Hi,
currently putting up some wall tiles with tiles in cream an some black. I'd like to grout the cream tile areas in white and the black areas in black. Any ideas as to how I neatly go from one colour to the next without one staining the other? Is an alternative to grout all in white and use something like a grout colouring pen to blacken the white? The tiles are in a downstairs loo so in a dry area.

Thanks,
Roland

Afternoon. Do the black grout first and let it set, then mask any grout lines where the cream will meet the black, then do the cream. If any cream does happen to get on the black it will wash off. It's much easier to get light off dark hence doing the black first. I did a job last week with black and white grout and the join was very clean with no colour run at all.

Thanks Bri,
I'll give that a go. Would it help to seal the black grout first? Sounds like might not be necessary from what you say.

Cheers

You dont need to seal black first.As above,unless youre very messy.

As above, and masking tape and working smoothly away from the edge will be your best friends..

I'd recommend using a high-quality tape though like Frog tape.
Make sure it's stuck well to the grout and not just bridging the tiles or else the grout will get underneath and....

(Where possible I would insist in a seperation such as a listello or straight trim to keep the colours apart)

Hi all, thanks for the advice. I'll give it a go and if it turns out Ok I'll post some pics, if not I'll keep quiet!Cheers,Roland

I take it the cream tiles are on the walls and the black tiles on the floor, Roland? Sorry, no just read it again, both on the wall, how large are the individual areas?

And how big are the tiles?

This one I didSpall 012.jpg

Hi again,

Mosaic girl, the tiles are only a small area as I'm using them for 'skirting' and some bands running floor to ceiling to give a feature. The tiles are fairly small 200 x 100. That's going to make it quite fiddly.

Whitbeam, that's a really neat job! When I do the black first how do I stop the black grout spreading into the grout gaps between the cream tiles? Is it just a matter of being careful?

Thanks again,

Roland

If you do go over onto the cream tiles in the grout joint wait until it dries of a bit then use a stanley blade to remove and cut clean to the joint which is having the dark grout..

Neat tip, thanks!

Remember - the black grout will stain all your tools!
So although the tape is a good idea for separation of the colours, you may find it cleaner to do the white first.
And wear latex gloves.

Or you could get 2 grouters, one for dark colours and one for the lighter shades of grout..

Originally Posted by Rolandk

Hi again,

Mosaic girl, the tiles are only a small area as I'm using them for 'skirting' and some bands running floor to ceiling to give a feature. The tiles are fairly small 200 x 100. That's going to make it quite fiddly.

Whitbeam, that's a really neat job! When I do the black first how do I stop the black grout spreading into the grout gaps between the cream tiles? Is it just a matter of being careful?

Thanks again,

Roland

Roland, that's what I was thinking if the areas are quite small and after all the tiles aren't that big, you might be well served to use a light grey grout all the way through? A light to medium grey has the quality of visually 'disappearing' which is the reason for its popularity amongst mosaic artists, the grey grout will show up both the cream and the black more, you will still get that impression of contrast, just different, but still good. It's just that in such a small space you will be so close to your work, and every little mistake will seem exaggerated. Why not dry lay both cream and black tiles onto light grey cardboard and just see what happens visually? Or even do a little sample board with proper grout, when you can practice with the black and white grouts also if you are really set on it. Or even grey grout for the black against the white will be more forgiving and still look good?