Dark shades in the grout

[kaharrison9]

Hi All
Wondering if anybody has any thoughts or experience as to what may be happening with some limestome ultra grout i've used.
In the first bathroom when applied there where dark shades randomly in the grout after it had dried and have now done the second bathroom and the same as happened but this time the dark shades are now more prominent and obvious.
These dark shades are the colour of when the grout was wet.
Ive mixed the grout exactly as instructed and have used 2 measuring jugs to get the water and grout mix exact.First time was with a wash boy,second time with a well squeezed sponge so to keep as less water as possible when washing down.Mixed as slow as poss.
Any ideas bit disappointed as the client up to now is totally delighted with my work and as prevoiusly fired 2 other tilers for very poor work on other previous bathrooms he's had done.
Cheers
Kev

 

[Time's Ran Out]

Kev - need to know the make of grout. Some limestone grout I've used have dried patchy and I won't go past Mapei now.

John.

 

[doug boardley]

I use Ultra Limestone a lot Kev, probably more than any other type and shade in the last 2 years, I've never had a problem with it. Sometimes you get red streaks when mixing, I've checked to make sure I'm not bleeding anywhere lol. Could you have different depths of grout that are setting up slower than other area?

 

[kaharrison9]

I see where your coming from Doug,the walls are flat and the grout depths generally equal.
These dark shades are very random
I grouted friday and went back today thinking possibly the shades may have dried out but no luck.
If i very lightly rub my grout rake over the grout it does take the dark shade out to the eye but that's not very proffesional,totally miffed and this has happened twice.
Kev

 

[DHTiling]

Did you use dispersion adhesive..?..if so this is more than likely moisture coming out the joint at the place where the grout is still dark..

 

[White Room]

Had this problem with the guys who tiled my kitchen (housing association) they used dispersion very thick and the grout I used went patchy

 

[Terry Cottar]

Its a bit late now but it helps to slake the grout dry prior to adding water i have found recently that a lot of the coloured grouts were not mixed properley and it also helps in case there has been any settlement of the powder. as for the damp patches try a hairdryer on the patch and see if it makes any difference

tel

 

[kaharrison9]

Cheers all for your input
It was Benfer cement adhesive i used supplied by the customer.
It had a look as if it was areas that was drying out but after 4 days was certainly dry and was not fading.
Don't know what it was but have appeared to have solved the problem.
Went in today and gave all the grout lines a very good wash with clean water.When the wet grout dryed back the dark shades had totally disappeared leaving a consistant limestone colour grout.Phew as there were plenty.
Hope this maybe of help if anybody else suffers it.
Thanks
Kev

 

[doug boardley]

I used Benfer a few weeks ago Kev, for the first time, I quite liked it, did you find it ok? Liked the price too £15 for a 25kg bag

 

[kaharrison9]

First time i've used it as well,
Don't know exactly how much the customer paid for it,he's a builder an watches his pennies and i mentioned how much i pay for adhesive and he gave the impression he paid less than £15.
I used Benferflex which is an S1 adhesive,no probs generally did 2 bathrooms with it but struggled slightly with it when doing over the door and mosaic,found the tiles slipping so for that area used some Ardex X77 that i'd been given a couple of bags to try.