Grouting Situation with Stacked Stone Fireplace

11 months ago

Hi --

We engaged a contractor to do a first floor renovation. There have been several issues. The latest relates to the fireplace. We completely demolished our fireplace, i.e., the old fireplace was removed (stone facade and internal unit) and replaced with a new unit. We purchased stacked stone (Rockmont Stacked Stone Aragescato Carrara from MSI), and the contractor installed. It looked beautiful until he left to run errands. His "helper" took grout and was filling in all the spaces in between the stacked stone; so the bottom 2/3 now looks white and has lost variation. The contractor came back and yelled at him to stop and wipe the bottom clean. Now, the the top third looks more natural and the bottom 2/3 is more white given the grout. What can or should be done to resolve this? Is it common to use grout across the front of a stacked stone? Is there a way to remove it from the bottom third? Please advise.

I'm attaching four photos. The first is before grout was applied to front. The second photo shows the complete job with the variation in top to bottom. The last two photos show a close up of how there is grout now smeared across the stone on the bottom.

Thanks in advance,

Cindi

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Comments (5)

Cindi Chmielewski
Original Author
11 months ago
Attaching the photo with the stone before our contractor's "helper" applied grout to the spaces in between the stacked stone.
PRO
PPF.
11 months ago
Your contractor knows what he needs to do. Replace the grouted stone.
Cindi Chmielewski thanked PPF.
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millworkman
11 months ago
" What can or should be done to resolve this? "

As PPF states, you should not need to tell the contractor what to do, he should know, and that is to replace said stacked stone. It should not even need to be a discussion.
Cindi Chmielewski
Original Author
11 months ago
PPF and Millworkman-
Thank you for your response. Unfortunately my contractor does not want to replace the stacked stone. He is trying to clean it with some sort of wet rotating brush. He’s been at it for a full day. Is this an effective technique to remedy?
millworkman
11 months ago
" Thank you for your response. Unfortunately my contractor does not want to replace the stacked stone. "

But you did not may for improperly finished stone, did you? Then he should have supervised his "helper" better.

" He is trying to clean it with some sort of wet rotating brush. He’s been at it for a full day. Is this an effective technique to remedy? "

Is it working? It may work and it may not. What if he is there for a week and all you end up with is a wet floor? What do you tell him then?

He already admitted his "helper" screwed up with the grout. You need to hold his feet to the fire and tell him you will only accept his repair "IF" if looks like it should have at the end. If not he replaces the stone. His choice. Don't pay him any more money for ANYTHING until you are happy with the stone.