Is it completely dry?

You can paint the grout the color that you want, it's not going to get wet or anything like an exterior or a shower wall.

Do you mean like white washing it or literally going in and hand painting the dark mortar?

Was this just done? The mortar takes a couple days to set so the sooner it’s removed the easier it will be.

That’s what we thought too and called our builder as soon as we saw it but he suggested waiting to see if it’d lighten up - it did but its still not even close to what we asked for. I thought of going back and doing an over grout technique in an ivory color but they say it will crack and flake off.

You can go over it and hand paint the grout a different color if this is dry.

I would be so upset! The result is nothing like the inspo picture (still pretty, but nothing like it). We also recently had Eldorado stone installed, the mason was very specific regarding the install, the overgrout that I requested...and was willing to custom create a mortar color if needed to. I can't believe that someone would apply a grout this dark without having it in writing. I would insist that they make it right.

It doesn't even look like the same stone.

So sorry this happened. Neither the stone or the grout look like the brochure. You think maybe white washing it might tone it down?

That's not the right stone either. I'm so so sorry.

Your builder and mason don’t seem like a winning team. Ugh. I don’t know how to advocate for you other than to reinforce with them that you showed them a picture and expected it to be done to match. If they have to rip it down and rebuild it’s on them. It’s never going to fade to match the image FROM THEIR WEBSITE.

Thank you all so much for your input, it is very much appreciated. The stone is labeled as the same from the brochure (Grand Banks limestone), and I l know natural materials will vary in color and pattern but it does seem darker and more grey although I suspect its the grout making it appear that way. It really needs the correct color and unfortunately they never discussed it with us. If only they would’ve communicated. I am not in the brick and stone business nor have any knowledge of masonry so I literally didn’t know what more to ask for. I showed them a picture from THEIR BROCHURE and no one asked anymore questions so we thought we were good to go.

They say that if they try to do an overground technique now it’ll just flake and chip off later. Our builder is going to have the mason take a look and see if lime washing will help but that sounds like a HUGE mess inside the house. The builder and stone company are trying to find a solution but I’m pretty sure they’ll have to tear it down and start from scratch. I just want the look we asked for and don’t want to have to pay for their mistakes or be delayed anymore. It all just makes me sick.

jackowskib I’ve though about whitewashing it too. Maybe our mason can do a sample of that for us. Thank you

That stone in no way is the same as the pic why do you think it is?IMO the original ston looks lime washed .

Well the brochure sure looks like their limestone offering based on these pics. Can you confirm the brochure stone name and what was delivered?

jackowskib, the box it came in was labeled as Grand Banks limestone. I completely agree with you, the photos really look lighter. Do you think its possibly whitewashed in the pictures?

Patricia, the only reason I think it is the correct stone is because that’s what was labeled on the box. Otherwise I completely agree. It doesn’t look close to their product picture.

If you scroll down to the bottom of the El Dorado Grand Banks web page

https://www.eldoradostone.com/products/limestone/#grand-banks

you will see three pictures of fireplaces using the Grand Banks stone. There does seem to be some variation in color from pale buff to pink-purple, although that could just be due to the photographic conditions. In any event, yours looks different from all of them.

Because your grout is so dark it's hard to see on the monitor if that is the same stone on the brochure photo you shared. When I searched their brochures, that stone appears to be limewashed where yours isn't so obvious. Could be the dark grout distorting the photo though.

Stupid suggestion but could you dust some baby powder on the grout and see if some white dust will lighten it up enough. I know comet dust binds to my dark grout and lightens it.

Not stupid at all Paul. It might. I also wondered about chalk 🤷🏼‍♀️

You might want to read this old thread all the way to the end

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5716383/has-anyone-used-eldorado-grand-banks-limestone-stone-veneer

no

I’m not super experienced with these faux stone products but I do know how much grout changes the look of regular tile. Regardless next time have them make a sample board of a few of the stones glued to a piece of plywood and grouted with the whiteish grout from the picture. Hopefully it will match what you saw.

Thank you very much. That’s exactly what we’re trying to do.