Help please - Have I ruined the job??

[mick7]

Many thnaks for that.

I cant understand it, I thought maybe it was because the grout wasnt dry. The only thing is the tiles I did last have actually tuned out the lightest!! ie the grout is nearly white.
sorry when you say wash the grouts again, what do you mean. wash them with water?
many thanks

 

[Pawelzik]

Yes, with clean water and sponge board. This improves the hardening and as a result the colour normally will get equal. By the way: Do you have everywhere over the area the same light? The grouts might look different becaus of different light?!

 

[mick7]

Thanks for that. Yes light is equal everywhere.
I have just discovered that apparently this is a problem with Mapei Ultraplus due to the crystallised polymers not being equally distributed in the bag ! Great. You apparently need to shake the bag before use, and if you are using only part of a bag its even more of a problem . Bit too late for me. Very very angry.
Spoke to Mapei who are sending me Fugha Fresher ( beige goute paint) to try and rectify the job.
Think i'm going to have to rake out the whole floor and start again.

 

[Raja]

hi we all do it from time to time so don't worry happened to me once then i decided to used bal white adhesive ever since there is a valuable lesson to be learnt from it CLEAN CLEAN AND CLEAN as you go take care mate

 

[DHTiling]

Hi mick sounds like you have a bit of efflorescence going on there...use lithofin cement away or similar and this should help.....worth a go before you rake it all out...

 

[mick7]

Yes, thanks. I'll do that. I thought I had a full house of Lithofin products but I havent got that one-typical.
Sorry what's efforescence, I thought it was because i hadnt shaken the mapei bag after reading another helpful thread by yourself.
The grout now 24hrs on is mostly very pale/nearly white, a few bits are beige in colour.

 

[Perry]

i think Dave,s got it right (again lol) I would try it could save you lots :8:

 

[DHTiling]

Efforescence is caused by the movementof moisture to the surface from cement based grouts/adhesives..bringng salts with it.. Grouting too early or using to much water to wash off with can contribute to this happening...so it is worth trying the cement away first..then if that doesn't work then think about the re-grout....good luck mick...

 

[mick7]

Thanks for that.

In the tech info, it says that it as not suitable for polished limestone/marble - do you think its ok for polished porcelain?

Is it going to change it from white/creamy back to a uniform beige colour, or do I then re-grout on top. Or does it get rid of all the old grout in the joints without having to rake it all out and then i re-grout.

Sorry for being so dense

 

[DHTiling]

Just use the cement away.....and yes its fine for porcelain...




Cement-Away - 1L
A very strong acid for the removal of stubborn cement residue, efflorescence and heavy builders dirt. For newly laid and older non-acid sensitive tiles such as porcelain, ceramic, quarry, terracotta, slate and sandstone tiles