Advice please - how to fix uneven grouting

Hello,

To give a bit of background info, our new kitchen tiles is laid on new 70mm screed, Ditra mat and adhesive.

The tiler has just finished laying the tiles and grouting but the grouting lines seems uneven and top layer coming off.

I think the tiler has grouted twice in some places as he said he needed a second round of grouting as the grout didn’t go in all the gaps the first time round.

I may be wrong, but could it be the thin second layer (top layer) of grout which is now cracking/peeling off ? So if I remove the top layer, would it be fine?

Also, some grouting lines are 2-3mm others are 6mm.

Also in some parts the grout seems to be same level as the tile, rather than the grout being slightly lower, in the gaps, between the tile.

The thing is I don’t know what the acceptable tolerance with the grouting. I don’t want to be too picky which is why I would really appreciate the opinion of other tilers.

Also is there anything that can be done by myself or the tiler to make it look better/cleaner?

Do the grouting need to be removed and regrouted? Or tiles need to be removed and repositioned more evenly?

The only good thing is the tile pattern is quite uneven and the grout is same colour as the tile. But when the grout is wet, it’s very apparent.

Any advise would be most welcome. Thank you in advance!

I attach some pictures for reference.

Looks to me like the grout is cracking due to the tiles moving, do they sound hollow if you tap them .

jcrtiling said:

Looks to me like the grout is cracking due to the tiles moving, do they sound hollow if you tap them .

Click to expand...

Thanks for your response.

I’ve only noticed 2 tiles right in front on the patio doors leading to the garden, which sound hollow, others sounded fine. I’ll check some more later today.

Do I need to ask for the tiles that sound hollow to be removed and replaced?

Thanks

Dom said:

Thanks for your response.

I’ve only noticed 2 tiles right in front on the patio doors leading to the garden, which sound hollow, others sounded fine. I’ll check some more later today.

Do I need to ask for the tiles that sound hollow to be removed and replaced?

Thanks

Click to expand...

Do those two have cracked grout .

Was the cavity closed properly when the patio doors were installed as in my experience double glazing companies are quite at not doing that leading to issues for the tiler to overcome .

jcrtiling said:

Do those two have cracked grout .

Click to expand...

These two don’t have cracked grout.

The floor has just been laid last week and hasn’t been walked on that much as.... only the builder is walking in it to access other areas.

jcrtiling said:

Was the cavity closed properly when the patio doors were installed as in my experience double glazing companies are quite at not doing that leading to issues for the tiler to overcome .

Click to expand...

The door opening is there but the actual door hasn’t been installed yet. So, possibly then when door is installed the tiles won’t sound hollow anymore?

What are the tile sizes?

Tile Fix Direct said:

What are the tile sizes?

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The tiles are 300mm x 600mm - porcelain

Is the uneven grouting in the first picture reasonable?
The top bit of the vertical grout line looks thin and neat, but the rest is much wider and less neat.

Also, where the grout is the same level as the tile (therefore some of the grout is over the tile, and can’t really see the edges of the tile where it curves down slightly) rather then slightly lower than the tile, is that normal/ reasonable?

Just asking as the grouting I’ve seen on other tiles, seems to be slightly lower that he tile itself ie neatly tucked in between two tiles.
Thanks

As the tiles are all the same you would expect the grouting to be fairly even. Tiles are allowed to vary slightly in size from each other which can give a slightly uneven grout width, but the tiler normally picks this up if there is any noticeable variation and advises on a slightly wider joint width. I assume your tiler did not do this. The grout should all be finished to a point level with the top of the joint gap (note some tiles have a cushioned edge, the grout should finish at the top of the joint gap, not the top of the cushion edge).
From the picture you sent the grouting joint appears to vary excessively and the surface of the grout appears to be higher than it should be in areas.
Cracked grout is often caused by movement, however your comment that the tiler applied a second cost makes me wonder if the grout has failed to adhere to the old grout layer. Did he apply a very wet second coat of grout? Which grout was used?

Tile Fix Direct said:

As the tiles are all the same you would expect the grouting to be fairly even. Tiles are allowed to vary slightly in size from each other which can give a slightly uneven grout width, but the tiler normally picks this up if there is any noticeable variation and advises on a slightly wider joint width. I assume your tiler did not do this. The grout should all be finished to a point level with the top of the joint gap (note some tiles have a cushioned edge, the grout should finish at the top of the joint gap, not the top of the cushion edge).
From the picture you sent the grouting joint appears to vary excessively and the surface of the grout appears to be higher than it should be in areas.
Cracked grout is often caused by movement, however your comment that the tiler applied a second cost makes me wonder if the grout has failed to adhere to the old grout layer. Did he apply a very wet second coat of grout? Which grout was used?

Click to expand...

Thank you so much for all the detailed information.

The second layer of grout was applied 3 days after the first layer. Unfortunately I don’t know if the second coat of grout was very wet. The grout was Mapei Ultracolour plus.


“From the picture you sent the grouting joint appears to vary excessively and the surface of the grout appears to be higher than it should be in areas.”

It’s exactly as you described.

Any advice what could be done to rectify these? Would it be reasonable to ask the tiler to remove the grout and regrout? Or best to ask him to remove the tiles and reposition first?

Could you send pictures of the overall job? You also need to double check the hollow sounds you reported earlier.

Tile Fix Direct said:

Could you send pictures of the overall job? You also need to double check the hollow sounds you reported earlier.

Click to expand...

Unfortunately I don’t have a picture of the overall job as they have covered the floor with a foam sheet and put lots of tools and working benches for cutting wood etc...

I’ll get a picture as soon as they clear out.

In this picture it looks like a wavy edge tile and I would have used a wider joint.

In this picture the tile has movement around both sides of the corner and I’d assume a loose tile.

The grout is loose - if he added another layer of grout 3 days later I’d be of the opinion it’s all loose and he’s tried to hide it by regrouting again.

Get the tiles up where the grout is cracked and see how well they are/are not fixed. It’ll be worth a little investigation now rather than 3 weeks down the line when he’s been paid and disconnected his phone.