When is light grey not light grey?

[Sean Kelly]

I have literally just received a text from a customer I tiled for. She requested a light grey colour grout so I went to Topps and asked about light grey. They sold me microflex smoke (which is a light grey). I applied it to the tiles in the bathroom which are a white metro tile. I also applied it to green cracked glazed tiles in the kitchen. Her text says she has just seen my work and is not happy with the bathroom grouting as it looks almost black. She also said that the grout in the kitchen is ok. I used the same grout in both rooms. She is going to call me tomorrow to discuss. I am a bit peeved that I got the text so late, and also peeved that she is complaining about the colour in one room but not the other. I have not yet been paid for the job!

 

[grumpygrouter]

Light grey grout against a white tile will look darker than the same grout against green becuase of the higher contrast in the colours. has the grout fully dried as I am sure it will lighten when it does?

 

[White Room]

The only thing that I can think of is the dark green makes the grout look lighter, while the white gives the impression of it being darker because of the lighter colour tile.

 

[DHTiling]

Smoke is not the lightest of greys though..???

 

[Spud]

should have gone with mapei silver sean its the lightest grey i have seen

 

[Sean Kelly]

Spoke to the woman this morning. She want's it all removed and grouted in lighter grey. I'm gutted. Today is officially my worst day as a tiler. I quoted 2 days to tile her funny shaped shower. It took me 5 days! plus I got a parking ticket of £100 (£50 if I pay in 14 days). Could I bleach the grout? or is this a silly question? I just popped home to get a sander for another job I'm working on. The walls have just been painted and I've spent 2.5 hours scraping off about 1sqm. Only another 8sqm to go. Oh, and it's raining too. Cheers Sean

 

[davy_G]

Oh man, head up Sean. Your reputation is worth more than a few days sorting it out.

Good luck fella!

 

[jay]

bugger///we all have them next time you buy grout ask for a color chart so you can show client may help in future :8:

 

[Perry]

one thing with bal grouts they used to darken quite a bit when wet ete

 

[Diamond Pool Finishers]

alway seek owners option, then you cant be wrong . hang in there mate

 

[Deleted member 1779]

Agree with gooner...

Our local tile shop has a grout swatch that clients / customers / installers can use to test them out ahead of purchase.

Good news is that the grout has already dried to the colour that it will remain and the sticks can be pulled out and set against the tiles.

If your customer "Picks" it then its their choice....

No consolation now but something handy to have in the van for next time!

 

[smurf21]

mapei do a grout swatch too just ask next time your in your merchants for a colour swatch of your preffered grout manufacturer then allways let the customer pick the one they want.

 

[Deleted member 1779]

Maybe give the customer this magic pen?

She can pick the colour of her choice

Special Pen

:lol: :lol:

 

[andy-p]

rather than drag all the grout out i would use Aqua mix grout colorant, you can get it in silver, check out ther web for more info..

 

[Sean Kelly]

andy-p I can only thank you once, but if I could I would hit the thanks button a few more times. I've just been on the aquamix website and sent their support staff a message. I really hope this stuff is the answer to my dreams. This really has been a lesson for me. Will let you know how things turn out. Cheers Sean