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How to fix inconsistent grout lines?

3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago

Had bathroom remodeled, hex tile was installed and grout line are inconsistent. Some are thick and some are almost touching. A couple of tiles are too high creating a lip. Contractor said no problem he would fix it. Can this be done without another full demo?

Comments (25)

  • 3 years ago




  • 3 years ago

    Can't tell what the pictures show. Can you stand back and take more pictures from further away. Is this a floor with walls, a shower floor or what?

  • 3 years ago

    This is the bathroom floor, they completed it yesterday

  • 3 years ago

    Can you stand back and take more pictures from further away?

  • 3 years ago

  • 3 years ago

    How uniform is the tile?

    Did they use tile spacers?

    Why did you decide to use a high contrast grout color? The easiest and cheapest fix would be to remove the light grout and replace with a grout that matches the tile.

  • 3 years ago

    In your post you said you had the bathroom remodeled. But it appears the project is not finished yet. The grout lines don't look horrible too me, but I hate lippage. You should be able to slide a credit card across the floor without it catching.


    What stage of the remodel are you? Can you post more pics>

  • 3 years ago

    Contractor's part is "finished" as far as tile work.

    The spacers used were the same as the subway tile. Grout lines don't look horrible from a faelr but up close you can tell some are close to touching and others are very thick. 

     Custom vanities will be installed later.

  • PRO
    3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    High contrast grout requires 100% absolute perfection with no tile size variation and immaculate install.. A charcoal grout would get you no complaints.......especially when many of these tiles have exceedingly slight variations.

    The bath isn't finished, the slight variations probably "disappear" when fully complete. Only you can decide how much it will annoy you.

    The thicker grout is fairly consistently same side of tile as is the thinner. It's the tile......and to keep them the same? They'd not line up. Or they needed a turn to make them line up.Frankly, I'd leave it alone and finish.

  • PRO
    3 years ago

    Hexagon tiles require exceptional installer and quality tiles. Talk to your contractor about staining the grout to match tile. If it hasn’t been sealed. That might be easiest solution. It looks like a fairly good install but these tiles are the problem. Are they porcelain or ceramic?

  • 3 years ago

    Wow...who knew that was even possible.

  • 3 years ago

    Tiles are porcelain. I want the contrasting color grout. Lippage and inconsistent grout lines lead me to believe its how the tile was installed and not the tile itself.

  • 3 years ago

    Yes, I thought tile setters used spacers to get consistency. Did you see them used?

  • 3 years ago

    Used them and moved them to continue tiling.

  • PRO
    3 years ago

    Was the sub floor level? Lippage is rarely an issue on a tile this size, unless the tiles had a warp. .......no way to tell now.

  • PRO
    3 years ago

    " Used them and moved them to continue tiling"

    Well.............shift comes to mind: )

    Like spacers are expensive?

  • PRO
    3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    You need to weigh the cost of redoing the whole job versus living with it. It all depends on how much it bothers you. From the photos it doesn't look awful, even if it's not perfect.

    However, I wouldn't use the same tilesetter--you could spend the money and not be satisfied either.

  • 3 years ago

    @jaja06- you did a lovely job. I don't expect perfection but I do expect consistency. 

                @Diana- the only thing this should "cost" me is time right? The contractor already said he would fix it so whatever fix is?!

  • 3 years ago

    Curious what his "fix" is?


    I agree that it doesn't look awful. How much lippage is there? Enough to cause your shoe to catch while walking across the floor? Did he remove the spacers before the tile had set? Our tiler reused some spacers but not until the next day when the other tiles were set. Good luck!

  • PRO
    3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    He'll fix with all new tile? Who buys the tile?

    I think you are asking for a miracle, UNLESS you adjust the grout to a darker color. YOU have to pick the poison. You aren't going to get perfection with that tile and high contrast, and I care not who installs it.

    The most minor deviation from perfection is going to be as conspicuous as a single crumb on a black tablecloth. Therefore? You need to get your head around that before you suffer rip/redo.

    A very honest tile pro will tell you same. Every industry has a "tolerance" and definition of "perfect".

  • 3 years ago

    Looks pretty good. Guessing he could add a bit more grout to the skinnier lines.

  • 3 years ago

    Thanks for the advice, apparently spacers weren't really used at all. Everything is going to be redone. 

    Appreciate everyone's help!

  • 3 years ago

    Have him write down what “fix” means. Just to be sure.

  • PRO
    3 years ago

    Sounds like you have it all figured out--good luck with your project!