Uneven Grout Color Fix

Grout can turn a good-looking tile job into a bad one if the grout is not installed properly. Curing conditions is one of the most important factors in grout color, yet is the most overlooked. Inconsistent, uneven and splotchy colored grout is often due to poor curing conditions. Changes in temperature during the first 72 hours after the grout is installed, will cause some degree of discoloration. Issues will also arise if the grout is mixed too wet when applied or wiped too quickly before it is set up. In these cases it will leave the grout uneven in color due to over-washing the grout.

You could remove all the grout and start over but that would take time, patience, a lot of dusk masks and tons of messy clean up afterwards. Or, the easy way, by calling Grout Kleen and having us apply our special Color Restoration Sealer. That’s right, it’s a colorant and sealer in 1. It will make even the dirtiest, most discolored, uneven, splotchy grout look brand new. Our special sealer will make your grout completely water-proof and stain-proof. The sealer fills in the microscopic pores of the grout leaving a water-tight, stain resistant durable layer of protection.

Call us today at 908-864-2122 for a free estimate or click here to fill out our online form and have a representative call you back within 24 hours. We can fix your discolored dirty grout!

Can I Color Seal Grout In My Shower Or Tub Surround?

I have often been asked “can color sealer protect the grout in my shower?” so I decided to test it in my own shower. Let me say first that I would not apply color sealer to unsanded grout in a shower/tub, no matter what the manufacturer says. Unsanded grout does not have the pores that sanded grout has and the color sealer will not hold up as good under the heavy water flow. Unsanded grout on a floor, that is not subject to water, is a different story and should hold up with color sealer.

Now, on to the color sealer in a shower test.
My tub surround walls have 3″ x 6″ tiles that are brick laid, a 3/16″ grout joint and sanded grout. I applied our color restoration sealer to all the grout lines and installed some matching caulk in the corners to finish it off. It looked brand new again and held up quite well for a couple years. Then I started to notice some small areas that appeared to be mold growing on the color sealer (see photo below). It is only happening on the back wall which happens to be an outside wall. Not sure if that is part of the problem or the fact that the wall gets hit with the most water. I am able to clean it off with a scrub brush and some neutral cleaner but over time, it came back and started to get spread. So what I did was strip off the color sealer in that area. Thoroughly clean the grout with our special mold killing chemicals and re-apply our color restoration sealer. It is holding up good for now but I expect to strip and re-apply every couple of years.

So, would I recommend applying color sealer in a shower/tub? Sure, as long as you have it properly maintained annually by Grout Kleen (same as you would a color sealed floor).

Bathing areas are breeding grounds for mold and bacteria. While most color sealers claim to have mildicides that provide a sanitary surface for years, there are many factors that go along with that. Such as, how many people are using that shower and how many times per day it gets used. For everyone it is different and so will be the length of time before the color sealer starts to shows signs of wear.

How to Test if Your Stone is Already Sealed

Take a quick test, water-repellency test to see if your stone has already been sealed and does the sealer still offer protection from water-based stains.

Directions

1. Make sure surface area is clean, dry and free of waxes and coatings.
2. Apply a drop of water 1 inch in diameter to the stone surface.
3. Allow the water to stand on the stone for 30 minutes.
4. If surface is unsealed, the water will absorb into the stone and darken the surface (absorption speed will depend on porosity of the stone).
5.  In the morning you’ll see if the surface is already sealed or if stone is very dense, the water will bead up and stand on the surface. Some Granite’s are so dense they do not require sealing at all.

It is recommended that granite countertops be professionally cleaned and sealed every 2-3 years for maximum stain protection. If it’s time for your counters to be done, we can help. Check here for more information.