i personally think it's mainly down to the added polymers used to cope with timber installations.. i have used standard grouts and then a latex additive..no probs there but the hydrated simply add water ones , well they need care when working with them and instructions followed to the tee..

I have just laid a floor using bal grout grey. It has dried very patchy in colour any suggestions what when wrong?? Same bag used throughout.

Ring the companies tech line and they could send out a pst to have a look...but i'm more inclined it is user error in the mixing and washing off side of it..

Originally Posted by Dave

But some grouts have had issues with this shading....i have had probs with the make above with the grey and limestone grouts others have had probs with the black...but no definate answer has been given why when i have spoke to a pst about it.


But other makes have the same issues..i personally think it's mainly down to the added polymers used to cope with timber installations.. i have used standard grouts and then a latex additive..no probs there but the hydrated simply add water ones , well they need care when working with them and instructions followed to the tee..

So is this normally more of a problem when it's a polymer modifeid flexi grout? I must admit, I have never heard of or had an issue with patching in standard grout

The problems you have had, has it been from the same bag?

Never had probs with an unmodified grout....it's always a modified one if i do get any..

But thats only happened a couple or so times..but when we hear of probs on here with patching 9/10 times it is a modified grout...

So my advice is..mixing thoroughly and do not over wash before it sets.

Just had this problem with some ultra grey grout, mixed it to instructions, cleaned it off as per every other grey grout i have used....and it has dried patchy, i laid the floor with grey addy and grouted two days later, the kitchen company supplied the grout, i checked the date on the bags and they are 15 months old.

Super flex grout.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Super flex grout.

You need to contact them direct and get the grout looked at...

I've had some probs with Granfix Maxi recently, I thought id mucked it up to be honest by mixing it wrong but the supplier said that hes had loads in with the same problem recently.

Thanks for all replys. I stuck to insructions and grouted next day after using rapidset. Only probablity is over washing perhaps. Still any solutions as every time I walk in kitchen it winds me up!!!!!

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Thanks for all replys. I stuck to insructions and grouted next day after using rapidset. Only probablity is over washing perhaps. Still any solutions as every time I walk in kitchen it winds me up!!!!!

Mr clock.
Dave sums it up in no.4&9
Had the same problem a couple of times over the years. Once I was actually paid to cut out all the joints and re-grout!
Just 1 month ago did walls and floor in same grout/same bag/same day and walls dried patchy floor fine - had to rake walls and re grout next day.
It was fine if you catch it early enough otherwise a grout rake and great care is needed!

John.

it could be a number of things, but efflorescence from over washing is usually the cause imo

Never had a problem with bal superflex grout, use mapei now though

Originally Posted by matt257

So is this normally more of a problem when it's a polymer modifeid flexi grout? I must admit, I have never heard of or had an issue with patching in standard grout

The problems you have had, has it been from the same bag?

How much grouting have you done then?

tel

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I have just laid a floor using bal grout grey. It has dried very patchy in colour any suggestions what when wrong?? Same bag used throughout.

How long did you leave the floor to set before you grouted it? I have seen shading complaints where it turns out that it was grouted too soon after tiling and the moisture from the adhesive trying to come out has affected the colour. This was usually when using dispersion adhesives tho.