Grout much darker than sample

last year

last modified: last year

I know you’re not going to get an exact color representation from the plastic grout sample, but these don’t even seem remotely close? I was shocked by how dark the final result was. The grout is Maipei, color Chamois. Installer says the mixing process wouldn’t affect the color, so if anything there could be a manufacturing issue. Any complaints I’ve seen online about inaccurate grout color are all about it being too light. Any thoughts on if this is reasonable, or is something wrong with the grout?

I’ve found a few photos online of the grout in use and everything I have seen much more closely matches the sample.

(EDIT: Added photos as they didn't upload second time. Could it be moisture from not having fully dried yet (in a really humid environment)? Installation was within the last 2 weeks, and am now noticing that some of the thinner lines are lighter. First photo is against the wall and more accurate to what it looks like in person, second photo is against the floor.) My dilemma is that I have also selected this grout to be used with the blue/green tile shown in the second photo to match the underlying clay color of the tile and installation is due to begin in the coming days. Thinking I should reconsider...?)

Featured Answer

chispa

last year

From my experience the installed grout always ends up a bit lighter than the plastic sample sticks. Sometimes I will pick the darker strip to end up with the slightly lighter color that I actually want. It has always worked out for me.

There is always the possibility of the sample stick being wrong or you got a mislabeled batch of grout.

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Comments (12)

apple_pie_order
last year
Photos didn't upload.
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PRO
CAGE Design Build
last year
Please upload photos
R thanked CAGE Design Build
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PRO
Zumi
last year
It lightens as it dries.
R thanked Zumi
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
last year
Post photos in a comment wait until they are no longer grayed then submit.
R thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
PRO
Monique
last year
Chamois is a medium dark color. It is not a light color.
R thanked Monique
chispa
last year
The tile installers I have used, would have done a slightly wider consistent grout line with that irregular handmade tile, so you don't end up with what you got, random grout widths.
R
Original Author
last year
@chispa I don't find that consistent grout lines complement zellige tile. It has always been more practice (and the recommendation of zellige sellers), to lay the tiles as close together as possible and embrace their irregularity. I love the results.
wsea
last year
To me it looks darker in the areas tgat are shadowed by the tile. if you look the pic you are holding the sample up in, the grout right above matches well, but that grout is also flush with the tile there.
dani_m08
last year
Grout does lighten as it dries - however, two weeks seems like a long enough time for the grout to have dried.

I have seen inconsistent coloring happen with grout that is not mixed correctly. I haven't seen grout that is a consistent darker color due to mixing issues (but I am not a tile professional).

My experience has been like chispa's - grout has always turned out lighter than the sample stick.

With expensive real zellige tile, it would have been helpful if your installer would have done a small sample so you would have been able to judge the color before commiting to the selected color for the entire project.

I would not use that same color grout with your new tile.
PRO
Skippack Tile & Stone
last year
The tiles, given their nature, are likely not fully dried yet and affecting the grout color. I would not pick Chamois for the blue/green one, consider Sahara Beige (it's a great chameleon color).
PRO
Minardi
last year
Zellige tile absorb over 20% of their weight in water. If those were properly soaked before install so that they didn't pull all the moisture out of the setting materials and grout, it may take quite a bit of time for the entire installation to dry out and lighten up.

Remember that no sealer will prevent the tile from absorbing water when in use in a wet area either. So bear that in mind. The waterproofing behind this needs to be more meticulous than that for natural stone, as zellige absorbs MORE moisture than does natural stone.