Backsplash grout stains the tiles!

12 years ago

My kitchen backsplash went on today, and I had the installer grout a small unattached piece to make sure I liked the color. I love it … except that the rich reddish-brown stains the white squares slightly. The installer said it's because they're a porous stone material while the other colored squares are glass. I calculated about 700 little white squares for the backsplash, which pretty much rules out doing anything to them one by one before or after grouting. I tried alcohol on the sample, but the grout was still damp and just smeared. The installer told me to let it dry completely overnight and try again before he grouts tomorrow (Friday).

Any suggestions, or do I just live with this? It's not unnatural looking and probably not even noticeable to anyone who hasn't seen the ungrouted version. I love the combo otherwise, and changing the grout to anything but white is unlikely to solve the problem. I don't want white or even off white grout in the kitchen, and the white squares need contrast. Sorry about the photo, but the macro setting distorts a bit, and the flash bounces off the tiles and makes them look more unearthly than they are. Hopefully you can tell that the ones above are ungrouted, and the little piece below is the grouted sample.

Featured Answer

Curt D'Onofrio

12 years ago

last modified: 12 years ago

Thanks for the update, but that outlet cover needs to "disappear" Here's one company that can help make that happen

Painted switch plates · More Info

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Comments (12)

peeb
12 years ago
Well, this may not work, but you are in a pinch time-wise since he is coming back tomorrow so I am wondering if you could put a clear sealant over the whole thing. I know there are sealants for marble and granite and maybe they would work for your tile? You would want to try it though...The other option is to choose a brown that has less red in it - that would make the white more off white or tan and not pinkish. Good luck!
makaloco thanked peeb
MarleneM
12 years ago
I have heard that before too. Porous stone such as marble should be sealed before grouting.
makaloco thanked MarleneM
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makaloco
Original Author
12 years ago
You know, I actually thought of that. I have sealant for my saltillo tile floor that might work. But on DIY sites people say that you need to be very careful not to get any sealant between the backsplash tiles, or the grout won't stick. I don't have a steady enough hand for that, especially given the hour and the sheer number of little tiles. Also, the sealant is matte and might dull the glass tiles. Maybe I'll ask the installer tomorrow and see what he thinks. Many thanks for the suggestion!
lagwagonshow
12 years ago
Try distilled vinegar, mixed 50/50 with water. Use a rag or paper towel and wipe it just like you would any light-duty cleaner. Test on the loose tiles of course, and rinse off with clean water when you're done.
makaloco thanked lagwagonshow
makaloco
Original Author
12 years ago
I tried vinegar and had about the same luck as with alcohol. Also considered a different grout color, but the only other brown was just slightly less red. The other colors wouldn't have blended with my colors. So there I was at the crack of dawn with coffee, shaky hands, a cotton swab, and a container of sealant. I managed to do most of the little white squares before the installer arrived, and it dried fast, but even the clear sealant discolored the white stone a little. Grouting is in progress, and so far it looks like sealing helped a little but wasn't a total fix. Oh well, worth a try, and the installer didn't have any better ideas (I don't count muriatic acid as a "better idea").

The whole backsplash saga has been quite the challenge, and I see from other Design Dilemmas that I'm not alone. Luckily my kitchen is rustic and tolerant of minor imperfections. Many thanks again for the suggestions and moral support! I'll post a photo when it's finished.
makaloco
Original Author
12 years ago
Update: The sealant did help some! I'm finding that the sealed tiles clean up better than the unsealed ones in my original sample above. Also, I unearthed an older thread on Houzz about the same issue, in case anyone else is searching:
https://www.houzz.com/discussions/how-to-get-dried-grout-out-of-stone-mosaics-dsvw-vd~433020
Interesting pro comment that the grout is supposed to fill the porous holes in the stone. Go figure.

The macro photo shows cleaned stone tiles to the right of the line between the window and the red wall vs uncleaned ones to the left. The photo with the four outlets is cleaned, and the one with the on/off switch is not.
makaloco
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks, Curt! Interesting idea, and they sure did a brilliant camouflage. That outlet will "disappear" behind my microwave (and others will suffer similar fates). One of my goals with this remodel was to eliminate those horrible power strips I always end up with, and to be able to charge my cell phone without setting it on top of the toaster.
PRO
Matt Sanford Homes
12 years ago
You have to seal the tiles before the grout goes on.
makaloco thanked Matt Sanford Homes
makaloco
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks, Matt. Yes, it seems so, but why wouldn't it be done at the factory? Or if not, why wouldn't there at least be instructions to that effect in the carton? Especially given the price.
PRO
User
11 years ago
Thanks for the compliment Curt
User
11 years ago
In the world of decor, both acessories and home improvement sttuff, it's all about form. We, the consumer, are supposed to anticipate functional issues. Live and learn. It's a reason that I'm letting my hair go natural prior to finishing my master remodel which is using some marble.