Grout not uniform colour

[On one]

I used an old part bag of Gun Metal MM2 to do 4m2 of floor tiles on Thursday (so old it most likely was out of date)
It was OK when I left it!..................................
Not sure about the morning after though

 

[One Day]

I think too many tilers like their grout too wet.
I like mine to be firm, so there's less water in the mix to begin with.

There's also a tendency to not bother waiting until that golden few minutes when it's started to harden up in the joints.
Some grouts, i.e. TM 3000 - it seems you can get away with washing-as-you-go.
Others don't like it though.

 

[Dumbo]

I think too many tilers like their grout too wet.
I like mine to be firm, so there's less water in the mix to begin with.

There's also a tendency to not bother waiting until that golden few minutes when it's started to harden up in the joints.
Some grouts, i.e. TM 3000 - it seems you can get away with washing-as-you-go.
Others don't like it though.

Trouble is mapei ucp dries a lot faster on Tile face than in the joint you then scrub Tile and wash grout out of joint . Why use mapei ucp well because customers want the right shade of gray . I remember when their was one colour of gray

 

[Viceroy]

I've have had issues with coloured grouts for years, Mapai being the worst to use, drying to quick on tile surface and still soaking wet in the joints, I have stopped doing a 2nd wash with clean water now on coloured grouts, I'm letting them dry for longer and using clean towels to polish off, I deffo think its too much water during the washing off process that causes patchy colours, out of all the coloured grouts I'm finding ultra's grouts are drying the best

 

[One Day]

The best I've used by a long shot is grout 3000. Especially natural grey which basically seems to go with everything!

 

[hmtiling]

For me with porc I'm edging towards Ultra. 3000 give more time to play but ultra seems to suit me the best being somewhere in between 3000 and ucp.

 

[One Day]

Can't get ultra round these parts. Strangely, can't really get tm either, even though it's made locally!

 

[Stustunz]

If you put a fan pointing into room on last wash till it looks dry your grout will dry even everytime.

 

[bansko]

Had the same problem with mapei grouts for years ie drying patchy. Next time try giving the bag a good shake to ensure it's thoroughly mixed prior to using it. We have been using grout supplied by porcelanosa recently which is actually mapei ultracolor plus slightly modified by porcelanosa, we mentioned problems with shade difference and we measure the water content with every mix. The rep says the contents of the bag should be mixed thoroughly prior to mixing, I never knew this but give it a try there's nowt to lose.

 

[Two-Trowels]

I thought giving the bag a good shake was part of the mixing instructions? it's something I have always done with all grout and must have seen it on a bag somewhere.

 

[bansko]

I thought giving the bag a good shake was part of the mixing instructions? it's something I have always done with all grout and must have seen it on a bag somewhere.

Not something I have done, having said that I don't do much grouting, 95 per cent of my work is commercial and very large floors and the grouting is done for me. On the occasions I do grout especially with ultracolor plus I mix it as per the recommended water content but have never shaken the bag, it's opened and straight n the bucket.

 

[macten]

Had the same problem with mapei grouts for years ie drying patchy. Next time try giving the bag a good shake to ensure it's thoroughly mixed prior to using it. We have been using grout supplied by porcelanosa recently which is actually mapei ultracolor plus slightly modified by porcelanosa, we mentioned problems with shade difference and we measure the water content with every mix. The rep says the contents of the bag should be mixed thoroughly prior to mixing, I never knew this but give it a try there's nowt to lose.

Only needed if using a part bag. Though must admit I do it even when using full bags.

 

[Kevbos]

I've found that the problems with patchy grout colouration !have been occurring since they changed the additives in grouts and adhesives to prevent dermatitis.mix grouts up thick not runny .don't over wash . and with a lot of tiles wash them down and get film off them .

 

[andy8758]

Had exactly this problem with Micromax2 gunmetal grout in a kitchen splashback at the start of the year. In exasperation I ripped off the tiles and redid it.

Retailer suggested it was over hydration (too much water in mix or overwashing). Saw BAL rep a few months later, and they advised that some porcs are known to cause this even when the mix is correct - they suggest washing over the grout again as it starts to dry patchy. I wondered if it was because I used an old bag (over 12 months old). The tiles in my job tiles were bog standard metro ceramics.

Its good to read some feedback from others who have had this problem with MM2.

 

[Flintstone]

I've had a couple of patchy grout jobs recently using grout 3000 in dark grey.