grouting nightmare

[pete f]

Toooo much water

 

[Mike]

i've used the superflex grey and it does dry light, almost as light as cement probably. sometimes the grout in the joint takes a while to go off due to absorbancies in the tile and substrate but goes off quick on the surface of the tile and this can be hard to clean off. a washboy makes this easier

 

[mnemonix]

Thanks Mike, that's helpful.
Porcelain tiles, which I'd applied a stain protector to would be very non-absorbent causing the joints to set slowly while the thin smear on the surface would still go off. And maybe the grey is just lighter than I'd prefer. I wish they'd make a proper mid-grey then as there's nothing between that and the charcoal/ebony end of the scale which is all but black. Maybe that dries lighter too though?

Still a bit miffed by the runny consistency at recommended ratios but at least I know now.

 

[kendo1]

You can mix a darker grout into the grey, the trouble is consitency in shade. Measuring accurate ratios should not be difficult though.
You'll notice a colour change over time anyway. Darker shades tend to get lighter, and lighter colours tend to get darker.
Other manufacturers have more shades available.

 

[Mike]

as robson i never measure the water to grout ratios either and never have any problems. if you want a darker grout go for charcoal or anthracite but i wouldn't add any dark grout to your grey to darken as it will be very difficult to keep to the same shade and you'd probably have different shades with every mix of grout

 

[bobbynz]

you might want to mix up the grout then wait ten minutes, check how stiff it is , it should be quite firm like butter, dont worry just mix it up again dont add anything and you will find that it will soften enough to press into the joints.
Try a technique to wash off I have used for many years....once grouted, sponge over the tiles making sure to get the joints nice and full and evenly smoothed off. Dont be too fussy about getting all the grout off the tiles. then get another bucket of clean water rip a towel in half dip the towel into the water and just run it through your hands to get most of the water out. Then grab two corners and drape the towel onto the tiles and slowly walk back dragging the towel over the tiles. you might have to experiment a couple of times to get the right moisture content in the towel. When you have you will have a strip of very clean freshly grouted tiles the width of half a towel. Then repeat a few sq.metres at a time. This technique will cut your washing time by 2/3s and you will get a better finish than a sponge.
Just make sure the grout is quite firm in the joints before sponging and washing off.

Oh and the patches of light grout will have to be scratched out and grout the whole floor with the one batch of grout. Start the grout mix dry and firm and just add a little bit of water until its like toothpaste then wait and remix as per above.