Efflorescence ?

[klbowe]

Back again !

The new shower turned out great and like most improvements now everything else in the room needs a little touch up.

The grout used on the tile floor in the basement bathroom never has been quite right. It is a lighter color grey. Some areas look really light while other areas almost look wet. It has been that way since it was installed. Tile over concrete.

The local tile store manager said it is probably due to Efflorescence and the product to fix it is made by StoneTech. I am not sure the person working sold me the correct product tho.

They sold me 1 pint of Stonetech Professional Enhancer Pro. I hit the web site and it sounds like the product is designed to be used on tile not grout.

The price of $ 50.00 per pint seems a bit steep.

Anyone familiar with StoneTech ? Is this the right product and is that a fair price for it ?

THANKS ! Ken

[ceramictec]

it is actually a sealer for Stone.

Where to Use
Natural stone such as limestone, slate, travertine, sandstone, flagstone, tumbled stone, flamed stone & textured stone. Masonry & concrete.

[klbowe]

What should I use to clean-up the grout ?

[ceramictec]

a mixture of diluted vinegar and water.

see if that gets rid of what you think is Efflorescence.

how long ago did you grout your floor ?

[klbowe]

It was grouted bout 3 years ago.

I don't know what is causing the color differences that is why I am here. The tile store manager told me it was efflorescense and recommended the 50 dollar miracle cure.

I asked him about the possibility of staining the grout the same color and he said stain products do not work and the only solution was to remove and replace the grout or use this StoneTech Enhancer Pro. Obviously if he is selling a fifty dollar pint of stone sealer to clean grout and that is not what the product is for he is putting the screws to me.

I really dont know the cause or solution, I do not know if Enhancer Pro is to be used on grout but from what I read on the website it is not.

Ken

[GeorgeT]

Ken -
While I have to say Enhancer Pro is a great product, I also know it doesn't do magic tricks either ....
If the uneven color of the grout has been there since the grout was applied, the Enhancer Pro will not even out the color. Enhancer Pro will enhance all the colors and the grout will still be uneven, just richer in color....The Enhancer has no way to be selective.
Might have been a grout clean-up issue..... if too much water is used during the wipe back, over worked wet areas will have the cement, additives and sometimes the color powder rise to the surface causing a difference in color in those areas. Try scratching through it or scraping off the top layer... See if the correct color grout is just below the lighter areas ...