Who mixes grout colours

[jonnyc]

I've been mixing ardex c2 coloured grouts together ,mixed dry by strict proportions for twenty odd years to give me multiple shades to match stones we fix.c2 beige is now being discontinued which scuppers me getting various good shades of colour.
never had a problem though and then been doing the same with ardex fs grouts without problem either provided that in case of fs I mix dry,add water and dry as fs dry mixed is not always same after mixed with water and dried.
but now doing more porcelain I am finding the fs takes too long to go off and more difficult to get a flush joint even double grouting.
so I've been thinking of mixing Mapei ultra colour grouts to get multiple shade variations but Mapei would not guarantee even colour whereas ardex could.
anyone mix Mapei colours or any other grout make that is fast set and guaranteed to be even in colour.

 

[Mr Tiler]

have you tested the mapei? I cant see why there would be a problem as surely as long as it is the exact type of grout just a different colour it would only be the pigment that is any different?

 

[Gazzer]

Cant remember who it was but they were mixing 2 shades of Mapei grey to get the shade they required. I dont remember them saying that they had any issues.

 

[Diamond Pool Finishers]

well if you look at the pool film i posted i dyed the grey adhesive Black .......

 

[Dougs Third Go]

I've mixed colours, same brand, without any problems to get a bespoke colour, As long as they all have the same "C" classification on the same brand I don't see a problem.

 

[jonnyc]

well if you look at the pool film i posted i dyed the grey adhesive Black .......

Think you mean you dyed the grey grout black don't you not the adhesive.
what did you use for dye.
i have never trusted mortar colour dyes since I did a job many many years ago and ruined a quarry floor with black sand cement grout.

 

[jonnyc]

I've mixed colours, same brand, without any problems to get a bespoke colour, As long as they all have the same "C" classification on the same brand I don't see a problem.

Doug I can't see the problem either Doug but the Mapei tech guy said he thought dodgy. Maybe just covering himself.

 

[Diamond Pool Finishers]

Think you mean you dyed the grey grout black don't you not the adhesive.
what did you use for dye.
i have never trusted mortar colour dyes since I did a job many many years ago and ruined a quarry floor with black sand cement grout.

No i do mean the grey adhesive , cementone liquid dye, dye has come-on a lot like everything else..........

 

[Dougs Third Go]

Doug I can't see the problem either Doug but the Mapei tech guy said he thought dodgy. Maybe just covering himself.

maybe he used to work at Topps, or never even grouted a tile in his time. Polymers are gonna be the same, and I'm sure pigment will be the same, in ratios.

 

[jonnyc]

Why dye grey adhesive black?
is this in case any squeezes through joint and you don't have to clean out if using black grout.

 

[Mr Tiler]

Why dye grey adhesive black?
is this in case any squeezes through joint and you don't have to clean out if using black grout.

when working with such a large area of mosaic tiles shading is pretty obvious under the tile so has to be a close match to both tile and grout I would imagine?

 

[Diamond Pool Finishers]

Well we inherited the job and most materials the first lot of adhesive was white and where the guy had started he had left squeeze through, which we had to grind-out so i thought i would give it a go and when we fixed it just looked better...........

 

[Mr Tiler]

think I should get me coat then haha

 

[Diamond Pool Finishers]

No T you are wright as well black glass is still see through, and a black backing helps mate :hurray:

 

[Mr Tiler]

wheeeeeeyyyyyyy!!!

 

[MTiler]

May have to try that dye sometime myself, a black addy with black glass mosaics would make life alot easier, as the tiniest bit of white addy can stand out against black grout.
But I suppose if theres any adhesive in the joints the adhesive and grout would have to match otherwise it'd look patchy?

Ive never had a problem with mixing grout colours, of the same make of course.

 

[jonnyc]

ok thanks for this info. i actually think that pool /glass mosaic specialists get in to this more than other fixers.
i did a job last year which was in a church where i was fixing all the stone and had more than enough to do without getting involved with two large mosaic feature walls.
i recommended a friend tom smith son of gordon smith and he always mixes his own colours for approval. cant remember name of colour pigments he uses but it made a huge difference to overall look and he will do this as matter of course for every job. i believe pigments very expensive but well worth the extra .
this is not the same gordon smith that i think you may be thinking of Dpf.

 

[One Day]

Mapei seem unable to get a consistent colour even from one bag, never mind mixing bags!

 

[MTiler]

Mapei seem unable to get a consistent colour even from one bag, never mind mixing bags!

Ive never had that problem

 

[jonnyc]

Well in truth I think the tech guy from mapei was nervous because he had probably only learnt from a tech sheet plus fact that it is true with mapei more than ardex that you are supposed to mix the whole bag and use as one as they see it mainly because they have colour pigments that can get to bottom of bag although I have only ever seen this in jasmin which I personally would never use .
I personally see no reason why if bag mixed well dry before adding to another grout similarily mixed there should be problem.all said the jasmine grout I would never as the colour when wet after curing if you have had a shower is dreadful.

 

[Colour Republic]

Jonny I asked the same question of Mapei maybe 3 or 4 years ago now and was told the same thing. Can't remember the exact reason he gave me but I remember thinking logically that it shouldn't adversely effect the grout performance or result in patchy grout, so was debating doing it anyway.
However seeing as Mapei said not to, I didn't fancy running the risk of having to scrape out 30sqm of grout just to prove to myself that it could be done.

be interested to see how you get on... If you do infact end up using Mapei.

 

[jonnyc]

Jonny I asked the same question of Mapei maybe 3 or 4 years ago now and was told the same thing. Can't remember the exact reason he gave me but I remember thinking logically that it shouldn't adversely effect the grout performance or result in patchy grout, so was debating doing it anyway.
However seeing as Mapei said not to, I didn't fancy running the risk of having to scrape out 30sqm of grout just to prove to myself that it could be done.

be interested to see how you get on... If you do infact end up using Mapei.

I won't be taking chance just like you with mapei but interesting that ardex who cover themselves to the nth degree had no problem in principle .

 

[One Day]

Ive never had that problem

Beige, Jasmine and a couple of the light greys on a 1mm joint in large format uniform colour tiles and patchiness stands out like a sore thumb.
I guess on mosaics it's harder to see?

 

[MTiler]

Beige, Jasmine and a couple of the light greys on a 1mm joint in large format uniform colour tiles and patchiness stands out like a sore thumb.
I guess on mosaics it's harder to see?

I didnt mention mosaics (usually use epoxy anyway), and have used Jasmine alot.