grout enhancer???

[Joni]

When my new tile was installed the grout color (tech's light buff) dried sort of blotchy, but the bigger issue was that it dried light. While we don't really know exactly why it dried so light (my contractor, tile setter, etc. have explored all reasons and have no diffinite answer). Anyway, it is simply lighter. They offered me the option of using tech's grout enhancer, but that seemed to leave the joints "shiny" and that was a look I didn't want. After a week or so the joints were not so shiny but I had gotten used to the look and thought, oh well, we'll leave it as is ( I was afraid that the enhancer would enhance the botchiness as well and at figured at least what I had now was not enhanced). When the setter put the backsplash tiles in the color came out "perfect"...so now....the backsplash (essentially the same tile as floor) tile is the darker color...but now the floor tile has been sealed with a regular sealer (non-enhancer stuff) and I am fearful that if I use the enhancer now...that not only will the slight blotchiness be enhanced but any area that was not sealed perfectly will take the enhacer really well and where the sealer is applied really well will not take it as much (I know it should all be the same, but I tested an area by applying water, and the water soaked in a lot in a small area, and not as much in another area)
Any thoughts, suggestions or ideas...???
Joni....a side note...the day that the floor tile was installed was a really hot, humid day, but it is interior tile and my ac was on???

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[jadnashua]

Try a mix of 50% vinegar and water, scrub with a nylon scrub brush, then rinse well with plain water. Try it in a corner or a place where it isn't a problem. See if that helps. Then do the rest of the floor if you like the results. My unprofessional opinion. Using too much water during cleanup can make that happen. The blotchiness is from bringing the latex addative in the grout to the surface and diluting the colorants. Sort of like bringing the 'cream' to the surface of a cement slab with a steel trowel. (That's my thought, not necessarily fact!) Anyways, scrubbing it off and exposing the clean grout underneath evens out the color of the grout.

[Joni]

should I do this in order to remove any of the regular sealer that is there? then just put the enhancer on the grout?

[Joni]

I recently had new tile installed and after the grout had an uneven color and it was much,much lighter than the sample, and what I had expected. We tried a Tech's tile enhancer in a small area, and it did darken the grout but left a shiny finish on the grout line. So, we decided to go over the whole floor with just some water ans see where we were. It did even the grout out a bit, but of course was still light, and I decdided to live with it. THEN, they installed the backsplash which is the same tile as the floor just smaller and the grout turned out to be that "just right" color that it was to be originally ont he floor....so now I am thinking that I need to add the enhancer to the floor (the shiny finish sort of went away over a the two week period between the floor and the backsplash being set). The floor grout is still sort of uneve in color, not too bad, but still there. I am afraid that the enhancer will enhance the uneveness (but it is aok when wet. I gather that is a significant bit of info.) Another issue is that when the guy was here to do the backsplash he sealed the floor grout with a regular grout sealer....I put water on the grout lines and most lines do not darken now, though some do...not totally sealed I gather any thoughts or HELP? :bang:

[Shaughnn]

Hello Joni,
Now the the floor is sealed, I don't think using the enhancer is an option. Sorry for the bad news. The differances in grout color are most likely due to the cure rates of the grout being affected by the joint size and the vertical/horizontal installation. Joint depth (floor joints can often have shallow joints due to thinset oozing up) can also cause grout color to be "splotchy".
Can you live with the color as it is now? If not, a surface staining product or complete re-grout might be your only other options.
Shaughnn

[Joni]

that is sort of what I had figured....I know from the past floor that we had down, that it time the sealer wears off ofter cleaning etc. (I generally had used ammonia and water and annually use oxyclean as a paste to clean the grout, have learned on this site that ammonia may be the reason my sealer wasn't staying) I am wondering if aat that point a year downthe road or so, that I might be able to reseal with a color enhanig sealer? Is there any way to "remove" the sealer that is on there...any chemical or product that would work?

Also the areas that allow water to penatrate now...should I at least go over them with a regular sealer, the one used to do the whole floor?

[doitright]

Hi Joni :)

Try to find out exactly what sealer was used. If we can get the sealer off first, you may need something as simple as a vinegar wash to darken the joints. Sometimes there is latex migration or a light cement film on floor grout due to the large areas and usually excess water being used to clean the floor. The opposite is true for the splash.

Please get back with more details about the sealer. If you don't want to change anything, then yes, another coat of sealer is needed where the grout is darkening when wet.

[doitright]

Hi Joni :)

I've merged your two threads. Try to keep them together, so we can all be on the same page.

Jim's suggestion is what I was referring to. :nod:

[Joni]

the sealer used was the stone tech product...I don't know the name but it was the "regular" sealer.

I'll give the vinegar wash a try in a "to be" closet area and see..I'll try a 50-50 wash. I'll let you know, but as the sealer is on will this make any difference?
I did ask the guy how he applied the sealer . He said He put it on with a towel, let it on a bit then wipe it off. But as I indicated there are areas that accept water or let water seep into the joint easily.

[doitright]

Hi Joni :)

Stone Tech has several sealers. The enhancer will not help while this sealer is present. Let us know what happens with the vinegar wash.

[Joni]

Is there a way, other than just time, to remove the sealer?

[Joni]

Hi there, I just scrubbed the closet joint...not alot of joint in the closet...the tiles are large. But anyway, it is wet and has the "wet look" so the water is getting into the tile..I like the look wet...so let's see what happens when dry.
Does the fact that it looks wet mean that if I go over the floor with a 50/50 vinegar water then put the enhancer on it I may get the darker look i want?
Does the Stone Tec enhancer keep the shiny look to the joint line. That is the reason I originally voted against it...it looked shiny in the joint when it was put on and for 24 hours after. Now the test area doesn't look shiny I don't think.

By the way the product wasn't stone tech it was TEC...and I think it was
Ensealandt water based penatrating sealer.

[doitright]

Hi Joni :)

Did you do the closet test with vinegar and water?

If so let it dry, and check for eveness of color. In the meantime, order a sample of Stone Techs Enhancer Pro. If you want it darker pick up Aqua Mix's Enrich 'n Seal. Neither product leave a sheen. Aqua Mix will tend to darken more than Stone Tech. The more coats you put on of the Stone Tech, a sheen will start to appear. (I see this happen more on the surface of a honed natural stone, than on the grout itself though).

Make sure the grout is thoroughly rinsed and dry before applying the sealer.

[Joni]

I'll give it a try....had a busy week and not aable to work on this issue...had many others.

[doitright]

Hi Jonie :)

I hear ya!