New travertine tile - I need help!

[alosack]

Hello - we recently laid travertine tile in our bathroom. I am not happy with the result and have a few questions before I seal the grout and floor.

1. When the grout dries, it is a lighter color... it looks the correct color (what I want it to be) only when it is wet. Should I have picked a much darker color for the grout? Is there anything I can do to make the grout darker?
2. There are "sanding" marks around some of the edges of the tiles. We sanded some of the tiles as they were not entirely level...maybe we should not have done that? I tried sanding some more with a fine sandpaper in an attempt to get these marks to go away and I don't think it is helping anything. It just doesn't look good.
3. I would like the tile to look somewhat shiny and it doesn't. Should I have selected some other tile (not travertine)?

I sure learned a lot and feel like I may be SOL at this point. I'm ready to go buy a bunch of bathroom rugs. Any suggestions or thoughts on how to make the most of a bad situation? Thanks!

 

[DHTiling]

Hello and welcome..

I think you really need to get a fixer round who can sort the lippage and hone those tiles for you.... including sorting the grout colouring..

To give the tiles a shine then there is topical sealer's to do this..but not a diy job that you have now..

So deffo get someone in to rectify it.

 

[The Legend; Phil Hobson RIP]

Hello and welcome..

I think you really need to get a fixer round who can sort the lippage and hone those tiles for you.... including sorting the grout colouring..

To give the tiles a shine then there is topical sealer's to do this..but not a diy job that you have now..

So deffo get someone in to rectify it.

Sorry but Dave is right:20:

 

[Stephen@Weber]

Depending on what you seal the tile with it could also darken the grout.

 

[Rich]

Agree with the gentlemen above, if you put some pics up we could give you an idea of what needs to be done but as mentioned above, you will need to get a pro in to carry out the work.

 

[alosack]

Thanks for your suggestions - not necessarily what I wanted to hear - I am concerned to bring someone in at this point because I am afraid they are going to want to charge me a bunch... I have attached some picts - again, any suggestions would be appreciated. Those throw rugs are starting to look pretty good right about now :smilewinkgrin:.

 

[Time's Ran Out]

Don't know about the sanding marks - they are not visable in the photo.
But IMHO the grout is much better when dry!

 

[DHTiling]

The pics are too pixelated to see anything..

 

[tungsten tip]

to get rid of the lippage shown you will need to take it down with 3 different grade disks 80, 120, 220.then buff the whole area . this is not a d.i.y job get a competent tiler in or as the song says rip it up and start again .

 

[Terry Cottar]

Thanks for your suggestions - not necessarily what I wanted to hear - I am concerned to bring someone in at this point because I am afraid they are going to want to charge me a bunch... I have attached some picts - again, any suggestions would be appreciated. Those throw rugs are starting to look pretty good right about now :smilewinkgrin:.

Grinding, honing and polishing is expensive and there is no way round it. The machines cost a small fortune and the diamonds to do the work are also very expensive. So you only have three choices either live with it and buy the rugs, pay to have it professionally ground, honed and polished or get a pro in to rip it up and do it again. Not what you want to hear I am sure but there is no magic solution. Sorry

tel